Govt lobbying senators on bill

[Lite Beer]

AMNESTY BILL
Govt lobbying senators on bill
The Sunday Nation

Supporters of the opposition Democrat Party shout slogans during a rally yesterday against the controversial bill that would provide a blanket amnesty for political offences over many years.

BANGKOK: -- Paiboon urges public to closely scrutinise those who have no clear stance on blanket amnesty policy

The government is lobbying hard to get senators to endorse the controversial bill for a blanket amnesty, according to members of the Upper House.

Chon Buri province Senator Surachai Chaitrakoontong, who is secretary of the Senate whips, revealed that on Wednesday, the government would dispatch Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok and PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn to explain the government's stance on the matter. He expected the meeting to last no more than an hour.

Surachai said the Senate was likely to spend two days scrutinising the bill and that Senate President Nikom Wairatpanij has chosen either November 8 or 11 for this.

Nakhon Pathom Senator Somchart Panpat said it would likely only take a day for the Senate to accept the bill in principle and spend no more than 20 days to consider whether some amendments are needed or not. The second and third readings would likely be concluded before the end of the Senate's session on November 28, he added.

Lobbying activities with some benefits promised in return for support have been reported. Appointed Senator Paiboon Nititawan confirmed the existence of such activity though he denied knowledge of something being promised in return for a vote of support. He urged the public to closely scrutinise senators who have no clear public stance on the matter.

The so-called group of 40 senators had clearly opposed the bill from the beginning, said Paiboon, and the group was trying to lobby other senators who appeared to be more or less impartial to convince them on why they should oppose the bill.

Some senators such as Uthai Thani province's Singhachai Thungthong denied negotiating in order to support the bill although his view on the matter is not clear yet. He said the problem is due to the changing of the bill originally proposed by Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema, and that he must assess the situation first before making a decision. Singhachai said many senators are stressed having to think about public interest on the issue.

Some, like Kamphaeng Phet Senator Krit Arthitkaew, have clearly announced their support for the controversial bill in principle, in the same way that communists were granted blanket amnesty in the 80s so the country could move forward. But he admitted he had yet to study the bill in detail.

Some senators acknowledged that the upper House is divided on the matter and the divisions tend to be along the line of whether one likes or dislikes Thaksin.

Appointed Senator Anurak Niyomvej said it is too premature for him to decide as he has to consider whether the bill is constitutional or not and also consider potential conflicts.

Meanwhile, the Students and People Network for Thailand Reform will next week submit a protest letter to the Senate urging the Upper House not to consider the bill.

Uthai Yodmanee, coordinator of the group, said the bill is against the principle of the rule of law and also unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democrat Party has written letters to United Nations and other international organisations making its stance on the bill known.

Party spokesperson Chavanond Intarakomalyasut also defended the party from criticism by co-leader of the now-defunct People's Alliance for Democracy, Sondhi Limthongkul, who said the party was staging the anti-amnesty bill protest to promote itself, saying that accusation was simply not true.

The yellow-shirt mouthpiece television ASTV has discontinued broadcast of the protest after Sondhi said it was merely a stage for political promotion of the Democrat Party.

-- The Nation 2013-11-03

[bigbamboo]

Stressed at having to consider the public interest, can't decide because he does not know if it's unconstitutional, yet to study the bill in detail.....

Are these senators really the best Thailand can manage?

[hellodolly]

The government is lobbying hard to get senators to endorse the controversial bill for a blanket amnesty,

Why not draw up a bill that would stand on it's own merits with out the Government having to lobby for it?

[AleG]

The government is lobbying hard to get senators to endorse the controversial bill for a blanket amnesty

Poor Yingluck, such a confused thing, two days ago she was saying the bill was the responsibility of parliament not the government.

[RubbaJohnny]

Stressed at having to consider the public interest, can't decide because he does not know if it's unconstitutional, yet to study the bill in detail.....

Are these senators really the best Thailand can manage?

and all graduates,blame it on the universities,no wait a minute blame it on their foreign teachers,or at least pass the buck. Some also have MBAs from prestigeous sounding academies in USA etc where truth management ,face saving is learnt.

Most politicians are despicable and the factors that keep them honest ,courts ,investigative fearless journalists prepared to go into exile to prison for the truth like Assange Snowden are noticeably absent.

[rubl]

Stressed at having to consider the public interest, can't decide because he does not know if it's unconstitutional, yet to study the bill in detail.....

Are these senators really the best Thailand can manage?

At least 76 of the 150 senators are voting in by the same electorate which voted in (Thaksin's) Pheu Thai. So what do you expect?

[Baerboxer]

Stressed at having to consider the public interest, can't decide because he does not know if it's unconstitutional, yet to study the bill in detail.....

Are these senators really the best Thailand can manage?

At least 76 of the 150 senators are voting in by the same electorate which voted in (Thaksin's) Pheu Thai. So what do you expect?

It will be another fiasco. Simply pushed through, opportunities to speak against it limited etc. Only amendments that don't favor Thaksin's opponents will be allowed.

Once passed through the senate, PTP will then go ahead with the Amphor letter/petition plan. Local government offices will be bullied to bully people to sign to say they like the Amnesty Bill, its good for Thailand and reconciliation. Their performance in doing this will of cause be strictly monitored and failure to hit quota punished.

