Yingluck-led panel would decide who gets amnesty: Interview

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Yingluck-led panel would decide who gets amnesty
The Nation


Prayuth

BANGKOK: -- Prayuth Siripanich, deputy chair of the House ad hoc committee vetting the amnesty bill and sponsor of the controversial amended clauses, tells The Nation's Opas Boonlom that it is not his intention to return former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's seized assets or 'whitewash' his crimes. Here are excerpts from the interview:

What are your thoughts on granting amnesty to rally leaders and state officials involved in the political mayhem and those accused in connection to the 2006 coup?

My record shows that I have strongly opposed every power seizure staged after October 6, 1976.

It was my personal initiative to propose blanket amnesty. Neither Thaksin Shinawatra nor Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra or the ruling party ordered me to do so. I have three main reasons to back amnesty.

First, Article 3 paragraph 2 of the Constitution prescribes for the courts and agencies formed under organic laws to abide by the rule of law.

Second, Article 30 of the Constitution prescribes for legal equality and is against discrimination.

Third, under the punishment principles for crime, it is unacceptable to absolve those who shoot people and not those who ordered the shooting.

Will amnesty, if granted, be in conflict with the coup immunity under Article 309 of the Constitution?

The amnesty clause does not judge activities associated with the coup, hence it has no bearing on Article 309. Furthermore, the coup immunity does not ban the enactment of the amnesty bill.

Will the change to expand the amnesty coverage contradict the original draft, which has already passed the first reading?

No, the change and the original draft rely on the anti-coup principle.

Will incidents in the South, such as the Tak Bai and Krue Se cases, come under the bill?

No. The strife in the South is not linked to the political turbulence.

Will the amnesty apply to legal wrangling over slander stemming from the political mayhem?

No. Disputes among parties that initiated defamation suits and their respective decisions to litigate have no links to political rallies.

What would be the next move after enactment of an amnesty?

After the amnesty law comes into effect, the prime minister will be in charge of forming a committee tasked with determining the cases and individuals who should be granted 'absolution'.

What they say

"If we must first survey the public's opinions, which group should we ask? From 10 people, or 100 people? Or from the media? We must admit that we use a parliamentary system, in which the voters' majority voted to select their representatives." - Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri

"As a victim of the poisonous tree [military coup], I want all of this amnesty law, for it to go all the way [a blanket amnesty], as both an investigator and a victim of a poisonous tree." - Department of Special Investigation director-general Tarit Pengdith

"The House committee is in charge of the amnesty law and it will certainly not be a financial-related
bill." - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

"The reds want justice to run its course in order to set a precedent that will prevent a repeat of political violence." - Red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua

"Critics should have waited and seen the final version of the amnesty law. Besides, the more important question is how the consequences and damage caused by the military coup can be undone." - Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

-- The Nation 2013-10-23

[rametindallas]

Prayuth Siripanich, deputy chair of the House ad hoc committee vetting the amnesty bill and sponsor of the controversial amended clauses, tells The Nation's Opas Boonlom that it is not his intention to return former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's seized assets or 'whitewash' his crimes.

It's not his intention, it's just a coincidence that his amended clauses to the amnesty bill return Dr. Thaksin's seized assets to him and 'whitewash' his crimes. (I like the use of the plural in 'crimes' even though he was only convicted of one. Can this bill allow him to be absolved of crimes he hasn't been convicted of yet?)

After the amnesty law comes into effect, the prime minister will be in charge of forming a committee tasked with determining the cases and individuals who should be granted 'absolution'

If Ms. Yingluck puts, or allows to be put, her dear brother's name on the list to be 'absolved', it will go in the dictionary under 'best example' of conflict of interest.

Dr. Thaksin has the votes and is tired of waiting and now is the time (scandal is getting closer to breaking over them) to do this, come Hell or high water. Once he is back in power and his wealth restored, he can calm everything down and mend fences and make his supporters happy again... or so he thinks. I would bet that he comes back but I wouldn't bet on how long he stays in power or healthy.

[Thait Spot]

The poachers are in charge of the elephants

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[worgeordie]

He is only one man, we all know what to final outcome of

the panel will be.

regards Worgeordie

[Local Drunk]

"First, Article 3 paragraph 2 of the Constitution prescribes for the courts and agencies formed under organic laws to abide by the rule of law."

So is he saying that we can amend the Constitution in anyway we like, and the courts and and other agencies must oblige our will?

