Red Shirt MPs to abstain from Amnesty Bill vote

[webfact]

Red Shirt MPs to abstain from Amnesty Bill vote
By English News



BANGKOK, Oct 31 – Leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the Red Shirt group, will refrain from exercising their votes for the Amnesty Bill in the second and third readings, a ruling Pheu Thai MP has announced.

Weng Tochirakarn said his group would be willing to accept any punishment by the party for failing to vote in favour of the highly-criticised bill.

Dr Weng, also a leading UDD member, said the bill, which was drastically changed by the House scrutiny committee, was unacceptable.

He said he has informed the Pheu Thai Party that the scrutiny committee’s revision contradicts the original bill passed earlier in the first reading by the House of Representatives.

The Amnesty Bill was initially proposed to Parliament by Pheu Thai MP Vorachai Hema.

Dr Weng said Mr Vorachai, Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikua and himself were not engaged in conflicts with the Pheu Thai Party.

The revised bill is slated for the Lower House’s debate in the second reading today.

He said UDD members would adhere to Mr Vorachai’s original version but they would not urge people to chase out the government.

After the bill is passed in the third reading, the Democrat Party will definitely seek the Constitution Court’s ruling, thus delaying the Senate debate, said Mr Weng.

Metropolitan Police Commander Kamronwit Thoopkrachang said 36 companies of police would be ready to maintain public order at the Democrat-led rally site at Samsen railway station today.

Significant government buildings in the area will be guarded to prevent untoward incidents and two companies of police would facilitate traffic, he said.

Whether all the police in the 36 companies will be dispatched depends on the situation but preparations were made at the order of the national police chief, he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-10-31

[CelticBhoy]

It really is a circus, and so far I'm enjoying the show.

[Siripon]

Red shirt folks, wake up. Your esteemed leader who says he doesn't know how to spell 'lose', doesn't care for you.

Remember how he said he would hurry back and lead from the front once the first bullet was fired?

And now he's not interested in finding out who killed your brothers and sisters at Rachaprasong. He just wants to clear himself.

What hurts more, to know you've been deceived or to realize you've been very foolish to believe in him from the start?

[Robby nz]

All posturing of course from Weng and Co.

Trying to somehow show the reds that they are still fighting for them in an effort to still keep them onside.

If that were true they would be out on the street leading them.

Abstaining will all be part of the plan for it will make no difference to the vote.

To paraphrase a commentator from elsewhere :

'Blind loyalty, greed, arrogance and selfishness have replaced any sense of right or wrong till nothing matters any more but the interests of one individual, Thaksin Shinawatara.'

Weng and the rest of the PT MP,s are indeed despicable specimens for risking more bloodshed by pushing ahead with this amnesty bill.

But then they have created death and destruction before so it probably doesn't make any difference to them...as long as it isn't their blood

[NongKhaiKid]

It really is a circus, and so far I'm enjoying the show.

Definately, and there's no shortage of clowns.

[Lobo4819]

I'm surprised they haven't pulled a Nancy Pelosi and said, "You will have to pass the bill to find out what's in it."

[soi41]

More importantly:

PM Yingluck is not even attending the meeting to consider the amnesty bill, she is "busy" with a mobile cabinet meeting in Lopburi??

For crying out loud, this whole bill, that threatens to throw the whole country into chaos, to whitewash her brother, and Madame is too busy elsewhere!!

When is the army going to say: Enough is enough!!

Normally I would not support a coup, but seriously, it can't get any worse??

[huanga]

Red Shirts don't want it (blank amnesty), Democrats don't want it. Shouldn't they just put it out to let Thai people decide if they want it (in the form of a referendum)?

Forget all these zoo politicking. Don't Thais have better and more urgent issues to worry about, such as the increasing household debt & living costs, traffic congestion, etc. Personally, I think the issue of getting rid of the foul street smell should take even more urgent precedence than this amnesty bill. So you know how foul smelling this thing is......

Wake up! In the Thai national anthem there is a phrase saying that Thais are peace-loving people and I definitely beg to differ! What Thais have shown, are narrow mindedness and selfishness. In short, "geng dae phut" (good at only talking!)

It's really a shameful day for this country and her people!

Edited October 31, 2013 by huanga

[Misterwhisper]

If you folks really find this bill so "unacceptable", why only abstain from voting and not go all the way and actually vote against it? That is the only way to ensure that the bill will not be passed.

