Business says no to blanket Thai amnesty

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AMNESTY BILL
Business says no to blanket amnesty
The Nation



Full pardon would destroy country's moral code, says Anti-corruption group

BANGKOK: -- THE ANTI-CORRUPTION Organisation of Thailand (ACT), an alliance of private-sector groups, has stepped forward to oppose granting a blanket amnesty for those involved in the 2010 political turmoil that left more than 90 people dead.

The ACT includes finance and business organisations such as the Board of Trade, Federation of Thai Industries, Thai Bankers Association, the Securities and Exchange Commission, Thai Institute of Directors, Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations, the Thai Listed Companies Association, and the Association of Thai Securities Companies.

This development came as a panel of Pheu Thai strategists agreed yesterday with plans for a party resolution to back the blanket amnesty, as proposed by the House committee vetting the government-proposed amnesty bill.

"Revising Article 3 to allow amnesty for graft offences will create the false value that cheating is not wrong," ACT chairman Pramon Sutivong said yesterday.

Pramon said relevant parties should be mindful that an amnesty would destroy the country's moral and ethical code, and do untold damage to society.

The government had pledged to root out corruption, as evidenced by its announcement of July 2, but the amnesty bill would do completely the opposite of that pledge, he said. He said anti-corruption advocates had mapped out retaliatory measures to take should the bill become law.

The ACT said it would today submit a letter to the United Nations office in Bangkok, in protest at the change to the amnesty bill so that it grants a blanket pardon.

In a related development, the House committee vetting the bill has finalised its endorsement of the minutes of its meetings, thus concluding its work.

The committee report would be checked for typographical errors before being forwarded to the House Speaker to place on the legislative agenda, Pheu Thai MP Chavalit Wichayasut said.

House of Representatives Speaker Somsak Kiartsuraont is expected to receive the report this week.

Chair of the vetting committee Samart Kaewmeechai said the exclusion of lese majeste from the amnesty was justified because offenders had violated the monarchy, which by constitutional provisions had no link to the political mayhem.

Samart was commenting on a statement made by law lecturer Vorachet Pakeerat of the Nitirat Group.

Vorachet said that the amnesty might be arbitrary and unconstitutional because it did not apply to those offending the monarchy.

Article 30 of the Constitution states that legal provisions should be equally applicable to all without discrimination.

Vorachet has scheduled a press conference on Thursday to outline what he says are flaws in the amnesty bill.

Yesterday, Pheu Thai's panel of strategists convened to discuss the party's stance on the proposed change to the original bill so that it would grant a blanket amnesty, according to a party source. The meeting was chaired by Pheu Thai leader Charupong Ruangsuwan, who is also Interior minister.

The panel agreed that all Pheu Thai MPs should vote in support of the new version of the bill changed by vetting committee, which is dominated by coalition MPs, according to the source. The panel claimed an amnesty law would lead to national reconciliation, the source said.

In response to reports some red-shirt Pheu Thai MPs might vote against a blanket amnesty, the panel agreed they should respect the party resolution on the matter. However, the panel also forecast that government critics and detractors would attempt to play up this issue in a bid to bring down the government, the source said.

Pheu Thai MP Korkaew Pikulthong, who is a red-shirt leader, said yesterday that the red shirts were split on whether to support or to oppose the blanket amnesty. He said he would "feel pained" if Pheu Thai went ahead with the blanket amnesty, but he would not take to the streets to protest against it.

An influential politician in the ruling party met with its red-shirt politicians Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikua last Friday and asked them to help secure ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's return to Thailand, according to another Pheu Thai source. The politician pleaded in tears for the red-shirt MPs' help, saying that Thaksin "has been suffering for many years already", the source said.


-- The Nation 2013-10-29

[uty6543]

"Full pardon would destroy country's moral code, says Anti-corruption group"

What moral code??????

[Tatsujin]

Full pardon would destroy country's moral code, says Anti-corruption group

5555555555555555

Love these headlines and taglines they come up with, what moral code? lol

[waza]

"An influential politician in the ruling party met with its red-shirt politicians Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikua last Friday and asked them to help secure ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's return to Thailand, according to another Pheu Thai source. The politician pleaded in tears for the red-shirt MPs' help, saying that Thaksin "has been suffering for many years already", the source said."

No no its not all about Thaksin, its about national reconciliation.

"The panel agreed that all Pheu Thai MPs should vote in support of the new version of the bill changed by vetting committee, which is dominated by coalition MPs, according to the source. The panel claimed an amnesty law would lead to national reconciliation, the source said."

That is national reconciliation that doesn't include.........

Business says no to blanket amnesty

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Pro Thai government activists demonstrate against amnesty bill ...