[GeorgeO]

Prayuth Siripanich, deputy chair of the House ad hoc committee vetting the amnesty bill and sponsor of the controversial amended clauses, tells The Nation's Opas Boonlom that it is not his intention to return former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's seized assets or 'whitewash' his crimes.

It's not his intention, it's just a coincidence that his amended clauses to the amnesty bill return Dr. Thaksin's seized assets to him and 'whitewash' his crimes. (I like the use of the plural in 'crimes' even though he was only convicted of one. Can this bill allow him to be absolved of crimes he hasn't been convicted of yet?)

After the amnesty law comes into effect, the prime minister will be in charge of forming a committee tasked with determining the cases and individuals who should be granted 'absolution'

If Ms. Yingluck puts, or allows to be put, her dear brother's name on the list to be 'absolved', it will go in the dictionary under 'best example' of conflict of interest.

Dr. Thaksin has the votes and is tired of waiting and now is the time (scandal is getting closer to breaking over them) to do this, come Hell or high water. Once he is back in power and his wealth restored, he can calm everything down and mend fences and make his supporters happy again... or so he thinks. I would bet that he comes back but I wouldn't bet on how long he stays in power or healthy.

1. Yes, very good "legalese" use of the term "not my intention", since any subsequent coincidence can then be denied.

2. With her ladyship being in charge of selecting those to be absolved of their crimes we are obviously bound to see a totally unbiased selection process, are we not...?!

3. Very interesting to see the response to the question "Will incidents in the South, such as the Tak Bai and Krue Se cases, come under the bill?" ... "No. The strife in the South is not linked to the political turbulence".

That would suggest that Thaksin will have to answer for the deaths of those arrested and piled up in the back of trucks. Thaksin took personal responsibility for that as his major tactic for "solving the southern issue".

[klauskunkel]

What a cute, little fella!

[ratcatcher]

What a cute, little fella!

You obviously have been overexposed to Tolkien.

[klauskunkel]

What a cute, little fella!

You obviously have been overexposed to Tolkien.

Gollum, Gollum...

[JoeThePoster]

We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious amnesty. They stole it from us!

[slapout]

Wonder what his creditentials are to be writting new/amending laws of the nation?There are several members of this government coalition who have said they would proposal changes like this one. One of these proposals was to come from Chalerm as he pointed out he has a degree in law, thus making him very qualified to propose changes.

Do any of these arse kissers, consider that they are totally unqualified to write their own press releases, much less any potential legal document?

I propose a new trial by fire for government MP's. Line 10 MP's up enlist a 20 member firing squad, with 2 members of said squad 's rifles loaded with blanks. After the smoke clears those left standing return to their normal enployment.

[LuckyLew]

IMO he will suffer the same fate as Sah Daeng

No worries ... big BBQ at the Wat in Chang Mai

[moe666]

The PTP should grow some balls and just pass a clean Big T amnesty bill and be done with it that way everyone knows.

[PeterSmiles]

Will the change to expand the amnesty coverage contradict the original draft, which has already passed the first reading?

No, the change and the original draft rely on the anti-coup principle.

So, a legal bill can be deliberated before parliament and after it has passed legislation it can be rewritten to the likes of the people with bad intent, as long as the title doesn't change .

[monkeycountry]

In short: The bill is not intended to grant Thaksin amnesty, the bill will let his little sister decide if he should get amnesty or not

[drdoom6996]

Will the change to expand the amnesty coverage contradict the original draft, which has already passed the first reading?

No, the change and the original draft rely on the anti-coup principle.

So, a legal bill can be deliberated before parliament and after it has passed legislation it can be rewritten to the likes of the people with bad intent, as long as the title doesn't change .

That's "Transparency" for you!

[Sunderland]

Not even worth the time debating in Parliament when the outcome is already known. This law will have more loopholes in it than a wicker basket.

Sometimes the running of this country is like following a movie that has been so poorly written, that you leave the cinema relieved that you live in the real world. However, this is the real world in Thailand and you constantly have to pinch or smack yourself silly to check you're not in the middle of some wacky dream or nightmare.

[centrala]

"The reds want justice to run its course in order to set a precedent that will prevent a repeat of political violence." - Red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua.

That's a laugh coming from red shirt leader cum pheu thai party mp cum deputy commerce minister natthawut in light of his own repeated political violence in 2007, 2009, and 2010.