But then again, voting against this bill would mean to vote with your conscience - and that, I'm afraid, would of course be totally unacceptable to the Big Kahuna in Dubai. After all, he demands total loyalty and procrastination. Even merely abstaining from voting surely must already be considered by him to be an egregious betrayal akin to high treason against his party. Isn't that so?

When one man sees himself as an animal trainer with whip and treat at his disposal, it is only logical that all other persons under his "care" can be nothing more than the animals to be trained, who must do what he says whenever he orders it.

As another poster already noted correctly: It's indeed a circus.

Edited October 31, 2013 by Misterwhisper

[Bellweather]

Red shirt folks, wake up. Your esteemed leader who says he doesn't know how to spell 'lose', doesn't care for you.

Remember how he said he would hurry back and lead from the front once the first bullet was fired?

And now he's not interested in finding out who killed your brothers and sisters at Rachaprasong. He just wants to clear himself.

What hurts more, to know you've been deceived or to realize you've been very foolish to believe in him from the start?

With face being such a factor in Thai life it will be a struggle for any of them to admit, possibly even to themselves, they were completely fooled and most definitely used.

[steveromagnino]

More importantly:

PM Yingluck is not even attending the meeting to consider the amnesty bill, she is "busy" with a mobile cabinet meeting in Lopburi??

Really?

When did they stop lying about her attending the St John event as the reason she couldn't be there today?

Busy lady.

[jbrain]

Dr Weng, also a leading UDD member, said the bill, which was drastically changed by the House scrutiny committee, was unacceptable.

My guess is that before the third reading they will amend the bill once again to exclude only Abhisit and Suthep, which will make it very much acceptable for the red shirts leaders.

[Thaddeus]

Dr Weng, also a leading UDD member, said the bill, which was drastically changed by the House scrutiny committee, was unacceptable.

My guess is that before the third reading they will amend the bill once again to exclude only Abhisit and Suthep, which will make it very much acceptable for the red shirts leaders.

Can't do that without rewriting the Constitution, it's either all Thais or no Thais.

[waza]

Red shirt folks, wake up. Your esteemed leader who says he doesn't know how to spell 'lose', doesn't care for you.

Remember how he said he would hurry back and lead from the front once the first bullet was fired?

And now he's not interested in finding out who killed your brothers and sisters at Rachaprasong. He just wants to clear himself.

What hurts more, to know you've been deceived or to realize you've been very foolish to believe in him from the start?

Don't sugar coat it Siripon.........

"And now he's not interested in finding out who killed your brothers and sisters at Rachaprasong. He just wants to clear himself"

Thaksin wants to give amnesty to those that have the blood of the peaceful protestors, military, civilians and nurses on their hands, just to clear himself.

Like he said in 2009...........May 19 message, where he called on red shirts to put aside their grievances, including demands for justice for those killed during the April-May 2010 clashes between protestors and troops, for the sake of national reconciliation and his return from exile.

He is worth more than all of them.

[WitawatWatawit]

"Weng Tochirakarn said his group would be willing to accept any punishment by the party for failing to vote in favour of the highly-criticised bill."

If that be the case, then vote against the bloody thing. Don't eat around the ... ummm, money tree.

[Bellweather]

More importantly:

PM Yingluck is not even attending the meeting to consider the amnesty bill, she is "busy" with a mobile cabinet meeting in Lopburi??

For crying out loud, this whole bill, that threatens to throw the whole country into chaos, to whitewash her brother, and Madame is too busy elsewhere!!

When is the army going to say: Enough is enough!!

Normally I would not support a coup, but seriously, it can't get any worse??

You've raised a valid point about the mobile cabinet meeting as presumably they've all gone with YL rather than being in the House keep a watchful eye on theses extra important proceedings. I suppose they will turn up to vote tomorrow having ordered every PTP MP to do so.

It's pointless being out of Bangkok to avoid the protests as they are likely to increase rather than decrease, they have to vote for the bill on Friday and as Joe Louis would have said " they can run but they can't hide. "

[ramrod711]

'Blind loyalty, greed, arrogance and selfishness have replaced any sense of right or wrong till nothing matters any more but the interests of one individual, Thaksin Shinawatara.'

In a nutshell, captures the situation perfectly,i wish i had said it. Thanks Robby nz

[GeorgeO]

If you folks really find this bill so "unacceptable", why only abstain from voting and not go all the way and actually vote against it? That is the only way to ensure that the bill will not be passed.

