Suthep Suggests National Reconciliation Referendum: Thailand

[webfact]

RECONCILIATION

Suthep suggests national reconciliation referendum

PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION

Insists public must decide on any package that includes amnesty for Thaksin; likens red shirts to Khmer Rouge

BANGKOK: -- Suthep Thaugsuban, a senior Democrat Party MP, yesterday proposed a national referendum on any reconciliation package that included the scope and details of an amnesty for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and others involved in the political conflict.

Day two of the House of Representatives debate on national reconciliation proposals based on King Prajadhipok's Institute studies saw a continuation of unresolved differences as to whether to forward the reports to the government.

Suthep proposed, however, that a national referendum should be held on the scope and details of any amnesty for Thaksin and others.

"There will surely be peace if you can do it [hold such a referendum]," he said.

Suthep also endorsed the latest statement by King Prajadhipok's Institute to defer the issue and have a wider public discussion on the best way to achieve national reconciliation.

"I'm all for national reconciliation," he said. "But we must be clear as to whom we are reconciling with. Secondly, we must be clear why the contentious parties are angry with one another … All sides must also make sacrifices, but we must be clear as to what Pheu Thai or the Democrat Party and other institutions must sacrifice. We must listen to the voices of the people and see if they think it's worth the sacrifice, and then hold a referendum," he said.

ASSETS ISSUE

The issue of what to do with Thaksin's confiscated assets must also be addressed, he added.

Suthep, who served as deputy prime minister in the previous government, yesterday blamed Thaksin for being the root cause of the political conflict.

He pointed to the many legal cases against the ex-premier and his political parties that resulted in his assets being confiscated and his parties being dissolved.

"I will reconcile with you when you play politics within the system. It should not be that you have a political party, the red-shirt movement, the red-shirt villages, and armed men. If these still exist, I will not reconcile with you," he said.

The veteran politician also said Watana Muangsuk, a member of the House reconciliation panel, should not have sat on the committee due to a conflict of interest.

He pointed out that Watana, who was a member of Thaksin's Cabinet, had faced many corruption allegations investigated by the post-coup Assets Examination Committee (AEC).

One proposal favoured by the House reconciliation panel is to expunge all the legal cases brought to court by the AEC.

The House debate, scheduled to end late last night, continued at the time of going to press.

However, there was no immediate response to Suthep's referendum proposal from the ruling Pheu Thai Party's MPs, as they took turns insisting that national reconciliation is an urgent issue that needs to be carried out as quickly as possible.

Jirayu Huangsap, for example, said Thailand was now lagging behind many neighbouring countries due to the prolonged and unresolved political rift.

"We must forget the past," Jirayu told the House. "If you can't get over the issue of Thaksin, we won't get anywhere."

Kusamawadee Sirikomut, Pheu Thai MP for Maha Sarakham province, accused the Democrat Party of thinking negatively and painting an image of the "devil" in their minds.

"When we talk, I want us to talk about the future more than about the past," said the MP.

ACCUSATION AGAINST THAKSIN

Ignoring these comments, Suthep accused Thaksin of wanting to create a presidential system to replace the current system. He also compared the red shirt-movement to the Khmer Rouge.

The accusations led to many protests and counter-protests |until the House chair got both sides to agree not to intervene when one of them was addressing the chamber.

Other Democrat MPs, including Akom Engchuan, insisted that no amnesty could be given to those who had committed criminal acts, such as setting fire to CentralWorld or provincial halls.

"Don't even cite [the notion of] transitional justice," said Akom, who also warned Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the former 2006-coup-leader-turned-MP and now chairman of the House reconciliation committee, not to rush things through by using the majority vote.

Democrat MP Sathit Wongnong-taey accused Sonthi's committee of wanting to whitewash Thaksin through absolution of the now-defunct AEC.

"Are you people rushing things through in order to present it as a gift to someone during Songkran [next week]?" Sathit said.

He added that more time was needed to discuss the issue and Parliament should, therefore, postpone the matter instead of rushing any proposals to the government.

