Yingluck Puts Chalerm In Charge Of Amnesty Move

[Lite Beer]

Yingluck puts Chalerm in charge of amnesty move

By The Nation on Sunday

Abhisit Vejjajiva and Yingluck Shinawatra, the country's top candidates for prime minister in the July 3 election, yesterday gave voters two contrasting messages.

The incumbent premier said he would start working on his existing and new policies from day one, while Yingluck pledged that her party would grant an amnesty to convicted politicians to pave the way for national reconciliation.

Yingluck said the Pheu Thai Party, backed by fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the red shirts, would draft an amnesty bill under the stewardship of party-list MP candidate Chalerm Yoobamrung.

A neutral committee would be set up to oversee the process to ensure that it was based on the rule of law and the principles of equality.

Pheu Thai party-list No 1 Yingluck yesterday expressed confidence the party would win more than half of the 500 House seats and it would be ready to form the next coalition government with other parties.

Speaking in Chiang Mai, the Pheu Thai's stronghold, Yingluck said the party would not discriminate against any party and would select those who have ideologies and solutions that could solve national problems.

Prime Minister Abhisit, meanwhile, told supporters in Bangkok that the Democrats were more experienced than their rivals in running the country.

Over the past two years, the party had implemented many policies, such as free education, allowances for senior people, subsidies for farmers, regulating motorcycle taxis, incentives for first-home buyers, and refinancing credit-card debts and high-interest private loans.

If voters choose the Democrats, the party could continue and improve these policies from the very first day it takes office, but if the Pheu Thai wins the election, these policies might be scrapped.

If re-elected, the party would also introduce four policies - increase the minimum wage by 25 per cent within two years, crack down on drugs, increase subsidies for farmers by 25 per cent, and increase education loans for an additional 250,000 students.

While campaigning at Wat Arun, a group of red shirts held a placard with a message "What about 91 bodies?" referring to those killed in last year's government crackdown on protesters.

Meanwhile, Yingluck said she was confident she would not be disqualified as an MP candidate for her alleged role in the Thaksin assets-seizure case, in which she allegedly committed perjury by testifying in court that Thaksin's assets belonged to her.

"This case [Thaksin assets seizure] is related to political officer holders and is not a criminal case so it is unlikely that I will be subjected to disqualification. I have to admit that I am facing heavy pressure because politics is abnormal. I have to be patient and explain. I wish politics to be constructive and with competition over policies," she said.

Yingluck also rejected criticism that having many red-shirt leaders on the Pheu Thai party-list would adversely affect national reconciliation efforts, saying problems were inevitable but the party was willing to work for the public so she hoped people would understand.

Yingluck said the party had drawn up a plan to grant amnesty to all those concerned and had put Chalerm in charge of drafting an amnesty law. A neutral committee would be set up to oversee the process by adhering to the rule of law and the principle of equality.

The red shirts gathered to welcome Yingluck at all places she dropped by to visit, chanting and asking her to bring Thaksin home. After paying her respect at Chiang Mai's Doi Suthep Temple, and a few other places, Yingluck took to the campaign stage at a sports stadium, where up to 5,000 people were expected to attend. She cancelled a visit to Lamphun and opted for Warorot market, where Thaksin believed the party had strong support.

Yingluck said that of Chiang Mai's 10 constituencies, the party felt it had a tough fight for two. She urged local people to vote for Pheu Thai. Party leader Yongyuth Wichaidit, Chalerm and red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua also took to the stage. They said voters could help bring Thaksin home and ensure Yingluck became Thailand's first woman PM.

-- The Nation 2011-05-22

[whybother]

Yingluck said the Pheu Thai Party, backed by fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the red shirts, would draft an amnesty bill under the stewardship of party-list MP candidate Chalerm Yoobamrung.

It's not a priority ... but they've started BEFORE they're even elected.

Pheu Thai party-list No 1 Yingluck yesterday expressed confidence the party would win more than half of the 500 House seats and it would be ready to form the next coalition government with other parties.

She doesn't even understand how the system works. If you get more than half the seats by yourself, you don't need to form a coalition government.

[marquess]

Yingluck said the Pheu Thai Party, backed by fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the red shirts, would draft an amnesty bill under the stewardship of party-list MP candidate Chalerm Yoobamrung.

It's not a priority ... but they've started BEFORE they're even elected.

