Dissolution Complicates Thai Crisis

BANGKOK - Thailand's oldest political party, the ruling pro-establishment Democrat party, could be finished.

The Election Commission's (EC) earlier than expected April 12 recommendation by a majority four to one vote to dissolve the Democrats for corruption and irregularities dating to 2005 polls has complicated the deteriorating political scene and raises many questions about the country's democratic future.

Some analysts believe that a court-ordered dissolution of the Democrats would defuse rising political tensions and help to level the political playing field. Two political parties aligned with ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra have been disbanded on electoral fraud charges. Others doubt that the charges will have