Plan for huge rally against Thai amnesty bill

[webfact]

ANTI-THAKSIN CAMPAIGN
Plan for huge rally against amnesty bill
The Nation


Representatives from various civic groups announced their shared stance against any move to whitewash former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday. Present at the press conference were several familiar faces including Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Suriyasai

Civic groups and others angry over 'move to let ex-premier Thaksin off the hook'

BANGKOK: -- A massive rally is apparently in the making now as several groups have expressed the shared goal of fighting any move to "whitewash" former PM Thaksin Shinawatra to the bitter end.

The Democrat Party has also reaffirmed its plan to take to the streets if it fails to block the amnesty law in the Parliament.

"We have never changed our stance. It's our duty to fight against the amnesty law," the party's leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.

Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat also urged opponents of the amnesty bill to start coming together, saying on his Facebook page that the bill's third reading would happen very soon.

Last Friday, the House ad-hoc committee for the amnesty bill caused a stir when it voted to include people facing legal action in cases stemming from post-2006 coup investigations among those who would benefit from the law.

Initially, the bill sought to pardon only political demonstrators.

"Thaksin won't be the only beneficiary," the committee's chairman and Pheu Thai MP Samart Kaewmechai said yesterday. "We don't mention the return of his assets either."

Still, Abhisit commented that the change to the core of the bill showed an intention to favour ousted prime minister Thaksin and his cronies.

Two years after the 2006 military coup removed Thaksin from power, he was found guilty of abuse of authority. The former premier fled overseas just before the ruling was announced and now lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a two-year jail term but assets of Bt46 billion were confiscated in a later ruling in early 2010.

Abhisit said if the amnesty bill sailed through and took effect, Thaksin would definitely try to get back that money. "If he reclaims that amount of money, it means Thai people lose the money to the corrupt," he said.

Abhisit expressed an intention to try to block the amnesty bill in the Parliament, where the government has a comfortable majority, and to also ask the Constitutional Court to block the bill - before going all out with a protest on the streets.

Meanwhile, the People's Assembly Reform Thailand (PART) convened a meeting yesterday with various civic groups to discuss several developments and address their concerns, especially about the apparent move to issue a blanket amnesty.

Most had the opinion that a blanket amnesty would effectively let Thaksin off the hook, as it was likely to undermine the legal basis under which he was convicted.

"If some Democrat MPs would like to join our activities, they can do so under their own name," PART chairman Somkiat Pongpaiboon said.

He said the PART local leaders from 77 provinces would have a meeting on October 27 to plan their big move.

"Anyone who wishes to join us can come forward," Somkiat said.

Green Politics co-ordinator Suriyasai Katasila showed up alongside Somkiat yesterday. "We have shared the stance against the issuing of an amnesty for Thaksin," he said.

Nitithorn Lamlua, an adviser to the Network of Students and People for Thailand's Reform, said the network was willing to join the protest against the amnesty bill. "We have seen the amnesty bill as the step towards dictatorship, [and] an infringement on the judiciary."

The network is leading an anti-government rally at the Urupong Intersection. Thaksin is seen by many as the de facto head of the current government, which is led by his younger sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

General Preecha Iamsuphan, a leader of the People's Army Against the Thaksin Regime, called on people to come forward and stop Thaksin's regime from taking over Thailand.

Nipit believed the Parliament would start the third reading of the amnesty bill on November 6, the day he believed opponents of the bill should start a massive rally.

Some red shirts are also unhappy with the amnesty bill, because they wanted those behind the bloody dispersal of red-shirt demonstrators in 2010 to face justice.

Meanwhile, most people see that the amnesty bill, which is being vetted by a special House panel, would become a cause of political violence, a survey by Abac Poll of Assumption University has found.

Abac Poll said 80.3 per cent of respondents said yes when asked whether they think the bill was be a cause of political violence, while 19.7 per cent did not think so. The survey was conducted from October 15 to 19 among 1,488 respondents.


-- The Nation 2013-10-21

[kurnell]

I think it would be good for Thailand if Myanmar invaded..give the Thais something to do.

[theslime]

I think it would be good for Thailand if Myanmar invaded..give the Thais something to do.