Pheu Thai party-list No 1 Yingluck yesterday expressed confidence the party would win more than half of the 500 House seats and it would be ready to form the next coalition government with other parties.

She doesn't even understand how the system works. If you get more than half the seats by yourself, you don't need to form a coalition government.

As Abisit said, a vote for Pheu Thai, is a return to square one, I hope that the people of this country are sensible enough realise that the country needs to move on and deal with real issues rather than rehabilitating discredited politicians.

[Thailand]

Got to be one of the most amazing manifesto's for any political party anywhere in the world.

Not education, health etc but amnesty for criminals. TIT

[Lite Beer]

Thai opposition leader begins poll campaign

CHIANG MAI, May 22, 2011 (AFP) - The sister of Thailand's former leader Thaksin Shinawatra put the fugitive tycoon at the centre of her own bid to lead the country on Saturday in the first major rally in her election campaign.

Yingluck Shinawatra told a gathering of several thousand supporters in the northern city of Chiang Mai that her brother, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup, was key to her Puea Thai party's battle for the July 3 poll.

"Thaksin helped to map out our party policy and I, Yingluck, will implement it," she told the crowd in a packed indoor gymnasium on the outskirts of her home city, a stronghold of the opposition "Red Shirt" movement.

Yingluck, who addressed the crowd in the local dialect, also promised a return to Thaksin's populist policies, which made the divisive premier a hero to many of the mainly rural, working-class Reds.

Thaksin's youngest sister presents the biggest challenge for incumbent Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Democrats in what is expected to be a closely-fought election.

But she is politically inexperienced and viewed as a proxy for Thaksin, who is widely considered the de facto leader of the Puea Thai party despite living abroad to escape a jail term imposed in absentia for corruption.

Yingluck addressed fears over her abilities in her speech, telling supporters "politics is in my blood, I have learnt a lot from Thaksin".

Thailand remains deeply divided a year after more than 90 people were killed during anti-government Red Shirt rallies in Bangkok.

Observers fear the election could bring more unrest and possibly even another military coup if the opposition wins.

Abhisit's political foes view his government as an unelected puppet of the military and the establishment because it came to power after a 2008 judicial ruling threw out the previous administration, headed by Thaksin's brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat.

Somchai accompanied Yingluck on a tour of Chiang Mai early Saturday as she visited various religious sites and met voters on the city streets.

Puea Thai is considering issuing an amnesty to politicians who have been charged or convicted if it wins the election, potentially paving the way for Thaksin to return to Thailand.

The party has wide support among the Reds and about 10 of the protest movement's leaders have registered as Puea Thai candidates.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-05-22

[whybother]

So, is there anyone out there that STILL doesn't believe "Thaksin = PTP = Red Shirts"?

[soihok]

Got to be one of the most amazing manifesto's for any political party anywhere in the world.

Not education, health etc but amnesty for criminals. TIT

Agree.

The fact that Abhisit has stated what is to be achieved within the next two years has to be admirable.

Whether it can be achieved is another story though, but at least pardoning criminals is not at the top of the list. Does anyone on this forum think that they would be pardoned for massive tax evasion?

[Crushdepth]

A neutral committee would be set up to oversee the process to ensure that it was based on the rule of law

Changing the law so that criminals can avoid their sentence is not rule of law, its an abuse of power.

[RKASA]

Got to be one of the most amazing manifesto's for any political party anywhere in the world.

Not education, health etc but amnesty for criminals. TIT

Agree.

The fact that Abhisit has stated what is to be achieved within the next two years has to be admirable.

Whether it can be achieved is another story though, but at least pardoning criminals is not at the top of the list. Does anyone on this forum think that they would be pardoned for massive tax evasion?

Only a few of Bill Clinton's friend.

[Langsuan Man]

Does anyone else see the irony in the choice of Chalerm to be in charge of Amnesty

He certainly knows everything about cleaning up messes left by his sons

[lazygourmet]

Does anyone else see the irony in the choice of Chalerm to be in charge of Amnesty

He certainly knows everything about cleaning up messes left by his sons

[ratcatcher]

I was wondering who the goofy young guy with sunglasses is. Then it occurred to me it is probably her little cousin Panthongtae, ready to step into a high paying job in The Ministry of Corruption.

Talk about a family business.

Does he ever not wear shades?

[asdecas]

Chalerm is, and always has been, a very nasty piece of Thai political work. His sons are far worse, in particular Duangchalerm, the youngest, who escaped a murder charge in 2001 largely through his father's influence. It defies belief how this scum is elected again and again to blot the landscape with his filth.

