'Corrupt politicians should face death term'

[Lite Beer]

'Corrupt politicians should face death term'
The Sunday Nation


Suthep urges military to side with the people to press for reforms before poll

BANGKOK: -- Politicians convicted of corruption should face the death sentence or life imprisonment and those convicted of vote-buying should face a life-time political ban, the People's Democratic Reform Committee proposed yesterday.

People who attended a forum to discuss political reform at Thammasat University yesterday also suggested that politicians who face charges not be allowed to leave the country. They also said a minister of defence must be military officer and to protect farmers' interest, representatives of farmers and rice millers should sit as members of the National Rice Policy board.

Other proposals include that MPs should be limited to serve only two terms. The National Anti-Corruption Commission must give priority in investigating cases against politicians and corruption cases should not have any statute of limitation; and that Election Commission members must be replaced every time a new general election is called.

Meanwhile, Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimaprakorn said he wanted to see the country quickly return to peace. Since the election date had been set, he hoped concerned people could find ways to ensure free and fair election. "It is true that Rome is not made in one day, but by the time it is finished, there will be no people to live there," he said.

Suthep said he understood that prolonged struggle for political reform would affect the economy, and that people were waiting for the military to make a decision. But the people had decided to choose by cutting a vicious circle from Thai politics.

Suthep urged the military to side with the people adding that the best way they could lead the country out of political doldrums was to make the caretaker PM step down.

"The people have awakened and if state officials stand by the people, the matter will be put to rest. If you make a quick decision, the people will hail you as the people's heroes,'' he said.

Thanasak said although police and military officials had been instructed not to use arms against the people, he worried that that third ill-intentioned group may take advantage of the situation to create a scene.

Suthep insisted that before the general election is held the caretaker government must step down to pave way for an interim government to run the country temporarily while the people's council must be established to implement reform. He vowed that after the reform is completed, he would wash his hands of politics.

Caretaker education minister Chaturon Chaisang said at another seminar to discuss political reform that proposals by the PDRC may take a long time as they would require changes to the charter, such as a change the current election system of one man one vote; and other moves to combat corruption, set up an interim government, and establish a 400 member people's council.

Chaturon said for the country to achieve true reform, it may take more than one year but the PDRC wanted to reform the country first before a poll. "I believe the PDRC's proposals would lead to a bigger crisis because of public opposition so I propose that the country hold a public referendum with more than half of total eligible voters to find out what the public want,'' he said.

Former Democrat party list MP Ongart Klampaiboon said the Democrats would not attend the reform forum organised by the caretaker PM today. He said the forum was just a round of drama without sincerity from the government and the party didn't want to be a rubber stamp for the government. "If we allow the general election to be held without reform, we would fuel the political temperature and one day it will explode," he said.

Meanwhile, caretaker Foreign Minister Surapong Towichakchaikul said more than 40 countries had voiced support for an election. He said in an address broadcast by the Thai TV Pool that those countries included the US, China, Russia, and European Union countries

-- The Nation 2013-12-15

[kurnell]

So who would be left? In fact you could go a step further and declare that anyone giving/accepting a bribe should be put to death and wipe out the entire population

[Bender]

in Suthep 's mouth : corrupt politicians Thaskin S. should face death terms!

because no way, him or his "democrat" party will vote this law! yes he his crazy but not to the point

to dig his own grave

[GentlemanJim]

Well the death penalty for corruption by politicians was how China first dealt with the problem. The public execution of a senior Minister for corruption soon eradicated the problem, or at least pushed it much much further underground. In fact most of Sutheps rants are pretty 'Chinese' in a way. I commend him for taking what appears to be a harsh and serious stance against the cancer that holds this country back, but as the old saying goes 'It ain't what you do it's the way that you do it' !

I am not sure having ex Military men as Minister of Defence is a good idea either. As ex Military my experience would show that favouritsm/nepotism would be just as bad and you need someone to make impartial decisions whilst being advised by Military Experts.

My comments on here have gone down 75% since this started, It's too much hassle keeping up. Let them get on with it, life is not affected one iota where I live and the baht continues to weaken against the major currencies. happy days!

[JRSoul]

in Suthep 's mouth : corrupt politicians Thaskin S. should face death terms!

because no way, him or his "democrat" party will vote this law! yes he his crazy but not to the point

to dig his own grave

'Thaskin S. should face death terms!' - not for his current conviction, but there are other charges waiting.

When you say that politicians won't vote for extreme political crime punishment, are you supporting his people's council concept?

Most of those ideas do have merit though, don't you think?

[Thai at Heart]

Ahem.

Wasn't he implicated up to his eyeballs in a scandal?

[jackr]

Yep, for anyone in power, and please extend it to the police.

[NongKhaiKid]

" and who amongst you will cast the first stone ? "

Actually not a problem here, Thailand the hub of hypocrisy

[clockman]

Ahem.

Wasn't he implicated up to his eyeballs in a scandal?

Cooking oil, if i remember right!

[edwinchester]

Ahem.

Wasn't he implicated up to his eyeballs in a scandal?

He doen't seem to have thought this out. If this law was already in force he and members of his own family would more than likely have already been executed given the Phuket and Samui land grabs and conflict of interest case.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Thai at Heart]

Ahem.

