PAD Vows To Fight Reconciliation Bills 'Till The End'

[webfact]

RECONCILIATION LAW

PAD vows to fight reconciliation bills 'till the end'

THANATPONG KONGSAI,

TOSSAPORN WONGWAIKOLAYOOT

THE NATION

Photo : Prasert Thepsri

BANGKOK: -- Yellow-shirt protesters yesterday vowed to "fight till the end" against the reconciliation bill tabled by former coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin and another one from red-shirt politicians in the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

"No laws are damaging to the country as much as these reconciliation bills," said Chamlong Srimuang, a co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

"We will continue our protest and fight to the end, whatever it will be," he told the PAD rally.

"We will go step-by-step and there will be the day for the final assault, which could be in a day or two."

Some 3,000 yellow-shirt supporters had gathered at the Royal Plaza, which is not far from Parliament, for the PAD rally in the afternoon. In the morning, many of them began setting up about 20 tents there.

Chamlong said PAD regarded all four reconciliation bills as "laws that damage the country", which the yellow shirts would not tolerate.

PAD leaders would carefully consider the movement's next steps in their latest rally against the reconciliation bills, he said.

Sondhi Limthongkul, another PAD co-leader, told the rally that more than six years ago in February 2006 at the same site, PAD kicked off its street protests that led to the ouster of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in the coup of 2006.

"Nobody could've imagined that the coup leader would one day help with drafting a law that would whitewash the wrongdoing of the man from whom he seized power," Sondhi said, referring to Sonthi, who staged the putsch when he was Army chief.

Sonthi, who is now chairman of the House committee on national reconciliation, recently submitted his reconciliation bill that would grant general amnesty to everyone involved in the political conflicts.

"PAD is like the main army. We will fight until we win. Amending the law to expunge court verdicts is tantamount to violating the power of His Majesty the King because judges make their rulings on behalf of the King," he said.

"Whitewashing someone's crime by cancelling court verdicts is not a personal matter. It's a matter for the country."

Sondhi also criticised Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha for repeating his mantra that "a political problem must be solved through political means".

Due to the Army's weakness for many past years, PAD had to take over its role of protecting the nation and the monarchy, he said.

Drizzles in the afternoon failed to disperse the protesters. At about 2.30pm, Chamlong ordered them to march on Parliament.

At the same time, about 500 people from the multicoloured-shirts group, led by obstetrician Tul Sittisomwong, assembled in front of Parliament to protest against the same reconciliation bills.

By 3pm, all of U-thong Nai Road outside Parliament was full of cheering and yelling protesters. The police guard was beefed up from 700 to 2,000 members to maintain law and order.

Inside the Parliament compound, seven opposition politicians led by Democrat MP Attaporn Ponlaboot raised signs with the message, "Stop phoney reconciliation intended to whitewash corrupt people's crimes".

At 4pm, PAD leaders entered the Parliament compound to hand deputy House speaker Charoen Jankomol their open |letter demanding the scrapping of the four reconciliation bills.

The petition was signed by |co-leaders Chamlong, Sondhi, Piphob Dhongchai and Somkiat Pongpai-boon.

-- The Nation 2012-05-31

[webfact]

Thai reconciliation bill acts to deepen divides

BANGKOK, May 31, 2012 (AFP) - Thousands of Thai ultra-royalists rallied Wednesday in Bangkok against a bill they fear will open the door for ousted premier Thaksin Shinatwatra to return to the politically-fractured kingdom.

The rally of about 5,000 people marks one of the biggest shows of force by the movement since its crippling 2008 protests helped topple Thaksin-allied governments and comes as simmering Thai divisions spilled over into parliament.

Somkiart Pongpaiboon told the crowd the group would mobilise against a government led by Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra over its plan to grant a sweeping amnesty that could allow the former premier back into Thailand.

"Our steps are stop reconciliation bills, expel the prime minister and reform democracy," said the leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), known as the "Yellow Shirts".

The PAD are powerful players in Thailand's colour-coded politics, backed by the Bangkok-based elite and arch-rivals of Thaksin's "Red Shirts", whose massive rallies against a previous government in 2010 ended in a bloody crackdown.

Reconciliation proposals have threatened to further polarise politics in the country, which has been repeatedly shaken by civil unrest since Thaksin was ousted by royalist generals in 2006.

The Thai parliament was thrown into chaos on Wednesday as MPs rushed the house speaker, forcing police to step in, amid an angry row over the timing of deliberations on the contentious bill.

"This should not have happened," said Jirayu Huangsap, spokesman for the ruling Peua Thai. "Members have rights to propose and object, they should discuss."

Yingluck's government came to power last year, supported by the Red Shirts, with a promise to bring reconciliation to Thailand.

But the opposition has accused the government of trying to use amnesty plans as a means of enabling a return to Thailand for Thaksin, who lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption and terrorism charges relating to the 2010 violence.

