Anger Erupts In Thailand Over Plans For Amnesty

[webfact]

Anger Erupts in Thailand Over Plans for Amnesty

By THOMAS FULLER

BANGKOK — The Thai government faced a political uproar on Wednesday after details surfaced of a proposed prisoner amnesty that the country’s opposition says is designed to pardon Thaksin Shinawatra, the prime minister ousted in the 2006 military coup.

Thai officials did not provide details of the proposed amnesty, saying it was secret and needed approval from more than a dozen government committees before it could become law. But the prospect of an amnesty for Mr. Thaksin, who remains an extremely divisive figure in the country, stunned and angered opponents of the government — now headed by his sister — and risked aggravating old wounds.

The government already faces major discontent over the handling of the country’s worst flooding in decades. The authorities tried to protect the economy and the capital, Bangkok, channeling waters away from industrial sites and parts of the city but often increasing the damage to the rural areas that form Mr. Thaksin’s main support base. [more...]

Full story: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/world/asia/possible-amnesty-for-former-thai-prime-minister-causes-uproar.html

-- nytimes.com 2011-11-17

[hellodolly]

Well now The PT have successfully made Thailand look like a third nation country to the rest of the world.

Edited November 17, 2011 by hellodolly

[eezergood]

Well now The PT have successfully made Thailand look like a third nation country to the rest of the world.

Something about the shoe fitting.......... and geting what one deserves

[maidu]

It's so blatant, it's almost comical - though having T return is no joke.

Thailand has a gnarly tradition of PM leaving in disgrace and/or by coups, and then returning again to the PM's seat.

For many decades, it was military tough guys commandeering Thai gov't. Thaksin changes that just a bit. He's a police academy tough guy.

If PT and Ms Yingluck could feel any shame, it would be over this sham amnesty thing. Alas, they only feel elation - that the person who thinks for them is coming back to re-take Thailand's top political seat.

[mijan24]

Well now The PT have successfully made Thailand look like a third nation country to the rest of the world.

hellodolly Yes Thailand may appear as a "third world country" and the buffoons you speak of help this perception to maintain its reality - although on the other hand Thailand has no current deficiet and consequently are running in the "black" whilst Australia for one has a massive account deficiet and we are into the red up to our necks.

With this said I would be interested to know how many $'s does Australia donate to keep this 3rd world country in the "black"

I do not dipute what you have said just thought I would highlight who is really the Bannana republic Australia or Thailand??

[davejonesbkk]

It's so blatant, it's almost comical - though having T return is no joke.

Thailand has a gnarly tradition of PM leaving in disgrace and/or by coups, and then returning again to the PM's seat.

For many decades, it was military tough guys commandeering Thai gov't. Thaksin changes that just a bit. He's a police academy tough guy.

If PT and Ms Yingluck could feel any shame, it would be over this sham amnesty thing. Alas, they only feel elation - that the person who thinks for them is coming back to re-take Thailand's top political seat.

Which PMs in the past have been forced to leave the country and then come back to PM again?

My thai political history isnt so good.

[jpinx]

................. hellodolly Yes Thailand may appear as a "third world country" and the buffoons you speak of help this perception to maintain its reality - although on the other hand Thailand has no current deficiet and consequently are running in the "black" whilst Australia for one has a massive account deficiet and we are into the red up to our necks............

But credit is a "good" thing in the eyes of the western world.

Edited November 17, 2011 by jpinx

[Payboy]

Well now The PT have successfully made Thailand look like a third nation country to the rest of the world.

As if about 20 coups d'état were not enough already.

[gregb]

It's so blatant, it's almost comical - though having T return is no joke.

Thailand has a gnarly tradition of PM leaving in disgrace and/or by coups, and then returning again to the PM's seat.

For many decades, it was military tough guys commandeering Thai gov't. Thaksin changes that just a bit. He's a police academy tough guy.

If PT and Ms Yingluck could feel any shame, it would be over this sham amnesty thing. Alas, they only feel elation - that the person who thinks for them is coming back to re-take Thailand's top political seat.

