Strong reaction to impeachment
Pravit Rojanaphruk,
Nitipol Kiravanich
The Nation

Ex-PM's Supporters warn of deeper divide; opponents hail it as step toward reform

BANGKOK: -- Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's impeachment yesterday was hailed by her opponents as the dawn of a new era, but characterised by her supporters as a new chapter that would ignite political violence and deepen division.

Weng Tojirakarn, a red-shirt leader and ex-Pheu Thai MP, said he believes the junta will keep the country under martial law in order to suppress anger generated by a move that some perceive as unjust and illegitimate.

He said the National Legislative Assembly (NLA)'s decision to impeach Yingluck was tantamount to destruction of the justice system and warned that people in the Kingdom could no longer expect to co-exist peacefully.

"This will definitely plunge Thailand to another political crisis. Though the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] may have [absolute power under] Article 44 [of the provisional charter] and, since there will be no mass protests due to martial law, the fate [of the NCPO and its leaders] will be like that of Sarit," he said. He was referring to dictator Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, a much-hated figure who ruled the country with an iron fist for a decade and a half.

The red-shirt leader argued that since the 2007 charter was no longer in existence, the impeachment motion should have been void.

Weng said the administration may have to keep martial law in place even on election day in order to maintain control, because of political resentment against the junta. "But you can't suppress people forever."

Red Sunday Group leader Sombat Boonngam-anong said the impeachment was a bad joke, as the NLA was an assembly appointed by the NCPO, which had staged the coup.

"It's a bad joke because an elected person has been impeached by a non-elected assembly. And not only that, this assembly, in fact, resulted from a military coup," Sombat said.

However, it could be a blessing in disguise, he said, as it may help Pheu Thai Party transform itself and become less dependent on the Shinawatra clan. He said he thought Pheu Thai figures like Chaturon Chaisaeng should be able to lead the party now Yingluck has been banned from politics for five years as a result of the impeachment.

Mahidol University peace expert Ekaphan Pinthawanij, however, agreed with Weng, saying the impeachment could spark a new round of conflict. "If that happens, it will be a prolonged one," he warned.

Independent political scientist Sirote Klampaiboon also regarded the move as unjust, but said his reasons were different. "The vote against Yingluck was unjust, because she was impeached over a national policy, which is a political issue," Sirote said, claiming that neither the NLA nor the National Anti-Corruption Commis-sion (NACC) had the authority to scrutinise a national policy. These agencies only had the authority to deal with corruption cases, he said.

"[NACC member] Wicha [Mahakhun]'s statement strongly showed that the NACC did not agree with the Yingluck government's [rice-pledging] policy," Sirote said.

"She has been given a more severe penalty than expected. Earlier, people thought she would only be impeached, but now she could face criminal charges, which might lead to her imprisonment or even exile," he said.

On the other side of the political camp, People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) spokesperson Akanat Promphan praised the NLA for marking a new beginning for reform and for setting a higher standard for politicians.

"The NLA's courage in making this challenging decision marks a new beginning toward an era of reform," Akanat said. "Justice under the rule of law is a true long-term solution to heal the divisions in society. The PDRC will remain a peaceful force that will closely monitor the progress on reform."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Strong-reaction-to-impeachment-30252608.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-24

Well, masks are definetly discarded.....

Even the yellow supporters have stopped pretending that there is a neutral Junta, a neutral NLA, or a neutral NACC......

What they are really saying is that they will do their very best to create a deeper divide and if they can possibly get away with it their violent thugs will once more come out on the streets.

These people will never accept, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, that their Govt did anything wrong nor that they should be answerable to the law.

There has been evidence presented by both sides and a verdict given on that evidence, those of us who have followed this by looking at the evidence rather than on an emotional 'she was or was not guilty' know it is a fair verdict.

Those who refuse to accept the truth and rule of law will now make any excuse to cause trouble.

She was banned from politics under an existing law, the State Administration Act, so Weng really needs to get his facts straight before mouthing off & using the line :2007 charter is no longer in existence. The positive from the story is it appears that some PT members feel they can move on & live without Shinawatra influence.

