Pheu Thai's Dangerous Double Game On Amnesty

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Pheu Thai's dangerous double game on amnesty
Supon Thanukid
The Nation


Nattapat Akahad, right, the brother of paramedic Kamolked who was shot dead during the 2010 crackdown on red shirts, speaks at a press conference held by people opposed to the proposed amnesty laws last month.

BANGKOK: -- Families of red-shirt protesters who were killed during the 2010 political unrest recently called on the government to draft a reconciliation law that gives primary consideration to ordinary protesters and is free from political influence.

They also asked the government to ensure that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) speed up work on cases stemming from the unrest, saying there has been scant progress in the more than three years since the events.

The group also urged the government to remove DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith as chief investigator in the cases, viewing him as among those responsible for the killings of their loved ones during the red shirts' anti-government rallies and subsequent unrest and riots between March and May 2010.

They also pressured red-shirt leaders, many of whom have since accepted government and Cabinet posts, to publicly comment on a draft law proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung. The proposed legislation calls for a general amnesty for all those involved in the recent political conflicts and those affected by the coup of September 2006.

If the draft becomes law, no one involved in the deaths of the 91 victims - who included soldiers, policemen, protesters and bystanders - would be prosecuted.

Some critics also objected to the fact that the law would void the court-ordered seizure of Bt43 billion in ill-gotten assets from ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. A clause in the legislation states that all orders resulting from the coup should be considered null and void. The Assets Examination Committee, whose investigation led to a court case that resulted in the asset seizure, was appointed by the coup-makers.

The slain red shirts' families are unhappy that the ruling Pheu Thai Party has failed to ask Chalerm to drop his draft law, despite earlier resolving to support another bill proposed by red-shirt leader MP Worachai Hema, who is a red-shirt leader. Worachai's draft offers amnesty to ordinary protesters, but not protest leaders.

For the red shirts' families, Pheu Thai and the government appear to be "playing a double game". Even Worachai is among the 160-plus Pheu Thai MPs who endorse Chalerm's legislation.

The group, which has been considered a supporter of Pheu Thai and the government, also threatened to take to the streets if Chalerm's draft law is tabled for the House of Representatives' deliberation. They disagree with the idea of proclaiming a general amnesty, as former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his ex-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban would also benefit from the law. They believe that the Democrat Party's two key figures are responsible for the deaths of their loved ones.

If Pheu Thai and the government ignore these people's demands, they risk turning friends into foes. It will be interesting to see how the ruling party and politicians.


-- The Nation 2013-06-07

[virtualtraveller]

Chickens coming home to roost, Thaksin created this monster, got them to spill blood for him, now they are getting in the way of his own personal amnesty. Classic.

[NongKhaiKid]

Chickens coming home to roost, Thaksin created this monster, got them to spill blood for him, now they are getting in the way of his own personal amnesty. Classic.

Isn't it just ! The cracks are beginning to appear.

[gemini81]

Chickens coming home to roost, Thaksin created this monster, got them to spill blood for him, now they are getting in the way of his own personal amnesty. Classic.

Isn't it just ! The cracks are beginning to appear.

The tangles web Pheua Thai weave...no forward thinking but rather thinking only of how oneself can benefit, its amusing and they all deserve it. From the fools in the riots up to the top. You know, its karma..you do bad things, it comes back to haunt you; whether burning buildings or making exceptions based on cronyism, there are always consequences. Its all coming back to bite 'em!

They'll bring their own demise by losing support and credibility. I think most of us foretold it happening like this. May be a banana republic at times, but less so when the current clowns are out of office.

Edited June 7, 2013 by gemini81

[Thait Spot]

Who will listen to the people with the real grievances??

Red shirt leaders? Too busy at the trough. Too busy feeding on Thaksin's nipples

PTP? Too busy feeding at the trough and trying to whitewash the man with the nipples

[CrisRMenumate]

They have one very good point. How is it that Tarit Pengdit is the one investigating things that he was involved in? Conflict of interest anybody? the majority of UDD/Reds that were at these demonstrations were there to voice legitimate grievances and were duped into believing they were part of a peaceful sit-in protect.

