Robert Amsterdam: I P U Keeps Close Eyes On Thai Politics

[webfact]

Robert Amsterdam: IPU keeps close eyes on Thai politics

BANGKOK, 16 May 2013 (NNT) -- According to Mr. Robert Amsterdam, an attorney of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has put Thailand's political situation under its close watch.

The statement came during a press conference yesterday made by Mr. Amsterdam and former Pheu Thai Party List member Mr. Jatuporn Prompan on the possibility of returning the MP status to the latter.

The IPU on March 28 issued a resolution asking the Thai Constitutional Court to reconsider its decision to revoke Mr. Jatuporn's MP status.

The IPU termed the court’s decision denying a temporary release of Mr. Jatuporn in order to allow him to vote on the 2011 general election as simply unreasonable.

Mr. Robert expressed his opinions that Thailand’s constitution needs amendments, citing several of its articles to have tendencies to violate human, citizen and political rights.

He said that the IPU's intervention to seek the return of MP status to Mr. Jatuporn was based on the same reason.

The UDD attorney added the IPU was worried about the current political situation in Thailand, particularly a tension between Parliament and the Constitutional Court, in which it claimed that the court was interfering with the parliament's work.

He said that the IPU has sent representatives to observe the situation in Thailand, adding that it usually intervenes when finding any organization is not working to support the democratic system.


-- NNT 2013-05-16

[whybother]

The IPU termed the court’s decision denying a temporary release of Mr. Jatuporn in order to allow him to vote on the 2011 general election as simply unreasonable.

Why should Jatuporn be treated any different than other prisoners?

The IPU on March 28 issued a resolution asking the Thai Constitutional Court to reconsider its decision to revoke Mr. Jatuporn's MP status.

They issued the resolution 7 weeks ago. When are they actually going to get around to asking?

He said that the IPU has sent representatives to observe the situation in Thailand, adding that it usually intervenes when finding any organization is not working to support the democratic system.

So, are they planning to intervene with the PTP trying to dismantle the judicial part of the democratic system?

[yoshiwara]

Amsterdam and Jatuporn vie for the position of top clown in the Court of King Taksin.

[lannarebirth]

Mr. Amsterdam and former Pheu Thai Party List member Mr. Jatuporn Prompan

As my sainted nona used to say "an ass will bray and bray, until it finds another ass".

[GrantSmith]

Pot meet kettle...

[MunterHunter]

Nothing but a highly paid sh*t-stirrer.

I thought 'farangs' were not able to comprehend Thai culture? Seems that line only gets trotted out when they disagree with your point of view

[thaicbr]

Who the f#*k are the IPU. And what business is of theirs if a bail breaker gets let out of jail or not?

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

[Thaddeus]

Who the f#*k are the IPU. And what business is of theirs if a bail breaker gets let out of jail or not?

I've just done a bit of reading up on them, they appear to be a mighty sounding squawk box, who aren't actually capable of 'doing' anything ...... bit like the U.N.

[whybother]

Who the f#*k are the IPU. And what business is of theirs if a bail breaker gets let out of jail or not?

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU; French: L'Union Interparlementaire (UIP)) is an international organization established in 1889 by Frédéric Passy (France) and William Randal Cremer (United Kingdom). It was the first permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations. Initially, the organization was for individual parliamentarians, but has since transformed into an international organization of the parliaments of sovereign states. The national parliaments of 162 countries are members of the IPU, and 10 regional parliamentary assemblies are associate members

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-Parliamentary_Union

The IPU is the international organization of Parliaments. It was established in 1889.

http://www.ipu.org/english/whatipu.htm

[Robby nz]

I thought Amsterdam was supposed to no longer be employed by the big man?

Perhaps he is just doing this out of the goodness of his heart, out of his concern for the welfare of the Thai people

[whybother]

IPU to Monitor Trial of Thai Political Leader

15 MAY 2013

IPU is to send a legal expert to observe the trial of Jatuporn Prompan, leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and a prominent figure during the ‘Red Shirt’ demonstrations that took place in Bangkok between March and May 2010. Prompan, who was elected as an MP in 2011 for the successful Pheu Thai Party whilst in detention, is facing charges of taking part in an illegal gathering that contravened the state of emergency imposed during the demonstrations and charges of terrorism in relation to arson attacks that occurred whilst Prompan was already in police custody.

In May 2012, the Thai Constitutional Court ruled that Prompan’s detention on election day and his consequent failure to vote, meant that he not only lost membership of his political party but also disqualified him from serving as an MP.

The trial observation follows the adoption of an IPU resolution on the case at the 128th Assembly in Ecuador. The resolution expressed concern that Prompan was convicted of charges of defamation which, in concurrence with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, it believes should not be considered a criminal offence. It also called on the Thai authorities to do everything they can to reconsider Prompan’s disqualification and ensure that current legal provisions are in line with international human rights standards.

http://www.ipu.org/english/news.htm

[animatic]

Amsterdam and Jatuporn vie for the position of top clown in the Court of King Taksin.

Surely you jest.

This is just a new gestation of the democratic urges of that Kuhn T.

[whybother]

IPU to Monitor Trial of Thai Political Leader

15 MAY 2013

IPU is to send a legal expert to observe the trial of Jatuporn Prompan, leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and a prominent figure during the ‘Red Shirt’ demonstrations that took place in Bangkok between March and May 2010. Prompan, who was elected as an MP in 2011 for the successful Pheu Thai Party whilst in detention, is facing charges of taking part in an illegal gathering that contravened the state of emergency imposed during the demonstrations and charges of terrorism in relation to arson attacks that occurred whilst Prompan was already in police custody.

