PM Abhisit, Red Shirts Agree On Bail For Jailed Protesters

[webfact]

POLITICS

PM, red shirts agree on bail for jailed protesters

By The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday met with red-shirt leaders to discuss government bail assistance for protesters and organisers on remand.

Abhisit, red-shirt caretaker chief Thida Tawornsate Tojirakarn and key member Veera Musigapong agreed to let the Rights and Liberties Protection Department (RLPD) take care of bail for red shirts who remain in jail. The fight for different ideologies could continue as long as it was peaceful, they agreed.

However, caretaker red-shirt spokesman Worawut Wichaidit said Thida had represented herself in the meeting and owed an explanation to the red shirts for talking to Abhisit.

Abhisit said Thida and her group had to prove they were peaceful and to act against users of violence.

"This must be proved by actions," he said. If red-shirt leaders uncovered violent plots outside of their own organisation, they must oppose them, not just deny responsibility and do nothing, he said.

"Thida said she would try to talk to those outside of the framework, too," he said, adding that the leaders must be responsible for the actions of the masses.

Abhisit said the RLPD would prioritise underprivileged protesters who did not have lawyers or money. Help for red-shirt leaders like Thida's husband weng Tojirakarn would come later.

He said the government had already followed the advice of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission led by Kanit na Nakorn to aid the temporary release of detained red shirts as part of reconciliation.

In a separate interview, Thida said there had been a communication breakdown between the department and the detained red-shirt leaders. The group was refusing to talk to officers from the department.

"I agree with bail assistance because I see no other way to secure the releases," she said, referring to red shirts' attempts to get bail with the help of their own lawyers.

She said the red shirts would carry on organising rallies while abiding by the law.

Abhisit said it was for the department, the red shirts and the national security agencies to discuss conditions and risks associated with releasing the red-shirt leaders, such as escape or witness intimidation.

He said the government had not interfered with the court in granting bail to the red shirts. Temporary bail had been requested for five of the protesters but only three of them received it, he said.

Thida said there were three groups seen as being red shirts: her group, their allies and an independent anti-government group. The protesters committing lese majeste were certainly not in her group, she said.

She also denied former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was involved in or funding her organisation.

The prime minister's meeting with the red-shirt leaders was unplanned. Abhisit was at the Miracle Grand Hotel to preside over a seminar on media reform. Thida had an appointment with Veera Musigapong for a coffee when she accidentally met the PM's deputy secretary-general Panitan Wattanayagorn.

Abhisit said he learned at the hotel that the two red shirts were also there and decided to talk to them.

The discussion was closed to the media.

-- The Nation 2010-12-17

[asiawatcher]

A conciliatory move by the PM for sure. More intelligence and common sense from this leader.

But one would worry at: "... Thida said there had been a communication breakdown between the department and the detained red-shirt leaders. The group was refusing to talk to officers from the department."

Hard nose violent people who refuse to co-operate are still likely to cause rifts and raise teams propagating violence. I would be concerned that many who are jailed, having been caught in their misguided passion, may by now understand (perhaps) the stupidity of their actions, but it in no way discounts their activities.

Bail is a measure of good faith so let's see if they can conduct themselves with any normalcy. We live in hope.

[whybother]

Abhisit said Thida and her group had to prove they were peaceful and to act against users of violence.

"This must be proved by actions," he said. If red-shirt leaders uncovered violent plots outside of their own organisation, they must oppose them, not just deny responsibility and do nothing, he said.

"Thida said she would try to talk to those outside of the framework, too," he said, adding that the leaders must be responsible for the actions of the masses.

None of the red leaders have worked against violence with in the red shirts. All they ever do is either incite it, or deny it.

[rubl]

The title of this OP is slightly misleading "Agree on Bail". The text following shows it's more of "Agree to continue talking (under conditions)". I guess that's better than nothing

[Cuchulainn]

...........Thida had an appointment with Veera Musigapong for a coffee...............

Isn't this cosy, comrade brother?

[doggie888888]

I don't understand....were these people not accused of terrorism by the government? So now the same government is willing to release terrorists and help in their bail? Is this an acknowledgment that perhaps it was a tad excessive to label them as terrorist in the first place?

[hyperdimension]

I wonder if Veera and Thida actually planned to bump into Abhisit.

[whybother]

I don't understand....were these people not accused of terrorism by the government? So now the same government is willing to release terrorists and help in their bail? Is this an acknowledgment that perhaps it was a tad excessive to label them as terrorist in the first place?

The leaders were accused of terrorism. The red shirts that the government are helping were charged with lesser offences.

[PoorSucker]

I don't understand....were these people not accused of terrorism by the government? So now the same government is willing to release terrorists and help in their bail? Is this an acknowledgment that perhaps it was a tad excessive to label them as terrorist in the first place?

The leaders were accused of terrorism. The red shirts that the government are helping were charged with lesser offences.

The red shirts considered for bail is just charged with breaking the state of emergency.

Armed black shirts and the leaders are charged with terrorism.

[hyperdimension]

I don't understand....were these people not accused of terrorism by the government? So now the same government is willing to release terrorists and help in their bail? Is this an acknowledgment that perhaps it was a tad excessive to label them as terrorist in the first place?

