Sanan Proposes Amnesty For Banned Thai Politicians

[webfact]

Sanan proposes amnesty for banned politicians

By THE NATION

A senior figure from the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party yesterday floated the idea of amnesty for politicians facing legal action resulting from the political crisis, in order to ensure success of reconciliation efforts.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart, who is also Chart Thai Pattana's chief adviser, said he did not think the amnesty plan proposed by fellow coalition partners Bhum Jai Thai Party for ordinary protesters involved in the recent political unrest would "bring about any benefits" because they had committed no serious offences.

"In my view, a deeper level of amnesty is required. All people involved must be pardoned. I see no problems for amnesty to the groups of 111 and 109," Sanan said, referring to former executives of the disbanded political parties found guilty of electoral fraud, including Thai Rak Thai and People Power parties.

Sanan said amnesty should also be given to fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is evading a two-year imprisonment sentence for conflict of interest. "All the people facing punishment must be considered if you really want to see reconciliation. But I think this is not easy. It's time-consuming," he said.

In response to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's concern that amnesty could lead to a new round of political conflict, Sanan said: "I wonder how you can achieve reconciliation without giving amnesty?"

Abhisit, who is also leader of the ruling Democrat Party, yesterday remained firm in his stance, pointing to possible renewed conflict stemming from opposition to amnesty. "Many sides disagree to this idea so I think it's not an urgent matter to be considered now," he said.

Suthep Thaugsuban, the Democrat secretary-general and deputy premier in charge of security affairs, voiced support for the PM's stance and said he did not think disagreement over the matter would cause a rift between his party and Bhum Jai Thai.

However, Suthep said he would respect a decision by the majority of the country.

Coalition whips from Bhum Jai Thai are expected to raise the amnesty proposal during their meeting this morning, according to member Warong Dejkitwikrom, who is also deputy spokesman for the Democrat Party. He said Democrat MPs who are coalition whips agreed the matter was not urgent enough to warrant it being moved up the meeting agenda.

Bhum Jai Thai deputy leader Boonjong Wongtrairat, also a deputy interior minister, yesterday said the party's proposed amnesty was aimed only at people who joined the recent protests with good intentions, and not masterminds, hirers or those charged with terrorism. He insisted the proposal was meant to bring benefit to the country, and not to the party ahead of the general election, as had been alleged by opposition Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan, who is also a leader of the red shirts.

Jatuporn yesterday voiced his opposition to the proposed amnesty, saying it would benefit "killers of innocent people" rather than the protesters who he said "did not commit any wrongdoing".

Meanwhile, Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej said yesterday he noticed an improvement in the parliamentary atmosphere towards reconciliation. In response to the proposed amnesty, he said there was no need for a particular law as the authorities could offer leniency to ordinary protesters by dropping charges against them.

-- The Nation 2010-09-16

[Robby nz]

"In my view, a deeper level of amnesty is required. All people involved must be pardoned.

Yea Sanan great idea lets take it farther and empty all the prisons.

Problem I see with any amnasty is who will make the decisions as to who is a crim and who a political prisoner.

There is a country next door with a lady held as a true political prisoner, cant see anyone in this country that comes anywhere close.

Would letting the red and yellow leaders off scott free really promote reconsiliation?

Or would it just promote an attitude of "You cant touch us, we can do what we like"

"NO" these people need to pay for what they have done to this country and the ordinary people as an example to anyone who would try the same in the future.

These people (the leaders including Mr T) have caused death, injury and destruction and cost the country and the people billions.

They need to be brought to account for their actions.

How many of those locked up now are just the ordinary people anyway?

I saw bus and train loads of those sheeple given a free ride home.

Seems to me the only ones locked up are there on crimanal charges.

[tomyummer]

What a crock. We knew this would come out sooner or later in Thailand. The land of pardons. All politicians in Thailand are coated with teflon. Even during the protests Jathuporn had special privileges as a senator that prevented him from being arrested while the house was in session. They create laws to protect themselves and to allow the continuance of raiding the government coffers.

The politicians should all be thrown in jail without amnesty. What a crock of sh*t. Shameful and embarrassing.

[scorecard]

NO way, not ever!

- Sanan has a scaly past and I wouldn't trust him one inch!

- Absolute total respect for the laws of Thailand must be part of the way forward!

- Amnesty would bring up numerous other requests for amnesty for mionor crimes. How do you respond to that to be fair?

- Amnesty would create a precedent which absolutely must be taken into account / respected in deleberation / decisions in any future cases. A very bad move. No way, not ever!

[Insight]

"Without rule of law the country will not survive"

Can't really argue with that...

[Robby nz]

The government whips on Thursday agreed not to forward an amnesty bill for consideration by the House of Representatives and to return it to the Bhumjaithai Party for review, government chief whip Witthaya Kaewparadai said.

The bill was submitted to the House of Representatives last year but has never been put on the House meeting agenda.

Mr Witthaya said the Bhumjaithai Party was also asked to gather up to 50,000 names of eligible voters to support the bill.

Prajak Klaewklaharn, chairman of Bhumjaithai MPs and a government whip, said in submitting the bill his party wanted to amnesty the people who honestly took part in political gatherings.

The amnesty would not cover leaders of the protests, those who committed criminal offences, or the 220 politicians banned from politics for five years by the Constitution Court.

Mr Prajak agreed to taking the bill back for review, saying that it did not include political gatherings of the red shirts

About the only ones that leaves are Thaksin and the yellow shirts.

[asiawatcher]

Is this turkey on cheap drugs?

[siampolee]

I can only presume that the fortunes of Sanan have diminished thus this explains his crusade and his pressing need to. " rehabilitate" a few of his old pals thus ensuring the commission payments start again enabling him (Sanan) to refill his and the family coffers.

Edited September 16, 2010 by siampolee