[animatic]

...Meanwhile, Yingluck said she was confident she would not be disqualified as an MP candidate for her alleged role in the Thaksin assets-seizure case, in which she allegedly committed perjury by testifying in court that Thaksin's assets belonged to her.

"This case [Thaksin assets seizure] is related to political officer holders and is not a criminal case so it is unlikely that I will be subjected to disqualification...

Righty O,

a court specifically to deal with prosecuting criminal acts by 'Political Office Holders' is deemed NOT criminal, because it is' political.' Basically this lame logic is trying to give politicians a pass to do as they please, which is in direct contravention of the intent of the court. Perjury is perjury, regardless if the court is for office holders or average somchais. This is truly absurd logic. TIT

[animatic]

Does anyone else see the irony in the choice of Chalerm to be in charge of Amnesty

He certainly knows everything about cleaning up messes left by his sons

[anterian]

Is this a Democrat supporters chat room?

[Langsuan Man]

Is this a Democrat supporters chat room?

You know actually I was sort of impressed with Yingluck until this announcement

[jpp2bkk]

Gangsters in the service of gangsters, and I pay taxes for that

[mrtoad]

A neutral committee would be set up to oversee the process to ensure that it was based on the rule of law

Changing the law so that criminals can avoid their sentence is not rule of law, its an abuse of power.

Would you expect any other from this bunch of crooks?

They've certainly picked the right person to lead the amnesty move, someone who is very much used to abuses of power (allegedly)

[samurai]

Yingluck said the Pheu Thai Party, backed by fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the red shirts, would draft an amnesty bill under the stewardship of party-list MP candidate Chalerm Yoobamrung.

It's not a priority ... but they've started BEFORE they're even elected.

Pheu Thai party-list No 1 Yingluck yesterday expressed confidence the party would win more than half of the 500 House seats and it would be ready to form the next coalition government with other parties.

She doesn't even understand how the system works. If you get more than half the seats by yourself, you don't need to form a coalition government.

A) Its good that they tell the voters what are their plans.

B ) Why not? Even if you have more than 50% of the house seats you can work together with other parties and form a coalition.

C) Don't forget it is just a summery and Thai style reporting.

[samurai]

Got to be one of the most amazing manifesto's for any political party anywhere in the world.

Not education, health etc but amnesty for criminals. TIT

That is the one of the most selective reading and over simplification I have ever seen.

Your member name gives the abbreviation TIT a new meaning.

Edited May 22, 2011 by samurai

[BlackJack]

this is scary

a stooge and a fix it man

som nom na

[slapout]

Many people (general population) look at the individuals (experience, past record, and their platform to serve the voters), not the party banner they run under. Granted the recent Democrat coalition had some real bottom feeders, but at least they were somewhat curtailed in their quest for money, by those with good public intentions in mind.

Some of the prominent top twenty of the Thaksin party have developed the ability to copy the old style hell and damnation preachers, and other political despots of history. They have had their day in the limelight and managed to enlarge their bank balances, work the corrupt system for themselves and family/cronies and were sent to the back of the room or off campus, as punishment, and are now attempting to get back on the teat.

When you have an infestation of any kind of parasite you must get rid of the culprit, the young and the eggs from which they hatched.

[pisico]

Bad strategic move at this point in time.

Very premature the formation of an amnesty commission.

Obviously the purpose is to assure the hard core pro-Thaksin followers that he will be back.

But the ammo that the announcement will give Abhisit is enormous.

If she wins, this announcement is a portent of things to follow.

Is going to get very ugly and bloody.

[Rhys]

Just too funny, yet too sad.

[samurai]

When you have an infestation of any kind of parasite you must get rid of the culprit, the young and the eggs from which they hatched.

In Democracies you hold elections.

[samurai]

Is this a Democrat supporters chat room?

No, it is the family man community. Welcome.

[powderpuff]

Great that she gets her cards out on the table now. Maybe the peeps will remove the scales from their eyes. Enough of this red shirt rubbish.

[whybother]

When you have an infestation of any kind of parasite you must get rid of the culprit, the young and the eggs from which they hatched.

In Democracies you hold elections.

My gf and I voted on how to get rid of our ant infestation. Once we had voted, the ants were still there.

[Thaddeus]

Some days I feel genuinely sorry for the general Thai populace.

This is one of those days.