Always got the south and those pesky tourists,terrorists,greens,reds and anti royalists that might be up to no good.

[coma]

Ohh! Hear we go "again".

[chainarong]

The amnesty bill has always been made for Thaskin, all the other players just got in the way, you don't give amnesty to criminals , end of story , that's if you don't want to be the laughing stock of the world, Thailand has a low politician credible rating , so nothing surprises, show some common sense, Thaskin jumped bail, was under several investigations , one from the UN, on crimes against humanity, these all still need to be played out, until there is a closure , Thaskin will continue to remain a pox on the Thai political , business and the country itself, along with the Shinawatra name.

[MaxLee]

So here we go again, one extreme is trying to top the other, there IS NO democracy in Thailand, there NEVER WAS, each opposition encourages revenge dictatorship

[Curt1591]

I just find it amusing that one of the biggest concerns for a new government is handling the amnesty. Kinda says something about government .....

[up-country_sinclair]

I don't think the opposition will be able to organize a "huge" rally until T is actually back in the country. And by that time it will be too late.

[Soutpeel]

If there is unrest going to kick off again, could I humbly request all parties to have this happen either prior to Xmas or after new year, I have my holidays booked...

Edited October 21, 2013 by Soutpeel

[MaxLee]

Face the ironic,... the Thaksin parties have all been elected democratically vote bought, while the Democrat party was interim coup pushed in and never democratically elected

[h90]

I don't think the opposition will be able to organize a "huge" rally until T is actually back in the country. And by that time it will be too late.

I think they can do 50K....but that isn't huge enough.

[NongKhaiKid]

I don't think the opposition will be able to organize a "huge" rally until T is actually back in the country. And by that time it will be too late.

I think they can do 50K....but that isn't huge enough.

If this protest, and any follow ups, was to attract a big turnout it would pose quite a problem for a government not noted for handing such.

At a recent rally around Government House the ISA was imposed in several areas and 12,000 police officers mobilised to deal with 250 protestors, 48 to 1.

How would they deal with a rally running to tens of thousands or is it something best not thought about ?

[h90]

I don't think the opposition will be able to organize a "huge" rally until T is actually back in the country. And by that time it will be too late.

I think they can do 50K....but that isn't huge enough.

If this protest, and any follow ups, was to attract a big turnout it would pose quite a problem for a government not noted for handing such.

At a recent rally around Government House the ISA was imposed in several areas and 12,000 police officers mobilised to deal with 250 protestors, 48 to 1.

How would they deal with a rally running to tens of thousands or is it something best not thought about ?

You have seen on the last big one....half the country locked down, dubious black men on the rooftops. Border police ready etc etc.

The government wouldn't be afraid about killing some people and the demonstrators know it so many would be scared to come.

When they took government house reuters wrote 550.000 people.

[AleG]

Abac Poll said 80.3 per cent of respondents said yes when asked whether they think the bill was be a cause of political violence, while 19.7 per cent did not think so. The survey was conducted from October 15 to 19 among 1,488 respondents.

Anyone remembers, when PTP was claiming this Amnesty BillTM was meant to bring reconciliation to the Thai people?

Seems that they were not very truthful in their intentions, who would have thought that?

[Local Drunk]

No doubt that his Red Shirt supporters would paddle their plastic boats in mass from Issan and the North East to Bkk to oppose such a demonstration.

[ianf]

Jaturporn was seen leading a procession through Chiang Mai's night market last night. What an ignorant and foolish kwai he is. Made my stomach turn.

[worgeordie]

Now all we need is for Thaksin to return, riding a white horse,to solve all

the problems in Thailand ,that have been of his own making,that would

be ironic and maybe a bit surreal,but this been Thailand ,anything and

everything is possible, as long as he is whitewashed, allowed to be PM

again,and most importantly have his money returned,it will be job done

by the Government.

regards Worgeordie

[PeterSmiles]

"Thaksin won't be the only beneficiary," the committee's chairman and Pheu Thai MP Samart Kaewmechai said yesterday. "We don't mention the return of his assets either."

YET.