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What they are really saying is that they will do their very best to create a deeper divide and if they can possibly get away with it their violent thugs will once more come out on the streets.

These people will never accept, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, that their Govt did anything wrong nor that they should be answerable to the law.

There has been evidence presented by both sides and a verdict given on that evidence, those of us who have followed this by looking at the evidence rather than on an emotional 'she was or was not guilty' know it is a fair verdict.

Those who refuse to accept the truth and rule of law will now make any excuse to cause trouble.

Do you not think that the millions who voted for Her see both the coup and the impeachment as a slap in the face , in fact it is an insult to the electorate. What would you do if the Military took over your government at home , buy a pair of jack boots and join up , or protest for your freedom

The NLA s courage?

Yeah right anyone can be courageous when backed up by a countries military with tanks and guns.

This is just another excuse to hold on to power by the yellow dem junta which is something they can't achieve via the ballot box and need thuggery bullying and suppression to get their way.

She was banned from politics under an existing law, the State Administration Act, so Weng really needs to get his facts straight before mouthing off & using the line :2007 charter is no longer in existence. The positive from the story is it appears that some PT members feel they can move on & live without Shinawatra influence.

Please stop the &lt;deleted&gt;. The NLA was appointed by people that shredded the 2007 constitution and replaced it with their own. So best to not mention the law in Thailand, as the law in Thailand isn't worth the paper it is written on. Laws should be obeyed by everyone, not just the people you don't like...

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What they are really saying is that they will do their very best to create a deeper divide and if they can possibly get away with it their violent thugs will once more come out on the streets.

These people will never accept, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, that their Govt did anything wrong nor that they should be answerable to the law.

There has been evidence presented by both sides and a verdict given on that evidence, those of us who have followed this by looking at the evidence rather than on an emotional 'she was or was not guilty' know it is a fair verdict.

Those who refuse to accept the truth and rule of law will now make any excuse to cause trouble.

Do you not think that the millions who voted for Her see both the coup and the impeachment as a slap in the face , in fact it is an insult to the electorate. What would you do if the Military took over your government at home , buy a pair of jack boots and join up , or protest for your freedom

To answer your question

My Thai wife and her family

and the majority of her village voted for Yingluck

and they are Issan people

But to many close friends ever died or are seriously suffering now because of the rice rip off

During the protest both my Thai wife and may of her friends spent 2 week protesting on the streets of Bkk, pleading for help

Yes millions where conned or paid at the poling booth, but don't think that a high percentage have now changed there mind

You talk about freedom

In the last months of last year, we where scared to walk the street of Bkk under Yingluck's government

Now unsay the Junta we feel safe

Try walking in our shoes before telling us what is right or wrong

The NLA s courage?

Yeah right anyone can be courageous when backed up by a countries military with tanks and guns.

This is just another excuse to hold on to power by the yellow dem junta which is something they can't achieve via the ballot box and need thuggery bullying and suppression to get their way.

and need thuggery bullying and suppression to get their way.

are we talking about the red shirts, as this is what i saw in the last months before the government fell

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What they are really saying is that they will do their very best to create a deeper divide and if they can possibly get away with it their violent thugs will once more come out on the streets.

These people will never accept, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, that their Govt did anything wrong nor that they should be answerable to the law.

There has been evidence presented by both sides and a verdict given on that evidence, those of us who have followed this by looking at the evidence rather than on an emotional 'she was or was not guilty' know it is a fair verdict.

Those who refuse to accept the truth and rule of law will now make any excuse to cause trouble.

Do you not think that the millions who voted for Her see both the coup and the impeachment as a slap in the face , in fact it is an insult to the electorate. What would you do if the Military took over your government at home , buy a pair of jack boots and join up , or protest for your freedom

Have you read anywhere at all or heard or seen anywhere or in the news about how the people are angry? NO! It is only the PTP leaders and the ex MP PTP party ministers that are stating this. So it is easy to assume that if the Thais rise up in protest and in anger that it will be because the PTP stirred them on. This has been shown and done in the past by the PTP leaders and usually with them telling the people lies and half truths.

