No rallies over impeachment, Prayut warns

[tbthailand]

Please excuse my apparent ignorance, but how can they impeach someone with regards to allegedly breaking the 2007 Constitution, when they themselves overthrew the government elected under that same 2007 Constitution in a completely unconstitutional military coup? I'm missing something here.

The simple answer is yes they can. It's a lynch mob and they can do anything they want when they have all the like minded and self serving interest people in all the right places. The '08 land case where retro active laws were used was a fine example.

and they can use atsii's argument when necessary. the case of the human rights violations in the south was thrown out because the 2007 constitution guaranteeing those rights no longer exists. That trial was started before the 'intervention' and the ruling shortly after the 'intervention'.

[metisdead]

Posts containing hypberbolic comparisons have been removed as well as the replies.

Another post containing a link to another forum has been removed as well as the replies:

13) You will not post links to other Thailand forums, or forums which could reasonably be construed as competition to Thaivisa.com or its sponsors.

[whybother]

You should know better that the party ban case was in '07 and the infamous land case where retroactively enact laws were used was in '08.

Yes. In this case, I know better. But to give you the benefit of the doubt, what laws were enacted retro-actively?

I'll give you some help:

In January 2007, Financial Institutions Development Fund complied with an Assets Examination Committee request to file a charge against Thaksin and his wife over their purchase of four 772 million baht plots of land from the FIDF in 2003. The charge was based on alleged violation of Article 100 of the National Counter Corruption Act, which prohibits government officials and their spouses from entering into or having interests in contracts made with state agencies under their authority.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaksin_Shinawatra#Legal_charges

ORGANIC ACT ON COUNTER CORRUPTION, B.E. 2542 (1999) <==== see the year. Now go and read section 100.

http://www.oecd.org/site/adboecdanti-corruptioninitiative/46817329.pdf

It's all about anti-corruption Article 100, stupid!

http://nationmultimedia.com/2008/10/30/opinion/opinion_30087162.php

Eric, you link to the other forum got your post deleted. I read it before it was deleted, and nowhere did it mention any laws that were changed retro-actively.

Thaksin was charged under a 1999 law (ie a law that existed before the property was purchased) that says that MPs can't be involved in government deals. The FIDF was in charge of a big chunk of government debt from the 1997 crash. That puts it under the control of the government. Thaksin was the head of the government, therefore he wasn't allowed to do the deal.

[Robespiere]

Any decision to impeach Yingluck requires three fifths of total votes - or 132 votes.

Ooohh, the suspense.... how will the vote turn out???????

These NLA stooges will vote exactly how their told to vote, just like with the Junta budget - not a single dissension.

[ginjag]

Any decision to impeach Yingluck requires three fifths of total votes - or 132 votes.

Ooohh, the suspense.... how will the vote turn out???????

These NLA stooges will vote exactly how their told to vote, just like with the Junta budget - not a single dissension.

You getting nervous for the lady. It's all politically motivated---A Thaksin ploy to get off the hook or sympathy.

[Robby nz]

Any decision to impeach Yingluck requires three fifths of total votes - or 132 votes.

Ooohh, the suspense.... how will the vote turn out???????

These NLA stooges will vote exactly how their told to vote, just like with the Junta budget - not a single dissension.

Please post the proof of your statements Mr Amsterdam, your name is Amsterdam isn't it ?

Fortunately they don't have a cowardly convicted criminal on the run giving orders ;

"Thaksin thinks PT acts"

Thaksin Shinawatra has ordered leaders of the Pheu Thai Party and the red-shirt movement to withdraw all legal lawsuits against their political opponents, Thairath TV reported.

Bhum Jai Thai ready to follow Thaksin's orders again.

[binjalin]

it's a trap, it's a trap! those damned Ancient Greeks leading us all into this "democracy" thing. Don't they know it's a trap to stop the Elite from ruling, the very thing they were born for tut, tut

[Alwyn]

YL impeached for failing to stop corruption with the rice-pledging scheme. I wonder if the current PM will be impeached for his failures too? Failing to stop corruption - full stop. Moving all the jet ski operators and failing to to stop them returning and causing the death of a Russian tourist just yesterday, in fact, pretty much failing to deliver on any of his promises so far. YL was a puppet to her brother, no doubt about it but nobody seems to note or wooried that the current PM is just a puppet of the rich BKK fraternity

[Krataiboy]

Love her or hate her, Wingnut (that's not her real name, by the way, in case you were wondering) is about to completely disappear - not only from Thailand's political landscape but the entire planet.

