Prevent renewed conflict before it's too late: Thai editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
PREVENT renewed conflict before it's too late

BANGKOK: -- A new round of conflict is looming over the government's amnesty bill, being deliberated by the House of Representatives. Politicians in power have backed the proposed law, as well as similar bills, as part of the effort to attain national reconciliation following years of political conflict.

But the opposition and government critics have denounced the bill as a legal tool to whitewash many offenders of serious crimes such as murder, arson, rioting and "terrorism", committed during the political unrest of 2010.

At least two international organisations have warned against any amnesty law that would allow rights violations to go unpunished. New York-based Human Rights Watch on Monday said, "The Thai government should affirm that prosecuting those responsible for rights abuses, regardless of rank or affiliation, is critical to promoting human rights, the rule of law and lasting reconciliation in Thailand." Its Asia director, Brad Adams, said, "The ruling party's amnesty bill lets both soldiers and militants responsible for deaths during the 2010 upheaval off the hook. To ensure justice for the victims of violence and to end Thailand's longstanding culture of impunity, the amnesty bill should exclude perpetrators of abuses and instead make them accountable for their crimes."

UN High Commission for Human Rights spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly on Tuesday urged the government to ensure that any amnesty measure "excludes those who are responsible for human rights violations and to take steps to prosecute perpetrators of such violations".

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the international community was closely watching Thailand to see how well the country has developed in terms of politics and the law. The Democrat Party leader described the amnesty bill and similar draft laws as causes for fresh conflict. And he called on the

government to have those bills withdrawn.

His party has campaigned heavily against an amnesty law. A large group of Democrat supporters joined party MPs in a march towards Parliament, but only the MPs were allowed to enter the compound, which was barricaded by police. The Democrats' stand against an amnesty law is backed by an anti-government group calling itself the People's Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime, which is holding a demonstration at Lumpini Park.

Former House speaker Uthai Pimchaichon, who was approached by the government to join a political reform council proposed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, expressed concern that an amnesty law could renew conflict in the country and called on the bill to be withdrawn. A number of academics also back calls for withdrawal of the bill.

The House debate yesterday went ahead as planned, amid a tense atmosphere inside and outside Parliament.

With confrontation that could turn violent, those in power should carefully consider whether the country as a whole will benefit from the amnesty law, and whether it will really lead to reconciliation.

Reconciliation does not mean everyone agrees on every issue. In any society, democratic or not, such complete accord is impossible. And it is normal for people in a democracy to see things differently. The point is that no violence should be used to settle differences. And anyone who resorts to violence should be prosecuted.

What the authorities and government have to do to create harmony and unity is to ensure that the law is fairly enforced with no double standards. Violators must be punished in line with the severity of their offence. And it is the duty of the judges and courts, not lawmakers, to decide who is guilty or not.

-- The Nation 2013-08-08

[NongKhaiKid]

Lovely, accurate but futile words especially the last paragraph. Imagine this government " creating harmony " and the suggestion of punishment with the proper administration of justice must be in a Thailand sitting in a parallel universe which isn't wholly owned by a certain family.

[NongKhaiKid]

Let'snot worry about political conflict as it has a positive effect on tourism. The Minister of Tourism and Sports has announced that in the first four days of this month tourist arrivals were up 35% over the same period last year and he's confident continued conflict will have no effect on tourist numbers.

Joef Goebbels had nothing on TAT

[LuckyLew]

No worries

Give everyone amnesty ... let them be free to do it all over again

IMO when the guy in dubuy returns ... shit will hit the fan

Hopefully the shit hits him smack in the face

[Curt1591]

"PREVENT renewed conflict ... "

Wouldn't "conflict" need to cease before it could be renewed?

[MaxLee]

UN High Commission for Human Rights spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly on Tuesday urged the government to ensure that any amnesty measure "excludes those who are responsible for human rights violations and to take steps to prosecute perpetrators of such violations".

PREVENT renewed conflict before it's too late already

The money from all those Mega Scams has already been collected and laundry-washed behind closed doors, under the table, and dead bodies have already been sacrificed for the sake of the money hungry feudal clans' greed, their children are already "protected from facing the wrongdoing consequences of their INNOCENT actions", it's alright, mai pen rai, closed eyes deaf ears to the rest of the nations, the residing FALANG...

[tingtongteesood]

They used the word 'Reconciliation' 4 times in that piece of fluff and as I keep trying to make clear THIS AMNESTY CRAP HAS NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH RECONCILIATION', it's soul purpose is to whitewash history and give the criminal gang running the country clean records and to bring back big brother. They don't give a rat's ass what anyone else thinks as they keep demonstrating again and again and again....

[FarangTalk]

Let'snot worry about political conflict as it has a positive effect on tourism. The Minister of Tourism and Sports has announced that in the first four days of this month tourist arrivals were up 35% over the same period last year and he's confident continued conflict will have no effect on tourist numbers.

Joef Goebbels had nothing on TAT

In 2010 the whole country was empty; I was busy travelling around during the period of unrest, never seen places so quiet, yet just weeks later they were talking about 'record numbers' of tourists.

Never, ever believe anything these people say and certainly never believe any statistics they try and give you.

[stoli]

Let'snot worry about political conflict as it has a positive effect on tourism. The Minister of Tourism and Sports has announced that in the first four days of this month tourist arrivals were up 35% over the same period last year and he's confident continued conflict will have no effect on tourist numbers.

Joef Goebbels had nothing on TAT

4 days is the basis of your scientific measurement? You have worked for a political party in the past, haven't you?

[Curt1591]

Thai government is nothing but conflict!

[NongKhaiKid]

Let'snot worry about political conflict as it has a positive effect on tourism. The Minister of Tourism and Sports has announced that in the first four days of this month tourist arrivals were up 35% over the same period last year and he's confident continued conflict will have no effect on tourist numbers.

Joef Goebbels had nothing on TAT

4 days is the basis of your scientific measurement? You have worked for a political party in the past, haven't you?

If the barb was aimed at me it was wasted as I didn't pull the figures out of a hat, I quoted the Tourism Minister