Mentors Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 No discussion of pardon for Thaksin The secretariat of the Privy Council denied as groundless a report that the council’s meeting yesterday had discussed the move by red-shirts to seek a royal pardon for fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In its statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, the secretariat insisted that the meeting had not discusses the issued, as was reported by some Thai media. Citing an informed source at the Privy Council, several local dailies this morning reported that during the meeting of the Privy Council yesterday, chaired by president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, one councilor had raised the issue of the red-shirts' petition for a royal pardon for Thaksin. Some councilors admitted that they were concerned that the move by leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to collect one million signatures in support of a royal pardon could create a misunderstanding in society. It could also mislead people who signed their names in support of the petition into believing that it was a constitutional action. The council members who used to be court judges said the collection of signatures in order to seek a royal pardon was unprecednted and that it could not be done. “Only an offender who has served part of his jail term is eligible to seek a royal pardon. The seeking of a royal pardon must be done by the offender or his relatives,†one councilor was quoted as saying. He added that the campaign was inappropriate and not in line with legal procedure. The councilor said Thaksin should return to prove his innocence in court. Jatuporn Promphan, a UDD core leader, claimed yesterday that about three million people had now signed the petition. http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/150500/no-discussion-on-royal-pardon-for-thaksin-bid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 So why don't the Yellow Shirts start a petition to hang the bastard? It would be just as legal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted July 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 So why don't the Yellow Shirts start a petition to hang the bastard? It would be just as legal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygye Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 Since when have Thais cared what the constitution states? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Always! (If they disagree with it, they just right another constitution.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted July 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Opposition to the royal pardon for ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is heating up ahead of the red shirts' campaign to submit a petition to His Majesty the King. The People's Alliance for Democracy, the Privy Council and the Bhumjaithai Party have made clear they oppose the petition and are pressing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to prevent it going ahead. The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and other supporters of Thaksin plan to wrap up the signature campaign tomorrow before submitting it to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, probably on Aug 7. Core leaders of the PAD yesterday held an urgent meeting to discuss a number of issues including the royal pardon petition for which the red shirts were hoping to get a million signatures. Pibhop Dhongchai, a PAD leader, said the petition was a political move that would affect the monarchy and the judicial process as well as national security. The petition would put national security at risk by worsening the rifts between members of the public, he said. The government is obliged to protect the monarchy and the country's judicial system, Mr Pibhop said. A military source close to Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda said Gen Prem was concerned about the strategy of Thaksin's supporters. He was reluctant to take action however as it concerned political conflicts, the source said. He said some privy councillors who were former military top brass had questioned why the government and the military were doing nothing to stop the red shirts from submitting the petition. They viewed the petition as an attempt to possibly drag the monarch into politics and put pressure on him. A Privy Council source said Gen Prem had raised the issue of the red shirts' petition at the Privy Council meeting on Tuesday. However, the Royal Household Bureau yesterday denied the council had discussed the issue. The bureau's comments were seen as an attempt to protect the Privy Council from attack for interfering in politics. Privy Councillor Pichitr Kullavanijaya yesterday insisted members of the Privy Council had agreed the royal pardon move was inappropriate. The Privy Council source said Gen Surayud Chulanont, a privy councillor and former prime minister, had raised the issue with army chief Anupong Paojinda, asking him what the army could do about it. Gen Anupong told Gen Surayud that although the military was concerned the royal pardon petition could trouble His Majesty, it could not do anything directly because the petition was a political move, the source said. The only way to block the red shirt campaign was to mobilise social pressure against them, Gen Anupong was quoted as saying. Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul, the Bhumjaithai leader, said the party had launched a campaign to counter the red shirts and warn Thaksin loyalists their petition was inappropriate and not permitted. He said the party's action was in line with the opinions of academics, the Privy Council and community leaders nationwide. The party put up large billboards at four street corners in Bangkok with messages opposing the red shirt petition. Party leaders will distribute stickers with similar messages in high density areas. A Bhumjaithai source said local leaders including kamnan and village chiefs had been ordered to oppose the royal pardon issue. Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger sister, said no member of the Shinawatra family had taken part in the royal pardon campaign. It was an effort by people who wanted to help Thaksin, she said. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/21137/pardon-fight-gains-pace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Will Mr. T get a Royal Pardon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 << Privy Councillor Pichitr Kullavanijaya ... >> Good man! West Point Academy graduate and commander of the campaign against the communists at Khao Khor in the 1970s. :thumbup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted July 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 same old story, same old games. :thumbdown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted July 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Will Mr. T get a Royal Pardon? he will not get one, not yet. It is notable to see how frighten the elites must be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.