[hawker9000]

Will the change to expand the amnesty coverage contradict the original draft, which has already passed the first reading?

No, the change and the original draft rely on the anti-coup principle.

So, a legal bill can be deliberated before parliament and after it has passed legislation it can be rewritten to the likes of the people with bad intent, as long as the title doesn't change .

That's "Transparency" for you!

Yeap, the mystery's just gone right out of it. Like there ever was any.

[Baerboxer]

In short: The bill is not intended to grant Thaksin amnesty, the bill will let his little sister decide if he should get amnesty or not

Sums it up nicely. Of course little sister will be completely unbiased and only make decisions that she believes to be in the interests of the people she serves so unselfishly as both PM/DM. I'm sure all those Skype calls won't influence her one bit. She's demonstrated her independence so much over the past 2 years.

Of course, should the carefully weighed up facts determine that big bro be whitewashed, then she will be strong enough to make the right decision and take the flak. A bonus would be that amnesty for big bro also means she won't have to worry anymore about that silly pesky Ombudsman and questions about Tak's shiny new passport.

When bro's back she can go back to a life of travelling, shopping and watching the bank balance grow .............................. wait a minute !!

[rubl]

"Will the amnesty apply to legal wrangling over slander stemming from the political mayhem?

No. Disputes among parties that initiated defamation suits and their respective decisions to litigate have no links to political rallies."

The poor chap seems to be somewhat confused about the blanket amnesty he proposed himself. Luckily there are others who will decide for him.

""Critics should have waited and seen the final version of the amnesty law. Besides, the more important question is how the consequences and damage caused by the military coup can be undone." - Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra."

In other words, critics should wait till we've voted this bill into law and have my employer back in town. To undo the damage by the coup we'll return my boss his money and furthermore sidetrack the pesky UDD mob which we no longer need. Reconcile now!

[rubl]

In short: The bill is not intended to grant Thaksin amnesty, the bill will let his little sister decide if he should get amnesty or not

Sums it up nicely. Of course little sister will be completely unbiased and only make decisions that she believes to be in the interests of the people she serves so unselfishly as both PM/DM. I'm sure all those Skype calls won't influence her one bit. She's demonstrated her independence so much over the past 2 years.

Of course, should the carefully weighed up facts determine that big bro be whitewashed, then she will be strong enough to make the right decision and take the flak. A bonus would be that amnesty for big bro also means she won't have to worry anymore about that silly pesky Ombudsman and questions about Tak's shiny new passport.

When bro's back she can go back to a life of travelling, shopping and watching the bank balance grow .............................. wait a minute !!

Luckily Ms. Yingluck has her dear older sister back to support her in difficult decisions. It's so comforting to know you can lean on and get support from family

[bigbamboo]

So although KY will lead the group who decides who gets amnesty someone else will have to sign the bill that grants it.

She's smarter than she looks!

typo edited.

Edited October 23, 2013 by bigbamboo

[MaiChai]

Judge and jury are the politicians. Travesty of justice.

[tingtongteesood]

If anyone from PTP gets to pick and choose who gets 'amnesty' then it's all really a foregone conclusion isn't it. Thaksin gets his money back and Abhisit would be branded a murderer. There is no justice in this country. Deeply saddening and infuriating ! If this happens then I may have to leave....

[hellodolly]

IMO he will suffer the same fate as Sah Daeng

No worries ... big BBQ at the Wat in Chang Mai

If it is all the same to you we get enough polluted air here.

Thank you but no thanks.

[hellodolly]

The PTP should grow some balls and just pass a clean Big T amnesty bill and be done with it that way everyone knows.

Just dreaming but what if Yingluck grew a set of balls and didn't white wash any thing for big bro.

Not even worth the time debating in Parliament when the outcome is already known. This law will have more loopholes in it than a wicker basket.

Sometimes the running of this country is like following a movie that has been so poorly written, that you leave the cinema relieved that you live in the real world. However, this is the real world in Thailand and you constantly have to pinch or smack yourself silly to check you're not in the middle of some wacky dream or nightmare.

I think they should get some of the writers from the Thai soaps in to write for them. It would be an improvement.

On a series note does any one know why big sister is being so quiet?

[Ricardo]

On a series note does any one know why big sister is being so quiet?

One can only presume that their Big Brother is currently contented, with the positive-progress being made by his family-government & minions, with the Whitewash Amnesty Bill ?