Reprieve For Jatuporn Complicates Cabinet Reshuffle

[webfact]

Reprieve for Jatuporn complicates reshuffle

PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION

PM in a quandary as she cannot have two red-shirt leaders in her Cabinet

BANGKOK: -- A Criminal Court decision yesterday to acquit red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan, while putting a lesser-known leader like Yoswarit Chooklom under detention, could obviously complicate the Cabinet reshuffle expected in October, because Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra cannot afford to have two red-shirt leaders in her Cabinet. Natthawut Saikua already serves as deputy agriculture minister.

The Criminal Court yesterday revoked the bail of red-shirt co-leader Yoswarit, better known as Jeng Dokjik, because it believed the defendant had every intention to "create disturbance and harm" the Constitution Court judges and their families by announcing their phone numbers and addresses at a rally.

The judges said it was not clear if the defendant would create more disturbances if he were to be freed on bail. Though 18 other red-shirt leaders, including Jatuporn Promphan, escaped a similar fate, they have been told not to create any disturbances or leave the Kingdom. According to the judges, Jatuporn was merely being "rude" in his speeches.

Since Yoswarit is subject to immediate detention, reportedly due to document technicalities, he was taken to the Bangkok Remand Prison with an armed escort. The other red-shirt leaders later contacted Pheu Thai Party members, who are ministers, to obtain the permission to secure Yoswarit's release on bail using their position as guarantee.

Yoswarit's lawyer also tried to secure bail by submitting Bt2 million in cash as guarantee to the Criminal Court. However, there were no details on the two attempts at press time yesterday.

JATUPORN'S RESPONSE

Jatuporn said he felt sorry for Yoswarit, adding that red-shirt leaders would have to be more careful about their political activities in the future.

Separately, the court's decision to not revoke Jatuporn's bail means he can still be granted a Cabinet post. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will obviously have some tough decisions to make in the next reshuffle, especially as many people have been heard saying that she cannot afford to have two core red-shirt leaders in her Cabinet.

The tension was obvious yesterday morning as hundreds of police officers, wielding anti-riot shields, stood guard outside the Criminal Court. The two main gates were kept shut and anybody wanting to enter the premises had to register in advance and wear a tag.

Outside the court, some thousand or so red-shirt supporters gathered under the scorching sun from early morning to well into the afternoon after the court postponed its verdict to 3pm. Some of the red-shirt supporters also displayed gory pictures of those killed in the April-May 2010 crackdown.

The crowd exploded into loud cheer for several minutes when they caught sight of their leaders entering the court in the afternoon.

After the verdict was announced, Natthawut said Yosawarit was "meeting his fate like a warrior" and that all red-shirt leaders had to be more careful even though the court has not limited their political freedom. Natthawut also reminded the crowd that some ordinary red-shirt supporters were still in jail and had not been granted bail yet.

Before the verdict was announced, Pheu Thai party-list MP and red-shirt co-leader Weng Tojirakarn said he could not condone Yosawarit's behaviour. Yosawarit had allegedly provided Constitution Court judges' personal phone numbers and home addresses to the crowds and encouraged them to ring the judges and air their displeasure at the court's attempt to halt the charter-rewrite process.

Weng, Jatuporn and 16 other red-shirt leaders remain free because the judges have found that they had not violated the bail condition related to their terrorism charges. Their supporters greeted this news with great cheer, while some offered to back Yoswarit as he continued the fight.

"Everybody is safe except [Yoswarit]," a supporter announced on a loud speaker after the verdict was read. "We must accept this as part of the struggle. If we don't accept the court's decision, then others [from different political groups] won't accept it in the future either."

Before the verdict, Yoswarit told the media that he had no intention to harass the Constitution Court judges and hoped the Criminal Court would be lenient. He said that he had released the phone numbers and addresses as a joke but had apologised later and told the red shirts not to call the judges and their families.

Red-shirt lawyer Arnon Nampha, who represents the red-shirt leaders, told The Nation yesterday that the red-shirt supporters had gathered in front of the court in order to scrutinise the procedure.

"I think the red shirts have doubts about the court and they were here to show the court that they were watching," Arnon said.

-- The Nation 2012-08-23

[marshbags]

Can anyone imagine what sort of a scenario would have unfolded and should have going wayyyyy back, had it involved ordinary Thai citizens and the immediate consequences they would have paid for carrying out the endless list of unlawfullness and repetative 2 fingering at the institutions of law.

Seems to me there is obviously a two tier system in place that provides and facilitates whereby on the one hand, citizens of a certain following and colour have an open book to do whatever they wish and are blatantly encouraged by the very people who are supposed to, via their authority over the institutions that police and supposedly prevent crime and slander ect. ect. now in government.