So all-pervasive is her influence, apparently, that the Kingdom's current arbiters of good taste and universal happiness have decided that simply sacking her was not enough. She now has to be expunged from the public consciousness and rendered officially invisible

The media has been warned off covering her every move and utterance and those of another closely-related ex-PM who must be nameless. And because she is "an accused person", the rest of us have been advised not even to mention her name.

Imagine it - sent to Coventry by an entire nation.

What are we poor old prols, to whom the exploits of our leaders are the peanut butter on our daily bread, to do? Just think of what we are missing. No more drooling over shots of the coiffured style icon swanning round posh Bangkok stores. No more video footage of our first lady on exotic holidays or clinking celebratory glasses of birthday bubbly with her brother, Th-----

Oops! I nearly forgot that he's on the Unmentionable list, too.

Weird to expect these sibling superstars to fade into nothingness, especially since they enjoy celebrity status around the world. But, apparently, simply mouthing their names in the Kingdom where their larger-than-life portraits once adorned the landscape would irreparably pollute the pristine, reformist air we are now privileged to breathe and could lead to something - well, unmentionable..

It would be laughable if it wasn't all so scarily Orwellian.

Is it just me, or do Thailand's chances of returning to democracy appear at times like this to be receding faster than a middle-aged general's hairline?.

[Si Thea01]

You, and you know who, who are having a love affair with lairs, cheats and thieves ought to remember a number of things. firstly, stop living in the past. Next, this is 2014 and we are in the middle of a coup. It is not affecting any farangs that I am aware of and 93% of Thais are happy with what is occurring. Being in a coup many things are different, and even though you do not like it, if the PM says no rallies, he means no rallies. This, no doubt, is to prevent certain people from rising up and creating a deadly situation like that which was occurring during the previous governments internship.

They never cared about the people of Thailand, it was all about them and how far they could get their snouts into the trough. Look at all the farcical statements they put out, we will do this to you, we will do that you if you do not do as we tell you. Yes Mr farmer, we will pay you on the 1st, no the 5th, no the 12th. The 12th of when?" The 12th of never. Always liars and the bully intimidating people.

All of you who are in this affair should stop and think how the previous government condoned the killings of innocents and gloated about it whilst on the stage in certain rallies. How the farmers were lied to, time and time again. Very short memories you lot. If these people are impeached they only have themselves to blame and should look to the convicted criminal (puppet master) for their demise. If they had not tried to rush through the amnesty bill in the early hours of the morning (For his benefit) then maybe they would never have been found out for what they were doing and how they were treating the people of Thailand with contempt.

Edited November 4, 2014 by Si Thea01

[khunpa]

Warnings, Wows, Promises.... What about some real action to all the words?

[Robespiere]

Something, at some stage, is going to be the spark that ignites the fire that unleashes the full force of a citizenry demanding their rights and freedoms be restored.

This could be it!

[billd766]

Any decision to impeach Yingluck requires three fifths of total votes - or 132 votes.

Ooohh, the suspense.... how will the vote turn out???????

These NLA stooges will vote exactly how their told to vote, just like with the Junta budget - not a single dissension.

Or perhaps like the PTP voted 312 to 0 to pass the Thaksin amnesty bill at 4.30 am when there was no opposition in the house. Those PTP stooges certainly earned their "extra salary" that night.

[billd766]

Something, at some stage, is going to be the spark that ignites the fire that unleashes the full force of a citizenry demanding their rights and freedoms be restored.

This could be it!

It did really happen when the PTP tried to pass the Thaksin amnesty bill last year.

[ginjag]

Something, at some stage, is going to be the spark that ignites the fire that unleashes the full force of a citizenry demanding their rights and freedoms be restored.

This could be it!

Who are you the chief WHIP ??? your posts suggest too much uprising comments to be healthy, comments OK your posts are inciting fanatics.

[lewy67]

Something, at some stage, is going to be the spark that ignites the fire that unleashes the full force of a citizenry demanding their rights and freedoms be restored.

This could be it!

Or maybe the 600 million baht land sale he made to a company called 69 Property last year, when fully exposed, will be the last straw. These Thai Prime Ministers and their land deals.........

[tbthailand]

Any decision to impeach Yingluck requires three fifths of total votes - or 132 votes.

Ooohh, the suspense.... how will the vote turn out???????

These NLA stooges will vote exactly how their told to vote, just like with the Junta budget - not a single dissension.