The Yellows are historically close to the opposition Democrat party, which came to power after 2008 rallies by the movement that culminated with the seizure of two Bangkok airports, stranding more than 300,000 travellers and causing crippling economic damage.

Some Red Shirts are also opposed to the reconciliation bill over fears that it would hamper prosecutions linked to the bloodshed during their rallies in 2010.

More than 90 people, mostly civilians, died during their two-month protests in Bangkok that ended with a brutal crackdown by the army.

So far no cases have been brought in connection with the violence and Human Rights Watch in April warned that if adopted the bill would "undermine justice".

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-05-31

[Moruya]

Red shirts don't want amnesties.

Yellow shirts don't want amnesties.

Who does? I wonder...

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect App

[Curt1591]

"fight till the end"

we can only hope!

Red shirts don't want amnesties.

Yellow shirts don't want amnesties.

Who does? I wonder...

The criminals who call themselves "leaders" want amnesty.

Edited May 31, 2012 by Curt1591

[gand]

Red shirts don't want amnesties.

Yellow shirts don't want amnesties.

Who does? I wonder...

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Thaivisa Connect App

TS

[Payboy]

"Nobody could've imagined that the coup leader would one day help with drafting a law that would whitewash the wrongdoing of the man from whom he seized power," Sondhi said, referring to Sonthi, who staged the putsch when he was Army chief.

Yeah that would make me spit my dummy too.

[OzMick]

Perhaps he's taken the double standards thing to heart. After all, he did whitewash himself, much to the outrage of some here.

Strangely, that outrage doesn't seem to apply to whitewashing Thaksin.

[Nowhereman60]

They should not have missed when they had the chance.

[gand]

Will TS be back soon?

[h90]

"fight till the end"

we can only hope!

Red shirts don't want amnesties.

Yellow shirts don't want amnesties.

Who does? I wonder...

The criminals who call themselves "leaders" want amnesty.

The leaders Thaksin is the only one.

[h90]

Will TS be back soon?

Don't know but his 40+ billions will be paid back to him soon.

[webfact]

PAD, multicoloured-shirt protesters continue protest against reconciliation bills

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Demonstrators led by the People's Alliance for Democracy resumed their protest against the reconciliation bill Thursday.

The yellow-shirt protesters returned to the Uthong Nai Road to demonstrate at 9 am.

The multicoloured-shirt group, meanwhile, continued its protest in front of the Third Gate of Parliament at the PIchai Intersection.

-- The Nation 2012-05-31

[webfact]

Police secure one gate of Parliament, close all other gates

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police yesterday put up road barriers and barbed wires to secure the passage for entering and leaving the Parliament compound through the Prasart Theverin Gate Thursday morning.

Police also put up barriers to block all other entrances to Parliament.

Police pushed back protesters form the Pichai Intersection to the Kattiyani Intersection so that the road leading to the Prasart Thevarin Gate could be used for MPs and parliamentary officials.

-- The Nation 2012-05-31

[gand]

Have the red shirts joined the yellows in protesting this amnesty for TS and no justice for their dead?

[webfact]

International Media Covers PAD's Protest Against Reconciliation Bill

BANGKOK: -- International media are covering the latest political rally of the People's Alliance for Democracy against the national reconciliation bill, as well as the commotion among MPs at the Parliament yesterday.

International news agencies, namely AP, AFP, BBC, Reuters and Gulf News, have reported on the latest political rally of the People's Alliance for Democracy, the group's first major gathering since the protest in 2008 that resulted in the ouster of the Thaksin Shinawatra administration.

AFP quoted PAD leader and former MP Somkiat Pongpaiboon as saying that this rally aims to protest against the government's attempt to use the national reconciliation bill to bring Thaksin back to his home soil and absolve him of his corruption and terrorism charges.

Somkiat that added the PAD will do all it can to put a stop to the reconciliation bill and any attempt to meddle with democracy.

-- Tan Network 2012-05-31

[tlansford]

Perhaps he's taken the double standards thing to heart. After all, he did whitewash himself, much to the outrage of some here.

Strangely, that outrage doesn't seem to apply to whitewashing Thaksin.

amazing that one doesn't get so upset about a signature for the high-bid in an open auction after verifying its legality but might think that a military take-over of a civil government is a a little more serious.

yes, strange that difference in outrage...

[ratcatcher]

.............................."The End Game".....................................................

.............................

"The power and the glory for ever and ever". Amen

[OzMick]

Perhaps he's taken the double standards thing to heart. After all, he did whitewash himself, much to the outrage of some here.

Strangely, that outrage doesn't seem to apply to whitewashing Thaksin.

amazing that one doesn't get so upset about a signature for the high-bid in an open auction after verifying its legality but might think that a military take-over of a civil government is a a little more serious.

yes, strange that difference in outrage...