The former premier fled overseas just before the ruling was announced and now lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a two-year jail term

So I guess all those foreign criminals that are arrested in Thailand and deported, because they were hiding in Thailand as they had crimes to their name, are actually in self-imposed exile.

[Local Drunk]

Jaturporn was seen leading a procession through Chiang Mai's night market last night. What an ignorant and foolish kwai he is. Made my stomach turn.

Why wasn't the ISA invoked at the market?

Edited October 21, 2013 by Local Drunk

[ratcatcher]

ANTI-THAKSIN CAMPAIGN
Plan for huge rally against amnesty bill

It would make so much more sense for the press and organizers to report plans for a rally and then wait to see if it gets huge. This kind of sensational headline invariably disappoints when a lot fewer people turn up. No-one knows what the public's reaction will be prior to the date.

Opposition forces have so far been unable to galvanize the population into large enough groups to warrant the massive police presence provided by PTP.

[GentlemanJim]

I guess Thaksin will get PTP to add in a clause that he won't get his money back, after all there is no need, he has probably had it back 10 fold since PTP took power.

[patjem]

Now all we need is for Thaksin to return, riding a white horse,to solve all

the problems in Thailand ,that have been of his own making,that would

be ironic and maybe a bit surreal,but this been Thailand ,anything and

everything is possible, as long as he is whitewashed, allowed to be PM

again,and most importantly have his money returned,it will be job done

by the Government.

regards Worgeordie

He could return whenever he pleases. It's been his choice to stay away. He has many supporters but also many haters. I have the feeling he wouldn't be around for too long if he comes back.

[gemini81]

Jaturporn was seen leading a procession through Chiang Mai's night market last night. What an ignorant and foolish kwai he is. Made my stomach turn.

Why wasn't the ISA invoked at the market?

Because it doesn't have a clause stating security against lizards and buffaloes; only people.

[webfact]

Political activists set Sunday for show of force against Amnesty Bill
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 21 – Several Bangkok civil society groups are voicing opposition to the government’s move for an Amnesty Bill favouring, among others, Thailand's ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

In a press conference at a Bangkok hotel yesterday, leaders of the groups said they would hold a major assembly on Sunday to discuss their next move.

Leading activists, Suriyasai Katasila of the Green Group, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, a former leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, Nitithorn Lamlua, adviser to the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform, Gen Preecha Iamsupan from the People’s Army against the Thaksin Regime, and several other groups met the media yesterday.

Mr Suriyasai said they would submit letters to a number of foreign embassies in Bangkok tomorrow to explain to the international community Thai people’s views on the Preah Vihear temple dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

Mr Somkiat said it would be up the opposition Democrat Party itself on whether its members would join the upcoming rally against the Amnesty Bill.

“We will make clear to them (the Democrats) that the ultimate goal of our movement is for a national reform. We will possibly widen our rally without having to wait for the Amnesty Bill to pass the third reading,” he said.

He said Sunday’s meeting would consist of 500-1,000 people and it would end on the same day without blocking traffic. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-10-21

[robblok]

ANTI-THAKSIN CAMPAIGN

Plan for huge rally against amnesty bill

It would make so much more sense for the press and organizers to report plans for a rally and then wait to see if it gets huge. This kind of sensational headline invariably disappoints when a lot fewer people turn up. No-one knows what the public's reaction will be prior to the date.

Opposition forces have so far been unable to galvanize the population into large enough groups to warrant the massive police presence provided by PTP.

Like many others i doub they can muster enough support. So far it seems that nobody is really interested in opposing mr T. This time it wont be different unfortunately.

[GeorgeO]

The amnesty bill has always been made for Thaskin, all the other players just got in the way, you don't give amnesty to criminals , end of story , that's if you don't want to be the laughing stock of the world, Thailand has a low politician credible rating , so nothing surprises, show some common sense, Thaskin jumped bail, was under several investigations , one from the UN, on crimes against humanity, these all still need to be played out, until there is a closure , Thaskin will continue to remain a pox on the Thai political , business and the country itself, along with the Shinawatra name.

I believe this is the beginning of the end for this government; not only are there several opposition groups against their despicable stance on ensuring amnesty for Thaksin, but they are also seeing rebellion from within their own ranks.