Or perhaps like the PTP voted 312 to 0 to pass the Thaksin amnesty bill at 4.30 am when there was no opposition in the house. Those PTP stooges certainly earned their "extra salary" that night.

The dems weren't there because they boycotted the vote. Could have been at 11am, and they would not have been there.

It also doesn't matter. It would have been passed anyway.

The vote is/was not a club to beat the PTP with - the amnesty bill on the other hand actually was a disaster.

[tbthailand]

Something, at some stage, is going to be the spark that ignites the fire that unleashes the full force of a citizenry demanding their rights and freedoms be restored.

This could be it!

Who are you the chief WHIP ??? your posts suggest too much uprising comments to be healthy, comments OK your posts are inciting fanatics.

it's not just Rob - the 'PM' is also warning Thailand of underground operatives trying to de-stabilize the country... He pops that out about once a month.

[billd766]

Any decision to impeach Yingluck requires three fifths of total votes - or 132 votes.

Ooohh, the suspense.... how will the vote turn out???????

These NLA stooges will vote exactly how their told to vote, just like with the Junta budget - not a single dissension.

Or perhaps like the PTP voted 312 to 0 to pass the Thaksin amnesty bill at 4.30 am when there was no opposition in the house. Those PTP stooges certainly earned their "extra salary" that night.

The dems weren't there because they boycotted the vote. Could have been at 11am, and they would not have been there.

It also doesn't matter. It would have been passed anyway.

The vote is/was not a club to beat the PTP with - the amnesty bill on the other hand actually was a disaster.

The Democrats were not there as they had been tol that the bill would be debated the following day so they went home. After they had gone a revised bill was introduced and passed followed by the 3rd version of the bill which was rammed through at 4.30 am without the opposition Democrats being informed.

As for your statement that the bill would have been passed anyway that just shows the contempt that the PTP always had for the people of Thailand. You vote us in and we will do things our way and if you get something out of it, just think yourselves lucky as we will ALWAYS get more.

If you think that is the way a political party should run a country then I feel sorry for you and all your ilk. No, on second thoughts I pity you.

[ginjag]

Something, at some stage, is going to be the spark that ignites the fire that unleashes the full force of a citizenry demanding their rights and freedoms be restored.

This could be it!

Who are you the chief WHIP ??? your posts suggest too much uprising comments to be healthy, comments OK your posts are inciting fanatics.

it's not just Rob - the 'PM' is also warning Thailand of underground operatives trying to de-stabilize the country... He pops that out about once a month.

Why join the fanatics gang then ???

[binjalin]

Something, at some stage, is going to be the spark that ignites the fire that unleashes the full force of a citizenry demanding their rights and freedoms be restored.

This could be it!

actually I think not, most I know are 'waiting' and it will be a long, long wait, and 'events' will happen in time patience is the watchword right now but the Thais know a 'take-over' when they see one

[binjalin]

Any decision to impeach Yingluck requires three fifths of total votes - or 132 votes.

Ooohh, the suspense.... how will the vote turn out???????

These NLA stooges will vote exactly how their told to vote, just like with the Junta budget - not a single dissension.

Or perhaps like the PTP voted 312 to 0 to pass the Thaksin amnesty bill at 4.30 am when there was no opposition in the house. Those PTP stooges certainly earned their "extra salary" that night.

The dems weren't there because they boycotted the vote. Could have been at 11am, and they would not have been there.

It also doesn't matter. It would have been passed anyway.

The vote is/was not a club to beat the PTP with - the amnesty bill on the other hand actually was a disaster.

The Democrats were not there as they had been tol that the bill would be debated the following day so they went home. After they had gone a revised bill was introduced and passed followed by the 3rd version of the bill which was rammed through at 4.30 am without the opposition Democrats being informed.

As for your statement that the bill would have been passed anyway that just shows the contempt that the PTP always had for the people of Thailand. You vote us in and we will do things our way and if you get something out of it, just think yourselves lucky as we will ALWAYS get more.

If you think that is the way a political party should run a country then I feel sorry for you and all your ilk. No, on second thoughts I pity you.

what BS

[jesimps]

You, and you know who, who are having a love affair with lairs, cheats and thieves ought to remember a number of things. firstly, stop living in the past. Next, this is 2014 and we are in the middle of a coup. It is not affecting any farangs that I am aware of and 93% of Thais are happy with what is occurring. Being in a coup many things are different, and even though you do not like it, if the PM says no rallies, he means no rallies. This, no doubt, is to prevent certain people from rising up and creating a deadly situation like that which was occurring during the previous governments internship.