Mostly the rice farmers and the average Joe just wants to do his work, raise his family and educate his children and get help when they need it.

What they are really saying is that they will do their very best to create a deeper divide and if they can possibly get away with it their violent thugs will once more come out on the streets.

These people will never accept, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, that their Govt did anything wrong nor that they should be answerable to the law.

There has been evidence presented by both sides and a verdict given on that evidence, those of us who have followed this by looking at the evidence rather than on an emotional 'she was or was not guilty' know it is a fair verdict.

Those who refuse to accept the truth and rule of law will now make any excuse to cause trouble.

I didn't know staging a coup was legal. So staging a coup is abiding by the rule of law and those that appose it are not abiding by the law. Love the way the law is made up as they go along to help thier criminal activities.

I can only re issue what has already been said,

People in Bkk and many other places say they are more happy and secure with this present government than they have been for many years with all recent governments..

They can sleep at night without being afraid of their city being burned to the ground or being taken over by Red terrorists..

Tax money is not being wasted in buying rice at double the global price ... And as for the generals making a balls-up...

They came in to protect the country from civil war caused by the last government...

Time you spent time in their shoes, before demanding the world need to live by your rules

Just another reminder that posts using derogatory nicknames or intentional misspelling of people’s names will be removed. If you don’t want your post to be removed, spell people’s names correctly.

Please use discretion in your references to the government. Phrases which can be considered as anti-coup will be removed. Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed.

She was banned from politics under an existing law, the State Administration Act, so Weng really needs to get his facts straight before mouthing off & using the line :2007 charter is no longer in existence. The positive from the story is it appears that some PT members feel they can move on & live without Shinawatra influence.

Please stop the <deleted>. The NLA was appointed by people that shredded the 2007 constitution and replaced it with their own. So best to not mention the law in Thailand, as the law in Thailand isn't worth the paper it is written on. Laws should be obeyed by everyone, not just the people you don't like...

You should not presume to know who I like or dislike. I am a firm believer that the law should be applied fairly & evenly across the board no matter what their social standing or which side of the political divide people are on. You know as well as I do the laws here are only enforced selectively so if Yingluck or anyone else of high standing is punished & actually does the time then it may actually deter others although I doubt it but it will be good to see that no one is immune

Interesting article in the New York Times re his subject. It reports on allot of things that can't be said on this Forum or in Thailand generally.

Interesting article in the New York Times re his subject. It reports on allot of things that can't be said on this Forum or in Thailand generally.

Yes . good article , The American press in general seem to be telling it how it is .

She was banned from politics under an existing law, the State Administration Act, so Weng really needs to get his facts straight before mouthing off & using the line :2007 charter is no longer in existence. The positive from the story is it appears that some PT members feel they can move on & live without Shinawatra influence.

Agree and like the general drift of that from Red leader Sombat Boonngam-anong for Pheu Thai to cut the patronage strings to the Shinawatra criminals. Would be great if they could actually field candidates who had moral values and were prepared to work for the better of their Isaan constitutes. Don't care a stuffed melon who wins the next election as long as they follow democratic constitution and the law so that then the Army coup option is not a reality.

What they are really saying is that they will do their very best to create a deeper divide and if they can possibly get away with it their violent thugs will once more come out on the streets.

These people will never accept, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, that their Govt did anything wrong nor that they should be answerable to the law.

There has been evidence presented by both sides and a verdict given on that evidence, those of us who have followed this by looking at the evidence rather than on an emotional 'she was or was not guilty' know it is a fair verdict.

Those who refuse to accept the truth and rule of law will now make any excuse to cause trouble.

I didn't know staging a coup was legal. So staging a coup is abiding by the rule of law and those that appose it are not abiding by the law. Love the way the law is made up as they go along to help thier criminal activities.

making law up as they go along?...you mean like the Shinawatra's and Pheu Thai were and being above it?

