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WORLD NEWS Thursday 14 February 2019

Thai party fighting for survival after princess's nomination

By KAWEEWIT KAEWJINDA Tuesday posted a message
GRANT PECK reflecting on the events.
BANGKOK (AP) — The Thai "I am sorry that my honest
political party that took the intentions to help work for
unprecedented and ulti- the country and all Thais
mately unsuccessful step of have resulted in a problem
nominating a member of that should not arise in this
the royal family as its can- day and age. #howco-
didate for prime minister meitsthewayitis," said her
was fighting for its political message.
life Wednesday, while the After the king overruled
princess herself appeared its candidate, Thai Raksa
to criticize the fallout. Chart avowed its fealty
The country's Election Com- to the king and its accep-
mission said it recommend- tance of his order, but its
ed the Thai Raksa Chart opponents urged its disso-
Party be dissolved because lution.
its prime minister candidate Before the Election Com-
was "in conflict with the sys- mission made its recom-
tem of rule of democracy mendation, party leader
with king as head of state." Preechapol Pongpanit
The recommendation was called for it to hear the par-
forwarded to the Consti- ty's defense.
tutional Court, which said "If they don't let us tell our
it would consider Thursday Preechapol Pongpanich, leader of Thai Raksa Chart party, greets party officials and media in side, it'd be as if we were
whether to accept the Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. tied by our hands and
case. Associated Press feet," he said. The party
The party on Feb. 8 named announced its legal team
Princess Ubolratana Mahi- Ubolratana's bid was par- and others in the country's sister. Following the coup, would submit a letter to the
dol its candidate for prime ticularly notable because traditional establishment. the junta used strict laws Constitutional Court.
minister for a general elec- she allied herself with a The whirlwind events have against protests and politi- The court is one of the most
tion next month. But her party that is part of the po- reignited longstanding po- cal activity to keep the ten- conservative institutions in
older brother, King Maha litical machine of former litical tensions in Thailand, sion from bubbling to the Thailand and has consis-
Vajiralongkorn, issued an Prime Minister Thaksin Shi- which is still run by a military surface. tently ruled in favor of the
edict just hours later saying nawatra, who was ousted junta that seized power in Ubolratana, who is active royalist point of view dur-
it was inappropriate and in a 2006 military coup and a 2014 coup, ousting the on Instagram with more ing political unrest over the
unconstitutional. is loathed by many royalists government of Thaksin's than 100,000 followers, late past decade.q

25 Kashmir students injured by blast inside classroom

Associated Press 25 injured students, and puted Himalayan region.
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — At that most have since been India and Pakistan each
least 25 high school stu- discharged. They said none claim Kashmir in its entirety.
dents were injured by an had life-threatening injuries. Rebels have been fighting
explosion in their classroom "We heard a blast and we against Indian control since
in Indian-controlled Kash- thought an electrical trans- 1989.
mir on Wednesday, police former blew up," school Most Kashmiris support reb-
and medics said. principal Javaid Ahmed el demands that the terri-
The blast occurred in a told reporters. "Suddenly tory be united, either under
10th grade classroom in a we saw students crying Pakistani rule or as an in-
school in the southern Ka- and calling out for help." dependent country, while
kapora area, said senior In the past, some civilians, also participating in civilian
police officer S.P. Pani. He mainly young boys, have street protests against Indi-
said police are investigat- died or been injured while an control.
ing the explosive and how playing with explosives About 70,000 people have A wounded student is brought on a stretcher for treatment at a
it got into the classroom. found at the sites of gun- been killed in the uprising hospital in Srinagar Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, Feb.
Medics at two hospitals battles between rebels and the ensuing Indian 13, 2019.
said they treated at least and Indian troops in the dis- crackdown.q Associated Press