Then Yinggy can spout about how all the people love the bill as evidenced by these signatures. She knew this all along of course, so no need for a referendum. The people love the Shin clan and its saintly leader. All the usual crap they think people are dumb enough to believe.

It's not enough for them to screw you, you have to smile and tell them you like it !

Their thinker must be a fan of Mein Kampf, Das Kapitol, Marx, Lenin, Stalin, Hitler and Mao. Their practices seem to be copied.

[ridkun]

No surprise, The Nation. Tell us something we don't already know!

[Lite Beer]

AMNESTY BILL
Pheu Thai MPs to convene Monday
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party's MPs are summoned for a meeting on Monday, after the House's third reading of the Constitution's Article 190 amendment is finished.

Spokesman Prompong Nopparit said that they would be briefed on the current political situation. They would also be instructed to communicate with the public in their constituencies concerning the amnesty bill.

Prompong said that there has been some misunderstanding in the bill, which was meant to neutralise political conflicts and to drive the country forward. Under the goal, Thailand can’t afford a discriminative law, he said.

He considered that the protest near Samsen railway station was just another full-scale anti-government protest by Opposition Democrat Party, with the bill being used as the reason. He noted that as protesters are being mobilised in several provinces like Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phuket, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva should take responsibility if things turn violence.

Democrat Deputy Leader Alongkorn Ponlaboot said Sunday that starting tomorrow, the party would stage nationwide talks to deliberate the dubious points in the amnesty bill. The talk will start in Phetchaburi tomorrow, then Trat, Chon Buri and other provinces.

He urged the Senate not to consider the bill and unveiled the plan to launch a no-confidence motion against the government.

He insisted that the bill, to involve cases against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s assets, is in violation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. As such, this would damage the confidence in Thailand among the international community

-- The Nation 2013-11-03

[khunken]

Prompong said...............He considered that the protest near Samsen railway station was just another full-scale anti-government protest by Opposition Democrat Party, with the bill being used as the reason. He noted that as protesters are being mobilised in several provinces like Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phuket, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva should take responsibility if things turn violence.

Yep just like Thaksin took responsibility in 2010.

I notice too that 'rewards' have been mentioned as a part of the government lobbying. Has there been a run on lunchboxes?

[waza]

"The government is lobbying hard to get senators to endorse the controversial bill for a blanket amnesty, according to members of the Upper House........Surachai said the Senate was likely to spend two days scrutinising the bill and that Senate President Nikom Wairatpanij has chosen either November 8 or 11 for this. Nakhon Pathom Senator Somchart Panpat said it would likely only take a day for the Senate to accept the bill in principle and spend no more than 20 days to consider whether some amendments are needed or not. The second and third readings would likely be concluded before the end of the Senate's session on November 28, he added........

Some senators acknowledged that the upper House is divided on the matter and the divisions tend to be along the line of whether one likes or dislikes Thaksin."

Vote for amnesty or your not my friend, just saying

Another 25 days plus the Constitutional courts ruling and we may see a free Thaksin

Edited November 3, 2013 by waza

[whybother]

Prompong said that there has been some misunderstanding in the bill, which was meant to neutralise political conflicts and to drive the country forward. Under the goal, Thailand can’t afford a discriminative law, he said.

Does he mean that won't give Thaksin amnesty? If it does, I don't think there is any misunderstanding at all, regardless of what the bill "was meant" to do.

[Robby nz]

Lobbying activities with some benefits promised in return for support have been reported.

And why not ? The senate could do with an increase in budget.

Just like the 10 million bonus given to the Attorney Generals office after they had dropped the terror charge against Thaksin and decided to charge Abhisit and Suthep.

[rubl]

Stressed at having to consider the public interest, can't decide because he does not know if it's unconstitutional, yet to study the bill in detail.....

Are these senators really the best Thailand can manage?

At least 76 of the 150 senators are voting in by the same electorate which voted in (Thaksin's) Pheu Thai. So what do you expect?

Actually with all these protests going on those 76 elected senators could be supposed to listen to the electorate and maybe even find it in their conscience to vote accordingly.

[rubl]

"Democrat Deputy Leader Alongkorn Ponlaboot said Sunday that starting tomorrow, the party would stage nationwide talks to deliberate the dubious points in the amnesty bill. The talk will start in Phetchaburi tomorrow, then Trat, Chon Buri and other provinces."

Maybe this time the Democrats will not be obstructed by red-shirts when going upcountry. this time may be only by Government instructed police?

[hellodolly]

Stressed at having to consider the public interest, can't decide because he does not know if it's unconstitutional, yet to study the bill in detail.....

Are these senators really the best Thailand can manage?

No they are not but they are the best Thaksin could buy. Fortunately he could not buy all of them. But then when you take

Some senators acknowledged that the upper House is divided on the matter and the divisions tend to be along the line of whether one likes or dislikes Thaksin.

into consideration does it matter. They obviously have personal agendas.

Hard to imagine amending the constitution depending on weather you like or dislike one man.

No concern what so ever for what is good for Thailand.