The leaders were accused of terrorism. The red shirts that the government are helping were charged with lesser offences.

The red shirts considered for bail is just charged with breaking the state of emergency.

Armed black shirts and the leaders are charged with terrorism.

and it's the leaders, including her husband, that she is trying to get released. How great she is for working to improve the lives of the people of Thailand.

[Emptyset]

I don't understand....were these people not accused of terrorism by the government? So now the same government is willing to release terrorists and help in their bail? Is this an acknowledgment that perhaps it was a tad excessive to label them as terrorist in the first place?

The leaders were accused of terrorism. The red shirts that the government are helping were charged with lesser offences.

The red shirts considered for bail is just charged with breaking the state of emergency.

Armed black shirts and the leaders are charged with terrorism.

The government is going to help all jailed red shirts where possible, including leaders. See: http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/144386.html

"In related development, Suwana Suwanjutha, director-general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, met 19 detained Red Shirt leaders today at the Bangkok Remand Prison.

After discussion for two hours, Mrs Suwana said 11 of the 19 have asked for assistance in providing lawyer and financial aid for their bail bond from the Justice Fund. The remaining eight

UDD leaders requested help on documents to the court to support their bail bid. They said they would use their own lawyers and collateral."

[philw]

I don't understand....were these people not accused of terrorism by the government? So now the same government is willing to release terrorists and help in their bail? Is this an acknowledgment that perhaps it was a tad excessive to label them as terrorist in the first place?

Good point and one many on here have been trying to make for months.

Maybe the original accusation of terrorism was a " tad" ( nice word btw ) disingenuous.

Make a nice headline in Thai Rath, " Governement bails terrorists......."

[hyperdimension]

I don't understand....were these people not accused of terrorism by the government? So now the same government is willing to release terrorists and help in their bail? Is this an acknowledgment that perhaps it was a tad excessive to label them as terrorist in the first place?

Good point and one many on here have been trying to make for months.

Maybe the original accusation of terrorism was a " tad" ( nice word btw ) disingenuous.

Make a nice headline in Thai Rath, " Governement bails terrorists......."

I think many of the leaders' speeches would fit into the category of inciting terrorism:

[jayjay0]

I don't understand....were these people not accused of terrorism by the government? So now the same government is willing to release terrorists and help in their bail? Is this an acknowledgment that perhaps it was a tad excessive to label them as terrorist in the first place?

The leaders were accused of terrorism. The red shirts that the government are helping were charged with lesser offences.

The red shirts considered for bail is just charged with breaking the state of emergency.

Armed black shirts and the leaders are charged with terrorism.

The government is going to help all jailed red shirts where possible, including leaders. See: http://www.mcot.net/...age/144386.html

"In related development, Suwana Suwanjutha, director-general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, met 19 detained Red Shirt leaders today at the Bangkok Remand Prison.

After discussion for two hours, Mrs Suwana said 11 of the 19 have asked for assistance in providing lawyer and financial aid for their bail bond from the Justice Fund. The remaining eight

UDD leaders requested help on documents to the court to support their bail bid. They said they would use their own lawyers and collateral."

Now let me get this rite. They conspired to get rid of the government through terrorism burn Bangkok down. They were in the pay of Thaksin and now that they are being asked to be accountable for there actions he abandons them and they are asking the Government who they vilified to help them out.

Did I miss some thing?

Should the government not be working to help them to a long stay in Jail?

Edited December 17, 2010 by jayjay0

[mkawish]

I don't understand....were these people not accused of terrorism by the government? So now the same government is willing to release terrorists and help in their bail? Is this an acknowledgment that perhaps it was a tad excessive to label them as terrorist in the first place?

It appears that the govt is willing to assist with those reds with lighter allegations and who have no one to turn to for bail. Their own red brothers, such as JaTuPorn and several others are not willing to date to offer any assistance in spite of the fact that they have been begging for release for a long time.

As for those with serious charges, their petitions for temporary release based on one million bahts each tended to court, were categorically denied.

They were probably hoping that since their comrade, Veera, was able to gain release, they too with bail offered, could probably be released even easier.

But the court announced denial citing dangerous elements and mounting serious charges possibly could culminate in execution, for some.

[Siam Simon]

I don't understand....were these people not accused of terrorism by the government? So now the same government is willing to release terrorists and help in their bail? Is this an acknowledgment that perhaps it was a tad excessive to label them as terrorist in the first place?

It appears that the govt is willing to assist with those reds with lighter allegations and who have no one to turn to for bail. Their own red brothers, such as JaTuPorn and several others are not willing to date to offer any assistance in spite of the fact that they have been begging for release for a long time.

As for those with serious charges, their petitions for temporary release based on one million bahts each tended to court, were categorically denied.

They were probably hoping that since their comrade, Veera, was able to gain release, they too with bail offered, could probably be released even easier.

But the court announced denial citing dangerous elements and mounting serious charges possibly could culminate in execution, for some.

If the only charge is 'attempted murder' or 'attempted manslaughter' they will all be released with suspended sentences the same as the PAD guy who deliberately drove his truck into the police officers then reversed it back over one of the police officers he'd driven into. Oh, sorry. I forgot. Thai law isn't based on precedent .