And staging a coup in Thailand is legal...best you refer to the 1914 Thailand Martial Law Act (which is on the Thai statues as a legal Act) as well.

"On the other side of the political camp, People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) spokesperson Akanat Promphan praised the NLA for marking a new beginning for reform and for setting a higher standard for politicians."

Got my first spontaneous laughts from this grap while taking a grap...

I can only re issue what has already been said,

People in Bkk and many other places say they are more happy and secure with this present government than they have been for many years with all recent governments..

They can sleep at night without being afraid of their city being burned to the ground or being taken over by Red terrorists..

Tax money is not being wasted in buying rice at double the global price ... And as for the generals making a balls-up...

They came in to protect the country from civil war caused by the last government...

Time you spent time in their shoes, before demanding the world need to live by your rules

Must be time for a free and fair election then tezza. Then we'll see how your Isan family and all the other Isan families vote. The ultimate arbiter - as your and my words mean nothing.

Also agree with Valentine that it is a positive that the UDD and PTT may move on from the ultimate influence on the Shins. It's time for these movements to evolve and to truly represent the needs of their rural poor and working class constituency and provide an electable alternative to the Democrat Party-Military Elite-Bangkok Civil Service and Business Elite-PDRC - Yellow Shirt coalition that currently fills the NLA, NCPO and runs the county though it was never chosen by the people.

"characterised by her supporters as a new chapter that would ignite political violence and deepen division."

what they mean is that now they will again come out with violence and deepen the division because they did not get their will

it was always the same group that threatened and used violence to get their (their master's) agenda through

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What they are really saying is that they will do their very best to create a deeper divide and if they can possibly get away with it their violent thugs will once more come out on the streets.

These people will never accept, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, that their Govt did anything wrong nor that they should be answerable to the law.

There has been evidence presented by both sides and a verdict given on that evidence, those of us who have followed this by looking at the evidence rather than on an emotional 'she was or was not guilty' know it is a fair verdict.

Those who refuse to accept the truth and rule of law will now make any excuse to cause trouble.

Do you not think that the millions who voted for Her see both the coup and the impeachment as a slap in the face , in fact it is an insult to the electorate. What would you do if the Military took over your government at home , buy a pair of jack boots and join up , or protest for your freedom

If my country New Zealand was being taken into the gutter like Thailand by the Shinawatra's then I wouldn't be only expecting the Army to coup them I would be siding the Army to get their dictatorial asses out. Mind you the size of our Army it would need to have all the recruits it could get to stage a sit in let alone a coup. Interestingly New Zealand sits at the top of the tree as the most democratic, morally correct country on this planet and I see that most of the Kiwi's on here support the Junta. Perhaps its because Kiwi's fully understand democracy and when applying the Kiwi democratic model to Thailand can see the Shinawatra and Pheu Thai crap for what it was.

Interesting article in the New York Times re his subject. It reports on allot of things that can't be said on this Forum or in Thailand generally.

Yes . good article , The American press in general seem to be telling it how it is .

A lot of international media outlets are saying things that would be banned in Thailand and that is the beauty of a free society. I can just see the dear leader throwing one of his nasty temper tantrums about what the world thinks of him. He tries to feed the world rubbish but unfortunately the world is not Thai and sucks up his propaganda. He has even tried to make statements on others behalf and again not all people are Thai and believe anything he says.

It's a real shame that the governments from these freedom loving countries don't back up the media rhetoric with some meaningful trade sanctions against the NCPO. It's only government action that would really hurt the NCPO and NLA members but our governments don't seem to think it's that big an issue or at all important. The UDD - PTT leaders have to take a leaf out of the Burmese National League for Democracy movement and actively lobby foreign governments to punish the NCPO - NLA government

She was banned from politics under an existing law, the State Administration Act, so Weng really needs to get his facts straight before mouthing off & using the line :2007 charter is no longer in existence. The positive from the story is it appears that some PT members feel they can move on & live without Shinawatra influence.

