Academics say Worachai bill's timely, lawful
Anuphan Chantana,
Chanikarn Phumhiran
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A group of academics on Wednesday submitted a letter of encouragement to Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema in support of the Amnesty Bill he has submitted.

Worapol Promigabutr, lecturer at Thammasat University's faculty of Sociology and Anthropology who is a leader of the group, said the group disagreed with the opposition Law Reform Commission led by former attorney-general and chairman of the Truth for National Reconciliation Commission of Thailand, Kanit na Nakhon.

They criticised Kanit for saying the amnesty bill, in principle, would be against transitional justice.

"This [bill] is suitable both in [its timing] and that it can proceed according to the rule of law," Worapol said.

Kanit's legal reform commission on Tuesday said it disagreed with the bill because it would stop and cancel all legal processes against suspects and people responsible for death, injuries and damage during the political turmoil in 2010.

Instead, the panel saw normal legal process, including proper investigation, as the first step to justice and reconciliation, Kanit's group said. It would prevent more violence in the future and be part of rehabilitation for the victims before other measures were taken.

Worapol said his group also disagreed with the report of the National Human Rights Commission that opposed the amnesty bill, using similar reasoning to that of the opposition.

About 50 red-shirt protesters yesterday rallied at the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana road demanding the resignation of the NHRC, accusing it of siding with the Abhisit government in its report over the crackdown on red-shirt protesters in April-May 2010.

They demanded that NHRC chairwoman Amara Pongsapich and other commissioners resign to take responsibility for releasing a report that supports opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and then Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES) director Suthep Thaugsuban over the political riots in April-May 2010.

They claimed the report would help Abhisit and Suthep escape charges pressed against them. They accused the NHRC of failing to protect the rights of protesters killed and injured during the political rallies.

The group has given the NHRC 15 days to follow its demand before making further moves to step up its pressure.

-- The Nation 2013-08-15

What do they mean by 'lawful'? Do they mean because it will be passed by Parliament?

Whitewashing may be legal but it flies in the face of justice.

When will the red shirts accept there was violence and armed thugs amidst their ranks?

At least the great rotund leader from Supanburi, Kwanchai, who claims to love Udon, is facing a jail sentence for his violent assault on the PAD in Udon, his case is now in the Supreme Court.

What do they mean by 'lawful'? Do they mean because it will be passed by Parliament?

Whitewashing may be legal but it flies in the face of justice.

When will the red shirts accept there was violence and armed thugs amidst their ranks?

At least the great rotund leader from Supanburi, Kwanchai, who claims to love Udon, is facing a jail sentence for his violent assault on the PAD in Udon, his case is now in the Supreme Court.

"When will the red shirts accept there was violence and armed thugs amidst their ranks?"

Perhaps after they realise that they were fed lies about the Abhisit government's legitimacy, and used as camouflage for an armed insurgency.

I demand the resignation of this group of academics as they are siding with the PTP and red shirts.

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Worapol Promigabutr, lecturer at Thammasat University's faculty of Sociology and Anthropology who is a leader of the group, said the group disagreed with the opposition Law Reform Commission led by former attorney-general and chairman of the Truth for National Reconciliation Commission of Thailand, Kanit na Nakhon.

Why on earth would anyone want to listen to a lecturer of Sociology and Anthropology regarding the Amnesty Bill ...just because his group has a point of view???

I sense a typing error in the headline........sure they meant awful

They claimed the report would help Abhisit and Suthep escape charges pressed against them. They accused the NHRC of failing to protect the rights of protesters killed and injured during the political rallies

And what does this report say about the Democrats???

Time to roll out the tame academics already? PT really are in a hurry over this attempt to prevent taking responsibility for their criminal actions. Well one of them is anyway.

Time to roll out the tame academics already? PT really are in a hurry over this attempt to prevent taking responsibility for their criminal actions. Well one of them is anyway.

tame academics

I like that. I wonder who writes their reports for them. Chalerm or perhaps Jatuporn.

I was under the impression that an academic was some one who was smart. In Thailand it seems to equate more to being a pet to some one with power and money.

tame academics

I like that. I wonder who writes their reports for them. Chalerm or perhaps Jatuporn.

After a bit of Googling it turns out he was a defence witness for Jatuporn in the defamation case against Abhisit...so you're not too far off the mark HD

tame academics

I like that. I wonder who writes their reports for them. Chalerm or perhaps Jatuporn.

After a bit of Googling it turns out he was a defence witness for Jatuporn in the defamation case against Abhisit...so you're not too far off the mark HD

Nice work K. Neilly.

They claimed the report would help Abhisit and Suthep escape charges pressed against them. They accused the NHRC of failing to protect the rights of protesters killed and injured during the political rallies

And what does this report say about the Democrats???

It may stop charges against Abhisit and Suthep but they are making no attempt to escape the charges as they are opposing the amnesty. As I've mentioned in other threads whilst the NHRC report may be biased so are the red shirts who are protesting about it. They are focussing on Abhisit and Suthep but saying nothing about the military who according to recent inquests shot innocent people in contravention of the ROE.

They claimed the report would help Abhisit and Suthep escape charges pressed against them. They accused the NHRC of failing to protect the rights of protesters killed and injured during the political rallies

And what does this report say about the Democrats???

It may stop charges against Abhisit and Suthep but they are making no attempt to escape the charges as they are opposing the amnesty. As I've mentioned in other threads whilst the NHRC report may be biased so are the red shirts who are protesting about it. They are focussing on Abhisit and Suthep but saying nothing about the military who according to recent inquests shot innocent people in contravention of the ROE.

Not to mention the actions of the UDD and their red guard who brought terror and violence into the centre of bangkok, caused mayhem, bloodshed, economic and physical damage in their attempts to overthrow the legitimate government of the time through force.

Hullo , looks like someone has got into the Academic's pocket,(not all Academic's) since when giving amnesty to people on police charges or have committed crimes has been lawful, talk about a back down , there's principal's here are at stake and this mob back track faster than an Italian tank in the battle of McDonalds in Rome.

It is my understanding that after the first reading, where it was approved, it would go to a committee of 35/37 to be rewritten. Since this has not take place yet, it is premature for anyone to approve or disapprove Khun Worachai's bill. Not even Khun Worachai knows what the bill will look like after the committee puts out the version for the second reading. In committee is where the dirty deeds will be done. It's the same in the U.S. legislature. The House passes one version of a bill; the Senate passes another version of the bill and, in committee, the whole bill is completely changed and with no input from the voters.

All hail the Thakanista!

Seriously, with the low quality of university graduates why should anyone in this country listen to what Thai academics have to say about anything