Pattaya, August 14 [PATTAYA ONE NEWS] : On Friday Morning a group of Yellow Shirt Anti-Thaksin Protesters made their way to Pattaya Police Station to make a formal report relating to a Petition which has been signed by supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra who would like him to receive a Royal Pardon so he can return to Thailand without fear of arrest. The Red Shirt anti-government protesters claim to have over 5 million signatures on the petition, however there is reportedly another document containing over 4 million signatures which claims the petition is illegal. Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanapat, the Deputy Chief of Pattaya Police received the official complaint from a group of local Yellow Shirt Protesters on Friday which claimed the petition was illegal. He will forward the document to colleagues in Bangkok for consideration. The petition is expected to be delivered to the Government in Bangkok on Monday and the Kingdom is holding its breath to see if the petition will lead to further street protests and violence.

Source:

http://www.pattayaone.net/news/2009/august...4_08_52_4.shtml

Personally, I find it a joke that a petition that has taken several months to conduct, and gather 4 million signatures (pro Thaksin pardon), can be lessened by a '5 million signature petition' that only seemingly started a few days ago. To be honest, it's an insult to the intelligence of the Thai public (or maybe that's what they are depending upon).

Without wanting to resurrect old topics, let's just remind ourselves what Thaksin was actually convicted of. Conflict of interest, namely signing approval of his (at the time) wife's purchase of a publicised and controlled auction of land. The land in question was being auctioned by the FIDF, a non-governmental body. The auction itself, and the subsequent bids were publicised, and nothing appeared to have been amiss. The charges against Thaksin are centred around whether the FIDF is part of the government (a previous Senate ruling judged that it wasn't). The irony in this 'conspiracy' is that his wife was found 'not guilty', but he was (by a 4 to 3 majority). The whole case against him was so blatently politically biased, anyone in their right mind would have done what he did, i.e. leave the country.

I am not a Thaksin supporter. However, he obviously has significant support in this country, so let him return and be heard, and let the people decide. The hysteria generated by the media of his (every supposed) movements is becoming so predictable, screaming for his extradition from Dubai/Cambodia/Malaysia etc (with the irony of Thailand recently rejecting a request from the US for an international arms dealer, known to have had dealings with terrorist factions). To be frank, the politics of the nation at the moment do not resemble democracy, it's a team poker game, with the various factions/teams bluffing themselves towards greater benefits (i.e. budget allocations/collective/personal wealth), which unfortunately don't involve the Thai people.

Personally, I find it a joke that a petition that has taken several months to conduct, and gather 4 million signatures (pro Thaksin pardon), can be lessened by a '5 million signature petition' that only seemingly started a few days ago. To be honest, it's an insult to the intelligence of the Thai public (or maybe that's what they are depending upon).

Without wanting to resurrect old topics, let's just remind ourselves what Thaksin was actually convicted of. Conflict of interest, namely signing approval of his (at the time) wife's purchase of a publicised and controlled auction of land. The land in question was being auctioned by the FIDF, a non-governmental body. The auction itself, and the subsequent bids were publicised, and nothing appeared to have been amiss. The charges against Thaksin are centred around whether the FIDF is part of the government (a previous Senate ruling judged that it wasn't). The irony in this 'conspiracy' is that his wife was found 'not guilty', but he was (by a 4 to 3 majority). The whole case against him was so blatently politically biased, anyone in their right mind would have done what he did, i.e. leave the country.

I am not a Thaksin supporter. However, he obviously has significant support in this country, so let him return and be heard, and let the people decide. The hysteria generated by the media of his (every supposed) movements is becoming so predictable, screaming for his extradition from Dubai/Cambodia/Malaysia etc (with the irony of Thailand recently rejecting a request from the US for an international arms dealer, known to have had dealings with terrorist factions). To be frank, the politics of the nation at the moment do not resemble democracy, it's a team poker game, with the various factions/teams bluffing themselves towards greater benefits (i.e. budget allocations/collective/personal wealth), which unfortunately don't involve the Thai people.

What about all his much more serious crimes?

Personally, I find it a joke that a petition that has taken several months to conduct, and gather 4 million signatures (pro Thaksin pardon), can be lessened by a '5 million signature petition' that only seemingly started a few days ago. To be honest, it's an insult to the intelligence of the Thai public (or maybe that's what they are depending upon).

