Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is to appear before the Constitutional Court today to learn if she will be charged with abuse of power for replacing the head of security three years ago.  The move is seen by many as a “judicial coup” by Thailand’s elites to remove the popularly elected prime minister from office.

Opposition senators had filed the complaint against Yingluck, claiming her ruling party improperly benefited from transferring Thawil Pliensri in 2011. 

“I would like to deny all allegations I am accused of,” Yingluck said calmly before the court on Tuesday.  “As the prime minister, I am entitled to carry out responsibilities I have toward the people.. and for the utmost benefit of the general public.”

Pliensri has since been reinstated, but aligns with the conservative and royalist opposition and has been openly critical of Yingluck’s government ever since.  

This is happening against the backdrop of massive anti-government demonstrations that began in 2013.  The protesters – mainly urban and from the middle class on up – want Yingluck’s government replaced by an unelected “people’s council”. 

And by “people”, they mean, “not the poor people from Thailand’s north who’ve returned Yingluck’s party to power in every free election since 1999”.  The north simply has more people than the opposition, and has consistently voted with Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai Party (PTP), which has brought economic development and healthcare to the long-neglected region.

If Yingluck is found guilty of interfering in state affairs for her personal benefit or that of her political party, she would have to step down as prime minister.  And if that happens, it could mean the return of the Red Shirts – Tens of thousands of supporters of (PTP) who’ve proven themselves willing and able to take to the streets and fight for democracy against Thailand traditional moneyed elites.