Opponents Vow Bitter Battle Over Bills On Reconciliation: Thailand

[webfact]

Opponents vow bitter battle over bills on reconciliation

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The dispute over controversial "reconciliation" legislation intensified yesterday as the opposition Democrat Party declared war against the draft bills and vowed to work with any group in opposing what it described as an attempt to "whitewash" the wrongdoings of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his cohorts.

Supporters of the bills, including the coup leader who brought down Thaksin's government in 2006 and red-shirt leaders in the ruling Pheu Thai Party, yesterday defended their drafts, saying the proposed laws would restore peace in the country and they were not aimed at benefiting the ex-leader alone.

Senior Democrat MP Satit Wongnongtaey said yesterday the party would "fight strongly" in Parliament against the bills for "phoney reconciliation". He vowed to campaign to show the public how such laws would destroy the country's rule of law and principles of democracy.

"We call on all groups of people who treasure righteousness and do not want wrongdoers to be exonerated to come out and oppose the bills through any lawful means," Satit said.

He said the Democrat Party would support any campaign against the bills. "We will join hands with all groups that love righteousness. It's no use to call on the prime minister, the government, or the Pheu Thai Party to withdraw the bills," he said, adding that PM Yingluck Shinawatra should take responsibility over the matter due to the conflict of interest regarding her brother Thaksin.

Yingluck, commenting from Australia during her official visit, said yesterday any opposition to the bills should be presented under the scope of the law and differences should be discussed in Parliament.

General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, an MP and leader of the Matubhum Party, who submitted one of the four bills as chairman of the House committee on national reconciliation, yesterday insisted he "[had done] the right thing" in order for the country to achieve reconciliation.

Sonthi, who led the 2006 coup when serving as Army chief, said he did not think his bill would lead to a new round of conflict or another military attempt to seize power. "Soldiers have to think carefully. The situation today and on the day I staged the coup is totally different," he said. He denied his bill was aimed at whitewashing Thaksin's alleged wrongdoing.

Red-shirt leaders in the ruling party yesterday expressed their backing for a separate reconciliation bill that is slightly different from Sonthi's.

Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong said it was likely the party would support Sonthi's bill. However, the red-shirt MPs would also back their bill that would exclude perpetrators of terrorism and murder offences from amnesty. He said red-shirt leaders recently told Thaksin that ordinary red shirts disagreed with Sonthi's bill, which would grant a general amnesty."

"Supporting Sonthi's bill means we are turning our friends into foes, and he [Thaksin] understands our point," Kokaew said, adding he and fellow red-shirt Natthawut Saikua met Thaksin "by chance" in Hong Kong last weekend.

Meanwhile, the People's Alliance for Democracy plans to hold its rally against the bills at the Royal Plaza, which is not far from the Parliament, this afternoon. Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD leader, yesterday warned that if it takes effect, the law would "damage the country".

The rival red-shirt movement yesterday decided not to encourage any rally by their supporters outside Parliament in order to avoid any confrontation with the yellow shirts, its spokesman Worawut Wichaidit said.

-- The Nation 2012-05-30

[webfact]

Legality of charter-change bill challenged

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Democrats and senators yesterday filed separate complaints asking public prosecutors to look into the constitutionality of the push for charter change.

A group of 40 senators said the charter amendment bill, which will come up for the third reading on June 5, did not seek to revise certain provisions but aimed at drafting a new charter.

Article 291 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to amend charter provisions as deemed necessary - but this mandate does not apply to discarding the charter, the senators said in their statement.

The bill, if passed in the third reading, is designed for the Constitution Drafting Assembly to promulgate a new charter, the statement said. "The bill is tantamount to a coup to tear up the Constitution," it said.

The public prosecutors should launch an inquiry into the matter, paving the way for judicial intervention to block the government and coalition lawmakers from discarding the charter, it said.

The Office of the Attorney General has already set up a panel to check on the legal issues in connection with charter change, its spokesman Winai Damrongmon-kolkul said. The senators also submitted a statement to the Constitution Court, urging a speedy review of the constitutionality of the bill.

-- The Nation 2012-05-30

[Moruya]

2 bills that are as fake as a Patpong Rolex.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect App

[whybother]

So, the red shirts support a bill that gives amnesty to Thaksin's corruption charges, but doesn't give any protest leaders amnesty???

Sent from my shoe phone

[OzMick]

"Yingluck... said yesterday any opposition to the bills.... should be discussed in Parliament."

Is she planning to do so any time in the near future, or at all?

" Kokaew said.... he and... Natthawut Saikua met Thaksin "by chance" in Hong Kong"

They just stopped at a rub and tug shop and there was Thaksin getting a soapie. Why do they bother lying? Are they that stupid to think anybody believes them? Has anybody bothered to tell them that MPs and Ministers need credibility, honesty, integrity................sorry, I forgot who I was talking about.

[OzMick]

So, the red shirts support a bill that gives amnesty to Thaksin's corruption charges, but doesn't give any protest leaders amnesty???

Sent from my shoe phone

Got to protect the cash cow. If you find it hard to understand, imagine a red shirt standing with both hands out. The left is being filled with money and the right with principles. Which one gets full first?

[hellodolly]

"Yingluck... said yesterday any opposition to the bills.... should be discussed in Parliament."

Is she planning to do so any time in the near future, or at all?

" Kokaew said.... he and... Natthawut Saikua met Thaksin "by chance" in Hong Kong"

They just stopped at a rub and tug shop and there was Thaksin getting a soapie. Why do they bother lying? Are they that stupid to think anybody believes them? Has anybody bothered to tell them that MPs and Ministers need credibility, honesty, integrity................sorry, I forgot who I was talking about.

Her exact words spoken out loud were

"Yingluck, commenting from Australia during her official visit, said yesterday any opposition to the bills should be presented under the scope of the law and differences should be discussed in Parliament."

Her thoughts were they have already been bought and paid for.

[LuckyLew]

Can people really be stupid enough to think that this reconciliation

bill will bring peace and harmony to Thailand?

[smedly]

Can people really be stupid enough to think that this reconciliation

bill will bring peace and harmony to Thailand?

the exact opposite

[gand]

Have the red shirts and the yellow shirts joined the common cause to seek justice over amnesty for TS?

[MILT]

"Supporting Sonthi's bill means we are turning our friends into foes, and he [Thaksin] understands our point," Kokaew said, adding he and fellow red-shirt Natthawut Saikua met Thaksin "by chance" in Hong Kong last weekend.

What are the odds? I can just here them now. Fancy running into you! Oh and by the way I would like to talk to you about the charter.

[Buchholz]

"Supporting Sonthi's bill means we are turning our friends into foes, and he [Thaksin] understands our point," Kokaew said, adding he and fellow red-shirt Natthawut Saikua met Thaksin "by chance" in Hong Kong last weekend.

What are the odds? I can just here them now. Fancy running into you! Oh and by the way I would like to talk to you about the charter.

In a city of 7 million with a population density of 16,576 people per square mile... the lengths that these two Red Shirt Leaders Out On Bail stretch their non-existing credibility past its non-existent limit is amazing.

.

Edited May 30, 2012 by Buchholz

[h90]

So, the red shirts support a bill that gives amnesty to Thaksin's corruption charges, but doesn't give any protest leaders amnesty???

Sent from my shoe phone

what is surprising?

From the beginning that was the rhetoric from the red.