If you can believe an analysis on that paper that can not be named, then the opposition will be submitting a case to the NACC for review of whether or not the way the deliberations were taken can be considered by them under their charter. That will give the privy council the legal standing it needs to avoid submitting this to the king for the time being, thus it won't be happening this December. But that tactic won't work for the long term, so they are going to need to come up with a longer term strategy for thwarting this abomination against justice before next year's pardoning roles around.

[eezergood]

Well now The PT have successfully made Thailand look like a third nation country to the rest of the world.

As if about 20 coups d'état were not enough already.

But just 1 more, then we will have it all sorted...................

[gregb]

Well now The PT have successfully made Thailand look like a third nation country to the rest of the world.

As if about 20 coups d'état were not enough already.

But just 1 more, then we will have it all sorted...................

Probably not sorted, but you must do what is necessary to protect the country even if that turns out to be costly.

[Samuian]

Show's how much someone really cares!

I really wish they can make it come reality! This country isn't so much in need of a good PM, all it really needs is a very good cashier or even better an well experiencend croupier, like a successful businessman for example, with a solid vision for the future, a good hand for lottery schemes, casinos, tax investments into football clubs and a capable accounting team to control and reinvest the accumulated money flow, from all the governments spending schemes into african mining enterprises and other scarce resources, is all that really is needed, or can one imagine these billions for restructuring, relocation; just floating away, without a proper fiscal management team to make Thailand 2.0 come true?

[Payboy]

Well now The PT have successfully made Thailand look like a third nation country to the rest of the world.

As if about 20 coups d'état were not enough already.

But just 1 more, then we will have it all sorted...................

Probably not sorted, but you must do what is necessary to protect the country even if that turns out to be costly.

It's not about the country, its about protecting personal privileges and wealth - on both sides.

[hammered]

What is noticeable on the street is that there is no strong feeling about this issue. I cant even find it among people who used to attend PAD demos back in the day. People seem to have a lot of other priorities and to be sick of the whole issue from what I see. Mr. Fuller seems to be refering to anger in certain elite, certain bureaucratic, certain media and certain political circles. From what I see most people dont seem to care whether Thaksin comes back or not. I would also say there are more who want him back than dont. However, obviously it is the job of those who want him back to increase their support and it is the job of those who despise him to create anger and resistance. Default of people who dont care is go with letting him back as it ends the whole saga. That reality needs changing by making them worry about impending armageddon

Of course resolving the Thaksin question is necessary for reconcilliation of a majority of people and that will mean compromise. However, compromise means he does return and unfettered of the decided charge. The rest of the charges and whether he will ever again indulge directly in politics are likely to be the areas of negotiation. The alternative: an increasingly unstable divided country with the old guard losing more and more ability to control things as time goes on

It is all rather sad really and in retrospect it seems many would have done nearly everything differently. Its like one of those shakespeare tragedies

[jackspratt]

I do not dipute what you have said just thought I would highlight who is really the Bannana republic Australia or Thailand??

Based on that interesting interpretation, Australia is joined by other banana republics such as USA, Spain, Italy, France, Brazil, UK, Canada, Turkey, India, etc etc etc.

[Thailand]

What is noticeable on the street is that there is no strong feeling about this issue. I cant even find it among people who used to attend PAD demos back in the day. People seem to have a lot of other priorities and to be sick of the whole issue from what I see. Mr. Fuller seems to be refering to anger in certain elite, certain bureaucratic, certain media and certain political circles. From what I see most people dont seem to care whether Thaksin comes back or not. I would also say there are more who want him back than dont. However, obviously it is the job of those who want him back to increase their support and it is the job of those who despise him to create anger and resistance. Default of people who dont care is go with letting him back as it ends the whole saga. That reality needs changing by making them worry about impending armageddon

Of course resolving the Thaksin question is necessary for reconcilliation of a majority of people and that will mean compromise. However, compromise means he does return and unfettered of the decided charge. The rest of the charges and whether he will ever again indulge directly in politics are likely to be the areas of negotiation. The alternative: an increasingly unstable divided country with the old guard losing more and more ability to control things as time goes on

It is all rather sad really and in retrospect it seems many would have done nearly everything differently. Its like one of those shakespeare tragedies

+1

[nurofiend]

Well now The PT have successfully made Thailand look like a third nation country to the rest of the world.

isn't it still officially a developing country and not a first world country anyway?

