Will Thaksin heed Prayuth's call for all sides to reconcile?

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Will Thaksin heed Prayuth's call for all sides to reconcile?
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is taking another major step towards national reconciliation efforts with a series of events at Sanam Luang, beginning today until Sunday.

This will be the NCPO's first major event since it launched the "Festival for Returning Happiness" in Bangkok and other provinces after the May 22 coup with free musical performances by various artists, including soldiers, and free medical services by mobile teams from military-linked healthcare experts.

The six-day event at Sanam Luang aims to mobilise efforts to achieve national reconciliation, to facilitate the next phase of the NCPO's mission - national reform.

Banphot Poonpien, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), stated that the festival would be another step to show that the situation in Thailand was back to normal. The Isoc has been assigned by the NCPO to help create unity in Thai society. The junta has tried to ensure that a mood of reconciliation permeates the air.

Even a key player in the recent political conflict like former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been allowed to fly out of Thailand today on a leisure trip overseas.

Last week, the NCPO gave permission to Yingluck and her son to travel abroad until August 10, even as the National Anti-Corruption Commission decided unanimously to seek criminal indictment of the former premier for alleged dereliction of duty for allowing massive losses in controversial rice-pledging scheme.

So the oft-asked question is, will Yingluck return to Thailand? And who would be held responsible if Yingluck chooses to abscond?

A Nida Poll found that half the people surveyed backed the junta's decision to let Yingluck leave the country for a short trip to Europe, but opinions were split on whether she would actually return.

At a press conference, in reaction to the NACC demand to indict her, Yingluck made it clear that she was not fleeing the country and would return to fight the accusations. Yingluck will reportedly attend a birthday party for her brother, the former premier Thaksin, in Paris during her trip.

But will she spring a surprise and do the unthinkable by returning home with her brother, a fugitive from justice?

NCPO chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said during his weekly televised address last Friday night that he wanted to see everybody join hands to solve the problems of the country. He warned that if Thais do not deal with these pressing issues, the conflict would return to haunt the country for a long time.

The country has been wracked by almost a decade of intense political division with repeated outbreaks of violence.

During his speech, the Army chief said he had invited someone living abroad, who he did not name, to return to Thailand and promised fair treatment by the NCPO.

Very significantly, he said he believed Thai people would forgive each other. When that was possible, why should Thai people continue to fight each other, when we should be joining hands to lead our country to a better future?

This could have been a signal from the NCPO to give an opportunity to every party in this conflict to join in the reconciliation move and resolve differences.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Will-Thaksin-heed-Prayuths-call-for-all-sides-to-r-30239111.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-22

[jaidam]

Great PR gesture for Prayuth, appearing to give Thaksin the velvet glove treatment. Rest assured, Prayuth has not dropped the baseball bat he is holding behind his back.

In reality it's all about leverage. Had the clan all fled abroad, and spirited their billions out from Thailand, you would not be seeing this meek and mild Thaksin.

[terryp]

must be naive to think thaksin would ever quit...it will only happen on his deathbed then the poison chalice will be give to wooden oak

[lostsoul49]

Has the 'amnesty Bill' been renamed the 'reconciliation move'?

[NongKhaiKid]

Mr. T will say all the right things with the occasional ' but ' , ' I hope ' etc in there to show he hasn't given in completely.

However in a parody of an old song ' he never says what he means and never means what he says ' and I'm sure the general is well aware.

[chainarong]

Why would General Prayuth need to reconcile with Thaskin Shinawatra, the man is in exile , a wanted criminal , why would you do business with this man, the country needs to realize that whilst Thaskin has any input into Thai politics, you will get trouble, there is no purpose in this idea, as Thaskin has been the divide in Thailand , to further divide just ask Thaskin, the only questions that need to be asked about Thaskin is why the suspension of more criminal charges being laid and U.N. crimes against humanity being dropped , Thaskin should not get off lightly..

[siampolee]

Well if that ''someone living abroad'' perhaps should read someones as there are a number characters who if they were to return to Thailand would no doubt soon discover to their chagrin that he or she are not as popular as they might like to think.

Note some of the actions against the Red Shirt leadership.

Many a Red Shirt pawn is somewhat miffed with regards to their their treatment and sacrifice on the high altar of power and greed so beloved by their false Shinwatra Messiah and his disciples in their pursuit of self enrichment at the expense of their pawns, many of whom still languish in prison unlike their self enriching self serving leaders.

Run away and you become yesterdays person,, a pariah dog who is now seen in its true colours for what it is, indeed a mangy cur who if seen will like as not be put down by the rest of the pack who will follow a new leader.

The law of the political and power pursuit jungle is summary and merciless, hence a marked reluctance to return to the hunting grounds of before..

[ezzra]

Amnesties, reconciliations, forgive and forget, those are the most hallow, meaningless and frivolous

words every politician and wanna be a politician can't help themselves to utter,

Why on earth general Prayuth would want to deal with that nest of vipers? there in such thing

as forgive and forget here in Thai politics, there is a lull until one of those find the money and time

to turn around and stem you in the back,

However, the saying goes, Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, maybe that what

the general aiming at....

[inzman]

Keep your friends close , your enemies closer.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[noitom]

The Thai press should stop aggrandizing the Shinawatras and especially Thaksin. Just get on with it.

[Mango Bob]

Didn't YL try to do that but Suthep when Ape Shit about it.

