Amnesty bill change by panel 'to benefit' Thaksin

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POLITICS
Amnesty bill change by panel 'to benefit' Thaksin
Somroutai Sapsomboon,
Khanittha Thepphajorn
The Nation



House panel proposes everyone facing legal action after 2006 coup should be absolved

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT is risking a new round of political conflict after the House panel vetting a government-proposed amnesty bill yesterday voted to rewrite a clause to include as beneficiaries people facing legal action in cases stemming from post-coup investigations.

According to critics and observers, this latest move is aimed at benefiting fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was sentenced to two years in jail and saw billions of baht in assets seized.

The 35-member vetting panel, dominated by MPs from the ruling coalition, voted 18-8 to support a proposal by the panel's deputy chairman Prayuth Siripanich, who is an MP from the ruling Pheu Thai Party. He suggested that Article 3 of the bill should be rewritten so that the amnesty covers persons accused of wrongdoing by a group of people or an organisation set up after the coup of September 19, 2006.

Twenty-six panel members were present at yesterday's meeting. What the panel did has confirmed an earlier concern of many that the amnesty bill would be rewritten to help "whitewash" the ex-leader of his wrongdoings while in power.

This could be another magnet to bring opponents and detractors of the ruling politicians to the streets in great numbers, according to observers. The International Court of Justice has scheduled November 11 to rule on a case filed by Cambodia, seeking an interpretation of the court's 1962 verdict over a territorial dispute involving the Preah Vihear Temple. A ruling deemed unfavourable to Thailand could cause angry government critics to protest.

The panel yesterday completed vetting all six articles of the bill and would allow MPs requesting amendment to the original bill to speak before the panel on October 30 and 31, according to its chairman Samart Kaewmeechai, who is also a Pheu Thai MP.

He expected the amnesty bill to be forwarded to Parliament for the second and third readings early next month.

In response to concerns that this proposed law was intended to help politicians accused of corruption, including Thaksin, Samart said: "In my view the law is meant to ensure justice to all parties."

The 2006 coup-makers set up the Assets Examination Committee (AEC) to investigate corruption allegations against members of the Thaksin cabinet.

The AEC's investigations led to many cases against those politicians, including one that led to an imprisonment verdict against Thaksin. In October 2008, the Supreme Court sentenced the ex-prime minister to two years in jail for abuse of power in the Ratchadaphisek land scandal, after his then-wife bought a state-seized land plot at a price much lower than the market price. In February 2009, the court seized Bt46 billion of Thaksin's assets believed to have been earned from abuse of power. There are more cases against Thaksin that have been suspended while he is a fugitive abroad.

Pheu Thai MP Korkaew Pikulthong yesterday acknowledged that this latest development would lead to increased opposition against the government, but he did not think this would lead to its ousting.

"It is because all the parties involved will benefit, including the yellow shirts and the [opposition] Democrat Party," he said in an interview with The Nation.

Leaders of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy and some leading Democrat figures are facing a number of cases stemming from the political conflict.

A Pheu Thai source yesterday said this latest move was part of a plan by the ruling party, which had the vetting panel make the controversial decision. If the opposition grows strong, the government may shelve the bill or tone down the change; otherwise the ruling party would go ahead "all the way" so that the law would cover Thaksin.

Anti-government activist Suriyasai Katasila, who is the Green Group coordinator, yesterday said he expected a mass rally soon. He said protesters could now come out and rally legitimately after the MPs pushed for an amended draft of the amnesty law.

"I don't know if the People's Alliance for Democracy will regroup, as the leaders have announced they are stepping down. It is up to all of the PAD leaders. But I think the supporters who used to fight together wouldn't accept it. There might be a mass rally as soon as it is clear that there will be amnesty for Thaksin Shinawatra," he said.

"When things turn out like this, there's no need for the protest to wait for the third reading as we can see the government's goal even in the second reading so far," he said.

Nitithorn Lamlua, a leader of the Students' and People's Network for Thailand Reform, said the group would not step up its rally but believed more people would join them at the Urupong intersection.


-- The Nation 2013-10-19

[Chittychangchang]

Stop slagging off the best thing to happen to Thailand and it's people!

Viva the rightful elected leaders return!

CCC

[apetley]

All parties justice is equal but some parties justice is more equal than others.

[klubex99]

Stop slagging off the best thing to happen to Thailand and it's people!

Viva the rightful elected leaders return!

CCC

I totally agree 100%

Drop all charges and let him come back to Thailand.