[Insight]

What is noticeable on the street is that there is no strong feeling about this issue. I cant even find it among people who used to attend PAD demos back in the day. People seem to have a lot of other priorities and to be sick of the whole issue from what I see. Mr. Fuller seems to be refering to anger in certain elite, certain bureaucratic, certain media and certain political circles. From what I see most people dont seem to care whether Thaksin comes back or not. I would also say there are more who want him back than dont. However, obviously it is the job of those who want him back to increase their support and it is the job of those who despise him to create anger and resistance. Default of people who dont care is go with letting him back as it ends the whole saga. That reality needs changing by making them worry about impending armageddon

Of course resolving the Thaksin question is necessary for reconcilliation of a majority of people and that will mean compromise. However, compromise means he does return and unfettered of the decided charge. The rest of the charges and whether he will ever again indulge directly in politics are likely to be the areas of negotiation. The alternative: an increasingly unstable divided country with the old guard losing more and more ability to control things as time goes on

It is all rather sad really and in retrospect it seems many would have done nearly everything differently. Its like one of those shakespeare tragedies

Me and you live on completely different streets, clearly. If PT continue you to pursue this amnesty/pardon/whatever resistance from normal people will soon become very visible again, and not just in certain social and print media circles. From what I can see (and have seen all along) is that the majority of people who have been to school see Thaksin for the charlatan that he is, and while these people are arguably the minority in Thailand right now, this is unlikely to last forever.

The time bomb resulting from the general election result that many have been fearing looks like it's in the process of being lit. Even from a politically neutral point of view it's a terrible state of affairs for the country as it's unlikely to see any reasonable stability any time soon.

I personally hope by this time next year I'm observing the situation (or whatever remains of it) from afar.

[nurofiend]

As if about 20 coups d'état were not enough already.

But just 1 more, then we will have it all sorted...................

Probably not sorted, but you must do what is necessary to protect the country even if that turns out to be costly.

It's not about the country, its about protecting personal privileges and wealth - on both sides.

same all over the world unfortunately

@ gregb, even if there was a coup... i garauntee you it would be indeed be very costly and yet an extremely temporary solution, which would then become more costly...and there's only so far things like this can go.

[scorecard]

Show's how much someone really cares!

I really wish they can make it come reality! This country isn't so much in need of a good PM, all it really needs is a very good cashier or even better an well experiencend croupier, like a successful businessman for example, with a solid vision for the future, a good hand for lottery schemes, casinos, tax investments into football clubs and a capable accounting team to control and reinvest the accumulated money flow, from all the governments spending schemes into african mining enterprises and other scarce resources, is all that really is needed, or can one imagine these billions for restructuring, relocation; just floating away, without a proper fiscal management team to make Thailand 2.0 come true?

Nice, but you missed something, the new man needs morals and values.

[jpinx]

Well now The PT have successfully made Thailand look like a third nation country to the rest of the world.

isn't it still officially a developing country and not a first world country anyway?

maybe --- but developing into what exactly ?

[x5david]

Deficits do not define a banana republic, quite the opposite if the deficits are incurred to provide benefits for their citizens. As Thailand provides little if any support for their poor and elderly, it is quite obvious this is the banana republic. Only the rich get anything and piss on the poor and working class.

[pomchop]

Well now The PT have successfully made Thailand look like a third nation country to the rest of the world.

As if about 20 coups d'état were not enough already.

Taksin is the ONLY Thai prime minister to finish ONE full term. The ONLY ONE. Would seem to indicate that the ones who truly run Thailand are the generals who can oust anyone they don't like at pretty much any time.

[jpinx]

Taksin is the ONLY Thai prime minister to finish ONE full term. The ONLY ONE. Would seem to indicate that the ones who truly run Thailand are the generals who can oust anyone they don't like at pretty much any time.

Since when? How many years are you going back? I know little about Thai politial history

[nurofiend]

Taksin is the ONLY Thai prime minister to finish ONE full term. The ONLY ONE. Would seem to indicate that the ones who truly run Thailand are the generals who can oust anyone they don't like at pretty much any time.

Since when? How many years are you going back? I know little about Thai politial history

since forever...in case you weren't being sarcastic

[jpinx]

Taksin is the ONLY Thai prime minister to finish ONE full term. The ONLY ONE. Would seem to indicate that the ones who truly run Thailand are the generals who can oust anyone they don't like at pretty much any time.