The Many reports of "confiscated" ID cards and not being able to leave are now ignored? where is testimony on these issues to show the true nature of these "peaceful" demonstrations.

The peaceful side of the demonstrations was lost on April 10th when the first shots were fired, that is when the innocent bystanders should have said, "This isn't peaceful, we need to leave and not be part of this" but they didn't, now they are all whinging that they were in a war zone and got shot at.

Condolences and sympathy to those that lost loved ones and those injured but if you know that live bullets are flying about and you don't think that is good for your health best idea is to leave. Watching the whole mess from my apartment in the area there were many in the area participating in active combat, these people are not innocent "peaceful demonstrators" and not enough information has come out about these people flinging their bombs, RPGs, stolen guns, setting fires, looting and other acts, who coordinated this amongst the red leaders? we believe it was the one calling for people to bring one million litres of benzine to Bangkok and burn it down but they say that evidence was doctored?

The "peaceful demonstrators" need to come forth and admit that there were several hundred or thousand combatants in their midst and that these people were responsible for creating the environment that warranted action by the government. The whole country should be taking criminal action against all police for allowing it to happen as it was their job int he first place to keep order. Pathumwan and Lumpini police stations seemed to be all on holiday for the period and the Police headquarters apparently was a safe place for reds to hide according to rumors. Where are the investigations into the police action/inaction? nothing so far?

The PT government won the election in its way in 2011 and so now has the elected right to rewrite the truth to suit them. and their sycophant followers hoping to be sucking at the teat of the spoils of victory will all continue to support the revisionist methods and ignore the reality of the events of 2010, 2009, 2008 and all before and after.

The real losers here?, The truth and the people.

[TomTao]

This says alot,

The group also urged the government to remove DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith as chief investigator in the cases, viewing him as among those responsible for the killings of their loved ones during the red shirts' anti-government rallies and subsequent unrest and riots between March and May 2010.

Mr Tarit may be in the good graces of the government, but clearly not so with the common people who make up the red shirts, just a shame the people cannot see the bigger picture of who was manipulating them, manipulation that led to unnecessary bloodshed.

[OzMick]

Anybody who considers red shirts to be pretty thick only has to hear the call for "red-shirt leaders, many of whom have since accepted government and Cabinet posts" to express the views of the red mob. These illustrious "leaders" are nothing but mercenary agitators, owned and appointed by Thaksin and now happily feeding at the government trough.

One word of dissent from the party line, dictated from Dubai, and they are off the party list.

[theoldgit]

Offensive post removed, whatever you think of somebody please remain civil.

[drdoom6996]

PTP/UDD does it, it's the law. I do it, and I go to jail if caught. Is this a double standard too?

[Roadman]

.

Some critics also objected to the fact that the law would void the court-ordered seizure of Bt43 billion in ill-gotten assets from ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

This is a little confusing. Is this Red Shirt critics or is it non Red shirt critics.If it is Red shirts then that is music to the ears that some of them are also recognising him as the thief he is.

[rubl]

Obviously Dept. Minister of Agriculture, Pheu Thai party list MP and UDD leader Nattawut has to extend his tour on explaining the 'rice pledging scheme' to farmers and add explaining the 'amnesty for all' (except Abhisit/Suthep of course) to red-shirts.

[backtonormal]

They have one very good point. How is it that Tarit Pengdit is the one investigating things that he was involved in? Conflict of interest anybody? the majority of UDD/Reds that were at these demonstrations were there to voice legitimate grievances and were duped into believing they were part of a peaceful sit-in protect.

The Many reports of "confiscated" ID cards and not being able to leave are now ignored? where is testimony on these issues to show the true nature of these "peaceful" demonstrations.

