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BANGKOK : Thailand's two major political parties -- facing possible dissolution in an upcoming court ruling -- said Friday they would accept any verdict following rare comments by the country's revered king.
"We will respect any court decision. We will neither oppose nor fight against the verdict," said Chaturon Chaisang, the head of the Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thais) party, created by ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thai Rak Thai, the kingdom's biggest political party, and the main opposition Democrat Party, face possible dissolution when the Constitutional Tribunal rules on vote fraud charges against them on May 30.
If found guilty, the parties could be disbanded and their executives banned from politics for five years, meaning top leaders could not run in December polls promised by the military, which overthrew Thaksin in a coup last year.
Fears that the verdict could spark violence in Bangkok prompted authorities to warn that they would be ready to impose "an emergency decree" if necessary.
As the nation braced for the landmark political ruling, Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej told a group of top judges late Thursday to act fairly and solve problems.
Referring to next Wednesday's verdict, the 79-year-old king said: "Whatever the judgement is, it will damage the country."
The monarch, who is universally respected by Thais, said: "When the judgement about politics comes, it is very important.... The nation needs political parties."
Speaking a day after the king's comments, which were nationally televised, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the kingdom's oldest party would accept any decision.
"We will neither oppose nor challenge the verdict," Abhisit said. "The king is worried that the verdict could lead to disturbances."
Thailand's army-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said all Thais must accept the judgement and understand that the king is concerned about the situation.
"Everyone must accept and comply with the court verdict," Surayud told reporters.
Apart from next week's court decision, the king talked about the situation in Thailand and told the judges that they "have responsibilities to make the country not sink. You can advise people because you have knowledge. I ask you to solve the current situation, which is not good at all this year."
The king, who has spent 60 years on the throne, is the world's longest-serving monarch. He has seen 24 prime ministers, 18 coups and 17 constitutions.
The allegations of electoral fraud against Thaksin's party and the Democrat Party stem from inconclusive snap polls in April 2006, which contributed to the political turmoil that led to the September coup.
Thai Rak Thai has been charged with breaking two laws during the annulled elections -- illegally financing fringe groups to contest the election in a bid to boost the polls' credibility, and misusing the supposedly independent election commission.
Charges against the Democrat Party include obstructing campaigning and slandering Thaksin's party. Both parties deny all charges.
- AFP /ls
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