Thai govt warns of tough action if protests against amnesty bill escalate irrationally

[webfact]

Govt warns of tough action if protests escalate irrationally
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 9 – The government will fully exercise its powers if protests against the amnesty bill escalate to incite purging of the present administration, according to a prime minister’s close aide.

Suranand Vejjajiva, secretary general to the prime minister, stood firm that the government would not disperse protesters whose demonstrations are in accordance with the democratic system.

The prime minister has made it clear that the controversy on amnesty bill has ended and the Senate is in the process of rejecting the legislation, he said.

He urged senators, especially members of the “40 Senators Group” to join the Upper House’s debate on the amnesty bill to cool down the political temperature.

The Senate’s session to debate the amnesty bill yesterday was called off when less than half of the 149-member Upper House turned up. The session was rescheduled to Monday.

Dragging the conflict until next Monday would cause damages to the country, said Mr Suranand who brushed aside the possibility of dispatching military forces to deal with demonstrators.

Regarding an announcement by Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban to set up a people’s tribunal to resolve the amnesty controversy, Mr Suranand said it was inappropriate to raise the idea of a kangaroo court when all parties concerned should follow the legal procedure.

He said he believed a rally by Red Shirt demonstrators in Bangkok on Sunday will be organised peacefully.

Those who successively hold undemocratic activities or attempt to topple the government will face tough action, he warned.

Mr Suranand said the prime minister would refrain from travelling abroad, given Monday’s verdict of the International Court of Justice on the Preah Vihear temple dispute. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-11-09

[ggold]

So they don't need the Army, Rent a thug will clear the anti amnesty protesters instead! So tomorrow it may all kick off or not?

[up-country_sinclair]

At this point I think it's clear that the govt. is deliberately sending mixed messages about the protests.

[Valentine]

It seems PTP feel it is a done deal the senate will reject the bill, almost as if PTP need it to be rejected for fear the senate may try to change it.

[Hawkman]

Creating a bill that will whitewash corrupt politicians and leave a man to do whatever he wants to a country, is what's damaging the country.

These protests are no where near the scale or damage inflicted like the one in BKK in 2010. Bunch of hypocrites.

They are all really scared about what's going to happen come Monday.

Solution - destroy the bill that clears corruption.

[Siripon]

The government don't want the ludicrous amnesty bill to be in the media spotlight, nationally or internationally any longer.

It's no fun being caught in the spotlight.

Sorry Surnand, you and your sorry bunch of ice cream lickers are going to have to squirm for a few days yet.

[NeverSure]

Just a hunch. I don't think it's over. I think they'll wait until the protests stop and then slip it in the back door in a few months. Maybe not...

[cornishcarlos]

"The prime minister has made it clear that the controversy on amnesty bill has ended and the Senate is in the process of rejecting the legislation, he said."

I thought PM said the Senate was beyond interference ? Seems like they know the result already !

The only thing that will work for the government now, is rejection of the bill. If it had gone through without protests, happy days. However, now that option has been scuppered, they need it to be rejected so they can slam it through unhindered in 180 days time. If it is accepted but altered by the Senate, Big Brother will have to stay in the desert

[waza]

"The government will fully exercise its powers if protests against the amnesty bill escalate to incite purging of the present administration, according to a prime minister’s close aide. Suranand Vejjajiva, secretary general to the prime minister, stood firm that the government would not disperse protesters whose demonstrations are in accordance with the democratic system."

Hmm why do the PTP ministers leave a such an important announcement to a lackey?

[cornishcarlos]

"Mr Suranand said the prime minister would refrain from travelling abroad, given Monday’s verdict of the International Court of Justice on the Preah Vihear temple dispute."

Well that is real good of her.. Save the shopping trip until Tuesday.

Not like the country is experiencing any issues at the moment !!!

[GentlemanJim]

Govt warns of tough action if protests escalate irrationally

Can anybody stab a guess as to what is rational escalation and what is Irrational escalation. I assume the reds escalation will be considered rational and the anti-Government protestors escalation will be deemed irrational. There could be more blood on the streets soon and this time not from the arms of 10 year olds volunteered by their parents to have their blood thrown at Abhisits house. I would love to see Yinglucks face if she had 20 liters of Human blood thrown on her drive way.

