Thanks To Thailand's Newin, A Reconciliation - Albeit By Default

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THAI TALK

Thanks to Newin, a reconciliation - albeit by default

By Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

Believe it or not, national reconciliation has broken out, and if we aren't careful the reds and yellows may shock all of us by burying the hatchet and putting an end to their long-standing fight. We would then have to live with "peace", not knowing what normalcy really means in this country.

Yes, the red, yellow and multicoloured shirts have come together, taking a common stand on a very important political issue, thanks to the amnesty bill proposed by Newin Chidchob's Bhum Jai Thai Party, and now backed by Banharn Silpa-archa's Chart Thai Pattana Party.

Newin and Banharn have been able to do what Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, ex-PM Anand Panyarachun and senior citizen Prawase Wasi have failed to achieve: Get the red and yellow shirts to talk the same language.

Now, with the two coalition partners in the Abhisit government declaring their joint effort to hammer out national reconciliation by proposing clemency for "the innocent" in the series of yellow- and red-shirt protests, the supposed beneficiaries of this move, strange as it may sound, have shot the idea down almost as soon as it was made public.

And don't be surprised either if the ruling Democrat Party and the main opposition Pheu Thai take a more or less similar stand of rejecting the proposal.

Of course, the main rivals in the political arena have raised their opposition to the bill for their own different reasons.

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan says this is a "foxy bill" aimed at pardoning the "murders of the people". He calls it a piece of legislation "of the murderers, for the murderers, by the murderers". Jatuporn claims that Bhum Jai Thai realises full well that the "genocide" case is being brought to the World Court.

The yellow-shirt leaders have shot down the amnesty bill with equally vehement rhetoric, adding that the real aim is probably to absolve those 111 and 109 MPs banned from politics as a result of court verdicts on electoral fraud.

The multicoloured faction meanwhile says it is lobbying for signatures from members of the public to protest the amnesty scheme on the grounds that it won't result in national reconciliation. In fact, the move will only help protect those who violated the law during the political rallies.

The Democrats have cold-shouldered the move, with the prime minister insisting that it's not high on the priority list of his political agenda.

Opposition Pheu Thai says the "hidden agenda" is to protect military officers from being found guilty over their suppression of the red-shirt protestors during the April-May rallies this year.

All these reasons against have been cited despite the two coalition partners' insistence that the proposed clemency would only benefit "innocent participants" in the protest activities. Nobody seems to believe Newin and Banharn's repeated assurances that no politician, especially Thaksin Shinawatra, would be covered by the bill.

But then, if pressed, they would confess that the success of the whole exercise isn't supposed to be measured by whether it will actually be passed into law or not. Victory, for them, is simply to kick up a storm, fuel speculation about their real motives, and lure a number of red shirts and undecided voters to cast their votes for the promise in the next election.

Whether you love or hate them, Bhum Jai Thai and Chart Chai Pattana have managed to solve a problem that has defied solution for many years: getting the red, yellow and multicoloured factions to forget their rivalry, at least for a while.

Even if that's achieved by default, the reluctant reconciliation between the different colours is a relief, however fragile and illusory it may be.

-- The Nation 2010-09-30

[Thaddeus]

But then, if pressed, they would confess that the success of the whole exercise isn't supposed to be measured by whether it will actually be passed into law or not.

Once again, just talking about something fixes the problem ..... yeah, right.

[Changian]

You know things are f&%ked up when Newin is touted by The Nation as being the voice of reason in Thai politics.

[chantorn]

More & more Newin seems to be the PM after his ban.

[Buchholz]

Jatuporn claims that Bhum Jai Thai realises full well that the "genocide" case is being brought to the World Court.

Has Jatuporn actually stooped to calling the Red deaths a "genocide"?

Does Newin, or ANY ONE for that matter, really believe, let alone "realises full well" that this situation will be accepted at the World Court?

[Ricardo]

More & more Newin seems to be the PM after his ban.

with Jatuporn as Deputy-PM, perhaps ?

[montrii]

But then, if pressed, they would confess that the success of the whole exercise isn't supposed to be measured by whether it will actually be passed into law or not.

Once again, just talking about something fixes the problem ..... yeah, right.

Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but isn't the article written kind of tongue-in-cheek, really? It's about the irony that something Newin proposes should bring people together because all sides think it's a bad idea. It's all ironic! The writer doesn't really think this is bringing the factions together, he's pointing out how out of touch Newin is.

[Thaddeus]

Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but isn't the article written kind of tongue-in-cheek, really? It's about the irony that something Newin proposes should bring people together because all sides think it's a bad idea. It's all ironic!

That is a possibility, I suppose that after being here so long I have lost the ability to spot irony, and sarcasm.

//edit/P.S. my comment was aimed at Newin et al, not the author of the article.

Edited September 30, 2010 by Thaddeus

[TAWP]

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan says this is a "foxy bill" aimed at pardoning the "murders of the people". He calls it a piece of legislation "of the murderers, for the murderers, by the murderers". Jatuporn claims that Bhum Jai Thai realises full well that the "genocide" case is being brought to the World Court.

Highlighting lies and hyperbolic nonsense.

[TheBarbarian]

The only thing Newin wants is to burry the wrong doing of murderous generals his own roll in applying fighters in black on the streets that caused the uproar during the Pattaya Summit and he wants hos political ban overturned. Their cannot be any reconciliation when protest leaders are accused of terrorism while the yellow shirts receiving bonuses from the military for raping democracy. The Nation should know better but they do not want to know better. They are themselves to blame for numerous innocent victims. Their directors brought yellow flowers to democracy rapists.

