Meechai clarifies Yingluck’s legal position, politicians mull fallout

[rooster59]

Meechai clarifies Yingluck’s legal position, politicians mull fallout 

By Khanittha Theppajorn 
The Nation

 

Constitution Drafting Commission chief Meechai Ruchupan

 

Constitution Drafting Commission chief Meechai Ruchupan said yesterday that if Yingluck Shinawatra failed to appear for the postponed verdict-reading on September 27, the court could go ahead and deliver its ruling in the rice-scheme case.

 

Meechai said Yingluck’s absence from court yesterday violated the law and it was thus legitimate to seize her bail of Bt30 million.

 

The noted legal expert explained that, in line with court procedures, the verdict reading would be postponed for 30 days, after which the court may deliver its ruling in her absence.

 

However, Yingluck can still appeal the verdict – a right that is guaranteed under the new charter. But if a pending new law on court procedures against political officeholders is enacted, she will have to be present in court to make an appeal. The statute of limitation on her case, of 15 to 20 years, would also become invalid under the new law, he added.

 

Meechai confirmed a guilty verdict would mean she faced a lifetime political ban, since violation of Article 157 disqualifies an election candidate under the new charter.

 

Meanwhile, Yingluck’s no-show yesterday drew mixed responses from political figures.

 

Key Democrat figure Warong Dejkijvikrom, who pushed a motion in Parliament on the controversial government-to-government (G-to-G) sales under the rice-pledging scheme, posted on Facebook that Yingluck might have felt unsure about the verdict and wanted to first hear the ruling on her former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom Boonsong, in the G-to-G case.

 

But as she was absent yesterday, it’s finished for her, he said.

 

Tawisan Lonanurak, a former People’s Democratic Reform Committee member in Nakhon Ratchasima, said he was surprised that Yingluck did not show up at the court after travelling around the country praying for good fortune and declaring publicly she would fight for justice.

 

Sompoch Prasartthai, a red-shirt coordinator in the same province, said he understood that Yingluck was under pressure over the ruling, which seemed likely to bring negative consequences for her, while reconciliation was not in sight. That could be the reason she decided not to show up yesterday, he ventured.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30324975

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-27

[darksidedog]

What he is basically saying is that she is screwed. But she knew that she was in a no win situation. If the legal system here was even halfway honest and reliable she might have hung on, but with Prayut driving the whole show, leaving town was probably the wisest move. I rather doubt she will be present for the verdict reading next month.

Edited August 27, 2017 by darksidedog
typo

[Blue Muton]

50 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

What he is basically saying is that she is screwed. But she knew that she was in a no win situation. If the legal system here was even halfway honest and reliable she might have hung on, but with Prayut driving the whole show, leaving town was probably the wisest move. I rather doubt she will be present for the verdict reading next month.

The legal system here is without a shadow of a doubt no less honest than her or her brother.

[ikke]

8 minutes ago, Blue Muton said:

The legal system here is without a shadow of a doubt no less honest than her or her brother.

No, as there is no legal system , how can you compare ?

 

[binjalin]

Working 'as intended' dear posters.

[Misterwhisper]

Thailand's legal system has been skewed and corrupt for time immemorial - and it wasn't any different under Thaksin either.

 

Have we all forgotten how ruthlessly he persecuted journalists who criticized him or his government, how he silenced the press and non-governmental watchdogs alike (and often through extrajudicial means, I might add), how he slapped his political opponents with trumped-up charges like there was no tomorrow, what an utter failure of justice his so-called "War on Drugs" turned out to be, how endemic vote buying was, and how entire villages were herded to the ballot boxes and "advised" where to make their crosses?

 

Yes, the military government is illegitimate. Every military government that snatches power by way of a coup d'etat is. I think we can all agree on that. But some detractors continue to stubbornly insist on painting the Thaksin administration and his subsequent proxy governments as oh so democratic and just. They were not. 