[473geo]

And none of the above criticise the senate members for not turning up, facilitating continued protest and unrest.......tunnel vision at its best

[ginjag]

If drastic action IS taken against the demonstrations. IT will be the downfall of this government. SURE Thai people are seeing the light and the government knows it. The government wants to go down with a fight, and then blame the electorate.

[Phatcharanan]

"Mr Suranand said the prime minister would refrain from travelling abroad, given Monday’s verdict of the International Court of Justice......"

How heartbreaking for her.

[GentlemanJim]

And none of the above criticise the senate members for not turning up, facilitating continued protest and unrest.......tunnel vision at its best

Wrong on all counts!!

The bill was due to be tabled on Monday. Yingluck stated quite clearly that she and her Government would not interfere with the Senate. The Government whips have lobbied the Senate and the time table of the bill was moved from Monday to yesterday - That IS interference in the workings of the Senate. The Senators who did not attend, the 40 that you are blaming (actually about 80 in total, remember it needed 40 to get to a quorum, there were also lot of others missing) were 100% correct to send the message to the Government to keep their noses out. If nothing else the Senate can not rush in to a decision without deliberating correctly, to a full house the issues surrounding this bill. Unlike the Lower House who sneaked it through at 4am in the morning after refusing the opposition the chance to debate.

It needs thinking about! Furthermore, for a Government who are not going to interfere with the Senate's due process, Yingluck has already said the Senate will work on rejecting the bill !! Strange thing to say for a policy of non-interference don't you think? Perhaps the only way to truly suppress this bill for good is to pass it, amend it significantly to release from jail only Mr and Mrs Joe Protestor from the streets, or indeed after amendment to ensure it is quashed in the courts for good. Either way Yingluck has the option of sliding this through directly in 180 days removed for ever.

It must be very frustrating for you at the moment having to clutch at straws to find something positive to say about this bunch of totally incompetent and crooked politicians.

[culicine]

If this is truly a 'reconciliation' bill, why the massive protests...and from both sides! The PTP's goose is truly cooked. I don't see them surviving another election in its current form, regardless of what happens now. Too many pissed off reds, as they are starting to see what this government is truly all about. Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we first practice to deceive.

[dru2]

It seems PTP feel it is a done deal the senate will reject the bill, almost as if PTP need it to be rejected for fear the senate may try to change it.

Spot on! If they revert to the original format, pardoning the smaller fry but excluding Abhisit, Suthep and Thaksin - as we should hope - then the latter will be well and truly finished. Any future amnesty bill would have to be for the Dubai fugitive all on his own, and that has no chance of ever getting through.

[dru2]

And none of the above criticise the senate members for not turning up, facilitating continued protest and unrest.......tunnel vision at its best

Rank nonsense.

[Artisi]

Loving the intrigue, better than a Thai soapie not that that is too hard to be better than. Now just need a few "heavies" to now tell the fugitive criminal caddy to stick his ideas where the sun doesn't shine to really top-off the never ending drama.

[JRSoul]

Suppose the Senate changes the bill back to its first reading content and sends it back to parliament. Does PTP reject it, alienating the majority of reds, or enact it, removing the smokescreen and destroying Thaksin's hopes of amnesty?

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of "How Big is Your Bribe?"

[473geo]

And none of the above criticise the senate members for not turning up, facilitating continued protest and unrest.......tunnel vision at its best

Wrong on all counts!!

The bill was due to be tabled on Monday. Yingluck stated quite clearly that she and her Government would not interfere with the Senate. The Government whips have lobbied the Senate and the time table of the bill was moved from Monday to yesterday - That IS interference in the workings of the Senate. The Senators who did not attend, the 40 that you are blaming (actually about 80 in total, remember it needed 40 to get to a quorum, there were also lot of others missing) were 100% correct to send the message to the Government to keep their noses out. If nothing else the Senate can not rush in to a decision without deliberating correctly, to a full house the issues surrounding this bill. Unlike the Lower House who sneaked it through at 4am in the morning after refusing the opposition the chance to debate.