Because there will be an absolute riot in the streets in BKK and probably all over the country, it will be the end of this government and he and his entire family will likely flee to distant lands.

Hurry up and bring him back..... sooner the better.

Edited October 19, 2013 by klubex99

[assayer]

In response to concerns that this proposed law was intended to help politicians accused of corruption, including Thaksin, Samart said: "In my view the law is meant to ensure justice to all parties."

Instead, this law is intended to help corrupt politicians.

In my humble opinion this should have read " In my view the law is meant to ensure that we too will receive a part of the money returned to our dear leader, Khun T.

[ezzra]

If this is the case of giving blanket amnesty to all wrong doers criminals and all effectively

from 2006, it will be only befitting to offer same to all other criminals in the penal

systems who committed crimes dating back to 2006, right? why only Thaksin and his ilk ?

[Soutpeel]

He suggested that Article 3 of the bill should be rewritten so that the amnesty covers persons accused of wrongdoing by a group of people or an organisation set up after the coup of September 19, 2006.

Cant see how this benefit our man in Dubai, he is not accused of anything, he was accused, tried within the Thai legal process and found gulity and sentenced and then became a fugitive.

therefore this clause change shouldnt apply to the dear leader anyway

[Thaddeus]

How long before the tanks start to roll?

If this bill gets passed, not too long.

Thailand, the hub of the foot shot.

[h90]

Stop slagging off the best thing to happen to Thailand and it's people!

Viva the rightful elected leaders return!

CCC

I totally agree 100%

Drop all charges and let him come back to Thailand.

Because there will be an absolute riot in the streets in BKK and probably all over the country, it will be the end of this government and he and his entire family will likely flee to distant lands.

Hurry up and bring him back..... sooner the better.

Police will stand by, also the red thugs and you'll have hundreds or thousand dead who will be labeled as terrorists.

[h90]

How long before the tanks start to roll?

If this bill gets passed, not too long.

Thailand, the hub of the foot shot.

At the moment the army doesn't show any sign that they want to help Thailand.

[Thaddeus]

How long before the tanks start to roll?

If this bill gets passed, not too long.

Thailand, the hub of the foot shot.

At the moment the army doesn't show any sign that they want to help Thailand.

The situation hasn't reached the point of no return yet, but you can bet there are some fervent conversations going on behind closed doors right now to prevent that happening.

But if this one man party keeps pushing just for his benefit..... get the popcorn out.

We are living in interesting times.

[GeorgeO]

Stop slagging off the best thing to happen to Thailand and it's people!

Viva the rightful elected leaders return!

CCC

I take it you enjoy a good old civil war then...?!

[Neilly]

In February 2009, the court seized Bt46 billion of Thaksin's assets

I wonder why the House panel would want to bring back a whitewashed Mr Thaksin...

[fab4]

It would help if the article published all 6 parts of the proposed Bill, not just what it deems as the "controversial" part. For example I don't think the relatives of the dead (either army or civilian) will be too happy if those found responsible for those deaths were "pardoned"

Despite the prevailing mindset, it's not all about Thaksin, that's an Abhisit obsession.

[robblok]

Now we can only hope there will be a coup. If rule of law fails then let the army rule its not as bad as when Taksin rules or gets back. I had hoped it would never come to this but now I think there is a big chance he will come back and get his ill gained money back too. A coup is the only solution then too bad Taksin wants to have it all. One would think he had enough right now but he wants his money and come back.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

He suggested that Article 3 of the bill should be rewritten so that the amnesty covers persons accused of wrongdoing by a group of people or an organisation set up after the coup of September 19, 2006.

Cant see how this benefit our man in Dubai, he is not accused of anything, he was accused, tried within the Thai legal process and found gulity and sentenced and then became a fugitive.

therefore this clause change shouldnt apply to the dear leader anyway

I believe the interpretation would be that the cases against Thaksin originated with the AEC, which was one of those post coup formed entities.

Therefore, in the view of PT, any case that originated with the AEC would be subject to the amnesty, regardless of its current state or status.

But the curious part is, the current case against Abhisit re the 2011 protester deaths was brought, if I recall correctly, by the DSI. Would that fall under the post 2006 notion in the proposed law?

[Bakseeda]

Welcome to Thailand....Land of smiles...... It beggars belief... One family can spread so much corruption.

[h90]

How long before the tanks start to roll?

If this bill gets passed, not too long.

Thailand, the hub of the foot shot.

At the moment the army doesn't show any sign that they want to help Thailand.

The situation hasn't reached the point of no return yet, but you can bet there are some fervent conversations going on behind closed doors right now to prevent that happening.

