Thailand prime minister denies party election fraud allegations News
Thailand prime minister denies party election fraud allegations

[JURIST] Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra [official profile; BBC profile] has said in a television broadcast that his Thai Rak Thai party [party website; Wikipedia backgrounder] is innocent of election fraud allegedly committed in an abortive general election this spring. Prosecutors, acting on a unanimous recommendation [JURIST report] by an investigative committee, are expected to ask Thailand's Constitutional Court [official website] on Thursday to dissolve Thai Rak Thai, the opposition Democrats [party website] and three smaller political parties because of irregularities in the April vote [JURIST report]. Legal analysts, however, view such a move as unlikely because it would destabilize the Thai government.

The Constitutional Court annulled the elections [JURIST report] in early May, and Thailand's three principal courts have repeatedly called for the Election Commission to resign [JURIST report] over the election problems. A new election [JURIST report] is scheduled for Oct. 15, but Thaksin said it could be delayed because of the political turmoil. AFP has more. The Bangkok Post has local coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.