The peaceful side of the demonstrations was lost on April 10th when the first shots were fired, that is when the innocent bystanders should have said, "This isn't peaceful, we need to leave and not be part of this" but they didn't, now they are all whinging that they were in a war zone and got shot at.

Condolences and sympathy to those that lost loved ones and those injured but if you know that live bullets are flying about and you don't think that is good for your health best idea is to leave. Watching the whole mess from my apartment in the area there were many in the area participating in active combat, these people are not innocent "peaceful demonstrators" and not enough information has come out about these people flinging their bombs, RPGs, stolen guns, setting fires, looting and other acts, who coordinated this amongst the red leaders? we believe it was the one calling for people to bring one million litres of benzine to Bangkok and burn it down but they say that evidence was doctored?

The "peaceful demonstrators" need to come forth and admit that there were several hundred or thousand combatants in their midst and that these people were responsible for creating the environment that warranted action by the government. The whole country should be taking criminal action against all police for allowing it to happen as it was their job int he first place to keep order. Pathumwan and Lumpini police stations seemed to be all on holiday for the period and the Police headquarters apparently was a safe place for reds to hide according to rumors. Where are the investigations into the police action/inaction? nothing so far?

The PT government won the election in its way in 2011 and so now has the elected right to rewrite the truth to suit them. and their sycophant followers hoping to be sucking at the teat of the spoils of victory will all continue to support the revisionist methods and ignore the reality of the events of 2010, 2009, 2008 and all before and after.

The real losers here?, The truth and the people.

Faced by several thousand heavily armed combatants, viewed from your bedroom window, please remind me how many soldiers died. Give head a wobble and take a reality check

Edited June 8, 2013 by metisdead
30) Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes, added emoticons, or altered wording.

[rubl]

Well, let's go back from normal and concentrate on the topic of 'amnesty' and who wants it for what reasons.

An amnesty? Forget about 'knowing the truth'? Forget about 'politics'? Forget about revenge?
Maybe Dept. Minister of Agriculture, Pheu Thai party list MP and UDD leader Nattawut while on his tour to explain 'rice pledging' to farmers, can also add 'explain the advantage for the poor of an amnesty' and slip in an occasional 'Thaksin to return'.

[Roadman]

They have one very good point. How is it that Tarit Pengdit is the one investigating things that he was involved in? Conflict of interest anybody? the majority of UDD/Reds that were at these demonstrations were there to voice legitimate grievances and were duped into believing they were part of a peaceful sit-in protect.

The Many reports of "confiscated" ID cards and not being able to leave are now ignored? where is testimony on these issues to show the true nature of these "peaceful" demonstrations.

The peaceful side of the demonstrations was lost on April 10th when the first shots were fired, that is when the innocent bystanders should have said, "This isn't peaceful, we need to leave and not be part of this" but they didn't, now they are all whinging that they were in a war zone and got shot at.

Condolences and sympathy to those that lost loved ones and those injured but if you know that live bullets are flying about and you don't think that is good for your health best idea is to leave. Watching the whole mess from my apartment in the area there were many in the area participating in active combat, these people are not innocent "peaceful demonstrators" and not enough information has come out about these people flinging their bombs, RPGs, stolen guns, setting fires, looting and other acts, who coordinated this amongst the red leaders? we believe it was the one calling for people to bring one million litres of benzine to Bangkok and burn it down but they say that evidence was doctored?

The "peaceful demonstrators" need to come forth and admit that there were several hundred or thousand combatants in their midst and that these people were responsible for creating the environment that warranted action by the government. The whole country should be taking criminal action against all police for allowing it to happen as it was their job int he first place to keep order. Pathumwan and Lumpini police stations seemed to be all on holiday for the period and the Police headquarters apparently was a safe place for reds to hide according to rumors. Where are the investigations into the police action/inaction? nothing so far?

The PT government won the election in its way in 2011 and so now has the elected right to rewrite the truth to suit them. and their sycophant followers hoping to be sucking at the teat of the spoils of victory will all continue to support the revisionist methods and ignore the reality of the events of 2010, 2009, 2008 and all before and after.