But if this one man party keeps pushing just for his benefit..... get the popcorn out.

We are living in interesting times.

Well the Generals are no idealists as well and there are the questions:

1) Will a coup improve the situation in the long range.....so far the history doesn't give much hope.

2) Will all the other corrupt governments in the West boycott Thailand and ensure that everything fails?

3) Where is the profit, if Thaksin pays a lot why do it?

4) Does a coup with part of the military already paid by Thaksin might result in a civil war?

5) Is the point of no return really the point of no return or will all resolve itself in 5 years (or any other reasonable time)? No one can see into the future.

6) There must be a trigger event...like the police shooting at demonstrators.

7) There must be a good plan on what to do after the coup and there must be good people to do it, even they risk to stay in jail for the rest of their lives if the other side wins.

So it does not look easy.

[Soutpeel]

But the curious part is, the current case against Abhisit re the 2011 protester deaths was brought, if I recall correctly, by the DSI. Would that fall under the post 2006 notion in the proposed law?

of course it would, it would have to....as its pretty obvious these charges were laid by the DSI as a bargaining chip....ie let brother number 1 back in and we will drop the those charges, as a certain "gentleman" was howling that the charges against him were politically motivated, so are the charges against Abhibsit & Co...

[klubex99]

There WILL be riots, and many will die.... probably at the hands of the newly organized PTP red army.

In the good old style of Saddam Hussain, Assad and Gadhaffi

Thaksin and his government are no different.

Oppressive, corrupt, dictatorial and murderous.

You lot can keep kissing his ass if you like.

[FarangTalk]

Stop slagging off the best thing to happen to Thailand and it's people!

Viva the rightful elected leaders return!

CCC

I take it you enjoy a good old civil war then...?!

It has been an inevitability for a while now. If you don't count the problems in the South as a full blown civil war already.

At the very minimum widespread civil unrest and military intervention an absolute guarantee.

Thaksin is merely a fly in the ointment, it is the other issue we are not allowed to discuss that is the main catalyst.

I remember sitting in a bar in 2001 with a soused expat telling me how Thailand had moved on and there would be no more coups and how political stability was here to stay, much as he disdained Thaksin. I told him that he was kidding himself. Five years later I was in Howies and Heart of Darkness in Phnom Penh watching the coup unfolding on CNN and my phone rang. Funnily enough it was the same expat who was by then a good friend of mine and he congratulated me for my foresight, however I recall telling him that it wasn't my Nostradamus-like powers of fortune telling that led me to this conclusion but a balanced view of the Thai political landscape coupled with a rational and informed opinion.

So it was and so it shall be again; the future of Thailand has a big challenge to face and at the moment it is sticking its head in the sand and pretending it doesn't exist.

[Baerboxer]

Stop slagging off the best thing to happen to Thailand and it's people!

Viva the rightful elected leaders return!

CCC

Yeah, right. He wasn't the elected leader when he was forcibly removed, he'd dissolved parliament and was illegally holding on to power. He has been convicted in a scandalous fraud case where his government siezed a plot of land and then allowed his then wife to buy it at far less than the market price. He has other more serious criminal charges outstanding.

He wasn't elected to anything, because he is a convicted criminal fugitive who is trying very hard to change laws and the constitution, via his puppet sisters regime, which he selected, to whitewash these criminal offences under the umbrella of political amnesty and reconciliation. The problems is he's arrogant enough to try and do it openly, which creates even more tension.

If you think he's good for Thailand, and is the rightful elected leader then you probably think the same about Hun Set, Mugabe , the crackpot North Korean and all the other criminal dictators who line their own and their families' pockets at the expense of their country.

[Baerboxer]

Now we can only hope there will be a coup. If rule of law fails then let the army rule its not as bad as when Taksin rules or gets back. I had hoped it would never come to this but now I think there is a big chance he will come back and get his ill gained money back too. A coup is the only solution then too bad Taksin wants to have it all. One would think he had enough right now but he wants his money and come back.

Yes - it's a frightening prospect. If he returns whitewashed he will no doubt suddenly become a party list MP, and immediately promoted to PM, leaving the DM role to Thailand's smartest lady.

He will get all his confiscated assets back, no doubt with suitable interest, and then get his hands on the 350 million baht water management fund, and the 2.2 trillion infrastructure loan.

He's invested a lot in this - and you are so right, he wants it all now.

