Senate meeting turns chaotic: Thai amnesty bill

[webfact]

Senate meeting turns chaotic



BANGKOK: -- The Senate turned chaotic late today when it started a meeting to deliberate the controversial amnesty bill earlier approved by the House of Representatives and later pledged the government not to push it into law if the Senate rejected it.

At press time, the deliberation of the bill could not yet start as senators who earlier announced their stances not to accept the bill were engaging in a war of words with senators who earlier supported the bill.

An appointed senator Vicharn Sirichaiwat accused the group of 40 senators of wanting to delay the deliberation of the bill till 6 p.m., the deadline of protesters demanding the government to reply definitely that the bill must be killed by it.

He was told to withdraw a word considered a contempt to the 40 senators but he refused. He was later told to leave the meeting by the Senate speaker.

Another appointed senator Air Vice Marshal Chalermchai Krue-ngarm also shouted “Slave Senate” and did not withdraw his word. He was also told to leave the meeting by the Senate speaker.

Until this afternoon, the bill still could not be put into the meeting agenda for deliberation as protests continued by opposing senators.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/senate-meeting-turns-chaotic/

-- Thai PBS 2013-11-11

[Yme]

Not a house of laws, but a kindergarten of children.

Thailand will reap what it sows

[soi41]

What a sad state of affairs.! The country is burning and the senators are involved in their own little pissingcontest!

With their size of "apparatus", they are at risk of getting their feet wet!!

Sad day for all Thais and us expats, who call Thailand for home!!

Edited November 11, 2013 by soi41

[fab4]

What a sad state of affairs.! The country is burning and the senators are involved in their own little pissingcontest!

With their size of "apparatus", they are at risk of getting their feet wet!!

Sad day for all Thais and us expats, who call Thailand for home!!

Yes and who is taking advantage of this? The dem party backed Suthep Roadshow. What a coincidence, Suthep puts a 6pm deadline on the bill being binned or the demonstrations go on and the gang of 40 slow the procedure down as much as possible.

[Spare]

Better pack and fly out before 6pm.

I have a feeling that all hell is going to break loose.

[Thait Spot]

What a sad state of affairs.! The country is burning and the senators are involved in their own little pissingcontest!

With their size of "apparatus", they are at risk of getting their feet wet!!

Sad day for all Thais and us expats, who call Thailand for home!!

Yes and who is taking advantage of this? The dem party backed Suthep Roadshow. What a coincidence, Suthep puts a 6pm deadline on the bill being binned or the demonstrations go on and the gang of 40 slow the procedure down as much as possible.

well.... You might think that.

There are, of course, those of us who think that the legislation has already progressed beyond the point of no return and that the rejection by the Senate will not enable Parliament to also reject it.

[LuckyLew]

I smell a COUP coming ........ bye bye

[spirit47]

All this for a criminal who want come back whitewashed. Catch him, put him in a jail, and its ok.

[Showbags]

I smell a COUP coming ........ bye bye

Is that bye bye for Yingluck...or you leaving on a jet plane ?

If you...why ?

Are you French ?

[Neilly]

Another appointed senator Air Vice Marshal Chalermchai Krue-ngarm also shouted “Slave Senate” and did not withdraw his word.

No wonder the caddie wants control of the Senate...damn rabble won't do as their told

[waza]

Ok they way this is going they wont have time to discuss the constitutional amendments, (including section 5, senate elections) and the protest will go on til the ICJ publishes its ruling, I wonder if its planned?

Edited November 11, 2013 by waza

[ChrisY1]

What a sad state of affairs.! The country is burning and the senators are involved in their own little pissingcontest!

With their size of "apparatus", they are at risk of getting their feet wet!!

Sad day for all Thais and us expats, who call Thailand for home!!

Yes and who is taking advantage of this? The dem party backed Suthep Roadshow. What a coincidence, Suthep puts a 6pm deadline on the bill being binned or the demonstrations go on and the gang of 40 slow the procedure down as much as possible.

Yes....they are taking advantage.....why wouldn't they?

Thank goodness that someone in this country actually took a stand......

[ChrisY1]

I smell a COUP coming ........ bye bye

Is that bye bye for Yingluck...or you leaving on a jet plane ?

If you...why ?

Are you French ?

Yep...could be...wouldn't be surprised if the visas are being prepared as we read!

[WitawatWatawit]

I smell a COUP coming ........ bye bye

Is that bye bye for Yingluck...or you leaving on a jet plane ?

If you...why ?

Are you French ?

That's out of line.

[winstonc]

pathetic the lot of them..they should be charged with fraud...taking money under false pretences..(WAGES)......i just dont get the point of this explain to me please someone...

[icare999]

Better pack and fly out before 6pm.

I have a feeling that all hell is going to break loose.

i unpacked and cancelled my flight out when much to my delight and surprise Taksins little plan to totally take over and control all got derailed. But of course the fire engine is attempting to put it back on track which will take a while for Plan B or C to take effect The day he and his revolting clan are finally put down will be the day I will throw a huge party. As for the poor most of them deserve what they have got for blindly following a mad megalomaniac for the sake of a few baht. I know the argument no education downtrodden but it does not wash and the red thug leaders happily pillage the country

[chainarong]

Gentlemen, the only loyalty that you have is to the people of Thailand , you do not represent anybody that has broken the law, as there are lawyers who handle that side of the law, so question is gentlemen, what do the good people of Thailand want you to do. I rest my case.

