Reconciliation Report Sparks House Turmoil

[webfact]

Reconciliation report sparks House turmoil

The Nation

Democrats put up strong resistance against early deliberation of 'peace' plan

BANGKOK: -- Turmoil rocked the House of Representatives yesterday as the opposition Democrats put up tough resistance to the controversial reconciliation report, which had been tabled for deliberation.

After four hours of high tension, the House of Representatives voted 348-162 to begin disscussion on the controversial reconciliation report.

The Democrats insisted before the vote that the report should not be deliberated because it had not been properly approved by the ad hoc House committee chaired by ex-coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

In a session marred by boos and protests, House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont tried in vain to call a vote to clear the way for deliberation. His attempts led to more boos and protests.

The Democrats focused their attacks on Sonthi, who was ironically defended by the ruling Pheu Thai Party's MPs throughout yesterday's turmoil. The opposition MPs repeatedly asked him to tell the House on the record that the report had received his ad hoc committee's proper approval.

The departure of nine Democrat MPs from the House committee on reconciliation will have no impact on the legislative process to mend fences, members of the panel's majority said yesterday. Sonthi said he did not think the resignations by committee members of the opposition party would affect its work, because it had completed its mission. He said the committee would next submit its report to Parliament for deliberation.

Coalition chief whip Udomdej Rattanasatien said yesterday: "Recon-ciliation will move forward."

Udomdej said the nine Democrats resigned after the House of Representatives committee had completed its report within the 150-day deadline. Furthermore, the report was submitted for House deliberation, he added.

Yesterday's House-Senate session was to be a non-voting meeting giving the green light to the House to debate the reconciliation measures as per the committee's report, he said.

Since the current parliamentary session is restricted to enacting laws, the House needs endorsement from the Senate if it is to debate a non-legislative issue, such as reconciliation.

The nine Democrat MPs on the House committee on national reconciliation yesterday submitted their resignations to the panel's chairman at the Parliament building, after a disagreement over its report to be forwarded to Parliament. The Democrats wanted the committee to review its report on reconciliation proposals, which the opposition MPs said contained some inaccurate information.

However, the majority of the panel, including many MPs from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, voted to endorse the report.

Sonthi, the panel chairman, turned down the Democrat MPs' request for a meeting to discuss adjustments to the report, insisting that the committee's deliberation was complete and there would be no review, according to Democrat Nipit Intarasombat, one of the nine panel members resigning yesterday.

"We, the nine committee members, see that the committee's report contains many mistakes that could cause damage in the future. We can no longer work with this committee, so we have resigned from it," Nipit said.

Sonthi, a former Army chief who led the 2006 coup and now heads a small political party, declined to answer a question on whether the Democrats' resignations would adversely affect reconciliation efforts. Sonthi walked away from a group of reporters at Parliament.

Speaking after the nine Democrats submitted their resignations, Nipit said Sonthi earlier wanted them to hand him their resignations in an area on the second floor of the Parliament building that is off limits to the media. The opposition MP said he suspected Sonthi did not want to answer questions from reporters.

Earlier, Nipit said the panel's report was likely to be deliberated by Parliament next week so that a decree for amnesty would be issued soon. He added that proponents of the law were expected to cite state security in having it issued in the form of a decree, and not an act.

Democrat MP Ong-art Klampai-boon, another of the nine outgoing committee members, said his party supported the idea of national reconciliation but disagreed with the obvious attempt to rush the process of issuing an amnesty law. He did not think it was right to force reconciliation measures through by majority vote. That would be against the principle of reconciliation, he said.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai MP Samart Kaewmechai, speaking in his capacity as deputy chairman of the committee for reconciliation, denied Democrat allegations that the panel had drawn hasty conclusions and neglected to review the reconciliation measures, as recommended by King Prajadhipok's Institute.

-- The Nation 2012-03-28

[CalgaryII]

"The Democrats wanted the committee to review its report on reconciliation proposals, which the opposition MPs said contained some inaccurate information"

Inaccurate information or inconvenient truths, as some would see it.

[WackySomchai]

Generals, get ready to step-in now before this explodes in our faces.