Veteran MP Sanoh Thienthong of the Chart Thai Pattana Party said the reason reconciliation had not been achieved was all the bickering in Parliament.

"Others outside the House want reconciliation," he said. "If we want to talk, let's face one another and not talk about the past. We want the future, right?"

-- The Nation 2012-04-06

[CalgaryII]

"I will reconcile with you when you play politics within the system. It should not be that you have a political party, the red-shirt movement, the red-shirt villages, and armed men. If these still exist, I will not reconcile with you," he said.

The veteran politician also said Watana Muangsuk, a member of the House reconciliation panel, should not have sat on the committee due to a conflict of interest.

The coup and R'song are huge, huge historical realities that need to be rationalized in order for reconciliation to occur. This guy Suthep and Mr. Abhisit played huge, huge roles in both of these. Beneficiaries of the first, and perps. of the second. Until their culpability is declared, why are they allowed to associate themselves with anything to do with reconciliation. It is the height of irrationality for Suthep to suggest someone else has a 'conflict of interest', when he is the "poster child" of it in this instance. They both need to recuse themselves. I don't understand why the PTP even entertains their pronouncements. They are such 'damaged goods' that the major PTP constituancy and dominant political force in the country, the UDD/Red Shirts, would come unglued at anything that has their fingerprints on it. It isn't by accident that they often wear flip-flops with the photos of these two guys on them. I can fully understand why both Suthep and Abhisit are self-servingly preaching 'deferment and delay",............. His first quote above, and this reality, represent more nails in the 'reconciliation coffin".............. Fohget about it!......Simply let future elections take their course and get on with life.

Edited April 6, 2012 by CalgaryII

[takatukaland]

Oh Suthep,thought he sits in prison because corruption, that's the guy who let the palm oil price raising to 200-300bt a liter up from 30-40bt a liter,just short time before new elections,so his family in Surat Thani who own giant palm plantations could fill their pockets,naaaa the democrats would never do something like that,hmm then it ;s maybe another Suthep,

[FangFerang]

I for one do not like the words being used by either side in this debate.

I pray to the Buddha that the heat under this pressure cooker cools before it explodes. The valve is stuck and nobody wants to clear its channel. There are implicit threats coming from both sides now, with the veils are getting thinner every day.

The politicos at the top won't suffer. It would be the woman selling lottery tickets from a bicycle, the man roasting chicken on the corner, the old lady gathering recyclables, and their children and grandchildren, my students. They are trusting the people in charge to help them continue to survive, and hopefully give them the opportunity to thrive some day.

In my country, the political divide has many of the same characteristics, being short-sighted and self-serving declarations of nationalism from each involved, one hand waving to the crowd while the other picks their pockets. Maybe Robert A. Heinlein was right in saying "anyone who wants to lead should be automatically excluded from consideration".

I fear our trust is misplaced, at home and abroad.

[ramrod711]

"I will reconcile with you when you play politics within the system. It should not be that you have a political party, the red-shirt movement, the red-shirt villages, and armed men. If these still exist, I will not reconcile with you," he said.

The veteran politician also said Watana Muangsuk, a member of the House reconciliation panel, should not have sat on the committee due to a conflict of interest.

The coup and R'song are huge, huge historical realities that need to be rationalized in order for reconciliation to occur. This guy Suthep and Mr. Abhisit played huge, huge roles in both of these. Beneficiaries of the first, and perps. of the second. Until their culpability is declared, why are they allowed to associate themselves with anything to do with reconciliation. It is the height of irrationality for Suthep to suggest someone else has a 'conflict of interest', when he is the "poster child" of it in this instance. They both need to recuse themselves. I don't understand why the PTP even entertains their pronouncements. They are such 'damaged goods' that the major PTP constituancy and dominant political force in the country, the UDD/Red Shirts, would come unglued at anything that has their fingerprints on it. It isn't by accident that they often wear flip-flops with the photos of these two guys on them. I can fully understand why both Suthep and Abhisit are self-servingly preaching 'deferment and delay",............. His first quote above, and this reality, represent more nails in the 'reconciliation coffin".............. Fohget about it!......Simply let future elections take their course and get on with life.

forget about yesterday, think about tomorrow. think about a government that has no regard for the law or the courts. no nation can prosper without the rule of law. think about what you are advocating.