On the other handl other citizens who are considered less priviliged not only get arrested and put into jail, but do not have a hope in hells chance of getting bailed out to commit further offences, again and again and again.

I challenge any of the red shirts or indeed their supporters on this forum to carry similar acts of unlwfullness from the minor offences upward under a neutral ID as ordinary citizens and see what sort of predictable outcome follows.

Then again I think you already know what your fate would be.

The jails sadly are full of forgotten citizens who dared to challenge authourity and niether the government nor the MP,s falling over each other to bail their much valued evil doers of anything and all things to assist their ghost CEO / PM who wishes to return here exonerated of all his evil and corrupt offences, the first of which when it went before the courts put him in jail and consequently put him on the run from justice.

marshbags

[asiawatcher]

Of course a political result, sacrifice one and all will be on hold. T.i.T. Justice Thai style unless you are a Farang.

[jerrysteve]

OH Darn! I was hoping to see him starve himself...What a Bummer!!

[RogueExpat]

OH Darn! I was hoping to see him starve himself...What a Bummer!!

I am sure that Jatuporn's hunger strike was on the forefront of the judge's minds when they were arriving at the decision.

[GentlemanJim]

Using a Minster as a personal guarantee for someone so they can be released on bail is rather futile isn't it? If said person contravenes his bail conditions then the courts can do nothing to the Minister as they just claim Parliamentary Immunity.

[OzMick]

What's complicated about telling a rissole to make love elsewhere?

[Chupup]

Before the verdict, Yoswarit told the media that he had no intention to harass the Constitution Court judges and hoped the Criminal Court would be lenient. He said that he had released the phone numbers and addresses as a joke but had apologised later and told the red shirts not to call the judges and their families

Funny, it didn't sound like that to me, some joke, maybe he will think twice the next time, AND there will be a next time

[Skywalker69]

Outside the court, some thousand or so red-shirt supporters gathered under the scorching sun from early morning to well into the afternoon

Does this people work like ordinary Thais? Or is Thaksin still paying the bill, the poor sucker.

[marshbags]

Once again we have the red shirt leaders and their ilk taking the headlines while keeping more important issues off the front pages.

Perhaps the media should just ignore them apart from reporting more serious events as and when they happen.

How about some honest investigatative reporting on all the corruption that is effecting Thai people and other important related issues that keep surfacing.

The rice plundering that is making the rich richer and the poor with nothing could be a great starter.

Thaksin couldn,t wish for better as what is being reported at present is keeping him firmly fixed on the front pages.

You couldn,t wish for the sort of publicity he is getting. Hmmmmm ????

The priorities need to be elsewhere IMHO and we can then get down to debating real issues once in awhile.

This would really p*ss him off plus of course the government will then have to govern the country and be more accountable to it,s citizens regarding what it is doing on their behalf, well the forgotten majority anyway.

marshbags

Edited August 23, 2012 by marshbags

[Skywalker69]

Let´s see how long he can keep his mouth closed this time, maybe he will open it before the Cabinet reshuffle.

[bigbamboo]

Decisions, decisions............

[jcw]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra cannot afford to have two red-shirt leaders in her Cabinet

Why is that ?

[OzMick]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra cannot afford to have two red-shirt leaders in her Cabinet

Why is that ?

Most of the ministers are incompetent, lacking in both skills and aptitude, hence the results they achieve. In comparison though, they are beacons of hope and experience compared to the abysmal red shirts. Carrying one as a payback to their thugs is hard enough, two would lower the standard below that even PTP will accept.

[GentlemanJim]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra cannot afford to have two red-shirt leaders in her Cabinet

Why is that ?

Well these reds are the Pitbulls and their owners throw them into fights where large cash prizes are available, but of course when have you ever seen a pitbull fighting dog owner ever then take the dog in to their dining room and let them share in the wealth and celebration that the dogs fighting has won? Nope, back to the cage and keep them half starved ready for the next fight, and the Pitbull is too stupid to realise............... at first! Then in almost every occasion they will eventually turn on their owner. The trick is you need to put them down when there is no more fighting left to be done, because fighting is all the dog knows, it doesn't matter who with. Handling too many of these dogs in the same place always proves problematic! Either that or too much red simply clashes with Yingluck's business wear.

[hellodolly]

Of course a political result, sacrifice one and all will be on hold. T.i.T. Justice Thai style unless you are a Farang.

I think they are looking for a Farong to take the fall. Thereby justifying all their actions.

[hellodolly]

Before the verdict, Yoswarit told the media that he had no intention to harass the Constitution Court judges and hoped the Criminal Court would be lenient. He said that he had released the phone numbers and addresses as a joke but had apologised later and told the red shirts not to call the judges and their families

Funny, it didn't sound like that to me, some joke, maybe he will think twice the next time, AND there will be a next time

Perhaps a large 7 digit fine and double digit years in Jail will send a message to the red shirts.