Edited August 27, 2017 by Misterwhisper

[owl sees all]

Three of the villagers that went to BKK returned last night. One said that although taken by surprise by the YinShin no-show they were proud that she was thinking of their (her supporters) wellbeing/safety. He went on to say their were hundreds of police and military present; all significatly armed to the teeth.

 

[NoBrainer]

I suppose that when the ruling is read, and it possible comes out in her favor, she could then wait out any appeal time limit, and if no appeal was filed by the prosecution, she would then be free to return.

 

Seems like this could be a long shot, but entirely possible.

 

Or if the ruling came down against her, and the sentence was quite light, she could also return to serve her light sentence, but I suppose that the lifetime political ban would still apply.

 

[smedly]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Yingluck was under pressure over the ruling, which seemed likely to bring negative consequences for her, while reconciliation was not in sight

as I have said many times, this whole Thaksin orchestrated "reconciliation thing" is complete nonsense, why not call it what it really is "amnesty" 

 

and this particular case raises some serious concerns, since they can simply do a runner before the verdict is read - then return if it is in their (the defendants) favour, of course Yingluc should never have been able to leave the country but the fact remains that she did and it seems there was little to stop her.

[retarius]

Retro-active laws? They change the law to make her appear in person for her appeal when at the time of the crime and the trial you could be represented by lawyers? Sounds a tad unfair doesn't it....mind you the whole fiasco from start to finish has been and egregious stitch up

[smedly]

1 minute ago, retarius said:

Retro-active laws? They change the law to make her appear in person for her appeal when at the time of the crime and the trial you could be represented by lawyers? Sounds a tad unfair doesn't it....mind you the whole fiasco from start to finish has been and egregious stitch up

makes absolute perfect sense to me

[ramrod711]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

she will have to be present in court to make an appeal. The statute of limitation on her case, of 15 to 20 years, would also become invalid under the new law, he added.

Without a doubt the best piece of legislation to be proposed in this country for decades. Fleeing the country while enjoying the right to appeal and having your time on the run count against the statute of limitations is stupid.

[ramrod711]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Three of the villagers that went to BKK returned last night. One said that although taken by surprise by the YinShin no-show they were proud that she was thinking of their (her supporters) wellbeing/safety. He went on to say their were hundreds of police and military present; all significatly armed to the teeth.

 

He went on to say their were hundreds of police and military present; all significatly armed to the teeth.

 

Gosh, I can't imagine why.

 

 

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, ramrod711 said:

He went on to say their were hundreds of police and military present; all significatly armed to the teeth.

 

Gosh, I can't imagine why.

 

 

 

That opening sequence is reminiscent of Hitler.

[halloween]

8 hours ago, ikke said:

No, as there is no legal system , how can you compare ?

 

You might note, they are not here either.

[halloween]

6 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Three of the villagers that went to BKK returned last night. One said that although taken by surprise by the YinShin no-show they were proud that she was thinking of their (her supporters) wellbeing/safety. He went on to say their were hundreds of police and military present; all significatly armed to the teeth.

 

A fine example of deluded thinking, or do you believe her primary concern was the welfare of her supporters. Security forces are allowed to be armed, it's the propensity of her supporters to show up armed and to be violent when disappointed that causes them to be there.

[halloween]

BP reports 10 senior PTP members discussing the likely results of her absconding, with loss of popularity and possible factional splitting and defection.

 

UDD's Thida says no loss of popularity for PTP, so Thaksin obviously still paying.

[owl sees all]

25 minutes ago, halloween said:

A fine example of deluded thinking, or do you believe her primary concern was the welfare of her supporters. Security forces are allowed to be armed, it's the propensity of her supporters to show up armed and to be violent when disappointed that causes them to be there.

I am reporting on what was said at the village last night. I don't know the reasons for her no-show; but I have my hunches like everyone else.

 

I think Ch-o-ch let the cat out of the bag when he said there were no reports of her leaving thailand and then said "we are looking for her".