Without wanting to resurrect old topics, let's just remind ourselves what Thaksin was actually convicted of. Conflict of interest, namely signing approval of his (at the time) wife's purchase of a publicised and controlled auction of land. The land in question was being auctioned by the FIDF, a non-governmental body. The auction itself, and the subsequent bids were publicised, and nothing appeared to have been amiss. The charges against Thaksin are centred around whether the FIDF is part of the government (a previous Senate ruling judged that it wasn't). The irony in this 'conspiracy' is that his wife was found 'not guilty', but he was (by a 4 to 3 majority). The whole case against him was so blatently politically biased, anyone in their right mind would have done what he did, i.e. leave the country.

I am not a Thaksin supporter. However, he obviously has significant support in this country, so let him return and be heard, and let the people decide. The hysteria generated by the media of his (every supposed) movements is becoming so predictable, screaming for his extradition from Dubai/Cambodia/Malaysia etc (with the irony of Thailand recently rejecting a request from the US for an international arms dealer, known to have had dealings with terrorist factions). To be frank, the politics of the nation at the moment do not resemble democracy, it's a team poker game, with the various factions/teams bluffing themselves towards greater benefits (i.e. budget allocations/collective/personal wealth), which unfortunately don't involve the Thai people.

What about all his much more serious crimes?

All of his "other crimes" have still not been proven. BTW I am not a Thaksin supporter either although I have to give him credit for getting "some things done" which I can't say for any other Thai politicians. But that doesn't excuse him for all the horrible things he has done either (violations of human rights/tax evasion, etc)!

What I do not get, is why you need a petition to say that something is illegal. Why not just point out the law that it is breaking. This article doesn't even attempt to explain "why/how" it is illegal. Just more nonsense on both sides. In a perfect world everyone that has anything to do with any other these coloured political groups should be banned from politics permanently. Oh ya, and the ban should actually be enforced for once. Both of these parties/gangs sacrifice the well-being of the country without thinking twice if they think they can personally benefit.

Personally, I find it a joke that a petition that has taken several months to conduct, and gather 4 million signatures (pro Thaksin pardon), can be lessened by a '5 million signature petition' that only seemingly started a few days ago. To be honest, it's an insult to the intelligence of the Thai public (or maybe that's what they are depending upon).

Without wanting to resurrect old topics, let's just remind ourselves what Thaksin was actually convicted of. Conflict of interest, namely signing approval of his (at the time) wife's purchase of a publicised and controlled auction of land. The land in question was being auctioned by the FIDF, a non-governmental body. The auction itself, and the subsequent bids were publicised, and nothing appeared to have been amiss. The charges against Thaksin are centred around whether the FIDF is part of the government (a previous Senate ruling judged that it wasn't). The irony in this 'conspiracy' is that his wife was found 'not guilty', but he was (by a 4 to 3 majority). The whole case against him was so blatently politically biased, anyone in their right mind would have done what he did, i.e. leave the country.

I am not a Thaksin supporter. However, he obviously has significant support in this country, so let him return and be heard, and let the people decide. The hysteria generated by the media of his (every supposed) movements is becoming so predictable, screaming for his extradition from Dubai/Cambodia/Malaysia etc (with the irony of Thailand recently rejecting a request from the US for an international arms dealer, known to have had dealings with terrorist factions). To be frank, the politics of the nation at the moment do not resemble democracy, it's a team poker game, with the various factions/teams bluffing themselves towards greater benefits (i.e. budget allocations/collective/personal wealth), which unfortunately don't involve the Thai people.

What about all his much more serious crimes?

All of his "other crimes" have still not been proven. BTW I am not a Thaksin supporter either although I have to give him credit for getting "some things done" which I can't say for any other Thai politicians. But that doesn't excuse him for all the horrible things he has done either (violations of human rights/tax evasion, etc)!

What I do not get, is why you need a petition to say that something is illegal. Why not just point out the law that it is breaking. This article doesn't even attempt to explain "why/how" it is illegal. Just more nonsense on both sides. In a perfect world everyone that has anything to do with any other these coloured political groups should be banned from politics permanently. Oh ya, and the ban should actually be enforced for once. Both of these parties/gangs sacrifice the well-being of the country without thinking twice if they think they can personally benefit.