They never cared about the people of Thailand, it was all about them and how far they could get their snouts into the trough. Look at all the farcical statements they put out, we will do this to you, we will do that you if you do not do as we tell you. Yes Mr farmer, we will pay you on the 1st, no the 5th, no the 12th. The 12th of when?" The 12th of never. Always liars and the bully intimidating people.

All of you who are in this affair should stop and think how the previous government condoned the killings of innocents and gloated about it whilst on the stage in certain rallies. How the farmers were lied to, time and time again. Very short memories you lot. If these people are impeached they only have themselves to blame and should look to the convicted criminal (puppet master) for their demise. If they had not tried to rush through the amnesty bill in the early hours of the morning (For his benefit) then maybe they would never have been found out for what they were doing and how they were treating the people of Thailand with contempt.

Am I the only one, or has anyone else on here noticed that the yellow TV posters seem to be working to a script?

[tbthailand]

Any decision to impeach Yingluck requires three fifths of total votes - or 132 votes.

Ooohh, the suspense.... how will the vote turn out???????

These NLA stooges will vote exactly how their told to vote, just like with the Junta budget - not a single dissension.

Or perhaps like the PTP voted 312 to 0 to pass the Thaksin amnesty bill at 4.30 am when there was no opposition in the house. Those PTP stooges certainly earned their "extra salary" that night.

The dems weren't there because they boycotted the vote. Could have been at 11am, and they would not have been there.

It also doesn't matter. It would have been passed anyway.

The vote is/was not a club to beat the PTP with - the amnesty bill on the other hand actually was a disaster.

The Democrats were not there as they had been tol that the bill would be debated the following day so they went home. After they had gone a revised bill was introduced and passed followed by the 3rd version of the bill which was rammed through at 4.30 am without the opposition Democrats being informed.

As for your statement that the bill would have been passed anyway that just shows the contempt that the PTP always had for the people of Thailand. You vote us in and we will do things our way and if you get something out of it, just think yourselves lucky as we will ALWAYS get more.

If you think that is the way a political party should run a country then I feel sorry for you and all your ilk. No, on second thoughts I pity you.

for point 1, I beg to differ:

The 500-member House of Representatives passed the bill after 19 hours of acrimonious debate, which culminated in the entire opposition walking out of the chamber and refusing to vote. The bill was then passed with the 310 members from the pro-Thaksin ruling coalition left in the house voting for it and no votes against. It must now be approved by the Senate to become law.

For point 2 regarding contempt for the Thai people, you must not understand what it means in a democracy to have a majority. My country is voting tonight and in all likelihood the Republicans will have a majority in the house and in the senate.

Do you understand what that means in a democracy? That means that the have the votes to pass legislation. The amnesty was part of their platform before the elections in 2011. Do you remember that? That is not contempt, that is fulfilling a promise made to voters.

Now before you get all huffy and puffy and go off on me about it - I'll repeat what I have said before - I thought and still think that the amnesty bill was a bad idea - the first version and the revised version. But what we're talking about here is your indignation at the PTP for doing what was legal, within the procedures of the assembly, and - some could argue - an obligation to the voters since in Thailand the party is obliged to act on campaign promises.

For point 3, I really don't need your pity. I understand how democracy works. It is messy business. I don't personally always like or agree with the results. I had to live with 8 years of Bush (and other Americans who loved Bush will now have to live with 8 years of Obama - that's the way the cookie crumbles)... But as an American, I don't actually LIKE living under a military cant-use-the-d-word-ship.

So in summary, no, the dems weren't 'tricked', yes they did boycott the vote, no it was not a parliamentary abuse. It was just a stupid bill.

[tbthailand]

Something, at some stage, is going to be the spark that ignites the fire that unleashes the full force of a citizenry demanding their rights and freedoms be restored.

This could be it!

actually I think not, most I know are 'waiting' and it will be a long, long wait, and 'events' will happen in time patience is the watchword right now but the Thais know a 'take-over' when they see one

I agree with you binjalin - it feels like we're in this for the long haul.

It is a different time and place from the '80s, but there is a shadow of Prem here and he was in office for 8 years and it took a long time after he was out to have anything that looked like a civilian constitutional government. The latter did not last half of the years of the military dominated governments which preceded it.