 

As far as I know the villagers that went to BKK were not armed. I know one of them and he is just a regular guy (farmer).

Edited August 27, 2017 by owl sees all
added more content

[seajae]

have to wonder at the intelligence of the posters querying the judges when you consider the fact they are the same ones that were in the courts under yl's govt, do they also mean that they were giving corrupt judgements to suit  her as well? Strange that they can only see one side of the fence instead of both, maybe they need to read more than the red/shin propaganda sheets and try admitting the truth. If you go back over all the judgements these judges have been involved in over the years its easy to see that they have not changed all that much, just because they dont suit your preferences does not make them wrong, they are the ones with all the evidences before them and not just the personal bias of  all of yl's/thaksins supporters

[tomta]

10 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

Thailand's legal system has been skewed and corrupt for time immemorial - and it wasn't any different under Thaksin either.

 

Have we all forgotten how ruthlessly he persecuted journalists who criticized him or his government, how he silenced the press and non-governmental watchdogs alike (and often through extrajudicial means, I might add), how he slapped his political opponents with trumped-up charges like there was no tomorrow, what an utter failure of justice his so-called "War on Drugs" turned out to be, how endemic vote buying was, and how entire villages were herded to the ballot boxes and "advised" where to make their crosses?

 

Yes, the military government is illegitimate. Every military government that snatches power by way of a coup d'etat is. I think we can all agree on that. But some detractors continue to stubbornly insist on painting the Thaksin administration and his subsequent proxy governments as oh so democratic and just. They were not. 

On the contrary, I think most people on Thaivisa recognize that Thaksin was extremely flawed - yes he did some of the things you said (vote buying however was endemic in all parties and I don't think voters were "herded" to the polls. International organizations who study these things said that the elections were basically fair although not flawless). He did not, however bad he was, take  his opponents away for attitude adjustment to military camps. He did not prevent demonstrations against his government. His War on Drugs was endorsed by public opinion and also at the very highest level. Thaksin was elected. His government was at least partly democratic. We have to make comparative judgements and his government was so much more democratic and offered greater opportunities to improve democracy than the present one which is utterly and totally devoid of democracy

[Jonmarleesco]

14 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Meechai said ... The statute of limitation on her case, of 15 to 20 years, would also become invalid under the new law ...

As in, there would be no statute of limitations? Obviously, a perceived rice scam is somewhat more serious than the manslaughter of a police officer while p_____d in charge of a lethal weapon.

[smedly]

7 hours ago, halloween said:

BP reports 10 senior PTP members discussing the likely results of her absconding, with loss of popularity and possible factional splitting and defection.

 

UDD's Thida says no loss of popularity for PTP, so Thaksin obviously still paying.

if there was one organisation that needed investigating regarding funding - 

 

It is all well and good when PTP rule the roost "we are redshirt" I have actually heard those words spoken from a total lowlife scumbag trying to tell smart honest people that they are no longer in charge - it is a simplistic almost childish type of bullying from the uneducated - yes we area redshirt we run things lol, it identifies exactly what is wrong with Thailand when the justice system and law enforcement leans a certain waya depending on who is in charge

[The manic]

14 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

Thailand's legal system has been skewed and corrupt for time immemorial - and it wasn't any different under Thaksin either.

 

Have we all forgotten how ruthlessly he persecuted journalists who criticized him or his government, how he silenced the press and non-governmental watchdogs alike (and often through extrajudicial means, I might add), how he slapped his political opponents with trumped-up charges like there was no tomorrow, what an utter failure of justice his so-called "War on Drugs" turned out to be, how endemic vote buying was, and how entire villages were herded to the ballot boxes and "advised" where to make their crosses?

 

Yes, the military government is illegitimate. Every military government that snatches power by way of a coup d'etat is. I think we can all agree on that. But some detractors continue to stubbornly insist on painting the Thaksin administration and his subsequent proxy governments as oh so democratic and just. They were not. 

It might have not been Lilly white but it won every real election for 25 years.

