Pheu Thai Bets on Junta's Amnesty For Yingluck
By Khaosod English


Yingluck Shinawatra answers to the questions of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) during impeachment proceedings against her, at Parliament House in Bangkok, Thailand, 22 January 2015. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

BANGKOK — A top legal adviser to the Pheu Thai Party says he hopes the military junta will grant amnesty to former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and dissolve the impeachment verdict handed down to her.

Singthong Buachum, head of Pheu Thai Party's legal team and a former MP, told reporters that he believes amnesty for Yingluck is a prerequisite for achieving national "reconciliation" and "reform" - two tasks the military junta insists it is attempting to achieve.

"If there is no amnesty, the reconciliation will fail," said Singthong. "Things will be like in the past. Reforms won't succeed."

Former PM Yingluck was retrospectively impeached yesterday by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), a body whose members were handpicked by the military junta. One hundred and ninety members of the NLA voted in favor of impeaching Yingluck for allegedly failing to stop corruption in her administration’s rice-pledging scheme. Eighteen NLA members voted against the impeachment, 8 abstained, and 3 ballots were spoilt.

As a result of the impeachment, Yingluck now faces a five year ban from politics, effectively disqualifying her from running in the next general election, which the junta says will take place as early as 2016.

Yingluck was accused of dereliction of duty in carrying out her government's rice-pledging scheme, which Thailand’s national anti-graft agency said cost the country 500 billion baht in damages due to mismanagement and corruption.

Under the scheme, a key police of Yingluck’s administration, the Thai government bought rice from farmers at above-market prices, but then struggled to sell the paddies on the international market, accumulating stockpiles and resulting in huge financial loses.

Yesterday, the Office of Attorney-General also announced plans to prosecute Yingluck in the Supreme Court's Division for Holders of Political Office. If found guilty of the criminal charges, Yingluck could face up to 10 years in prison.

Singthong, Yingluck's legal adviser, said his legal team is more "concerned" by the pending prosecution before the Supreme Court, as "criminal charges carry a far more severe punishment."

Singthong also insisted that Pheu Thai Party would not mobilize its supporters to protest the impeachment or any other verdict against Yingluck.

"We want the NCPO and the government to help Thailand move forward," Singthong said, referring to the junta's formal name, the National Council for Peace and Order.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1422094773&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2015-01-25

Bets ? isn't gambling illegal ?

Once again utter disregard for the law by PTP !

"We want the NCPO and the government to help Thailand move forward," Singthong said, referring to the junta's formal name, the National Council for Peace and Order.

this is the big lie. They want the junta to go easy on Yingluck and (wrongly, IMO) believe that sucking up will help

There is no chance that sucking up will help. These people are lost.

Quid pro quo. If they dissolve the impeachment verdict, they should also dissolve PTP.

No no no!

Man up and stand by your illegal military junta decision !

No deals let the world see you for what you really are. And throw her ass in jail!

You've stacked the deck got the kangaroo court so bloody use it! No sense in handing out amnesties while you have all this power!

Throw all PTP members and their supporters in jail and then hold an election then you might just get the yellows over the line but I doubt it.

They tried for amnesty once and look where it has led.

Never forget that their amnesty would have forgiven all corruption and allowed the corrupt to keep the billions they had scammed.

The straws they have to grasp at are getting smaller as the truth slowly comes out as to just what their abortion of an administration has cost the country.

No amnesty for any of them, there can never be reconciliation if those who have taken so much from the people are allowed to get away with it.

Anybody care to bet a testicle? Anybody remember the last senate vote for Yingluk's amnesty?

Singthong Buachum, head of Pheu Thai Party's legal team and a former MP, told reporters that he believes amnesty for Yingluck is a prerequisite for achieving national "reconciliation" and "reform" - two tasks the military junta insists it is attempting to achieve.

Interpretation

If you don't do what we say we will boycott the reforms refuse to be reconciled and cause as much trouble using our red terrorist movement and bring them onto the streets

and no we are not going to repay the trillion baht we stole from the people

No no no!

Man up and stand by your illegal military junta decision !

No deals let the world see you for what you really are. And throw her ass in jail!

You've stacked the deck got the kangaroo court so bloody use it! No sense in handing out amnesties while you have all this power!

Throw all PTP members and their supporters in jail and then hold an election then you might just get the yellows over the line but I doubt it.

lets not forget the stellar job PTP made of reconciling the people and running the country ..... right ?

I hope that every last one of them that pocketed one illegally gained satang (from all sides) are convicted locked up and banned for life

Smedley I will ask you a simple question .

Is the current military junta legal or not illegal?

Now if it's illegal why should anyone on either side of politics abide by their decisions ?

Smedley I will ask you a simple question .

Is the current military junta legal or not illegal?

Now if it's illegal why should anyone on either side of politics abide by their decisions ?

you are asking the wrong questions

was the military intervention necessary - yes for all the reasons most intelligent people understand

are the reforms they are progressing necessary - history doesn't lie - nothing has worked so far

are you a stuttering parrot - yes by your own admission

No no no!

Man up and stand by your illegal military junta decision !

No deals let the world see you for what you really are. And throw her ass in jail!

You've stacked the deck got the kangaroo court so bloody use it! No sense in handing out amnesties while you have all this power!

Throw all PTP members and their supporters in jail and then hold an election then you might just get the yellows over the line but I doubt it.

From your lips (keyboard) to PM Prayut's ears (eyes). Credibility is critical at this stage for the Junta.

Smedley I will ask you a simple question .

Is the current military junta legal or not illegal?

Now if it's illegal why should anyone on either side of politics abide by their decisions ?