[JohnAllan]

Sonthi being defended by members of the party that is the latest successor to the one that his coup overthrew speaks volumes for his overt Pheu Thai and Red Shirt bias as Chairman of the reconciliation committee, a post that was obviously a negotiated deal . . .

[Arkady]

Pheua Thai is faithful to its Thai Rak Thai roots which are what caused the coup in the first place. So we go around in a circular motion. They use a parliamentary majority to railroad through anything they feel like. Commit any crime you like and a simple majority vote in the bought and paid for parliament will decriminalise it. Quasi independent bodies like the KPI (key performance indicators - LOL) can easily be bought out or intimidated in, just like the coup leader.

[sparebox2]

The photo above reminds me of Hitler Germany.

Hi Hitler.

[hyperdimension]

Quasi independent bodies like the KPI (key performance indicators - LOL) can easily be bought out or intimidated in, just like the coup leader.

I wonder how much Thaksin would have paid for the report. He can easily afford to pay a few billion baht, for example, and it would be difficult for anyone to refuse to accept such an amount of money.

As a yardstick, Thaksin reportedly had given 500k baht to Kwanchai the last time they met in Cambodia, and 100k to 200k baht on other occasions:

[hyperdimension]

"The Democrats wanted the committee to review its report on reconciliation proposals, which the opposition MPs said contained some inaccurate information"

Inaccurate information or inconvenient truths, as some would see it.

Have you stopped writing about the "coup aggressors" now that Sonthi is pro-Thaksin?

Edited March 28, 2012 by hyperdimension

[whybother]

the legislative process to mend fences,

Is that what they think it is?

[geriatrickid]

Generals, get ready to step-in now before this explodes in our faces.

What part of the Representatives voted 348-162 to begin disscussion on the controversial reconciliation report do you not understand?

The democrats lost (again). That's a crushing majority vote and you want a military coup because you do not approve of the elected representatives' decision. Your support of totalitarianism is incredible. Perhaps you be happier living on the African continent or perhaps in Syria,

Edited March 28, 2012 by geriatrickid

[geriatrickid]

the legislative process to mend fences,

Is that what they think it is?

You have a problem with a decisive vote in favour of a motion to discuss the report? Why are you afraid of the elected representatives of the people discussing the report?

[geriatrickid]

"The Democrats wanted the committee to review its report on reconciliation proposals, which the opposition MPs said contained some inaccurate information"

Inaccurate information or inconvenient truths, as some would see it.

Have you stopped writing about the "coup aggressors" now that Sonthi is pro-Thaksin?

General sonthi is not pro-Thaksin. In this case he was doing his job. Unfortunately for you and the frothers, the General's actions do not fall into line with the Democrats campaign of negativity. Give him a chance he'll have bad news for PTP soon enough.

[geriatrickid]

Quasi independent bodies like the KPI (key performance indicators - LOL) can easily be bought out or intimidated in, just like the coup leader.

I wonder how much Thaksin would have paid for the report. He can easily afford to pay a few billion baht, for example, and it would be difficult for anyone to refuse to accept such an amount of money.

As a yardstick, Thaksin reportedly had given 500k baht to Kwanchai the last time they met in Cambodia, and 100k to 200k baht on other occasions: http://www.thaivisa....ost__p__4964477

Ahh, because you disagree, you immediately accuse the man of having been bribed. You offer no evidence, but engage in character assassination. Have you considered that General Sonthi is right in this matter?

He'll upset the PTP soon enough.

Edited March 28, 2012 by geriatrickid

[geriatrickid]

Pheua Thai is faithful to its Thai Rak Thai roots which are what caused the coup in the first place. So we go around in a circular motion. They use a parliamentary majority to railroad through anything they feel like. Commit any crime you like and a simple majority vote in the bought and paid for parliament will decriminalise it. Quasi independent bodies like the KPI (key performance indicators - LOL) can easily be bought out or intimidated in, just like the coup leader.

How was it a crime to vote in favour of the discussion of its report?

Why shouldn't a government use its majority to win votes? Isn't that the whole point of having a majority? Please show where a majority government will suspend a vote just because one small vocal group is in opposition. In this case it was a vote to discuss a report. It wasn't even legislation. The Democrats are trying to bully the house and they lost again.