But then again, voting against this bill would mean to vote with your conscience - and that, I'm afraid, would of course be totally unacceptable to the Big Kahuna in Dubai. After all, he demands total loyalty and procrastination. Even merely abstaining from voting surely must already be considered by him to be an egregious betrayal akin to high treason against his party. Isn't that so?

When one man sees himself as an animal trainer with whip and treat at his disposal, it is only logical that all other persons under his "care" can be nothing more than the animals to be trained, who must do what he says whenever he orders it.

As another poster already noted correctly: It's indeed a circus.

They really are pathetic. If all of those opposing the bill voted against it, that would be sufficient to throw it out, but instead they take their "firm" moral stance by abstaining.

So, when the bill gets pushed through, who are they going to blame? Since it is the norm here, they will surely be looking for someone to blame other than themselves....!!

There isn't a single one of them in that party who can legitimately call themselves a "politician".

[tominbkk]

More importantly:

PM Yingluck is not even attending the meeting to consider the amnesty bill, she is "busy" with a mobile cabinet meeting in Lopburi??

Really?

When did they stop lying about her attending the St John event as the reason she couldn't be there today?

Busy lady.

When have they or she ever stopped lying period? Shameless.

Edited October 31, 2013 by tominbkk

[Robby nz]

The Mrs is listening to the live broadcast from Samsen and it appears there are over 50,000 there at present.

It is also said on facebook that Yingluck (who is now back in BKK) has ordered that no more trains are allowed to go to that station, that they must stop at the stations before as there have been train loads of people arriving and joining the crowd.

That is only one group, there are others in BKK and around the country.

Seems like someone has badly underestimated the feeling of people on the amnesty bill.

But it must go through, Thaksin must come back regardless of the strife it will cause.

[patjem]

Judging by the photo, not even a circus, and far from a riveting debate......

"hey, did you hear that pin drop just now?".......

"Oh sh!t, it appears I'm talking to myself and the only person present!"

[jbrain]

The Mrs is listening to the live broadcast from Samsen and it appears there are over 50,000 there at present.

It is also said on facebook that Yingluck (who is now back in BKK) has ordered that no more trains are allowed to go to that station, that they must stop at the stations before as there have been train loads of people arriving and joining the crowd.

Will there be executions at the train station ?

[petedk]

The Mrs is listening to the live broadcast from Samsen and it appears there are over 50,000 there at present.

It is also said on facebook that Yingluck (who is now back in BKK) has ordered that no more trains are allowed to go to that station, that they must stop at the stations before as there have been train loads of people arriving and joining the crowd.

That is only one group, there are others in BKK and around the country.

Seems like someone has badly underestimated the feeling of people on the amnesty bill.

But it must go through, Thaksin must come back regardless of the strife it will cause.

Do you have any sources for this?

All seems very quiet to me.

[GrantSmith]

The Mrs is listening to the live broadcast from Samsen and it appears there are over 50,000 there at present.

 

It is also said on facebook that Yingluck (who is now back in BKK) has ordered that no more trains are allowed to go to that station, that they must stop at the stations before as there have been train loads of people arriving and joining the crowd.

 

That is only one group, there are others in BKK and around the country.

 

Seems like someone has badly underestimated the feeling of people on the amnesty bill.

 

But it must go through, Thaksin must come back regardless of the strife it will cause.

 

Do you have any sources for this?

 

All seems very quiet to me.

The Nation reports 8,000

The paper that remains nameless reports 10,000 with 5,000 police maintaining 'order' - they also reported 4 democrat linked officers had been transferred with immediate effect to other - active - posts within the RTP. Seems they're a bit jumpy down at RTP HQ...

50,000 is quite jump from there!

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Artisi]

The Mrs is listening to the live broadcast from Samsen and it appears there are over 50,000 there at present.

It is also said on facebook that Yingluck (who is now back in BKK) has ordered that no more trains are allowed to go to that station, that they must stop at the stations before as there have been train loads of people arriving and joining the crowd.

That is only one group, there are others in BKK and around the country.

Seems like someone has badly underestimated the feeling of people on the amnesty bill.

But it must go through, Thaksin must come back regardless of the strife it will cause.

Do you have any sources for this?

All seems very quiet to me.