The real losers here?, The truth and the people.

Faced by several thousand heavily armed combatants, viewed from your bedroom window, please remind me how many soldiers died. Give head a wobble and take a reality check

I think ChrisRM has written in that short brief one of the most logic summaries that I have read on here or elsewhere, of the events in Thailand since Thaksins mafia hits on it at his rightful self evection, and more directly his terrorist attack on Bangkok. Well done that person.

[473geo]

Oh please.....It has been this way for eons, governments cannot avoid the censorship status ingrained into the Thai structure, information is revealed only to the point where those who ultimately carry responsibility are still out of reach.......the real power in Thailand will not be removed by a 'democracy' while avenues remain to negate the control of a government if they suggest a shift from the entrenched methodolgy

[hellodolly]

Where are the charges against Thaksin for funding the negative doings of 2010.

With out his healthy pay checks the event never would have happened. Where are the demands to prosecute the leader of an invasion into a hospital. That even breaks the Geneva convention.

This useless piece of crap called the government ignores all that and persecutes prosecute the ones who stopped it.

[473geo]

Where are the charges against Thaksin for funding the negative doings of 2010.

With out his healthy pay checks the event never would have happened. Where are the demands to prosecute the leader of an invasion into a hospital. That even breaks the Geneva convention.

This useless piece of crap called the government ignores all that and persecutes prosecute the ones who stopped it.

Good god Dolly nothing really happened at the hospital, a minor inconvenience for the patients! This type of comment really highlights your agenda......

You see Dolly there are many other far worse attrocities where nobody has ever been brought to account, where people died but somehow the finger of blame was never laid. I'm not talking about shovelling all the crap up to the top and blaming Thaksin either! Those on the ground, I mean they were there right?

This is why amnesty is nothing more than a 'legal' appearance added to the methodology already in use.......this is why Thaksin was so pissed....those that should have honoured the age old traditions set them aside, and they took a risk, that looks like it may come back to bite them in the ass.

[rubl]

I must admit nothing happened at the hospital in 2010. At that time (only) UDD leader Dr. weng said it wasn't planned, some members just a bit too enthousiastic, distractions are good for patients and anyway the hospital wasn't burned down.

Furthermore we have a topic on Pheu Thai's double game on Amnesty. Now that's interesting, it's not the government, it's the Pheu Thai party, somehow. The party with the hardly two dozen UDD leaders as party list MPs. The pro-amnesty people as it were, who keep on pushing charges against Abhisit/Suthep because they don't like to be alone in jail. The UDD leaders who have their mistress Ms. Thida being against amnesty for the guilty. The 'guilty' are still to be defined but of course Abhisit/Suthep are on the list. Meanwhile even this government seems to have given up on the ordinary red-shirts who may still linger in jail awaiting trial. The important figures are out on bail and protected regularly with parliamentary immunity. One may wonder what some of the grassroot red-shirts think of all these shenanigans?

[dominique355]

From the very beginning, this demonstration has never been peaceful. To physically force people out of their space where they live and work, to shut down streets, places, intersections so that life and all business had to come to a full stop, to barricade access with razor sharp bamboo poles, to force businesses to close and employees to loose salary and income and to incite participants to bring bottles of gasoline and burn down the city are all not peaceful means to democracy.

Those who participated saw this and knew this. No excuse to stay there.

Those who choose to join them when the eruption of violence was only a matter of time, have to blame only themselves. That includes journalists, nurses, bystanders etc. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!

It is easy to blame now the government. And indeed I blame them too, but only to have waited so long until they took action.

Another shameful display of total incompetence of the Thai Police, who should have... but we all know that.

But particular shame to DSI director Tarit. This guy is THE symbol of corrupt, self-serving incompetence.

[yoshiwara]

From the very beginning, this demonstration has never been peaceful. To physically force people out of their space where they live and work, to shut down streets, places, intersections so that life and all business had to come to a full stop, to barricade access with razor sharp bamboo poles, to force businesses to close and employees to loose salary and income and to incite participants to bring bottles of gasoline and burn down the city are all not peaceful means to democracy.