This time, he's planned things better, lessons learned well. Red shirt private army, BiB completely controlled, supporters placed in key Army positions. The grip is tighter and they obviously think tight enough now to push through the undemocratic changes, in defiance of any court or constitution to allow the boss back. Then the real "harvesting" can start.

[SOTIRIOS]

....when will this travesty end......

[fab4]

He suggested that Article 3 of the bill should be rewritten so that the amnesty covers persons accused of wrongdoing by a group of people or an organisation set up after the coup of September 19, 2006.

Cant see how this benefit our man in Dubai, he is not accused of anything, he was accused, tried within the Thai legal process and found gulity and sentenced and then became a fugitive.

therefore this clause change shouldnt apply to the dear leader anyway

I believe the interpretation would be that the cases against Thaksin originated with the AEC, which was one of those post coup formed entities.

Therefore, in the view of PT, any case that originated with the AEC would be subject to the amnesty, regardless of its current state or status.

But the curious part is, the current case against Abhisit re the 2011 protester deaths was brought, if I recall correctly, by the DSI. Would that fall under the post 2006 notion in the proposed law?

Abhisit and Suthep have been accused and charged with murder, a normal criminal charge. Nothing coup related. However they may (probably will be) covered by the State of Emergency Act. It depends if it can be proved that the orders they gave (the use of live ammunition, creation of live fire zones etc) were proportionate to the threat or not.

If proved disproportionate they're in a deep world of trouble - or should be in an ideal world, but this is when we'll see where the "boy from Newcastle" roots really lie, 'scuse the pun.

Edited October 19, 2013 by fab4

[siampolee]

No less an outcome was expected it was in fact predicted from day one of the assorted reincarnations of Thaksins political puppets. But let's look at the repercussions of Thaksin being absolved of any wrongdoings and crimes . he was found guilty by one of his own puppet administrations.

Now when or if Thaksin deigns or actually dares to return one wonders what will be his reaction to those in power at the time he was found guilty, which of course was not meant to happen as he (Thaksin) had hand picked his little clones even then they it would seem did not act as he had programmed them thus there will be a few old scores to settle no doubt ?

The reaction from his own personal party may not be as warm as he (Thaksin) would like to think or even as he has already commanded.Those who have dined at the table of power and dined upon the lunches of corruption and its income are not going to be so easy to move from the table so as to accommodate Thaksin as his head waiter may well find

Then there is also the added problem of Thaksins self perceived popularity or should we perhaps say ''ego''?

There are more than a handful of people with axes to grind concerning Thaksin,and his policies and the outcome of those policies,this is too warm a climate t be clad in Kevlar clothing twenty four hours a day.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread, Thaksin and his ilk are not angels nor does Thaksin or his ilk think clearly, ''might is right'' may well work in small doses but one needs to have a never ending back up of personnel and resources to maintain a ''might is right'' scenario.

In short this country has a twisting road to follow, the prospect of a totalitarian despotic dictatorship is on the horizon even now as we so clearly see in the nepotism and corruption currently eating away at the road surface of democracy What other roadworks will be encountered?

Civil strife, a financial meltdown of this country the list is frightening all due to the manipulation of the P.T.P. members by one madman and his family in their ongoing efforts to achieve a new ruling political dynasty.

Those cast to one side old allies and foes will unite and i predict in the long run the upcoming road trip is going to be a bumpy ride with a many potholes in the road surface of democracy before the final destination is reached and the outcome is known

Remember Julius Caeser and Brutus Thasin

Et Tu Brute

Politicians make strange bedfellows.

[Jim walker]

Let’s just forgive and forget and we can all start afresh once again.

[klubex99]

Let’s just forgive and forget and we can all start afresh once again.

Roughly translated means.

Thailand, please prepare to bend over and be roughly shafted a second time without lubes.

[A1Str8]

Thaksin is such a smart, intelligent man who see things clearly and would make a good leader. But since these talents are misused by him, at the end of the day he is just another crook who failed in this lifetime.

[slapout]

To forgive a wrong is comendable, but first there has to be an admission of wrong doing, a payment made for such wrong doing, and finally a pentence period by the wrong doer as well as a measureable payment to those wronged. That is the Thai way, this is Thailand, Taksin is Thai, so it should be presented to the people to decide, as the other avenue is not possible.

The vote of the people on this, was proposed and generally agreed upon at one stage, but the incompentance of the government, due to failure to produce what they promised, the damage their pograms have resulted in to the government and the national economy, etc would probably not receive a majority vote of the eligable voters.

Thus they are attempting to piggy back a personal 'come home free card' to do what they have denied from the start, Absolve Thaksin of any legal chages and bring him home.