Reconciliation Push Will Wait For Thai Charter Change

[webfact]

Reconciliation push will wait for charter change

The Nation

Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong

Pheu Thai MPs are still far from a consensus, Kokaew says; party has come up with a rough draft: Pracha

BANGKOK: -- The ruling party yesterday gave a signal that it is switching its reconciliation move to a low gear, with a possible plan to sponsor a relevant bill next April.

The timing will coincide with the passage of a new charter. Whether or not the slowing down of reconciliation push would affect Thaksin Shinawatra's intention to return home remain to be seen.

"The draft reconciliation law should be ready after the charter change," Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong affirmed yesterday.

Kokaew said Pheu Thai MPs still had to form a consensus on what "reconciliation" should entail, particularly in terms of the extent of amnesty being granted.

Certain MPs want the amnesty to be unconditional and applicable to all parties involved in political disturbances after the 2006 coup, including members of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, he said. Some argue that amnesty should not cover rally organisers and government leaders involved in anti-riot operations, he added.

However, he said he was optimistic that the party could thrash out a solution.

Though the party's draft on reconciliation will be aimed at dispensing justice for those affected by the disturbances, he said he could not speculate at this juncture whether it would end up helping fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra circumvent his conviction and punishment.

As for Thaksin's comments that he would be returning home in four months, he said he believed that the former PM had made this remark to rally together his red-shirt supporters, rather than fix a deadline for his return.

He also said that he was ready to lend his support if the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand chose to spearhead the passage of the reconciliation law.

"Both Pheu Thai and Democrat parties will find it difficult to reject a reconciliation draft sponsored by the TRCT," he said.

Pheu Thai MP Pracha Prasobdee said his party had already come up with a rough draft on reconciliation, pointing out that amnesty should cover all disturbances that took place before and after the 2006 coup.

Pracha said the amnesty would not be about Thaksin, because he was not at the centre of the conflict.

He added that before the debate on reconciliation begins, his party would launch a dialogue with all sides in a move to mend fences. He said that though the reconciliation process might be painful, it would materialise and prevail by majority vote.

Abhisit: We're against bid to whitewash offences

Meanwhile, Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said his party was not trying to block reconciliation but was taking a stance against attempts being made to whitewash offences committed under the anti-graft law.

Abhisit said he was against Thaksin's call for reconciliation at the expense of uncovering the truth behind the political violence. He said coalition members had outlined several versions of the reconciliation law, keeping him in the dark as to what the actual draft would look like.

"As I see it, Thaksin is doing everything he can to elude his punishment and this is not reconciliation," he said, adding that the former PM should reflect on his performance and let go of his personal issues in order to let the country move forward.

-- The Nation 2012-04-19

[h90]

"As for Thaksin's comments that he would be returning home in four months, he said he believed that the former PM had made this remark to rally together his red-shirt supporters, rather than fix a deadline for his return."

Or in other words, he just lie whatever he thinks that may sound good at the moment.

"Certain MPs want the amnesty to be unconditional and applicable to all parties involved in political disturbances after the 2006 coup, including members of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, he said."

And let me bet: It also covers corruption that was made before 2006?

[whybother]

the party's draft on reconciliation will be aimed at dispensing justice for those affected by the disturbances

No it's not. How do those affected by the disturbances get justice when those causing the disturbances are given amnesty?

[rixalex]

Pracha said the amnesty would not be about Thaksin, because he was not at the centre of the conflict.

[phiphidon]

He said coalition members had outlined several versions of the reconciliation law, keeping him in the dark as to what the actual draft would look like.

Abhisit doesn't know what the proposed content of the reconciliation law is. So, all the arguments he and the democrat party have made so far, are about what he thinks it is about..............

[whybother]

He said coalition members had outlined several versions of the reconciliation law, keeping him in the dark as to what the actual draft would look like.

Abhisit doesn't know what the proposed content of the reconciliation law is. So, all the arguments he and the democrat party have made so far, are about what he thinks it is about..............

Aren't they debating the law in the second reading now? And the government haven't decided what they want?

[AleG]

He said coalition members had outlined several versions of the reconciliation law, keeping him in the dark as to what the actual draft would look like.

Abhisit doesn't know what the proposed content of the reconciliation law is. So, all the arguments he and the democrat party have made so far, are about what he thinks it is about..............

Aren't they debating the law in the second reading now? And the government haven't decided what they want?

There's as much transparency as there is reconciliation in this process.

I'm just waiting for the day Chalerm reappears, like a Jack-in-the-box, with his super secret reconciliation bill in his hand.

[phiphidon]

He said coalition members had outlined several versions of the reconciliation law, keeping him in the dark as to what the actual draft would look like.

Abhisit doesn't know what the proposed content of the reconciliation law is. So, all the arguments he and the democrat party have made so far, are about what he thinks it is about..............

Aren't they debating the law in the second reading now? And the government haven't decided what they want?

No, they are debating charter reform in the second reading. If you read the OP you'll see that the reconcilliation law will be ready after the charter reform law.

The charter reform ammendment they are debating currently is only to amend the constitution so that a Charter Drafting Assembly can be set up. For example how many people on the CDA and how they are selected;

An increase in the number of members to the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) and changes to regulations were proposed at a House-Senate meeting yesterday to prevent political parties from dominating the charter rewrite process.

Yesterday was the third day of the second reading of the amendment to Article 291, which would allow the setting up of a CDA.

Democrat MPs and senators proposed that CDA members be elected according to the size of each province's population.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/House-Senate-meeting-hears-proposals-on-CDA-compos-30180233.html

It get's confusing when you get people like abhisit keep on throwing in scare mongering about the charter reform being purely for whitewashing one man, in a word, obsfucation.

They haven't even got round to paving the way for a CDA to be formed so that they can discuss constitutional ammendments, and Abhisit is running around squawking about amnesties like a man possessed. Who knows what he'll be like when they get down to the "nitty gritty".

[maidu]

guess what: THAILAND DOESN'T NEED RECONCILIATION

The reconciliation thing is window dressing used by PT to try and get T back and ultimately in the PM's seat.

Neither the Reds nor the Yellows are planning any demonstrations. THERE'S NOTHING TO RECONCILE!

The emporor has no clothes. Believe me. Take a close look, and you'll see that Yingluck and Chalerm and the FM, and all the other jesters are wearing transparent garments which are supposed to get everyone in a lather about 'reconciliation.'

Let's everyone yell in unison - to the PT party: Hey fools, do what you were elected to do: Assist the Thai people!

[backtonormal]

It get's confusing when you get people like abhisit keep on throwing in scare mongering about the charter reform being purely for whitewashing one man, in a word, obsfucation.

They haven't even got round to paving the way for a CDA to be formed so that they can discuss constitutional ammendments, and Abhisit is running around squawking about amnesties like a man possessed. Who knows what he'll be like when they get down to the "nitty gritty".

The 'nitty gritty'should not concern our mark too much. After all he was only the pizza delivery boy, he took the phone call and delivered the orders. Thinking about it hes still doing the same in oppostion, it must hurt with somebodys hand up your 4rse all day... just a puppet