UDD sets time, date for petition

Published: 6/08/2009 at 03:42 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

The red-shirts will submit their petition seeking a royal pardon for fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra at 1.30pm on Aug 17, Veera Musikhapong, a core leader of the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said on Thursday afternoon.

On that day, at least 1,000 Buddhist monks and 1,500 representatives of UDD will deliver more than 600 boxes of evidence and lists of people who had signed in support of the petition to the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary, he said.

Earlier on Thursday, former prime minister Suchinda Kraprayoon had advised the UDD to drop the royal pardon campaign. Speaking on his 76th birthday, he said if the red-shirts are loyal they should refrain from any activity that could affect the highest institution.

The petition for a pardon for Thaksin pardon has been strongly opposed by Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej, the group of 40 senators, the ruling Democrat party, the main coalition partner Bhumjaithai party and many academics. They all argue that seeking a pardon for a convicted felon who has not served part of his sentence is not constitutional.

But members of the House 111 group say that people have the right to petition their King and that a royal pardon could lead to national reconciliation.

They claim that the effort to block the petition by the government is tantamount to preventing His Majesty the King from exercising royal authority.

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Bubba

Discussion 2 : 06/08/2009 at 11:45 PM2
I understand both sides in this issue. The people definitely should have the right to petition. if the tanks can roll through the streets and impose on his majesty the king, then surely the people should have a right to hand a piece of paper over!

But I fully understand that placing the king in this awkward position risks further consequent divisions in the country.

I am still convinced there should be a compromise in the making before the petition actually reaches the king.

The UDD and its followers have the initiative now for the first time since September 2006. The current government is between a rock and a hard place and must resort to methods of trying to stop the petition by any means.

I hope yet another military intervention will not occur. That would define the division to a point the country would risk confrontations on a much higher level.

Compromise; compromise, and; compromise. This is the time for the current government to accept it does not have absolute control any more.
charlie

Discussion 1 : 06/08/2009 at 11:42 PM1
What a shameful publicity stunt this ridiculous petition is .How about we use the list to press charges against 5 million people who dont care what happens to their country or its people .Did you ever stop to think what would happen if Thaksin was pardoned ? Do you think everything will just return to normal ? There will be violence beyond anything we have seen so far .How can you justify the expense of the country to pardon a corrupt billionaire ?

Bubba

Discussion 2 : 06/08/2009 at 11:45 PM2

I understand both sides in this issue. The people definitely should have the right to petition. if the tanks can roll through the streets and impose on his majesty the king, then surely the people should have a right to hand a piece of paper over!

But I fully understand that placing the king in this awkward position risks further consequent divisions in the country.

I am still convinced there should be a compromise in the making before the petition actually reaches the king.

The UDD and its followers have the initiative now for the first time since September 2006. The current government is between a rock and a hard place and must resort to methods of trying to stop the petition by any means.

I hope yet another military intervention will not occur. That would define the division to a point the country would risk confrontations on a much higher level.

Compromise; compromise, and; compromise. This is the time for the current government to accept it does not have absolute control any more.

charlie

Discussion 1 : 06/08/2009 at 11:42 PM1

What a shameful publicity stunt this ridiculous petition is .How about we use the list to press charges against 5 million people who dont care what happens to their country or its people .Did you ever stop to think what would happen if Thaksin was pardoned ? Do you think everything will just return to normal ? There will be violence beyond anything we have seen so far .How can you justify the expense of the country to pardon a corrupt billionaire ?

UDD sets time, date for petition