Since when? How many years are you going back? I know little about Thai politial history

since forever...in case you weren't being sarcastic

No sarcasm at all -- genuinely interested and surprised. Why don't they make more of this fact in their canvassing?

[nurofiend]

Taksin is the ONLY Thai prime minister to finish ONE full term. The ONLY ONE. Would seem to indicate that the ones who truly run Thailand are the generals who can oust anyone they don't like at pretty much any time.

Since when? How many years are you going back? I know little about Thai politial history

since forever...in case you weren't being sarcastic

No sarcasm at all -- genuinely interested and surprised. Why don't they make more of this fact in their canvassing?

oh i thought the meant you were being sarcastic...

to answer your question, it is obviously something that's pointed out by supporters but as far as what difference it would make for canvassing to bring him back (if that's what you meant)...i'd suggest, none whatsoever.

[pomchop]

Taksin is the ONLY Thai prime minister to finish ONE full term. The ONLY ONE. Would seem to indicate that the ones who truly run Thailand are the generals who can oust anyone they don't like at pretty much any time.

Since when? How many years are you going back? I know little about Thai politial history

since forever...in case you weren't being sarcastic

No sarcasm at all -- genuinely interested and surprised. Why don't they make more of this fact in their canvassing?

Just google it: Taksin only PM to finish one term. or here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13891650

[CockneyGit]

Well now The PT have successfully made Thailand look like a third nation country to the rest of the world.

hellodolly Yes Thailand may appear as a "third world country" and the buffoons you speak of help this perception to maintain its reality - although on the other hand Thailand has no current deficiet and consequently are running in the "black" whilst Australia for one has a massive account deficiet and we are into the red up to our necks.

With this said I would be interested to know how many $'s does Australia donate to keep this 3rd world country in the "black"

I do not dipute what you have said just thought I would highlight who is really the Bannana republic Australia or Thailand??

Deficits, GDP's etc. etc. are irrelevant. It's all about the international perception of Thailand that will keep damaging it. Currently it's one farce after another.

Although I admit that I was a fan of Thaksin when he was in power ("better the devil you know" etc. etc.) I can only see SERIOUS consequences if he does get the green light to return during these current problematic times with the floods, incompetent & inexperienced govt, etc etc.....

The Yellows will rise up again for sure and will NOT take this lying down. "Interesting" times ahead for the forseeable future!

[Mosha]

What is noticeable on the street is that there is no strong feeling about this issue. I cant even find it among people who used to attend PAD demos back in the day. People seem to have a lot of other priorities and to be sick of the whole issue from what I see. Mr. Fuller seems to be refering to anger in certain elite, certain bureaucratic, certain media and certain political circles. From what I see most people dont seem to care whether Thaksin comes back or not. I would also say there are more who want him back than dont. However, obviously it is the job of those who want him back to increase their support and it is the job of those who despise him to create anger and resistance. Default of people who dont care is go with letting him back as it ends the whole saga. That reality needs changing by making them worry about impending armageddon

Of course resolving the Thaksin question is necessary for reconcilliation of a majority of people and that will mean compromise. However, compromise means he does return and unfettered of the decided charge. The rest of the charges and whether he will ever again indulge directly in politics are likely to be the areas of negotiation. The alternative: an increasingly unstable divided country with the old guard losing more and more ability to control things as time goes on

It is all rather sad really and in retrospect it seems many would have done nearly everything differently. Its like one of those shakespeare tragedies

Me and you live on completely different streets, clearly. If PT continue you to pursue this amnesty/pardon/whatever resistance from normal people will soon become very visible again, and not just in certain social and print media circles. From what I can see (and have seen all along) is that the majority of people who have been to school see Thaksin for the charlatan that he is, and while these people are arguably the minority in Thailand right now, this is unlikely to last forever.

The time bomb resulting from the general election result that many have been fearing looks like it's in the process of being lit. Even from a politically neutral point of view it's a terrible state of affairs for the country as it's unlikely to see any reasonable stability any time soon.

I personally hope by this time next year I'm observing the situation (or whatever remains of it) from afar.

+1 to the different street.