In any other country in the world, parliament would have demanded that the oversight committee were brought to the House to explain their meddling in the Bill before its third reading. An oversight committee is there to ensure that bills move forward according to set principles; it is not there to change a Bill to its own ends.

Every one of those in the oversight committee who voted in favour of the change should be immediately suspended and investigated for gross misconduct.

This government must fall....!!

[saltandpepper]

The amnesty bill has always been made for Thaskin, all the other players just got in the way, you don't give amnesty to criminals , end of story , that's if you don't want to be the laughing stock of the world, Thailand has a low politician credible rating , so nothing surprises, show some common sense, Thaskin jumped bail, was under several investigations , one from the UN, on crimes against humanity, these all still need to be played out, until there is a closure , Thaskin will continue to remain a pox on the Thai political , business and the country itself, along with the Shinawatra name.

I believe this is the beginning of the end for this government; not only are there several opposition groups against their despicable stance on ensuring amnesty for Thaksin, but they are also seeing rebellion from within their own ranks.

In any other country in the world, parliament would have demanded that the oversight committee were brought to the House to explain their meddling in the Bill before its third reading. An oversight committee is there to ensure that bills move forward according to set principles; it is not there to change a Bill to its own ends.

Every one of those in the oversight committee who voted in favour of the change should be immediately suspended and investigated for gross misconduct.

This government must fall....!!

But it won't....

And i don't think it is the beginning of the end for this government. Thaksin's return is nothing else that the realisation of a plan thought years ago, and the majority of thai people is now used to the idea. It is not the maybe few thousands protesters that will change anything. It would take a real huge mob of several hundred of thousands to change the course of things. Thai are not ready to face the risk of being killed during protests to oppose something which is unavoidable anyway.

As much as I believe that Thailand is on tracks for a major conflict/civil war (call it as you wish), it won't be directly triggered by Thaksin's return.

Another unavoidable sad event will bring Thai to fight each others, and we all know that!

[PeterSmiles]

Thai are not ready to face the risk of being killed during protests to oppose something which is unavoidable anyway.

Things must have changed since the seventies then.

New photos of 6 Oct 1976 massacre emerge

25 new photos of the brutal crackdown on student activists at Thammasat University have emerged and have now been published on the internet, marking the 35th anniversary of the incident.

http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/2814

1973 Thai popular uprising

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Thai_popular_uprising

Edited October 21, 2013 by PeterSmiles

[Teddy3943]

Tax scamming is stealing from your country's treasury. In fact from every citizen. Anyone who thinks that the first person in a country who should be a role model, the PM, should granted amnesty for this real big crime actually is telling to everybody that this kind of behavior is not so bad. A government who is acting like this acts far below moral, juridical and intellectual standards.

[gerry1011]

The amnesty bill has always been made for Thaskin, all the other players just got in the way, you don't give amnesty to criminals , end of story , that's if you don't want to be the laughing stock of the world, Thailand has a low politician credible rating , so nothing surprises, show some common sense, Thaskin jumped bail, was under several investigations , one from the UN, on crimes against humanity, these all still need to be played out, until there is a closure , Thaskin will continue to remain a pox on the Thai political , business and the country itself, along with the Shinawatra name.

 

I believe this is the beginning of the end for this government; not only are there several opposition groups against their despicable stance on ensuring amnesty for Thaksin, but they are also seeing rebellion from within their own ranks.

 

In any other country in the world, parliament would have demanded that the oversight committee were brought to the House to explain their meddling in the Bill before its third reading. An oversight committee is there to ensure that bills move forward according to set principles; it is not there to change a Bill to its own ends.

 

Every one of those in the oversight committee who voted in favour of the change should be immediately suspended and investigated for gross misconduct.

 

This government must fall....!!

Beginning of the end for this government?

Your personal wishes are not in line with the reality.

How many times have we read wishful comments like that?

They win every elections since years against opponents who have zero vision for the country.

So, it's certainly not the end yet, everybody should get used to it.

This government must fall?

Why?

They will be re-elected anyway...

Sent from my iPhone...