Coalition vows not to revisit bill

[Lite Beer]

Coalition vows not to revisit bill
The Sunday Nation

Leaders of the four coalition parties display the written agreement they made yesterday not to reaffirm the controversial amnesty bill if it is rejected by the Senate. From right: Chart Pattana

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai and allies make their promise in writing to dump amnesty bid

In another bid to restore public trust, the ruling coalition vowed in writing yesterday not to reaffirm the controversial amnesty bill earlier backed by the government, if it was rejected by the Senate this coming week.

The public promise was announced at a press conference held by leaders of the Pheu Thai, Chart Pattana, Chart Thai Pattana and Palang Chon parties at Pheu Thai's headquarters. Leaders of the coalition parties also presented their written agreements in an attempt to demonstrate that they had actually made the promise.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party and its three coalition partners signed the official oath yesterday not to support the controversial blanket amnesty bill. The move was led by Pheu Thai leader Jarupong Ruangsuwan and leaders of Chart Thai Pattana, Palang Chon and senior executives of the Pheu Thai party, including deputy premier Phongthep Thepkanjana.

They argued that there was nothing they could do at the moment as the matter was now in the hands of the Senate, but the coalition partners vowed not to revisit the bill if it was returned by the Senate, even though they were entitled to reaffirm it within 180 days.

Meanwhile, the People's Army to Overthrow Thaksin Regime (PAOTR) declared yesterday that its goal now was not just to oppose the blanket amnesty but to overthrow the Yingluck Shinawatra government and to rid the Kingdom of what they believe to be Thaksin Shinawatra's political order.

PAOTR leader Somkiat Pongpaiboon, a former co-leader of the now defunct People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said the group would now call on all Thais from all provinces to converge at Phan Fah bridge on Rajdamnoen Avenue to overthrow the government.

The announcement was made at 11am yesterday as various groups continued to oppose the blanket amnesty bill. The group accused the Yingluck administration of only serving Thaksin's interests. It also demanded the government not recognise the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice,

which is scheduled to rule on disputed areas around Preah Vihear Temple.

The opposition Democrat Party accused the Pheu Thai Party of not being sincere in abandoning the blanket amnesty bill. Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, the party's spokesperson, said he did not believe that this retreat is for good and warned the issue could reignite conflicts if the government decided to revive the bill again in the future. Chavanond also expressed concerns over possible clashes between red shirts and anti-government protesters, now that the reds are calling for their own rally today.

In a related development, the red-shirt Democratic Alliance Against Democracy will meet in a show of force at 4pm at Supachalasai Stadium while the Red Sunday group of red shirts will try to muster 10,000 red shirts opposing the blanket amnesty bill at the Ratchaprasong intersection at noon today.

Some 30,000 red shirts from the Northeastern region are also preparing to enter Bangkok today at yet another site at Muang Thong Thani, said Anuwat Tinraj, chairman of the movement for the Northeastern region. Anuwat assured there would be no confrontation between reds and anti-government protesters.

The demonstrations this time, said Anuwat, "is a show of force to protect the elected Pheu Thai government". Opponents of the amnesty bill, Anuwat said, have now changed their goal from opposing the bill to overthrowing the government. He said the group would only stay for one night in Bangkok. The Udon Thani faction of red shirts, led by Kwanchai Praipana, said they won't be joining other Northeastern people today. They, however, will focus on making red shirts in the Northeast understand the current debate about the amnesty bill.

-- The Nation 2013-11-10

[tominbkk]

Too little, too late. PTP you had your chance to be open in your 'reconciliation' efforts. Instead, you sneaky sneaked this bill through thinking you could bamboozle the people again. All I can say is:

SOM NAM NA!!!!

[BuddyPinkham]

They probably have inside information that the Senate WILL pass the bill, but this is just propaganda to make them look good!

[waza]

Good to see the coalition partners doing there bit to make Thailand the hub of vows

[slapout]

The PM has led this government in never admitting a mistake, but to ask for another chance in correcting what should have been done in the first place.

