1. “Chart Thai to Meet Amid Defection Talk,” Bangkok Post, June 14, 2003, p. 3.
2. On September 5, 2003, intraparty conflict openly erupted in the lower house's Budget Committee when members of the Wang Nam Yen faction alleged that Wang Bua Ban faction members were illegally channeling budget allocations to their own constituencies (and, more seriously, hoarding funds at the expense of members of Wang Nam Yen). However, the public airing of the allegations and threats to have 120 senators (minimum necessary) refer the matter to the Constitutional Court forced Wang Bua Ban members to agree to a more even distribution of budgetary resources. See “Budget Debate: Ruling Party Faction Promised More Funds,” The Nation, September 6, 2003, p. 1 A.
3. In August 2002, both Wang Nam Yen and Wang Bua Ban accused Thailand's Highways Department director-general of contract bid-rigging. The official was appointed by then Transport and Communications minister Wan Muhamad Noor Natha, a member of Thai Rak Thai's Wadah faction. Wang Nam Yen and Wang Bua Ban were particularly piqued at the bureaucrat because he apparently refused to promote these factions' supporters in a reshuffle of highway officials. Ultimately, Thaksin removed Wan Noor himself from his portfolio in the 2002 cabinet reshuffle. “Party Power Play: Snoh and Wan Noor in Battle,” The Nation, August 17, 2002, available at http://www.nationmultimedia.com.
4. “90–Day Membership Rule: Charter Coup Brewing,” The Nation, November 26, 2002, available at http://www.nationmultimedia.com; “Constitutional Coup: Numbers Are Against the Plotters,” The Nation, November 27, 2002, available at http://www.nationmultimedia.com.
5. “Wang Nam Yen Threatens to Break with Government,” The Nation, November 15, 2002, available at http://www.nationmultimedia.com; “Cabinet Reshuffle—New Line-up Draws Flak from Within Ruling Party,” Bangkok Post, October 4, 2002, available at http://www.bangkokpost.com.