[AGareth2]

If it is in his interest

[lovetotravel]

If the law had been upheld, a lot of this nonsense would not have happened. TV stations broadcasting his propaganda from Hong Kong, police meeting with him, politicians meeting with him. If I am not mistaken, all of this is illegal? But of course, the police are controlled by him, so nothing was done. Until now!

[rubl]

Didn't YL try to do that but Suthep when Ape Shit about it.

Indeed, Ms. Yingluck tried to reconcile with her brother and absolved him of all his (alleged) crimes and while at it also includes herself and her administration's first two years.

Actually not only Suthep was annoyed with it, for a while even red-shirts

[Mr Yim]

With Prayuths record of saying one thing and doing another, would you return?

[Skywalker69]

must be naive to think thaksin would ever quit...it will only happen on his deathbed then the poison chalice will be give to wooden oak

[cms22]

Reconcile.... Is that what they call it? It is only being described as "reconciliation" by those blinded or brainwashed by propaganda. It's not difficult to see what's really happening...

[Thailand]

"Banphot Poonpien, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), stated that the festival would be another step to show that the situation in Thailand was back to normal."

Really?

It is likely Thaksin/ and or supporters will be around well after the junta calls it quits and maybe the general is just trying to ensure there will not be any vendetta at that point in time by holding out an olive branch.

Or as was previously mentioned, despite Thaksin's greed the country ran quite well during his parties time in control and the general just wants advice on how to drag themselves out of the mire they seem to be slowly creating?

[Eric Loh]

Taksin seem very subdued and even state openly that he doesnt want to upset the junta. His pal Hun Sen has spoken about better ties with the junta and not allowing Cambodia as base for the government in exile. Jakrapod the most vocal critic has not gone beyond rhetoric to establish a government in exile. I will think all these are signs that Taksin finally realized that he cant challenge the establishment and their powerful allies. I am sure there are lots of behind close doors meeting with all the key participants of the divides. If Prayuth can bring them together and made them made some sacrifice, he will go down in history as a peace maker and an able statesman.

[klauskunkel]

At a press conference, in reaction to the NACC demand to indict her, Yingluck made it clear that she was not fleeing the country and would return to fight the accusations. Yingluck will reportedly attend a birthday party for her brother, the former premier Thaksin, in Paris during her trip.

I have this scenario in my head, where Thaksin's b-day party is on YouTube showing Yingluck with champagne glass in one hand and the other with raised middle finger...

[SteveFong]

Thaskin shall be granted a pardon, as will Yingluck.

I have the man's word on it

[Mr Yim]

Thaskin shall be granted a pardon, as will Yingluck.

I have the man's word on it

The man's word is about as convincing as a 21 year old bar girl in Pattaya telling a 70 year old farang that he is handsome and strong.

[Roadman]

During his speech, the Army chief said he had invited someone living abroad, who he did not name, to return to Thailand and promised fair treatment by the NCPO.

Fair treatment by the NPCO is fine. To date the General has kept to the rules of the Martial Law Act and keep the Junta's nose out of Criminal Court affairs. If it is the scumbag Thaksin that he is allowing back in the country then fine keep the treatment fair from the NPCO but he needs to keep to the law and allow the Criminal Court and justice system to still deal to Thaksin. If he can not do that then the whole coup and everything he is intending to reform including within the justice system is a waste of time as all the current and future scumbags will see that there is no law and justice, no consequences for their actions and it will be back to business as usual.

[EnglishJohn]

Reconcile.... Is that what they call it? It is only being described as "reconciliation" by those blinded or brainwashed by propaganda. It's not difficult to see what's really happening...

If you are talking about Yinglucks 'reconciliation forum' where they invited international speakers, then did the exact opposite of their advice then I would agree with you. If - after all that has happened since the coup - you are still unable to see that Prayuth is genuinely trying to save the country from conflict then you are part of the problem, not the solution.

[rickirs]

Only in Thailand is a loss of democratic freedoms a return to "normalcy." Much like the normalcy in North Korea where everyone is happy and unburdened by political conflict and violence. What could be a better model for econcliation?

[Sena Dave]

 

Why would General Prayuth need to reconcile with Thaskin Shinawatra, the man is in exile , a wanted criminal , why would you do business with this man, the country needs to realize that whilst Thaskin has any input into Thai politics, you will get trouble, there is no purpose in this idea, as Thaskin has been the divide in Thailand , to further divide just ask Thaskin, the only questions that need to be asked about Thaskin is why the suspension of more criminal charges being laid and U.N. crimes against humanity being dropped , Thaskin should not get off lightly..

 

Its not about reconciling with Thaksin himself but reconciling with Thaksin supporters , which appears to be a high percentage of the country. It the Junta appear to be being fair to Thakisin then his supporters have nothing to protest/occupy/riot about.

[tingtongteesood]

Probably not....

[Valentine]

I hope so but if past actions are anything to go by his version of reconciliation would see him absolved of any charges which are outstanding against him plus his 2 year sentence. Hopefully he will have a genuine change of heart.

[trainman34014]

Thaskin shall be granted a pardon, as will Yingluck.

I have the man's word on it

The man's word is about as convincing as a 21 year old bar girl in Pattaya telling a 70 year old farang that he is handsome and strong.

You mean...she lied to me ?

[Sena Dave]

 

I hope so but if past actions are anything to go by his version of reconciliation would see him absolved of any charges which are outstanding against him plus his 2 year sentence. Hopefully he will have a genuine change of heart.

 

I'd say without a doubt they are both playing a game for a wider audience