The Nation reports 8,000

The paper that remains nameless reports 10,000 with 5,000 police maintaining 'order' - they also reported 4 democrat linked officers had been transferred with immediate effect to other - active - posts within the RTP. Seems they're a bit jumpy down at RTP HQ...

50,000 is quite jump from there!

Anything the Nation says you always have to take with a grain of salt. They always seem to get their facts screwed even when it is staring them in the face.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[rubl]

The Mrs is listening to the live broadcast from Samsen and it appears there are over 50,000 there at present.

It is also said on facebook that Yingluck (who is now back in BKK) has ordered that no more trains are allowed to go to that station, that they must stop at the stations before as there have been train loads of people arriving and joining the crowd.

That is only one group, there are others in BKK and around the country.

Seems like someone has badly underestimated the feeling of people on the amnesty bill.

But it must go through, Thaksin must come back regardless of the strife it will cause.

Samsen Railway station is on the line from Hua Lampong towards up-North. So I guess trains will be allowed to leave their tracks to bypass the station?

Anyway as 'all' people know Thailand really needs this blanket amnesty bill to let it move forward and prosper. Both the government and the majority party in it (Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai acts) have only the best interest of those who matter in mind. I refrain to specify who they may think matters. I will not mention any of the few handful

[GentlemanJim]

Well I guess as these four Red Shirts are abstaining there will be a Cabinet shuffle quite soon. Someone must be taking bets. Then again, maybe Thaksin has told them to do this to try and quell the rage that is rising within the red shirts, to make it look as if the red shirts have a voice so to speak. I cannot really see these four, who would (have) sell their souls to the devil turning their back on the deep pockets of Thaksin to show some moral or ethical protest. After all they have all displayed quite clearly that they have no idea what ethics and principles are. As normal for this lot its safer to not believe a single word they say.

[bigbamboo]

The Mrs is listening to the live broadcast from Samsen and it appears there are over 50,000 there at present.

It is also said on facebook that Yingluck (who is now back in BKK) has ordered that no more trains are allowed to go to that station, that they must stop at the stations before as there have been train loads of people arriving and joining the crowd.

That is only one group, there are others in BKK and around the country.

Seems like someone has badly underestimated the feeling of people on the amnesty bill.

But it must go through, Thaksin must come back regardless of the strife it will cause.

Samsen Railway station is on the line from Hua Lampong towards up-North. So I guess trains will be allowed to leave their tracks to bypass the station?

Anyway as 'all' people know Thailand really needs this blanket amnesty bill to let it move forward and prosper. Both the government and the majority party in it (Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai acts) have only the best interest of those who matter in mind. I refrain to specify who they may think matters. I will not mention any of the few handful

The trains will be allowed to leave the tracks and bypass the station?

I think one or two were probably going to do that anyway!

[hellodolly]

Dr Weng, also a leading UDD member, said the bill, which was drastically changed by the House scrutiny committee, was unacceptable.

My guess is that before the third reading they will amend the bill once again to exclude only Abhisit and Suthep, which will make it very much acceptable for the red shirts leaders.

That is pretty much a given

The Mrs is listening to the live broadcast from Samsen and it appears there are over 50,000 there at present.

It is also said on facebook that Yingluck (who is now back in BKK) has ordered that no more trains are allowed to go to that station, that they must stop at the stations before as there have been train loads of people arriving and joining the crowd.

That is only one group, there are others in BKK and around the country.

Seems like someone has badly underestimated the feeling of people on the amnesty bill.

But it must go through, Thaksin must come back regardless of the strife it will cause.

The sad part is they don't care what the citizens want. Maybe it is just me but I am feeling more positive every day that not only would Thaksin coming back be the worst thing that could happen to Thailand out of this mess but it would be a fatal mistake for him. His ego does not allow him to realize the powerful enemies he has made.

Well I guess as these four Red Shirts are abstaining there will be a Cabinet shuffle quite soon. Someone must be taking bets. Then again, maybe Thaksin has told them to do this to try and quell the rage that is rising within the red shirts, to make it look as if the red shirts have a voice so to speak. I cannot really see these four, who would (have) sell their souls to the devil turning their back on the deep pockets of Thaksin to show some moral or ethical protest. After all they have all displayed quite clearly that they have no idea what ethics and principles are. As normal for this lot its safer to not believe a single word they say.

I think you have hit the nail right on the head. There votes will not be missed. It will also make them look good to their fellow goons.