The past two years has shown that the government has issued numerous empty promises and pleas for another chance. The 3 strike, your out has come and gone, time and again. This is just another damage control plea, for a self inflicted problem which was the result of a decision make by a group out of touch, with the Thai voting base. If the time spent on writting various amisty bills had been spent in listening to the complaints of the Thai people who have been deceived and screwed around, there would be no need for more wasted effort in damage control.

The pathatic part is that they feel that this show of self importance, will/can distance them from further fall out.

[Siripon]

Oh the humiliation of having to stand there like naughty schoolboys.

They and their MPs should all be given 10,000 lines: ' I must try to serve the Thai people and not an egoistical maniac living in Dubai'

[bigbamboo]

Promises AND vows!

Our politicians are really spoiling us today.

[marcusd]

They probably have inside information that the Senate WILL pass the bill, but this is just propaganda to make them look good!

then I see civil war.

Sent from my RM-892_apac_laos_thailand_219 using Tapatalk

[Thaddeus]

In another bid to restore public trust, the ruling coalition vowed in writing yesterday not to reaffirm the controversial amnesty bill earlier backed by the government, if it was rejected by the Senate this coming week.

And the penalty they will suffer for going back on their words will be?

A work related bonus?

[Bagwan]

What ever next? Yingluck vows never to revisit Parliament? Thai politicians make more vows than Tommy Manville (married 13 time to 11 different women). Can you imagine having 11 mothers in law? Fate worse than death.

[Baerboxer]

They probably have inside information that the Senate WILL pass the bill, but this is just propaganda to make them look good!

You may well be right. They're sure to have other plans up their sleeve. Getting the boss whitewashed and back is the top priority. They are much to smug and accomplished cunning liars for this to ring true.

Either senate will pass; or maybe violence will be orchestrated necessitating a severe crackdown. After which Yingluck will generously push the bill through and forgive everybody - all in the interests of peace, reconciliation and democracy of course; or an emergency decree - for the good of the people!

Thaksin, according to the previously leaked tape,believes he has the army neutral. With the police, red shirt private army and his billions on board, he probably fancies his chances in a fight if all else fails. Then he can return as the peace bringing savior, and claim to be spending his own money on helping rebuild Thailand again.

[cloghead]

At first glance of the photo (not reading the accompanying text) I thought those guys were just well-dressed drug dealers proudly displaying their 'get out of jail free' certificates...

Then I noticed there was no cop pointing his finger at them and I thought "what's wrong with this picture"?

I subsequently read the words from 'The Nation' and realized I had jumped to the wrong assumption...

My bad

[mrtoad]

Looks like a line up for Crimewatch

[build6]

if it was rejected by the Senate

that sounds like an interesting caveat to make ...

does this mean the fix is in ?

[GentlemanJim]

Is it just me or is this a PMSL mistake by the Nation that turns out to be the most appropriate comment about the reds and Thaksin ever?

From the OP

In a related development, the red-shirt Democratic Alliance Against Democracy

Shouldn't that last word be Dictatorship? More appropriate as it is I think

Edited November 10, 2013 by GentlemanJim

[Robby nz]

They have withdrawn the 6 bills that were never debated and therefor never really mattered and now vow not to revisit the one before the senate.

However that does not stop them, some time in the future when they think they can get away with it, introducing another (No 8) amnesty bill.

[marell]

They probably have inside information that the Senate WILL pass the bill, but this is just propaganda to make them look good!

You may well be right. They're sure to have other plans up their sleeve. Getting the boss whitewashed and back is the top priority. They are much to smug and accomplished cunning liars for this to ring true.

Either senate will pass; or maybe violence will be orchestrated necessitating a severe crackdown. After which Yingluck will generously push the bill through and forgive everybody - all in the interests of peace, reconciliation and democracy of course; or an emergency decree - for the good of the people!

Thaksin, according to the previously leaked tape,believes he has the army neutral. With the police, red shirt private army and his billions on board, he probably fancies his chances in a fight if all else fails. Then he can return as the peace bringing savior, and claim to be spending his own money on helping rebuild Thailand again.

Valid points all. However there is another obstacle to Thaksin's return...a very formidable one.