In May 2012, the Thai Constitutional Court ruled that Prompan’s detention on election day and his consequent failure to vote, meant that he not only lost membership of his political party but also disqualified him from serving as an MP.

The trial observation follows the adoption of an IPU resolution on the case at the 128th Assembly in Ecuador. The resolution expressed concern that Prompan was convicted of charges of defamation which, in concurrence with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, it believes should not be considered a criminal offence. It also called on the Thai authorities to do everything they can to reconsider Prompan’s disqualification and ensure that current legal provisions are in line with international human rights standards.

http://www.ipu.org/english/news.htm

I'm sure PTP have removing defamation as a criminal offence at the top of their things to do.

[khunken]

Not for the first time has Amsterdam got his knickers in a twist.

The IPU are saying that the problem lies with Thailand's defamation laws & I would agree that they are in need of changing from a criminal charge to a civil charge.

In reality the law makers are the ones with the power to change it and it is nothing to do with the CC. So, the IPU are targeting the government.

[animatic]

Not for the first time has Amsterdam got his knickers in a twist.

The IPU are saying that the problem lies with Thailand's defamation laws & I would agree that they are in need of changing from a criminal charge to a civil charge.

In reality the law makers are the ones with the power to change it and it is nothing to do with the CC. So, the IPU are targeting the government.

It is too good a cudgel to use on enemies, and then cry foul if it hits one of yours too hard.

Old Jatu never expected his cover would ever slip this far,

so now the big public embarrassment gun is called out, to go against the courts.

[Fred B]

The IPU termed the court’s decision denying a temporary release of Mr. Jatuporn in order to allow him to vote on the 2011 general election as simply unreasonable.

Why should Jatuporn be treated any different than other prisoners?

Thailand has 262,077 prisoners.

Let them all out to vote on election day. That would satisfy the "simply unreasonable" point of the IPU.

http://www.prisonstudies.org/info/worldbrief/wpb_stats.php?area=all&category=wb_poptotal

[RubbaJohnny]

Amsterdammaged

[GrantSmith]

Amsterdammaged

Is that the new PTP PR App?

[Robby nz]

If the IPU is getting its information from Amsterdam the UDD and Jutaporn then I suspect there could just be some distortion of the truth.

[phantomfiddler]

Gratifying to know that most people have amsterdam (note low case) pegged

[LuckyLew]

He was in jail for a reason

He was not released to vote for a reason

Decision made

Now deal with it

You tried ... you lost

You got what you deserved

[indyuk]

Amsterdam and Jatuporn vie for the position of top clown in the Court of King Taksin.

Careful! King Thaksin Died more than 300 hundred years ago. However all Thai Kings are protected in Thai Law.

[whybother]

Amsterdam and Jatuporn vie for the position of top clown in the Court of King Taksin.

Careful! King Thaksin Died more than 300 hundred years ago. However all Thai Kings are protected in Thai Law.

King Taksin, not Thaksin.

[ratcatcher]

Amsterdam and Jatuporn vie for the position of top clown in the Court of King Taksin.

Careful! King Thaksin Died more than 300 hundred years ago. However all Thai Kings are protected in Thai Law.

Let's set the record straight. King Taksin The Great died 231 years ago on April 7th and yoshiwara is correct except that it would be the court of Thaksin Shinawatra.

Most monarchs throughout history have employed jesters in their courts and Messrs R.A. & J.P. would fit that description I think you will find.

[rubl]

"The IPU termed the courts decision denying a temporary release of Mr. Jatuporn in order to allow him to vote on the 2011 general election as simply unreasonable."

'unreasonable'? Now if ever I heard a solid defence based on laws, jurisprudence and whatever, surely this must be it.

[bigbamboo]

Amsterdam and Jatuporn vie for the position of top clown in the Court of King Taksin.

Careful! King Thaksin Died more than 300 hundred years ago. However all Thai Kings are protected in Thai Law.

It's amazing how many people in Thailand seem think King Taksin is still alive.

You hear them saying, " Thailand would be so much better if 'king Thaksin wasn't around."

[rubl]

The IPU has a clear unerstanding of the Thai situation. It's almost as good as PM Yingluck lamenting the 'almost decade' Thais had to struggle. Anyway recalling

"Jatuporn, a leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and at the time a member of the House of Representatives, played a prominent role in the Red Shirt demonstrations that took place in central Bangkok between 12 March and 19 May 2010;"
http://www.ipu.org/hr-e/192/th183.htm

[bigbamboo]

OK, be honest, before Bob-a-Job Amsterdam mentioned them who here had ever heard of the IPU?

[monkeycountry]

"The trial observation follows the adoption of an IPU resolution on the case at the 128th Assembly in Ecuador. The resolution expressed concern that Prompan was convicted of charges of defamation which, in concurrence with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, it believes should not be considered a criminal offence. It also called on the Thai authorities to do everything they can to reconsider Prompans disqualification and ensure that current legal provisions are in line with international human rights standards."

I completely agree with that. However I highly doubt the PTP, Yingluck and Thaksin wants to remove defamation as a criminal offence. Afterall most of them are suing or threatening to sue for defamation on a daily basis. (Yingluck/cartoonist as a recent example).

[Thaddeus]

"The trial observation follows the adoption of an IPU resolution on the case at the 128th Assembly in Ecuador. The resolution expressed concern that Prompan was convicted of charges of defamation which, in concurrence with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, it believes should not be considered a criminal offence. It also called on the Thai authorities to do everything they can to reconsider Prompans disqualification and ensure that current legal provisions are in line with international human rights standards."

And if they don't, someone from the IPU will write a very stern letter.