Once the Highest Authority endorsed the current PM, he is as legal as any PM has ever been. Does that answer your question?

Smedley I will ask you a simple question .

Is the current military junta legal or not illegal?

Now if it's illegal why should anyone on either side of politics abide by their decisions ?

You seemed to have no problem accepting a government that was being controlled and lead by an overseas convicted criminal, who was banned from politics.

Why suddenly a stickler for legality?

Pheu Thai Bets on Junta's Amnesty For Yingluck

I'd like to get some of that action. I would bet the farm she doesn't get amnesty for this or her future corruption conviction.

They tried for amnesty once and look where it has led.

Never forget that their amnesty would have forgiven all corruption and allowed the corrupt to keep the billions they had scammed.

The straws they have to grasp at are getting smaller as the truth slowly comes out as to just what their abortion of an administration has cost the country.

No amnesty for any of them, there can never be reconciliation if those who have taken so much from the people are allowed to get away with it.

Agree.

Typically in Thailand (from what I've observed) giving consequences to erring Thais result in severe reaction by those who just want to "do what they want/ when they want" (from birth to death). Consequences is a foreign phenomena to most Thais and most - if not all Thai government workers. So if punishment for any misdeed is handed out we can expect a severe reaction. That's part of "Thainess" IMO.

Smedley I will ask you a simple question .

Is the current military junta legal or not illegal?

Now if it's illegal why should anyone on either side of politics abide by their decisions ?

you are asking the wrong questions

was the military intervention necessary - yes for all the reasons most intelligent people understand

are the reforms they are progressing necessary - history doesn't lie - nothing has worked so far

are you a stuttering parrot - yes by your own admission

was the military intervention necessary - yes for all the reasons most intelligent people understand

This is where "most intelligent people" (and I would add 'informed') diverge from your view... it wasn't necessary, it was setup.

The people doing the setting up did and do feel that it was necessary, but not for any reason that can be legally discussed in Thailand.

Smedley I will ask you a simple question .

Is the current military junta legal or not illegal?

Now if it's illegal why should anyone on either side of politics abide by their decisions ?

The Head of State endorsed the PM...so yes, it's legal. Accusing the Head of State of being involved in illegal matters IS illegal. You might want to get your stuttering rhetoric under control or you might just find yourself in prison.

was the military intervention necessary - yes for all the reasons most intelligent people understand

This is where "most intelligent people" (and I would add 'informed') diverge from your view... it wasn't necessary, it was setup.

The people doing the setting up did and do feel that it was necessary, but not for any reason that can be legally discussed in Thailand.

Oh right, a secret conspiracy theory.

What a ridiculous suggestion as everyone knows that amnesties are only for generals who overthrow governments chosen by the people.

Yet another not so veiled threat to react, if they can, to something they don't like.

How can Thailand ever reconcile or progress when every side has ' my way or not at all ' as their policy ?

Face and the need to be in charge will prevent any idea of ' meet halfway ' because everyone knows they are right and everyone else is most definitely wrong.

Smedley I will ask you a simple question .

Is the current military junta legal or not illegal?

Now if it's illegal why should anyone on either side of politics abide by their decisions ?

The Head of State endorsed the PM...so yes, it's legal. Accusing the Head of State of being involved in illegal matters IS illegal. You might want to get your stuttering rhetoric under control or you might just find yourself in prison.

Ah, the ultimate trump card deployed this early? Polly must have touched a nerve!

Just an idle thought, but if they do give her an amnesty, does that mean Djaime, Rubl, Costas and co will spend the next couple of months living in a tent on Asok?

After all that has transpired a government that would grant any form of amnesty is a lame duck. The road to reconciliation that these goons keep harping on about does not include detours for the benefit of those who consider themselves above or beyond the law.

This notion that reconciliation is only possible by granting amnesty to the criminals who were raping this country for their own gain is so dumb that it is beyond offensive.

I see the only way YL would get amnesty is to admit that her brother TS actually made most of the decisions. And that she was just a puppet PM.

Its a pity they cannot send the whole Thaksin family

into exile,Thailand would be a better and more

peaceful place without them.

regards Worgeordie

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I see the only way YL would get amnesty is to admit that her brother TS actually made most of the decisions. And that she was just a puppet PM.

Don't see any logic in that statement.

If she verbally openly admitted the paymaster made all the decisions she would surely be in even more hot water, not closer to amnesty.

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If there is no amnesty dear leader will not get the remaining 6% of the population to love and worship him. If they do give her amnesty then she can run in the election in 11 months time and they don't want that as she will probably win. He has to ask himself does he want the last 6% or retain total power and control over what he already has.

Taking lessons from the parrot and his cohorts are we?

No no no!

Man up and stand by your illegal military junta decision !

No deals let the world see you for what you really are. And throw her ass in jail!

You've stacked the deck got the kangaroo court so bloody use it! No sense in handing out amnesties while you have all this power!

Throw all PTP members and their supporters in jail and then hold an election then you might just get the yellows over the line but I doubt it.

There we have it.

Even The Gibbering Chicken agrees.

It's over.

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Singthong Buachum, head of Pheu Thai Party's legal team and a former MP, told reporters that he believes amnesty for Yingluck is a prerequisite for achieving national "reconciliation" and "reform" - two tasks the military junta insists it is attempting to achieve.

Interpretation

If you don't do what we say we will boycott the reforms refuse to be reconciled and cause as much trouble using our red terrorist movement and bring them onto the streets

and no we are not going to repay the trillion baht we stole from the people

In a nutshell reconciliation will happen when all people respect the law and respect the process of the law and speak up to demand equal application of the law for all.