MP backs postponing debate on reconciliation bill

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A Pheu Thai MP who is also a red-shirt leader said yesterday that he fully supported the plan to postpone House debate on the controversial reconciliation bills for the sake of government stability.

Natthawut Saikua said all sides involved had to achieve a common understanding about reconciliation before the bills are debated upon.

"There will be no reconciliation, just ill will. The government should be careful about making further moves on the bills. They should avoid giving the opposing side any chance to harm them," Natthawut said, adding that the House of Representatives should first debate other bills tabled for deliberation.

Last month, opposition Democrat MPs launched an aggressive protest when government MPs started pushing for the four reconciliation bills to be put up for immediate deliberation.

House Speaker Somsak Kiart-suranond, however, decided to postpone deliberation on the bills before Parliament recessed last week, and on Thursday, he suggested that they should be withdrawn to reduce the mounting political tension. The bills are awaiting their first reading when Parliament reopens on August 1.

Opponents of the bills say the general amnesty meant for everybody involved in political conflict since 2005 is intended to whitewash the wrongdoings of fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and his cohorts involved in criminal offences over recent years, including the 2010 unrest that left 91 people dead.

Natthawut said yesterday that he expected the government to face a "tough battle" in August, adding that the Constitution Court's verdict on charter amendment bills in July would be key to the government's health.

The court is meant to rule on whether proponents of the government-sponsored charter amendment bills are attempting to overthrow the country's democratic regime in order to rewrite the current Constitution, which would allow for the drafting of a brand-new one.

Natthawut and other red-shirt MPs presented this bill after three other bills on reconciliation had been submitted, including one by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, leader of the 2006 coup who is now chairman of the ad hoc House committee for national reconciliation.

Sonthi, who is leader of the Matubhum Party, said yesterday that he had discussed the issue with Somsak but they had not spoken about pulling out the bill.

"I do not see this bill as a factor for conflict, because the focus is on amending the charter. I might withdraw my bill because there are several others proposed by government MPs," he said.

Meanwhile, chief coalition whip Udomdej Ratanasathien said government whips would meet next week to discuss whether the reconciliation bills should be withdrawn.

Senior figures from the Democrat Party yesterday expressed support for Somsak's call for the bills to be withdrawn, and opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanavisit said this would help defuse political tension.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the House Speaker should take it upon himself to talk the proponents into withdrawing their bills.

Chumpol Silapa-archa, leader of the coalition Chart Thai Pattana Party, agreed that this was not the right time for government MPs to push for the reconciliation bill, adding that the matter should be discussed further in the form of a public forum.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shina-watra refused to comment on the Speaker's call for withdrawal of the reconciliation bills, adding that the matter should be discussed in the House.

-- The Nation 2012-06-30

Good man...........think of country first, not party, and certainly not TS.

There may be an outbreak of common sense here.......that would be a shock development

However, big like from me, well done sir.

Natthawut Saikua said...

"There will be no reconciliation, just ill will."

So the moron indicted terrorist did not think that last month when he submitted his reconciliation bill?

Always funny to read someone pan their own actions... but with this lot, it's unsurprising.

.

They tried to put the bill through as fast as possible and even by stealth, proposed by a proxy, denied they had even read the bill, tried to push it through as quickly as possible, then when this attempt failed and the real consequences and backlash became apparent, they retreated back into their little red conch shell. No doubt they will try it again later, and are just conducting backroom deals to smooth things over for the retry. No doubt all their parliamentary energies in the near future will be devoted to the reconciliation bill 2.0 just as all their parliamentary energies in the last year have been devoted to the original.

Edited June 30, 201214 yr by Yunla

For me the point is, that the continued stability of the current government should be a higher priority, than attempts to whitewash DL. I would agree ... PTP should put the country ahead of one man ... and redouble their efforts to improve life for the poor ... isn't that really why they got 48.4% of the vote a year ago ?

It is encouraging when any red-shirt leader dares to say so.

Let's hope no 'unseen power' takes revenge on Natthawut by activating one of those alleged pre-election letters-of-resignation.

Edited June 30, 201214 yr by Ricardo

I can smell nam pla

Might we do well to remember that the banned gang of politicians are now encircling the P.T stockade and they are intent on feathering their own nests much as they did in the past.

Any attempt to actually allow Thaksin to return clad in lily white clothing which of course would conceal his real intentions are indeed contrary to the interests and aims of the returning renegades.

Those renegades were held in servitude on Thaksins leash now they have slipped the leash and tasted freedom, methinks anyone or any scheme that may limit the actions of the returning renegades will, nay has to be stifled to preserve their self interests.

A gentle '' sweetened sponsorship'' deal to a Red Shirt leader who has no principles would indeed be or is a wonderful way to stall the progress of the proposed bill in Parliament.

A divided P.T party is the perfect way to eliminate the possibility of Thaksins return and resumption of his solo efforts in self enrichment in which the brown nosing acolytes get the crumbs from the table rather than a bite at the full meal.

A divided house or in this case coalition soon falls.

We see yet again the three ring circus of Thai politics entering its umpteenth incarnation.

Money, Money, It's The Rich Man's Tool

Such a wealth of information between the lines.