In this case, there are many signs. Still under martial law, full house-cleaning of the political opposition, the time-table for 'elections' has been shelved in favor of "when it's safe" (which coming from a general means "when I say so"). There is more to it, but you already know that.

At some point Rob may be right that normal Thais demand their rights, but I don't think that impeaching Yingluck is nearly enough to trigger that.

[tbthailand]

Something, at some stage, is going to be the spark that ignites the fire that unleashes the full force of a citizenry demanding their rights and freedoms be restored.

This could be it!

Who are you the chief WHIP ??? your posts suggest too much uprising comments to be healthy, comments OK your posts are inciting fanatics.

it's not just Rob - the 'PM' is also warning Thailand of underground operatives trying to de-stabilize the country... He pops that out about once a month.

Why join the fanatics gang then ???

would that be the 'PM' or someone else?

I personally don't see any uprising for a long time. The boot is on the throat of the country. The general is paranoid, however. Maybe that's why he won't lift the boot.

[englishoak]

Shows how vulnerable they really are.

What cannot continue forever will not, one day.....

[Baerboxer]

The dems weren't there because they boycotted the vote. Could have been at 11am, and they would not have been there.

Or perhaps like the PTP voted 312 to 0 to pass the Thaksin amnesty bill at 4.30 am when there was no opposition in the house. Those PTP stooges certainly earned their "extra salary" that night.

It also doesn't matter. It would have been passed anyway.

The vote is/was not a club to beat the PTP with - the amnesty bill on the other hand actually was a disaster.

The Democrats were not there as they had been tol that the bill would be debated the following day so they went home. After they had gone a revised bill was introduced and passed followed by the 3rd version of the bill which was rammed through at 4.30 am without the opposition Democrats being informed.

As for your statement that the bill would have been passed anyway that just shows the contempt that the PTP always had for the people of Thailand. You vote us in and we will do things our way and if you get something out of it, just think yourselves lucky as we will ALWAYS get more.

If you think that is the way a political party should run a country then I feel sorry for you and all your ilk. No, on second thoughts I pity you.

for point 1, I beg to differ:

The 500-member House of Representatives passed the bill after 19 hours of acrimonious debate, which culminated in the entire opposition walking out of the chamber and refusing to vote. The bill was then passed with the 310 members from the pro-Thaksin ruling coalition left in the house voting for it and no votes against. It must now be approved by the Senate to become law.

For point 2 regarding contempt for the Thai people, you must not understand what it means in a democracy to have a majority. My country is voting tonight and in all likelihood the Republicans will have a majority in the house and in the senate.

Do you understand what that means in a democracy? That means that the have the votes to pass legislation. The amnesty was part of their platform before the elections in 2011. Do you remember that? That is not contempt, that is fulfilling a promise made to voters.

Now before you get all huffy and puffy and go off on me about it - I'll repeat what I have said before - I thought and still think that the amnesty bill was a bad idea - the first version and the revised version. But what we're talking about here is your indignation at the PTP for doing what was legal, within the procedures of the assembly, and - some could argue - an obligation to the voters since in Thailand the party is obliged to act on campaign promises.

For point 3, I really don't need your pity. I understand how democracy works. It is messy business. I don't personally always like or agree with the results. I had to live with 8 years of Bush (and other Americans who loved Bush will now have to live with 8 years of Obama - that's the way the cookie crumbles)... But as an American, I don't actually LIKE living under a military cant-use-the-d-word-ship.

So in summary, no, the dems weren't 'tricked', yes they did boycott the vote, no it was not a parliamentary abuse. It was just a stupid bill.

Wasn't there a number of versions tabled? Wasn't their an amendment after the first reading that wasn't strictly in accordance with parliamentary procedure?

Was it that amendment that specifically was introduced to whitewash Thaksin?

Wasn't there a recording leaked of Thaksin talking to the Deputy Defense Minister about amnesty and suggesting maybe only 10k would protest?

All academic - Thaksin and PTP misjudged the level of reaction among the Thai people. I know many who voted PTP in 2011 but went to protest against the amnesty bill. That caught PTP off guard. If they'd been smart, they would have resigned and called the election much earlier. But they tried to hang on at all costs trying to ride out the storm until the bill rejected by the senate came back to the lower house and been voted into law.

There is now an appointed government in office following a coup which removed a floundering caretaker government. I agree with some of your posts, that it will be some time before things change. But, although democratically elected according to the Thai election laws, the previous administration did not act in a way that would be allowed in most modern democracies. Don't forget they also tried to muffle social media and the press when it suited, did nothing about the police corruption and undermined the justice system when it suited. A return to a Thakin controlled Shin family government is not a return to democracy.