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Democracy Digest » Thailand: no blanket amnesty for rights abusers

So I guess national reconciliation only applies to Thaksin and the PTP led coalition

Edited October 29, 2013 by waza

[centrala]

So the business community joins most Thais as being opposed to the amnesty bill.

Who then, is in favor of it?

Oh yes, the article tells us:

Pheu Thai's panel of strategists

.

[Local Drunk]

What I like about this is that the people are are beginning to think a bit...

[WitawatWatawit]

Pheu Thai said before it would withdraw the bill if it judged opposition to it was too strong. Surely this must be the nail in the coffin.

Love the bit about the MP in tears saying Thaksin had suffered for many years already. His suffering is nothing compared to what the people have suffered because of him, or what will come if this insane bill goes through.

[Local Drunk]

"Full pardon would destroy country's moral code, says Anti-corruption group"

What moral code??????

To say a "moral code exists" suggests that some people actually have morals. Should the Blanket Amnesty fail to pass because of these protests it will establish a precedent, albeit a small one for government policy in the future. It could be a positive step in the right direction

Edited October 29, 2013 by Local Drunk

[Thaddeus]

Yesterday, Pheu Thai's panel of strategists convened to discuss the party's stance

It must have taken all of two seconds to agree to DL's demands, then ordered lunch.

Later fell out about the chek bin...... "I didn't have the lobster, did you have the lobster?"

One drum beating out of time to the rest of the band.

according to another Pheu Thai source. The politician pleaded in tears for the red-shirt MPs' help, saying that Thaksin "has been suffering for many years already", the source said.

Awwwww ...... did Daddy threaten to stop his pocket money?

Edited October 29, 2013 by Thaddeus

[GeorgeO]

Pheu Thai said before it would withdraw the bill if it judged opposition to it was too strong. Surely this must be the nail in the coffin.

Love the bit about the MP in tears saying Thaksin had suffered for many years already. His suffering is nothing compared to what the people have suffered because of him, or what will come if this insane bill goes through.

You're right ... any government, in most of the civilised countries, would look at this and recognise that the Bill is a dead horse, such that it was time to stop flogging it; however, I envisage further "strategic" moves to try to squirm the Bill's path through to promulgation.

The PTP fails to recognise how much more stupid they are beginning to look in the eyes of their opposition, and indeed, the rest of the world. In a Western democracy, such as the UK, a government in such disarray would call upon HM to dissolve parliament and give the people the opportunity to vote for their preferred government.

Unfortunately, in this country, the poor deluded up-country folk would probably just bring the same crock of sh1t back in...! So, in the end, they must recognise that they get what they deserve.

[Loles]

I THAILAND.

[Robby nz]

An influential politician in the ruling party met with its red-shirt politicians Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikua last Friday and asked them to help secure ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra's return to Thailand, according to another Pheu Thai source. The politician pleaded in tears for the red-shirt MPs' help, saying that Thaksin "has been suffering for many years already", the source said."

No no its not all about Thaksin, its about national reconciliation.

"The panel agreed that all Pheu Thai MPs should vote in support of the new version of the bill changed by vetting committee, which is dominated by coalition MPs, according to the source. The panel claimed an amnesty law would lead to national reconciliation, the source said."

That is national reconciliation that doesn't include.........

Business says no to blanket amnesty

Activists protest against Thai government amnesty bill

Reds: No blanket amnesty

Thailand: No Blanket Amnesty for Rights Abusers | Human Rights ...

Pro Thai government activists demonstrate against amnesty bill ...

Twitter / robertamsterdam: No blanket amnesty in Thailand ...

Majority of Thais disagree with amnesty for politicians - Politics ...

Democracy Digest » Thailand: no blanket amnesty for rights abusers

So I guess national reconciliation only applies to Thaksin and the PTP led coalition

You forgot to mention Waza that the army chief also says the military don't want it.

As you say, that only leaves the red leaders and their paymaster

If, as they say, they are guilty of nothing then why do they think they need amnesty ?

Conclusion, they must be guilty as hell and know it, as thee and me also know it.

[Neilly]

"Revising Article 3 to allow amnesty for graft offences will create the false value that cheating is not wrong," ACT chairman Pramon Sutivong said yesterday.

And not to mention they'd need a bigger blanket

[renaissanc]

I'd love to comment, but I'm still crying about how much Thaksin has been suffering all these years abroad. ...

[rubl]

You completely forgot Thaksin who "has been suffering for many years already"

So the business community joins most Thais as being opposed to the amnesty bill.

Who then, is in favor of it?
Oh yes, the article tells us:

Pheu Thai's panel of strategists

.