[takatukaland]

"I will reconcile with you when you play politics within the system. It should not be that you have a political party, the red-shirt movement, the red-shirt villages, and armed men. If these still exist, I will not reconcile with you," he said.

The veteran politician also said Watana Muangsuk, a member of the House reconciliation panel, should not have sat on the committee due to a conflict of interest.

The coup and R'song are huge, huge historical realities that need to be rationalized in order for reconciliation to occur. This guy Suthep and Mr. Abhisit played huge, huge roles in both of these. Beneficiaries of the first, and perps. of the second. Until their culpability is declared, why are they allowed to associate themselves with anything to do with reconciliation. It is the height of irrationality for Suthep to suggest someone else has a 'conflict of interest', when he is the "poster child" of it in this instance. They both need to recuse themselves. I don't understand why the PTP even entertains their pronouncements. They are such 'damaged goods' that the major PTP constituancy and dominant political force in the country, the UDD/Red Shirts, would come unglued at anything that has their fingerprints on it. It isn't by accident that they often wear flip-flops with the photos of these two guys on them. I can fully understand why both Suthep and Abhisit are self-servingly preaching 'deferment and delay",............. His first quote above, and this reality, represent more nails in the 'reconciliation coffin".............. Fohget about it!......Simply let future elections take their course and get on with life.

forget about yesterday, think about tomorrow. think about a government that has no regard for the law or the courts. no nation can prosper without the rule of law. think about what you are advocating.

Yeah you are right,I remember the coup makers changed the laws after the coup,so nobody who was involved with the coup gets punished.Every coin has 2 sites,I don't understand why u guys only see what Thaksin was doing wrong,but never lose a word about coup makers and democrats,and just by the way half of the country stays behind Thaksin,You don't like it?so what?After all it's their country.The coup makers and democrats hv 4 yrs time to improve and convince Thai people to vote for them.If they start another coup,then I fear Thailand will run into real problems,like civil war

[phiphidon]

Ah, Suthep bless him, Saviour of Reconcilliation, sufferer of foot in mouth syndrome, fresh from "they ran into the bullets" and "the soldiers were not on the tracks until the next day" we now have this, as reported by thai rath and translated by Saksith Saiyasombut on the Siam Voices website,

http://asiancorrespo...part-xi-suthep/

“These days, it is a time where the Thai people have to think how to protect and safely get through [the political crisis]. I constantly have nightmares that when the red shirts take over Thailand, it would be more violent than when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia!

Today, Russia has done away communism, but the red shirts think that their party is the only ruling party!

Everybody has to wake up! Follow the situation as close as you can! We have to follow our national duty to oppose the charter amendments and the amendments Article 112 [...]“

said Suthep. Thai Rath, February 27, 2012

Along the lines of one of our own members tirades...............

Anti Thaksin protestors will be met with bomb, gun, and sword and the streets will run red with the blood of all who oppose Thaksin.

but still doesn't bear comparison my favourite, the classic, the priceless, the one and only...........................

"Red threw bags filled feces(sic) and urine at their buses and one got photographed showing off his penis.

Thus the red revolution was born."

[MikeOboe57]

Ah, Suthep bless him, Saviour of Reconcilliation, sufferer of foot in mouth syndrome, fresh from "they ran into the bullets" and "the soldiers were not on the tracks until the next day" we now have this, as reported by thai rath and translated by Saksith Saiyasombut on the Siam Voices website,

http://asiancorrespo...part-xi-suthep/

“These days, it is a time where the Thai people have to think how to protect and safely get through [the political crisis]. I constantly have nightmares that when the red shirts take over Thailand, it would be more violent than when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia!

Today, Russia has done away communism, but the red shirts think that their party is the only ruling party!