[webfact]

Thai senate debates hotly-disputed amnesty bill

BANGKOK, November 11, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand's senate Monday began debating a hotly-contested political amnesty bill as an estimated fifteen thousand anti-government protesters gathered in Bangkok.

The senate is due to vote on the bill later Monday. If, as expected, it rejects the legislation it is likely to embolden a range of anti-government forces who have massed on Bangkok's streets for nearly a fortnight.

Critics say the legislation was crafted to pave the way for a return of the polarising ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who is the brother of current prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and a hate figure for many among the Bangkok middle and upper classes.

Thaksin was toppled by royalist generals in 2006 and lives in exile to avoid prison for a corruption conviction that he contends was politically motivated.

"This bill violates the rule of law. All laws must be equal for everyone," said Senator Manoj Kraiwong, echoing the views of several speakers in the televised debate.

The opposition Democrat Party has harnessed the growing anti-government sentiment.

It is holding a anti-amnesty rally on Monday evening -- before the expected vote by the senate -- which it says could draw tens of thousands to the city's political centre, heightening fears of clashes with police.

A Democrat lawmaker Akanat Promphan said the protesters will give the government a "deadline" of 6 pm (1100 GMT) to kill the bill before taking further -- as yet unspecified -- actions.

Yingluck has said she will not try to ram through the bill if the senate rejects it.

While the rallies have so far been peaceful, concerns are mounting that the issue could unleash a fresh bout of political turmoil in a country rocked by a series of rival demonstrations since 2006.

Thousands of police have been deployed to protect Government House -- where Yingluck's offices are -- and parliament in case protests turn ugly, a police spokesman told AFP.

Police said around 15,000 anti-government protesters had gathered at a number of spots across the capital, with most expected to cluster at Democracy Monument for the rally at 6 pm.

Police have tear gas, batons, rubber bullets and water cannon at their disposal, according to Police General Adul Saengsingkaew, but will only use "necessary force" to ensure a peaceful protest.

"I came here to expel the Shin(awatra) family. I want them out," said one protester called Thamathorn, giving only one name. "Don't stay here and cheat this country. Get out!"

The bill dovetails with a scheduled ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague on a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
If the ICJ rules against Thailand, the country's opposition -- which includes some hardline nationalists among its supporters -- is likely to try to direct public anger towards the government.

On Sunday tens of thousands of government-aligned "Red Shirts" rallied in Bangkok's suburbs in their first show of force during the amnesty wrangle.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-11-11

[davejones]

What a sad state of affairs.! The country is burning and the senators are involved in their own little pissingcontest!

With their size of "apparatus", they are at risk of getting their feet wet!!

Sad day for all Thais and us expats, who call Thailand for home!!

Sounds very much like they're trying to emulate the USA, but that's a hard act to follow.

[Redhawk]

Hard to believe that these people call themselves grown ups and educated and think they are panacea of Thailand!

[bigbamboo]

The Thai Senate really does need a Naughty Step for those senators who can't control themselves when the are let out of the house on their own.

Or maybe just send them home without any tea?

[bander]

Gentlemen, the only loyalty that you have is to the people of Thailand , you do not represent anybody that has broken the law, as there are lawyers who handle that side of the law, so question is gentlemen, what do the good people of Thailand want you to do. I rest my case. width=19 alt=bah.gif>

" what do the good people of Thailand want you to do"

They want you to leave your money here and GTF. home to your falang country

[mimithewoof]

ICJ rules in favour of Cambodia - BBC breaking news - now watch it hit the fan!

[siampolee]

I wonder if all the worthies on here who post here on T.V. stating that the Isaan people are uneducated not motivated politically underdeveloped people etc etc are going to post the same remarks concerning the senate members?

if the current display of behavior from the senate is due to their ''education and privileged backgrounds'' indeed I am extremely happy I live in deepest Isaan not far from the Cambodian border (Chong Chom area).

[FangFerang]

One cannot lose what one never possessed. After the 1962 verdict, the Thais were intelligent and exploited a loophole, and then occupied a virtually uninhabited spot and claimed it. That loophole has been closed.

Now Democrats are resigning their positions to use the public to turn a protest into a 'street coup'. The army said it will not become involved, but when the fires start again the Keystone Kops will not be able to handle it.

Both sides seem more than willing to sacrifice their followers for the acquisition of power. One resigning senator said "the country should not be run by politicians for a few years". That is not democratic at all. Abhisit told Yingluck she would 'join her brother in exiile' if she did not do what he demanded. I am not taking sides, just discussing a logical chain of connected events.

These are clearly comments preluding some kind of coup.

[Nowhereman60]

They act like little children. No wonder the country is so screwed up.

[BeforeTigers]

I'm headed to the States for Thanksgiving tomorrow.
I miss all the interesting stuff around here.

[MaxLee]

I told you, these senators couldn't care less. They were definitely paid under the table from secret staging Pheu Thai ground officials to delay that bill as long as they are ordered and bribed...

The scum of Thailand as usual...

[bander]

"Yingluck has said she will not try to ram through the bill if the senate rejects it."

Well, first she have to ask her brother what to do next, we all know by now he's obsessed to get back as a free man even if he have to burn down Bangkok again

[londonthai]

I told you, these senators couldn't care less. They were definitely paid under the table from secret staging Pheu Thai ground officials to delay that bill as long as they are ordered and bribed...

The scum of Thailand as usual...

it's the democrats, who are delaying the debate on amnesty. Do you believe in conspiracy theories, that 40 senators were paid to destroy their own party?