Agree and like the general drift of that from Red leader Sombat Boonngam-anong for Pheu Thai to cut the patronage strings to the Shinawatra criminals. Would be great if they could actually field candidates who had moral values and were prepared to work for the better of their Isaan constitutes. Don't care a stuffed melon who wins the next election as long as they follow democratic constitution and the law so that then the Army coup option is not a reality.

If the PTP were to cut its links with Thaksin it would cease to exist in all but name. The infighting amongst the regional factions would produce a breakup, back to the lines of the old CTP, NAP etc, with each regional powerbroker heading his own party. The PTP could produce all the clean candidates it chose, but would not be able to compete with these corrupt old cliques in their strongholds, and the country would be back in the position it was in the 90s, with two or three parties getting the majority of the vote, but forced to form multiparty coalitions to goverr the country. Thaksin's piece of brilliance, if you could call it that, was to realise who held the power in the regions and entice them to firstly form a coalition with the TRT in 2001, and then actually join him in 2005. Ask why, if he was so interested in the rights of the poor, didn't he field new candidates, rather than aligning with the very people who are holding the rural poor in the state they are in now? What many seem to fail to realise, is that the "establishment" is very much made up of these rural powerbrokers as it is of the Bangkok "elite", and it is in neither of their interests to have an educated, politicaly savvy electorate, voting for candidates coming from the same upbringing as them. The Bangkok side have held the trump card for many years now, but that will change in the not too distant future. The current situation is analagous to two card sharps struggling over control of the deck before the next hand is dealt. Whichever one wins it, the country will pretty much be in the same position as it always has unless someone turfs both of them out into the street.

Oh they warn. That's narak.

Yingluck is no friend of democracy and the corruption is obvious to the blind. She had to go. There is no rule of law in Rhailand either because the Justice system is set up to be biased towards those with money. So you can forget that pipe dream in this place. The Junta have made an error I think in the way that they are handling the Yingluck / Thaksin issue because whatever the fact it just looks like a set up when really it didn't need to look like that. An open transparent freely reported trial would have exposed all the corruption for her supporters to see and maybe have changed a few minds rather that embedding a sense of martyrdom for the poor little rich girl.

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What they are really saying is that they will do their very best to create a deeper divide and if they can possibly get away with it their violent thugs will once more come out on the streets.

These people will never accept, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, that their Govt did anything wrong nor that they should be answerable to the law.

There has been evidence presented by both sides and a verdict given on that evidence, those of us who have followed this by looking at the evidence rather than on an emotional 'she was or was not guilty' know it is a fair verdict.

Those who refuse to accept the truth and rule of law will now make any excuse to cause trouble.

Do you not think that the millions who voted for Her see both the coup and the impeachment as a slap in the face , in fact it is an insult to the electorate. What would you do if the Military took over your government at home , buy a pair of jack boots and join up , or protest for your freedom

This is nothing to do with who did or did not vote for her or what Govt is in place now this is about the rule of law which stands in place regardless of which Govt is in place.

She is the one who has insulted the electorate by not doing the job she was put in place to do and swore before the King to do.

She is the one who let her people down by leaving the farmers in deeper debt than they have ever been, by leaving the country, the people and the next generation with a huge debt that must be paid off

For some strange reason you and the others who support Yingluck and Thaksin seem to think that those who see that justice has been done here support the military.

This is not the case, I accept that they are there as a fact of life that I cant change and wait for a change back to an elected Govt without the crooked, corrupt politicians which infested the previous administration.

Your post shows clearly the emotive approach I referred to rather than looking at the facts and truth of the rice pledging scheme and the damage it has caused.

"Ex-PM's Supporters warn of deeper divide"

Are these the ones who wore black on the last Dec 5th?

I'd think this means the Yellows can never afford to let the Reds regain power. In the past the coups have been live and let live, no post czarist type discipline. Seems the rules have changed. Ten years in a Thai prison is a death sentence, someday the Reds may be in charge of sentences to the ex-rulers. No peace and reconciliation after the next coup should be expected. Times are changing all over the world.