It needs thinking about! Furthermore, for a Government who are not going to interfere with the Senate's due process, Yingluck has already said the Senate will work on rejecting the bill !! Strange thing to say for a policy of non-interference don't you think? Perhaps the only way to truly suppress this bill for good is to pass it, amend it significantly to release from jail only Mr and Mrs Joe Protestor from the streets, or indeed after amendment to ensure it is quashed in the courts for good. Either way Yingluck has the option of sliding this through directly in 180 days removed for ever.

It must be very frustrating for you at the moment having to clutch at straws to find something positive to say about this bunch of totally incompetent and crooked politicians.

I expect you didn't notice.....I'm not one that gets frustrated around here are you telling me now that with the majority of the electorate apparently against the bill, the senate need to follow due process and debate.... what exactly....how to come up with an unbiased conclusion perhaps.....yep I guess that may take quite some time......I wonder how long it took to debate the amnesty for the coup leaders....would you have that information to hand?

[h90]

So they don't need the Army, Rent a thug will clear the anti amnesty protesters instead! So tomorrow it may all kick off or not?

not easy to do on Sunday...too many people.

But they could brake it up sometime like 3-4 AM on Monday.

[AleG]

So this government wants to prohibit the people from voicing the opinion that they should leave?

Remember Yingluck's infamous Mongolian speech?

...there are people in this world who do not believe in democracy. They are ready to grab power and wealth through suppression of freedom. This means that they are willing to take advantage of other people without respecting human rights and liberties. They use force to gain submission and abuse the power

I'm thinking of a word, it begins with H and ends in ypocrite.

[Thait Spot]

And none of the above criticise the senate members for not turning up, facilitating continued protest and unrest.......tunnel vision at its best

I think that in a case such as this, absolutely all the senators should be there to cast a vote.

Given that by the very nature of their jobs they live in all provinces of the country, giving them a day's notice to be there was unprofessional as well as undemocratic.

Your post, therefore, is balderdash!

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Thait Spot]

What would be truly hilarious is that the group of 40 voted in favour of the bill and as a result it was accepted

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[cornishcarlos]

What would be truly hilarious is that the group of 40 voted in favour of the bill and as a result it was accepted

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Hopefully they will vote in favor of reviewing and amending it, not just those 40 but the majority of them.

Don't reject it guys, otherwise it's going through 180 days later anyway !!!

[scorecard]

"The prime minister has made it clear that the controversy on amnesty bill has ended and the Senate is in the process of rejecting the legislation, he said."

I thought PM said the Senate was beyond interference ? Seems like they know the result already !

The only thing that will work for the government now, is rejection of the bill. If it had gone through without protests, happy days. However, now that option has been scuppered, they need it to be rejected so they can slam it through unhindered in 180 days time. If it is accepted but altered by the Senate, Big Brother will have to stay in the desert

How can the lady say 'the controversy on the amnesty bill has ended....'

It ends when the protestors say they are finished, not when she says it's finished.

[473geo]

And none of the above criticise the senate members for not turning up, facilitating continued protest and unrest.......tunnel vision at its best

I think that in a case such as this, absolutely all the senators should be there to cast a vote.

Given that by the very nature of their jobs they live in all provinces of the country, giving them a day's notice to be there was unprofessional as well as undemocratic.

Your post, therefore, is balderdash!

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

"absolutely all senators there to cast a vote"

Right......and when you wake up how do you think in the bright light of the Thai day

You may also take into account it is reported that a group of 40 senators are said to have boycotted the debate, mentioning "outside person" was lobbying senators to bring forward the amnesty bill debate in a bid to put a quick end to the political protests

Rather suggests your post is embarrassing and my initial post rather more linked to reality

Edited November 9, 2013 by 473geo

[ramrod711]

Mr Suranand said it was inappropriate to raise the idea of a kangaroo court when all parties concerned should follow the legal procedure.

He is absolutely correct, Thaksin should come back, serve his time, that a legaly appointed judge sentenced him to. Then everybody could go home and PTP could continue to destroy the economy of the country.

[Thai at Heart]

There is no way the reds can disperse all these.