Everybody has to wake up! Follow the situation as close as you can! We have to follow our national duty to oppose the charter amendments and the amendments Article 112 [...]“

said Suthep. Thai Rath, February 27, 2012

Along the lines of one of our own members tirades...............

Anti Thaksin protestors will be met with bomb, gun, and sword and the streets will run red with the blood of all who oppose Thaksin.

but still doesn't bear comparison my favourite, the classic, the priceless, the one and only...........................

"Red threw bags filled feces(sic) and urine at their buses and one got photographed showing off his penis.

Thus the red revolution was born."

I can understand your embarrassment. But you can't have Khun T without his "Sturmabteilung".

[phiphidon]

I can understand your embarrassment. But you can't have Khun T without his "Sturmabteilung".

Why would I be embarrassed? - I think with your mention of the "Sturmabteilung" you would be embarrassed not only for the Godwin Law moment but for your obvious misunderstanding of the political leanings of said organisation - just as ridiculous as one of your peers comparing the red shirts to mussolinis brownshirts.

[LPCustom69]

There will be no peace in Thailand while Thaksin is alive.

[scotbeve]

There will be no peace in Thailand while Thaksin is alive.

So... Suthep presumes that Khun Thaksin will "run into a bullet...??????" A dark Hitler this Suthep.....

[OzMick]

There will be no peace in Thailand while Thaksin is alive.

So... Suthep presumes that Khun Thaksin will "run into a bullet...??????" A dark Hitler this Suthep.....

Pheu Thai Party's MP Jirayu Huangsap, said "We must forget the past. If you can't get over the issue of Thaksin, we won't get anywhere."

How can I forget about you if you won't go away?

[tlansford]

Oh Suthep,thought he sits in prison because corruption, that's the guy who let the palm oil price raising to 200-300bt a liter up from 30-40bt a liter,just short time before new elections,so his family in Surat Thani who own giant palm plantations could fill their pockets,naaaa the democrats would never do something like that,hmm then it ;s maybe another Suthep,

What is new? ... it was Suthep's corruption charges which brought down the last dem-led coalition in the 90s.

[tlansford]

Suthep ... also compared the red shirt-movement to the Khmer Rouge.

Maybe Suthep has a TVF alias?

[rubl]

Oh Suthep,thought he sits in prison because corruption, that's the guy who let the palm oil price raising to 200-300bt a liter up from 30-40bt a liter,just short time before new elections,so his family in Surat Thani who own giant palm plantations could fill their pockets,naaaa the democrats would never do something like that,hmm then it ;s maybe another Suthep,

What is new? ... it was Suthep's corruption charges which brought down the last dem-led coalition in the 90s.

The Dem's led coalition you refer to was the first k. Chuan administration, from 1992 to 1995. Corruption charges of certain members of Cabinet was the main reason for dissolution.

The last Dem's led coalition served it's full four years and was dissolved in November 2000 with TRT winning the January 2001 general elections.

Doesn't have much to do with the OP though

Edited April 6, 2012 by rubl

[BigJohnnyBKK]

No nation can prosper without the rule of law.

Thailand's done pretty well so far, why start now?

Just put everything back the way it was before the coup, all charges dropped on both sides, clean slate for all.

That's reconciliation.

[rubl]

No nation can prosper without the rule of law.

Thailand's done pretty well so far, why start now?

Just put everything back the way it was before the coup, all charges dropped on both sides, clean slate for all.

That's reconciliation.

Somehow seems a very simple and Thai style solution. Clean slate. Mai pen rai. Stop using doctored tapes, forget about who killed whom and why.

One question though. Does 'forget all' also mean 'forgive all'?

[WackySomchai]

Suthep ... also compared the red shirt-movement to the Khmer Rouge.

Yes, that is the correct description of the two 'eternal friends': Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge commander, The Fugitive is a Redshirt commander.

[tlansford]

Suthep ... also compared the red shirt-movement to the Khmer Rouge.

Yes, that is the correct description of the two 'eternal friends': Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge commander, The Fugitive is a Redshirt commander.

Suthep ! it's you !!