[whybother]

the legislative process to mend fences,

Is that what they think it is?

You have a problem with a decisive vote in favour of a motion to discuss the report? Why are you afraid of the elected representatives of the people discussing the report?

If you think the process that they are going through to give amnesty to various people will "mend fences", well, it confirms my suspicion.

Edited March 28, 2012 by whybother

[MAJIC]

"The Democrats wanted the committee to review its report on reconciliation proposals, which the opposition MPs said contained some inaccurate information"

Inaccurate information or inconvenient truths, as some would see it.

Have you stopped writing about the "coup aggressors" now that Sonthi is pro-Thaksin?

I thought the same,his coup-itus,seems to have responded well to the news.Thankfully we don't have to listen to the word Coupist again.

[geriatrickid]

the legislative process to mend fences,

Is that what they think it is?

You have a problem with a decisive vote in favour of a motion to discuss the report? Why are you afraid of the elected representatives of the people discussing the report?

If you think the process that they are going through to give amnesty to various people will "mend fences", well, it confirms my suspicion.

One won't know unless there is a discussion. Why are you opposed to a discussion by the elected representatives of the people? Are you against the elected representatives carrying out their duties? You have adopted the Democrat negativity. There are solutions to problems if people discuss the problems. Communication is the first step to addressing a serious issue.

[mrtoad]

[whybother]

One won't know unless there is a discussion. Why are you opposed to a discussion by the elected representatives of the people? Are you against the elected representatives carrying out their duties? You have adopted the Democrat negativity. There are solutions to problems if people discuss the problems. Communication is the first step to addressing a serious issue.

The two sides are talking. One side is doing what they want.

[h90]

Pheua Thai is faithful to its Thai Rak Thai roots which are what caused the coup in the first place. So we go around in a circular motion. They use a parliamentary majority to railroad through anything they feel like. Commit any crime you like and a simple majority vote in the bought and paid for parliament will decriminalise it. Quasi independent bodies like the KPI (key performance indicators - LOL) can easily be bought out or intimidated in, just like the coup leader.

How was it a crime to vote in favour of the discussion of its report?

Why shouldn't a government use its majority to win votes? Isn't that the whole point of having a majority? Please show where a majority government will suspend a vote just because one small vocal group is in opposition. In this case it was a vote to discuss a report. It wasn't even legislation. The Democrats are trying to bully the house and they lost again.

Hmm the government uses their majority to make a law for reconciliation against the will of the people they want to re conciliate with.

Yes it is democratic and technically OK.

But does it make sense. Will it reconciliate the people?

[hellodolly]

GK

You have a problem with a decisive vote in favour of a motion to discuss the report? Why are you afraid of the elected representatives of the people discussing the report?

One won't know unless there is a discussion. Why are you opposed to a discussion by the elected representatives of the people? Are you against the elected representatives carrying out their duties? You have adopted the Democrat negativity. There are solutions to problems if people discuss the problems. Communication is the first step to addressing a serious issue.

The problem is the elected majority only had 48% of the populations support so in effect It really is a minority with enough people in places of power to run through any thing they want even if 52% don't want it.. They will discuss it and then vote the same way as if they had not had a discussion.

When you were on your business trip did you forget that Thailand is run by a man with very deep pockets and no sense of right and wrong. Just what he wants and he is willing to pay for it.

[h90]

GK

You have a problem with a decisive vote in favour of a motion to discuss the report? Why are you afraid of the elected representatives of the people discussing the report?

One won't know unless there is a discussion. Why are you opposed to a discussion by the elected representatives of the people? Are you against the elected representatives carrying out their duties? You have adopted the Democrat negativity. There are solutions to problems if people discuss the problems. Communication is the first step to addressing a serious issue.

The problem is the elected majority only had 48% of the populations support so in effect It really is a minority with enough people in places of power to run through any thing they want even if 52% don't want it.. They will discuss it and then vote the same way as if they had not had a discussion.

When you were on your business trip did you forget that Thailand is run by a man with very deep pockets and no sense of right and wrong. Just what he wants and he is willing to pay for it.

No one has 48 % population support....48 % of the valid votes, but not 48 % of the complete population.