Wasn't he implicated up to his eyeballs in a scandal?

He doen't seem to have thought this out. If this law was already in force he and members of his own family would more than likely have already been executed given the Phuket and Samui land grabs and conflict of interest case.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Obviously he's been reading 1984.

Some are more equal than others already. His mask is starting to slip.

[Bluespunk]

in Suthep 's mouth : corrupt politicians Thaskin S. should face death terms!

because no way, him or his "democrat" party will vote this law! yes he his crazy but not to the point

to dig his own grave

He's not a Democrat and even when he was it wasn't "his" party.

[Bluespunk]

"Politicians convicted of corruption should face the death sentence or life imprisonment and those convicted of vote-buying should face a life-time political ban, the People's Democratic Reform Committee proposed yesterday."

Clearly suthep's death wish is becoming obvious for all to see.

[arthurboy]

Strong anti-corruption legislation already exists in Thailand.

The willingness to enforce it is entirely another matter, and therein lies the problem.

[chooka]

Ahem.

Wasn't he implicated up to his eyeballs in a scandal?

Yep exactly.

The guy is an absolute tool and should face the death penalty for making Thailand look like a mental asylum.

A lot of farangs see this guy as Thailand's Messiah, the chosen one who has come forth to save Thailand.

[Bender]

in Suthep mouths: corrupt politicians should face death term, except me

because if his looney council get the absolute power, the first thing he will do, of course is to vote an amnesty for him...alone

[Chupup]

Be careful what you wish / vote for, you JUST might get it

[citizen33]

Are we hearing the first whispers of 'the final solution to the [shinawatra regime] problem'?

[Beetlejuice]

.

[waza]

Some very salient point there but a little dramatic, we should all be aware that these are ambit claims and in the unlikely event Suthep's plan bears fruit the outcomes would bear little resemblance. If wiser and cooler heads prevailed.

[noitom]

The North Koreans take them out back and execute them on the spot. The Chinese may still do that. Maybe the North Korean model is what Suthep is talking about. On the spot, shoot from the hip.

[chooka]

The North Koreans take them out back and execute them on the spot. The Chinese may still do that. Maybe the North Korean model is what Suthep is talking about. On the spot, shoot from the hip.

I think he wants to model the country on North Korea with himself appointed as the supreme ruler.

[Thailand]

Where was the "not the nation" disclaimer even Suthep can't be that idiotic?

There would be bodies piled high in the streets of Thailand if there was a death penalty for corruption!

[Thailand]

As for the forum that nobody is attending, how were the Dems going to attend anyway as they have all resigned?

[EricBerg]

Kill corrupt politicians???? Thai population would implode!

[Bluespunk]

As for the forum that nobody is attending, how were the Dems going to attend anyway as they have all resigned?

All interested parties were invited the dems amongst them I think.

[bkkfaranguy]

Ahem.

Wasn't he implicated up to his eyeballs in a scandal?

Yep exactly.

The guy is an absolute tool and should face the death penalty for making Thailand look like a mental asylum.

A lot of farangs see this guy as Thailand's Messiah, the chosen one who has come forth to save Thailand.

1995 As part of the Sor Por Kor 4 -01 land reform scheme, Suthep gave title deeds to 592 plots of land in Khao Sam Liam, Kmala and Nakkerd hills of Phuket provience to 489 farmers. It was later found out that the members of 11 wealthy families in Phuket were among the recipients. Suthep addressed a huge crowd in his Surit Thani constituency a month before a nocofidence debate and called on his supporters to March on Bangkok in the hudreds of thousands to defend his reputation. The scandle led Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai of the Democrat Party to dissolve the House of Representatives in July 1995 in order to avoid the no cofidence debate. In subsequent elections, the Nation Party won a majority, leading to the downfall of Chuan Leepai's Democrat Party led government.

2009 Suthep was accused of violating the Constitution of Thailand by holding equity in a media firm that had recieved concessions from the government. Under the 1997 Constitution of Thailand, which Suthep has supported, Members of Parliment are banned from holding stakes in companies which have recieved government consessions. In July 2009 the election commission announced that it would seek a ruling by the constitutional court to disqualify Suthep.

Suthep held a press conference a day later, announcing his decision to resign from parliament. Suthep's resignation as an MP did not affect his status as a Deputy Prime Minister and as a Cabinet member. If his case had been submitted to the Constitution Court, he would have been suspended from duty as Deputy Prime Minister. He insisted his resignation was not proof that he had done anything wrong but that he was worried about status as Deputy Prime Minister.

So maybe he should be the first in line for the firing squad, but I am sure he would only want the death term, once he has gained complete control with his latest attempted coup!

[Tokay]

Oh great, I guess we'll be seeing more death squads in the future should Suthep accomplish his goal.

I'm trying to figure out if Thailand is going to end up more like old Burma or North Korea. Either way, it's not going to be good.

[pitrevie]

I do think he has been imbibing too much of Chalerm's ear medicine.

[kriswillems]

Ok, it becomes more and more clear what kind of guy Suthep is.

Although he was involved in mayor corruption in the past, he now wants death penalty for corrupt politicians.

He's dangerous.

If he and his satellite TV channel manages to get more and more people on his side it's about time for all foreigners to leave.

I don't know any dictator that was nice to foreigners.