So we only look at convictions (without discussing the merits of your self-serving description)? Sonthi has none to whitewash, but there is outrage that he has not faced a court for his actions.

Surely then we can consider Thaksin's actions for which he is yet to face a court, mainly due to him being a fugitive? The list of charges he faces is impressive. Can he not face them under his sister's administration where he would at the very least get impartial treatment, and more likely highly favourable?

He could continue his present absence indefinitely, but what happens when Arisman and Jatuporn get dragged into court and charges of terrorism are found proven? That makes his fugitive status much more distasteful to discerning hosts.

[webfact]

RT @RichardBarrow: RT @wayne_hay: Yellow shirts have asked parliament to let in 200 yellows to observe debate. They want an answer in 1h

[h90]

Have the red shirts joined the yellows in protesting this amnesty for TS and no justice for their dead?

No they still wait for the 500 Baht for protesting but in this case Mr. TS won't pay...so no protest

[h90]

Perhaps he's taken the double standards thing to heart. After all, he did whitewash himself, much to the outrage of some here.

Strangely, that outrage doesn't seem to apply to whitewashing Thaksin.

amazing that one doesn't get so upset about a signature for the high-bid in an open auction after verifying its legality but might think that a military take-over of a civil government is a a little more serious.

yes, strange that difference in outrage...

military took over an illegal civil government and gave back democracy.....

We shall not forget that this government was in power by illegal means and that it was a 1 party parliament like in the Soviet Union.

[Yunla]

From OP.

Amending the law to expunge court verdicts is tantamount to violating the power of His Majesty the King because judges make their rulings on behalf of the King," he said.

"Whitewashing someone's crime by cancelling court verdicts is not a personal matter. It's a matter for the country."

It is really as simple as that. Dress it all up in legal lingo with 'reconciliation' & 'rehabilitation' etc. and other emotive heart-warming words as garnish, what Yingluck is actually doing is a gross affront to Thailand, to the Laws of this land and to all the people in the past who devoted their lives to building these laws for the security & dignity of this great nation. Laws apply to everybody, rich and poor, strong and weak, and those laws have to be respected by the richest as well as by the poorest. Nobody can pick-and-choose which laws apply to them. That is what democratic laws are for, to stop the strongest crushing the weakest under their boots.

Edited May 31, 2012 by Yunla

[Lite Beer]

Police tighten Parliament security while PAD establish demonstration area in front of Parliament

BANGKOK, 31 May 2012 (NNT) – Police officers are tightening security around Parliament after the People's Alliance for Democracy set up a demonstration area in front of the Parliament building.

Police officers have beefed up security around the Parliament while the House of Representatives is conducting a meeting to consider whether to move up the debate of the 4 drafts of the National Reconciliation Act to the top of the agenda an urgent agenda for today. Police have set up barbed wire fences and concrete barriers to close off Ratchavithi Road from the Tiyani Intersection to the Kan Ruen Intersection. The Uthong Nai Intersection has also been cordoned off.

Riot police have been deployed to keep things under control. Meanwhile, the People's Alliance for Democracy are using the area in front of Parliament as a demonstration area. But no PAD leaders have taken the stage to rouse demonstrators, nor have any major activities been conducted. Demonstrators have set up a kitchen at the Dusit Palace Square, indicating that they will be in for a long haul while a stream of new demonstrators has been seen arriving at the protest site since early in the morning.

-- NNT 2012-05-31

[h90]

Things seem to develop a bit slow...Can anyone press the fast-forward button, please?

[MAN2SIN2BKK]

Here we go again, grannies taking over Swampy and DM and the authorities not reacting

[h90]

Here we go again, grannies taking over Swampy and DM and the authorities not reacting

That would be the best solution

[Colin Yai]

For there to be reconciliation there has to be compromise on both sides ,this IMHO is totally alien to a Thai, as to admit that you could be wrong means losing face , so its a none starter and doomed to failure .

[silsburyhill]

If it were not for the PAD, like them or not, Taksin's nose would've been back in the trough years ago. Who was going to stop him? The stupid coup makers had more or less admitted their gaffe, fully realising it would've been best, albeit painful, to let this egomaniac implode.

He was reviled by most before the coup. And so where were his 'supporters' then? Why were they not out on the streets demanding his return in 2006? Not rocket science is it.

[JohnAllan]

Where are the 'riot' police when the opposition demonstrates?

[OldgitTom]

There you go, you dumb, old, wrinkled, expat, authoritarian, jumbos. I tole you a military coup would solve nothing. Are you really surprised we are back to square one? It doesn't really matter if the rulers are corrupt & inept. They are in most of the world. If the ballot is half-way fair, what counts is the votes. The winners make the government, & the losers gripe until the next election. Keep on trumpeting about stupid voters as long as you like. If you trample on democracy, you'll prolly get an Adolf Hitler or Joe Stalin, & they will put a knot in your trunks sharpish. OGT