Those who participated saw this and knew this. No excuse to stay there.

Those who choose to join them when the eruption of violence was only a matter of time, have to blame only themselves. That includes journalists, nurses, bystanders etc. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!

It is easy to blame now the government. And indeed I blame them too, but only to have waited so long until they took action.

Another shameful display of total incompetence of the Thai Police, who should have... but we all know that.

But particular shame to DSI director Tarit. This guy is THE symbol of corrupt, self-serving incompetence.

Absolutely right. Wait 5 minutes though and a forum red cheerleader will try to sell you the 'majority were peaceful' story. A little tired and dusty, but never mind.

[hellodolly]

Where are the charges against Thaksin for funding the negative doings of 2010.

With out his healthy pay checks the event never would have happened. Where are the demands to prosecute the leader of an invasion into a hospital. That even breaks the Geneva convention.

This useless piece of crap called the government ignores all that and persecutes prosecute the ones who stopped it.

Good god Dolly nothing really happened at the hospital, a minor inconvenience for the patients! This type of comment really highlights your agenda......

You see Dolly there are many other far worse attrocities where nobody has ever been brought to account, where people died but somehow the finger of blame was never laid. I'm not talking about shovelling all the crap up to the top and blaming Thaksin either! Those on the ground, I mean they were there right?

This is why amnesty is nothing more than a 'legal' appearance added to the methodology already in use.......this is why Thaksin was so pissed....those that should have honoured the age old traditions set them aside, and they took a risk, that looks like it may come back to bite them in the ass.

You are right of course there are many worse atrocities where no body has been brought to account. Like trying to set Bangkok on fire. Paying for most of it. Soldiers were killed no body being brought to account for that either. Funny put on a red shirt and every thing is OK.

[Noistar]

The problem of course, is that the average Red-Shirt doesn't fully understand what they are supporting - IMHO.

This leaves them open to manipulation by anyone who professes to be a Red-Shirt leader.

Reminds of the fairy-tale about the Emperor's New Clothes - everyone is frightened to question what the 'leaders' are saying, in case it makes them look stupid (!)

[waza]

"Pheu Thai's dangerous double game on amnesty"

Sounds more like Redshirts want their cake and eat it. No amnesty for anyone

Edited June 8, 2013 by waza

[473geo]

Where are the charges against Thaksin for funding the negative doings of 2010.

With out his healthy pay checks the event never would have happened. Where are the demands to prosecute the leader of an invasion into a hospital. That even breaks the Geneva convention.

This useless piece of crap called the government ignores all that and persecutes prosecute the ones who stopped it.

Good god Dolly nothing really happened at the hospital, a minor inconvenience for the patients! This type of comment really highlights your agenda......

You see Dolly there are many other far worse attrocities where nobody has ever been brought to account, where people died but somehow the finger of blame was never laid. I'm not talking about shovelling all the crap up to the top and blaming Thaksin either! Those on the ground, I mean they were there right?

This is why amnesty is nothing more than a 'legal' appearance added to the methodology already in use.......this is why Thaksin was so pissed....those that should have honoured the age old traditions set them aside, and they took a risk, that looks like it may come back to bite them in the ass.

You are right of course there are many worse atrocities where no body has been brought to account. Like trying to set Bangkok on fire. Paying for most of it. Soldiers were killed no body being brought to account for that either. Funny put on a red shirt and every thing is OK.

The extent of your knowledge never fails to surprise Dolly

[jbrain]

The group also urged the government to remove DSI director-general Tarit Pengdith as chief investigator in the cases, viewing him as among those responsible for the killings of their loved ones during the red shirts' anti-government rallies and subsequent unrest and riots between March and May 2010.

I love that one. So next time Tarit summits Abhisit and Suthep to acknowledge ridiculous charges of murder he can take place on the same bench.

Edited June 8, 2013 by jbrain