Common sense doesn't work on them maybe fear would.

[Bagwan]

This presents Yingluck with difficult decisions? Just pass it up the line lovey, same as you always do. BB will tell you what to do - or else!!

[hellodolly]

Once again we have the red shirt leaders and their ilk taking the headlines while keeping more important issues off the front pages.

Perhaps the media should just ignore them apart from reporting more serious events as and when they happen.

How about some honest investigatative reporting on all the corruption that is effecting Thai people and other important related issues that keep surfacing.

The rice plundering that is making the rich richer and the poor with nothing could be a great starter.

Thaksin couldn,t wish for better as what is being reported at present is keeping him firmly fixed on the front pages.

You couldn,t wish for the sort of publicity he is getting. Hmmmmm ????

The priorities need to be elsewhere IMHO and we can then get down to debating real issues once in awhile.

This would really p*ss him off plus of course the government will then have to govern the country and be more accountable to it,s citizens regarding what it is doing on their behalf, well the forgotten majority anyway.

marshbags

Well what you say is true.

But you forget that Thai Vista is a huge fan of the Nation. A newspaper with a very dubious reputation.

I was warned about them 6 years ago when I moved here to Thailand. They have so far proved them selves to be just that.

A newspaper with a very dubious reputation

[rubl]

A Criminal Court decision yesterday to acquit red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan

Acquit? Like in not revoke bail but tighten conditions within which the alleged offender may continue to walk around freely while awaiting the start of his trial?

[bigbamboo]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra cannot afford to have two red-shirt leaders in her Cabinet

Why is that ?

The same reason you don't have two a***holes. One is enough, two and you'll be swimming in ...

[philw]

Seems the only reason why there cannot be two "red shirts" in the cabinet is because the Nation says so.

So that must be it then..........

Truth is spoken.

Wonder what happens when 3 are appointed.?

[philw]

A Criminal Court decision yesterday to acquit red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan

Acquit? Like in not revoke bail but tighten conditions within which the alleged offender may continue to walk around freely while awaiting the start of his trial?

Like cops having received a death sentence, kind uncle ??

[OzMick]

Seems the only reason why there cannot be two "red shirts" in the cabinet is because the Nation says so.

So that must be it then..........

Truth is spoken.

Wonder what happens when 3 are appointed.?

Feel free to name any 3 red shirts qualified to hold cabinet positions. Personally, I wouldn't appoint any of them to run a 2-hole outhouse.

[whybother]

A Criminal Court decision yesterday to acquit red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan

Acquit? Like in not revoke bail but tighten conditions within which the alleged offender may continue to walk around freely while awaiting the start of his trial?

Like cops having received a death sentence, kind uncle ??

Correct. Neither were acquitted.

[hellodolly]

Seems the only reason why there cannot be two "red shirts" in the cabinet is because the Nation says so.

So that must be it then..........

Truth is spoken.

Wonder what happens when 3 are appointed.?

You had me fooled I thought you had finally got a grip on reality.

Then you had to shatter that idea with tour last line.

[Skywalker69]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra cannot afford to have two red-shirt leaders in her Cabinet

Why is that ?

Most of the ministers are incompetent, lacking in both skills and aptitude, hence the results they achieve. In comparison though, they are beacons of hope and experience compared to the abysmal red shirts. Carrying one as a payback to their thugs is hard enough, two would lower the standard below that even PTP will accept.

I would rather say. You can dress a monkey in a suit but it´s still a monkey.

[rubl]

A Criminal Court decision yesterday to acquit red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan

Acquit? Like in not revoke bail but tighten conditions within which the alleged offender may continue to walk around freely while awaiting the start of his trial?

Like cops having received a death sentence, kind uncle ??

Don't know, young master Phil. That's not part of this topic, neither is k. Thaksin having jumped bail and various other cases where people were granted bail and are now passing time in a Cambodian casino. Allegedly that is

[Moruya]

Seems the only reason why there cannot be two "red shirts" in the cabinet is because the Nation says so.

So that must be it then..........

Truth is spoken.

Wonder what happens when 3 are appointed.?

Another nail in democracy's coffin if another unvoted fascist is put in a cabinet position.

[JAG]

Another nail in democracy's coffin if another unvoted fascist is put in a cabinet position.

Oh i think that it is very unlikely any members of PAD will be in the cabinet.

Leave that until / when perhaps the Army stages a coup. Then the Cabinet will be full of "unvoted fascists", and there will be much rejoicing on Thai Visa.....