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No pardon for Thaksin
- Published: 21 Nov 2011 at 09.47
- Online news: Easier Stuff
The justice minister announces that the draft decree for royal pardons for convicts has not been altered to help Thaksin while the former PM himself sends a letter saying he will not benefit.
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Thaksin, photographed recently in Dubai during an interview with the Bangkok Post.
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No pardon for Thaksin
Even before the floodwater had dried, it looked like protesters would be out on the streets of Bangkok today, trying to pressure the government into withdrawing its planned royal pardon decree that would make it possible for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return home a free man.
The planned street protest turned out to be unnecessary.
Yesterday, Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said the draft royal decree for royal pardons for convicts on the occasion of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday anniversary on Dec 5 this year would not be altered to include convicts found guilty of drugs offences and corruption and convicts who absconded.
Hours earlier, Mr Thaksin’s legal adviser Noppadol Pattama released a hand-written letter from Mr Thaksin himself saying that he did not want any benefit from the upcoming royal decree for royal pardons next month.
A facsimile of his letter provided by his Bangkok spokesman and legal adviser Noppadol Pattama.
He said the nation was suffering from a flooding crisis and needed unity, so he did not want to see any moves that would hinder national unity.
"I am willing to support all measures that lead to national reconciliation.
"I am ready to sacrifice my own happiness even though I have not received justice for over five years. For the people, I will be patient," he said.
He also wrote that as His Majesty the King was ill, nobody should do anything that that worry the King and he believed that the prime minister, his younger sister, shared his stance.
According to a source at the Pheu Thai Party, the cabinet had indeed planned to seek royal pardons which did not include the ban on drug and corruption convicts, making Mr Thaksin eligible for a pardon, but the former prime minister ordered the plan cancelled.
Adapted from a story in today’s Bangkok Post by Aekarach Sattaburuth and Nattaya Chetchotiros. You can read the full story here: http://bit.ly/tm5TW6
pardon– an official decision to forgive someone for committing a crime and to free them from full or further punishment การอภัยโทษ
protester – someone who shows that they disagree with something by standing somewhere, shouting, carrying signs, etc ผู้ต่อต้าน, ผู้ประท้วง
pressure – to try to make someone do something by forcing, threatening, or persuading them in a determined way กดดัน
withdraw – to take away ถอน
decree – an official decision or order made by a leader or government พระราชกฤษฎีกา
draft – not in a final form and likely to be changed ร่าง
anniversary – a date when you celebrate something that happened in a previous year that is important to you วันครบรอบ
alter – to change เปลี่ยนแปลง
convict – someone who is or has been in prison because they have committed a crime นักโทษ, ผู้ที่ถูกตัดสินว่ามีความผิด
find guilty – to prove in a court of law that someone has committed a crime พิสูจน์ว่ามีความผิด
offence – a crime or illegal activity for which there is a punishment การกระทำผิดกฎหมาย
abscond – to escape from a place that you are not allowed to leave without permission หลบหนี
legal – relating to the law or lawyers เกี่ยวกับกฎหมาย
adviser – a person who gives advice, especially somebody who knows a lot about a particular subject ที่ปรึกษา
release – to make known to the public เปิดเผย, ให้ข่าว
benefit – an advantage you get from a situation; a helpful or good effect, or something intended to help ผลประโยชน์
upcoming – happening soon; available soon ซึ่งกำลังจะเกิดขึ้น, ซึ่งกำลังจะมา
facsimile – an exact copy of something สำเนา
suffer – to be badly affected by a very difficult or unpleasant situation ประสบความลำบาก
crisis – a situation that has reached and extremely difficult or dangerous point ช่วงวิกฤต
unity – a situation in which people, groups, or countries join together or agree about something ความเป็นเอกภาพ, ความเป็นอันหนึ่งอันเดียวกัน
hinder – to hamper; to stop someone or something from making progess or developing ขัดขวาง
measure – an action taken to solve a particular problem มาตรการ
reconciliation – a new and friendly relationship with someone who you argued with or fought with การทำให้ปรองดองกันอีก, การสมานฉันท์
sacrifice – important or valuable things given up, so that you or other people can have or do something else ความเสียสละเพื่อส่วนรวม
justice – fairness in the way people are dealt with ความเป็นธรรม, ความถูกต้อง, ความยุติธรรม
patient – able to wait for a long time without becoming angry or upset อดทน
stance – an attitude or view about an issue that you state clearly; position จุดยืน
source – someone who gives information แหล่งข่าว
cabinet – the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy คณะรัฐมนตรี
ban – officially not allowed to do or have something การห้ามอย่างเป็นทางการ
eligible – allowed by rules or laws to do something or to receive something มีสิทธิตามกฎหมาย
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