[hammered]

Jatuporn's statement sounds utterly insane. Maybe the swelling of his body as he gets to eat more and more is causing some pressure on the brain.

Wonder where the donations to the reds have gone.....

[Buchholz]

Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but isn't the article written kind of tongue-in-cheek, really?

It's all ironic!

That is a possibility, I suppose that after being here so long I have lost the ability to spot irony, and sarcasm.

I thought it was very obvious to me that it was all irony and tongue-in-cheek as montrii says, although I can certainly empathize that it is, indeed, difficult at times to spot. There are so many surreal occurrences here that many reports can easily be taken at face value without considering an author is actually going for an opposite point.

In terms of true reconciliation, the interesting development of Sanan meeting with all sides is something of note. No one else has previously met with the different groups except him:

Perhaps nothing develops with his efforts, but at least it's a start to be able to talk.

[Pi Sek]

The only thing Newin wants is to burry the wrong doing of murderous generals his own roll in applying fighters in black on the streets that caused the uproar during the Pattaya Summit and he wants hos political ban overturned. Their cannot be any reconciliation when protest leaders are accused of terrorism while the yellow shirts receiving bonuses from the military for raping democracy. The Nation should know better but they do not want to know better. They are themselves to blame for numerous innocent victims. Their directors brought yellow flowers to democracy rapists.

I read somewhere that there is an "ignore" button somewhere, but I can't find it. Can anyone help, this obvious troll's posts do not warrant my attention.

I thought about replying - I have done in the past - but this person has an agenda over than truth, so I would prefer to just not see his inflammatory comments.

[Slaughterhouse]

YOU are scarily right.

You know things are f&%ked up when Newin is touted by The Nation as being the voice of reason in Thai politics.

[asiawatcher]

Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but isn't the article written kind of tongue-in-cheek, really?

It's all ironic!

That is a possibility, I suppose that after being here so long I have lost the ability to spot irony, and sarcasm.

I thought it was very obvious to me that it was all irony and tongue-in-cheek as montrii says, although I can certainly empathize that it is, indeed, difficult at times to spot. There are so many surreal occurrences here that many reports can easily be taken at face value without considering an author is actually going for an opposite point.

In terms of true reconciliation, the interesting development of Sanan meeting with all sides is something of note. No one else has previously met with the different groups except him:

http://www.thaivisa....ce-with-sondhi/

Perhaps nothing develops with his efforts, but at least it's a start to be able to talk.

Agree but Sanan is only politicking and I really don't see any real effort for truth and reconcilliation. I only see that as credos in public imaging and scavenging for support.

[truethailand]

The only thing Newin wants is to burry the wrong doing of murderous generals his own roll in applying fighters in black on the streets that caused the uproar during the Pattaya Summit and he wants hos political ban overturned. Their cannot be any reconciliation when protest leaders are accused of terrorism while the yellow shirts receiving bonuses from the military for raping democracy. The Nation should know better but they do not want to know better. They are themselves to blame for numerous innocent victims. Their directors brought yellow flowers to democracy rapists.

I read somewhere that there is an "ignore" button somewhere, but I can't find it. Can anyone help, this obvious troll's posts do not warrant my attention.

I thought about replying - I have done in the past - but this person has an agenda over than truth, so I would prefer to just not see his inflammatory comments.

The poster has got beliefs.. what is your 'directive' or agenda....

[whybother]

The only thing Newin wants is to burry the wrong doing of murderous generals his own roll in applying fighters in black on the streets that caused the uproar during the Pattaya Summit and he wants hos political ban overturned. Their cannot be any reconciliation when protest leaders are accused of terrorism while the yellow shirts receiving bonuses from the military for raping democracy. The Nation should know better but they do not want to know better. They are themselves to blame for numerous innocent victims. Their directors brought yellow flowers to democracy rapists.

Weren't Newin's lot in 2009 wearing blue?

Maybe you want to elaborate on the "receiving bonuses from the military" and "raping democracy".

Burning down buildings and shooting at the army is a bit more serious than sitting down in front of a couple of airports, isn't it?

How are the Nation to blame for the "numerous innocent victims"? Victims of what?

I could go on, but I don't expect any sensible answers anyway.

[Pi Sek]

The only thing Newin wants is to burry the wrong doing of murderous generals his own roll in applying fighters in black on the streets that caused the uproar during the Pattaya Summit and he wants hos political ban overturned. Their cannot be any reconciliation when protest leaders are accused of terrorism while the yellow shirts receiving bonuses from the military for raping democracy. The Nation should know better but they do not want to know better. They are themselves to blame for numerous innocent victims. Their directors brought yellow flowers to democracy rapists.

I read somewhere that there is an "ignore" button somewhere, but I can't find it. Can anyone help, this obvious troll's posts do not warrant my attention.

I thought about replying - I have done in the past - but this person has an agenda over than truth, so I would prefer to just not see his inflammatory comments.

The poster has got beliefs.. what is your 'directive' or agenda....

I understand that other people have opinions, and I will agree to respect them. But I must admit I think you are wrong (note I said "think" - this is MY opinion) in saying that this person is posting his opinion. I can only make this assumption that "this person has an agenda over than truth" upon judgement of - well, all of his previous posts.

However, in answer to your question, my directive or agenda is the "Ignore" button, hence I haven't dissected TheBarbarian's ridiculous post.

Goodwill to all