[rubl]

The dems weren't there because they boycotted the vote. Could have been at 11am, and they would not have been there.

Or perhaps like the PTP voted 312 to 0 to pass the Thaksin amnesty bill at 4.30 am when there was no opposition in the house. Those PTP stooges certainly earned their "extra salary" that night.

It also doesn't matter. It would have been passed anyway.

The vote is/was not a club to beat the PTP with - the amnesty bill on the other hand actually was a disaster.

The Democrats were not there as they had been tol that the bill would be debated the following day so they went home. After they had gone a revised bill was introduced and passed followed by the 3rd version of the bill which was rammed through at 4.30 am without the opposition Democrats being informed.

As for your statement that the bill would have been passed anyway that just shows the contempt that the PTP always had for the people of Thailand. You vote us in and we will do things our way and if you get something out of it, just think yourselves lucky as we will ALWAYS get more.

If you think that is the way a political party should run a country then I feel sorry for you and all your ilk. No, on second thoughts I pity you.

for point 1, I beg to differ:

The 500-member House of Representatives passed the bill after 19 hours of acrimonious debate, which culminated in the entire opposition walking out of the chamber and refusing to vote. The bill was then passed with the 310 members from the pro-Thaksin ruling coalition left in the house voting for it and no votes against. It must now be approved by the Senate to become law.

For point 2 regarding contempt for the Thai people, you must not understand what it means in a democracy to have a majority. My country is voting tonight and in all likelihood the Republicans will have a majority in the house and in the senate.

Do you understand what that means in a democracy? That means that the have the votes to pass legislation. The amnesty was part of their platform before the elections in 2011. Do you remember that? That is not contempt, that is fulfilling a promise made to voters.

Now before you get all huffy and puffy and go off on me about it - I'll repeat what I have said before - I thought and still think that the amnesty bill was a bad idea - the first version and the revised version. But what we're talking about here is your indignation at the PTP for doing what was legal, within the procedures of the assembly, and - some could argue - an obligation to the voters since in Thailand the party is obliged to act on campaign promises.

For point 3, I really don't need your pity. I understand how democracy works. It is messy business. I don't personally always like or agree with the results. I had to live with 8 years of Bush (and other Americans who loved Bush will now have to live with 8 years of Obama - that's the way the cookie crumbles)... But as an American, I don't actually LIKE living under a military cant-use-the-d-word-ship.

So in summary, no, the dems weren't 'tricked', yes they did boycott the vote, no it was not a parliamentary abuse. It was just a stupid bill.

Wasn't there a number of versions tabled? Wasn't their an amendment after the first reading that wasn't strictly in accordance with parliamentary procedure?

Was it that amendment that specifically was introduced to whitewash Thaksin?

Wasn't there a recording leaked of Thaksin talking to the Deputy Defense Minister about amnesty and suggesting maybe only 10k would protest?

All academic - Thaksin and PTP misjudged the level of reaction among the Thai people. I know many who voted PTP in 2011 but went to protest against the amnesty bill. That caught PTP off guard. If they'd been smart, they would have resigned and called the election much earlier. But they tried to hang on at all costs trying to ride out the storm until the bill rejected by the senate came back to the lower house and been voted into law.

There is now an appointed government in office following a coup which removed a floundering caretaker government. I agree with some of your posts, that it will be some time before things change. But, although democratically elected according to the Thai election laws, the previous administration did not act in a way that would be allowed in most modern democracies. Don't forget they also tried to muffle social media and the press when it suited, did nothing about the police corruption and undermined the justice system when it suited. A return to a Thakin controlled Shin family government is not a return to democracy.

"The passage of the bill apparently caught the opposition and the government's opponents off guard as the third reading vote was caught at about 4am, immediately after the last article of the bill was passed in the second reading."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Amnesty-bill-sails-through-third-reading-30218475.html

Of course in 'real' democracies a government which proposes a blanket amnesty bill with a clause on amnesty 'to all charged in politically-motivated cases' and changes the coverage period to include their own two years in office, would be forced to step down and be under immense scrutiny as to for what they thought they might need amnesty themselves.

Anyway, this time no rallies, neither pro nor contra.

[retsdon]

'The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again, but.... It was impossible to say which was which.'

Animal Farm, George Orwell