[The manic]

4 hours ago, tomta said:

On the contrary, I think most people on Thaivisa recognize that Thaksin was extremely flawed - yes he did some of the things you said (vote buying however was endemic in all parties and I don't think voters were "herded" to the polls. International organizations who study these things said that the elections were basically fair although not flawless). He did not, however bad he was, take  his opponents away for attitude adjustment to military camps. He did not prevent demonstrations against his government. His War on Drugs was endorsed by public opinion and also at the very highest level. Thaksin was elected. His government was at least partly democratic. We have to make comparative judgements and his government was so much more democratic and offered greater opportunities to improve democracy than the present one which is utterly and totally devoid of democracy

Exactly....Flawed but democratic with a chance to be answerable to the electorate unlike the gun toting military.....

[djayz]

17 hours ago, Blue Muton said:

The legal system here is without a shadow of a doubt no less honest than her or her brother.

What came first, the chicken or the egg? 

At least these two GAVE the peasants something... I'm not sticking up for them, but they [the peasants] haven't received much from anybody over the years. 

These two knew what they were doing. 

 

Edited August 27, 2017 by djayz
Typo

[binjalin]

13 hours ago, halloween said:

A fine example of deluded thinking, or do you believe her primary concern was the welfare of her supporters. Security forces are allowed to be armed, it's the propensity of her supporters to show up armed and to be violent when disappointed that causes them to be there.

Hyperbole and gibberish mixed with false news. "Propensity of her supporters to show up armed" is fake news, and you know it, but you seek to tar the millions with the sins of a small minority as usual. You are so full of hate I can smell it from here. Why not tone down the BS please?  or are you suggesting these villagers took AK47s with them?  No?  You know very well that the vast, vast majority of Yingluck supporters are normal, peace loving folk yet you stoke the divide with misinformation.

[binjalin]

11 hours ago, seajae said:

have to wonder at the intelligence of the posters querying the judges when you consider the fact they are the same ones that were in the courts under yl's govt, do they also mean that they were giving corrupt judgements to suit  her as well? Strange that they can only see one side of the fence instead of both, maybe they need to read more than the red/shin propaganda sheets and try admitting the truth. If you go back over all the judgements these judges have been involved in over the years its easy to see that they have not changed all that much, just because they dont suit your preferences does not make them wrong, they are the ones with all the evidences before them and not just the personal bias of  all of yl's/thaksins supporters

Yes you are right same colour then and same colour now.

[Artisi]

13 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I am reporting on what was said at the village last night. I don't know the reasons for her no-show; but I have my hunches like everyone else.

 

I think Ch-o-ch let the cat out of the bag when he said there were no reports of her leaving thailand and then said "we are looking for her".

 

As far as I know the villagers that went to BKK were not armed. I know one of them and he is just a regular guy (farmer).

But the paid goons  could well be (armed) as has been demonstrated  previously.  

Edited August 28, 2017 by Artisi

[binjalin]

1 minute ago, Artisi said:

But the paid ramble could well be (armed) as has been demonstrated  previously.  

 

That's true but they receive salary in the Army right?  can't hold that against them but as for 'rambling' maybe they do that at weekends with their families?  nice lot of trails around the countryside.

[halloween]

1 hour ago, binjalin said:

Hyperbole and gibberish mixed with false news. "Propensity of her supporters to show up armed" is fake news, and you know it, but you seek to tar the millions with the sins of a small minority as usual. You are so full of hate I can smell it from here. Why not tone down the BS please?  or are you suggesting these villagers took AK47s with them?  No?  You know very well that the vast, vast majority of Yingluck supporters are normal, peace loving folk yet you stoke the divide with misinformation.

When dealing with red supporters the RTA has learned a lot since 2010 when they initially confronted them in riot control gear and finding out their opponents were much more heavily armed. I believe they lost 4 or 5 killed that night, including a colonel.

Fake news? "Propensity to" is not a claim they were armed, just something to be prepared for.