Government Unlikely To Push Forward With Amnesty Law: Thai Analysis

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ANALYSIS
Government unlikely to push forward with amnesty law
Attayuth Bootsripoom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government is expected to drag its feet on the call to enact an amnesty law for fear of confrontations between red-shirt and yellow-shirts.

However, because it wanted to please the red-shirts, the government had to act as if it was serious in pushing for the enactment.

As part of efforts to please red-shirt people, who are now losing their patience, Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol invited representatives from 11 sides to discuss the amnesty law enactment. The 11 sides are 1) the coalition and the Pheu Thai, 2) the Democrats, 3) the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship, 4) the People's Alliance for Democracy, 5) Nicha Thuwatham, representing government officials killed during political turbulence, 6) the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand, 7) the Pitak Siam group, 8) business operators affected by political violence, 9) the military, 10) the multicoloured-shirt group, and 11) the Bhum Jai Thai Party.

However, only representatives of groups on the government's side attended the meeting, with the others announcing a boycott and vowing to campaign both inside and outside Parliament to oppose the amnesty law enactment.

Worse still for the government, Charoen's move provided a common cause against the red shirts, with the PAD, Pitak Siam and Democrat supporters reuniting against efforts to enact the law.

The red-shirt movement stepped up pressure on the government by having a group of Pheu Thai MPs, led by red-shirt Worachai Hema, sponsor a new amnesty bill last week.

Thus the government faces a dilemma. If it pushes for enactment of the law, yellow-shirt people will come out to protest and they could be met with violent confrontations. Figures from the recent Bangkok governor election show that there are more than 1 million red-shirt people or Pheu Thai supporters in Bangkok.

The confrontations would not bode well for the government. Violence and blood spilling could result in the government being ousted so it need to take care to avoid such a situation.

The coalition has now distanced itself from Worachai's move by having whips come out to say that the move was Worachai's personal action, not the coalition' stand.'

In the meantime, Charoen himself apparently lacks clear determination to push for a solution and ha even promised to hold talks with Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

It is expected that the government will buy time by having the Council of State continue to study the three drafts of amnesty law earlier submitted. This will show to the red shirts that the government has not abandoned them, thus giving the coalition more breathing time.


-- The Nation 2013-03-11

[waza]

This make more sense there is no point in railroading and amnesty through at the cost of division of society and social unrest. After all it may cause a downgrade in the Thailands credit rating. Its better to face derision than to conform to the dictates of the redshirt movement.

Hi Bro got some bad news, Amnesty is on hold.

Why dont they love me anymore?

Edited March 11, 2013 by waza

[JetsetBkk]

This make more sense there is no point in railroading and amnesty through at the cost of division of society and social unrest. After all it may cause a downgrade in the Thailands credit rating. Its better to face derision than to conform to the dictates of the redshirt movement.

602568_381584225252177_579547667_n.jpg Hi Bro got some bad news, Amnesty is on hold.

Thaksin crying.jpg Why dont they love me anymore?

Hi Bro got some bad news, Amnesty is on hold.

Why dont they love me anymore?

But I have some good news - there's more somtam in the post.

Oh my Buddha.

[Locationthailand]

What a crock of crap this whole issue is. Amnesty for criminals? Who cares about the colour of their shirts? They all broke the law, now they need to pay. Offer amnesty and the next incident of civil unrest will be way out of control and could lead to civil war.

Edited March 11, 2013 by Locationthailand

[siampolee]

Interesting development, one wonders whether or not there is a split in the P.T.P. ( Parasites and Ticks Party) ) perhaps the rank and file membership of M.P in this current coalition maladministration.are coming to realise that their support of an amnesty could well bring another round of civil unrest to the country.

On the other hand like Brutus turning on Caesar those coalition groups are turning on the Thaksin clan '' Et tu my puppets'' Thaksin may well utter if the puppets cast off their strings and Thaksin is removed from the scene.

Or possibly the move is designed to destroy the Red Shirt movement which now the pawns are flexing their muscles they are indeed becoming a nuisance to the puppet master, They've served their purpose now,we are hoisting a ''paying off pennant.''

Perchance that the puppet master is now coming to realise that being in the shark feeding frenzy is fine, however in those feeding frenzies the sharks often turn on each other with murderous intent,.

All actions have consequences and it seems as if the consequences may indeed be hitting back at the creature who originally initiated those actions that led to civil unrest, the looting and destruction of property and the deaths of many people.

In truth if this amnesty move is put on the back burner it will benefit the whole country.which would indeed be the most positive move that this current maladministration could make.

[Skywalker69]

Interesting development, one wonders whether or not there is a split in the P.T.P. ( Parasites and Ticks Party) ) perhaps the rank and file membership of M.P in this current coalition maladministration.are coming to realise that their support of an amnesty could well bring another round of civil unrest to the country.

On the other hand like Brutus turning on Caesar those coalition groups are turning on the Thaksin clan '' Et tu my puppets'' Thaksin may well utter if the puppets cast off their strings and Thaksin is removed from the scene.

Or possibly the move is designed to destroy the Red Shirt movement which now the pawns are flexing their muscles they are indeed becoming a nuisance to the puppet master, They've served their purpose now,we are hoisting a ''paying off pennant.''

Perchance that the puppet master is now coming to realise that being in the shark feeding frenzy is fine, however in those feeding frenzies the sharks often turn on each other with murderous intent,.

All actions have consequences and it seems as if the consequences may indeed be hitting back at the creature who originally initiated those actions that led to civil unrest, the looting and destruction of property and the deaths of many people.

In truth if this amnesty move is put on the back burner it will benefit the whole country.which would indeed be the most positive move that this current maladministration could make.

It seems PTP is doing a "Weng"