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Justice Minister Pracha Promnok is being very careful in handling his most sensitive issue, the UDD’s petition for a royal pardon for former PM Thaksin.

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Pracha creates panel on pardon petition

Sanan warns coalition against stirring conflict

King-Oua Laohong & Manop Thip-Osod

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok has formed a committee to help him handle a petition for a royal pardon for fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The move came as a key coalition partner warned yesterday that moving forward on the issue could drive a wedge in society.

Mr Pracha assigned the committee to study facts, laws, regulations, the details of petitioners and the work of officials related to the petition, to find out if it complies with laws and regulations.

The panel will present its recommendations on the submission of the petition and it is authorised to order individuals and representatives of state agencies to testify or provide information.

Assistant Prof Wuthisak Lapcharoensap, rector-elect of Ramkhamhaeng University, is the panel's chairman.

The petition was signed by 3.5 million people. The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) filed the petition with the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary on Aug 17, 2009, to seek a royal pardon for Thaksin, whom the Supreme Court sentenced to two years in prison in 2008.

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions found him guilty of abusing his authority as prime minister to help Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, his former wife, buy a prime plot of land in the Ratchadaphisek area at a discount in 2003. He fled the country before the court announced its verdict.

Meanwhile, Maj Gen Sanan Kachornprasart, a list MP with coalition party Chartthaipattana, yesterday warned the petition could cause conflicts among the people and state authorities would have to deal with these.

He also said that he had never seen a pardon granted to a convict who had not served at least part of a jail term.

Veerakarn Musikapong, a UDD leader, said yesterday a royal pardon had been granted to one person who had never served a jail term, but he did not specify exactly who. He also said the petition was a constitutional right. The decision rested with the King, and parties who were not involved should stay out of it.

panel – a group of people who make decisions or judgments คณะกรรมการ
pardon – an official decision to forgive someone for  committing a crime and to free them from punishment  การอภัยโทษ การนิรโทษกรรม
petition – a document signed by a large number of people demanding or requesting some action from the government or another authority การร้องเรียนม การถวายฎีกา,
submit a petition for a royal pardon – to request that the King grant a pardon ยื่นถวายฎีกาขอพระราชทานอภัยโทษ
coalition – a temporary union of different political parties that agree to form a government together  พรรคร่วมรัฐบาล
stir – to say or do things that cause trouble between people ปลุกเร้า
conflict – an angry disagreement between people or groups ความขัดแย้ง
fugitive – someone who has been accused of doing something illegal and is trying to avoid being caught by the police ผู้หลบหนี
key – very important ที่สำคัญ
issue – a subject that people discuss or argue about ประเด็น
drive a wedge  – to cause a disagreement between two sides; to cause disunity among to sides
assign – to give a person a particular task or position มอบหมาย, สั่งงาน
regulation – an official rule that controls the way that things are done กฎระเบียบ
comply – to obey a rule or law or do what someone asks you to do  ปฏิบัติตาม (กฎหมาย, ข้อเสนอ, etc.)
recommendation – a suggestion for how to solve a problem, deal with a situation ข้อเสนอแนะ
submission – formally giving something to someone so that can make a decision about it การยื่น (เอกสาร) เพื่อการพิจารณา
authorise –  to give official permission for something, or to give someone official permission to do something ให้อำนาจ, มอบอำนาจ, ให้สิทธิ
individual – a person considered separately rather than as part of a group บุคคล
representative – someone who has been chosen or elected by a person or group to vote, give opinions, or make decisions for them ผู้แทน
state – government รัฐบาล
testify – to make a statement about something that you saw, know, or experienced, often in a court of law ให้การเป็นพยาน
rector – the person in charge in some universities, schools, colleges and universities อธิการบดี
-elect – of someone who has been elected to a position but has not yet taken power ว่าที่
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) – the group originally formed to demonstrate against the 2006 coup and which supported the Somchai Wongsawat government against the PAD and which led the fight against the Abhisit government. They are known for wearing red shirts แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาต
file – to take official action like making a complaint  ยื่นคำร้อง
Supreme Court – the highest court in a country ศาลฎีกา, ศาลสูงสุด
sentence – (of a court of law) to give a punishment ลงโทษ
Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions – a trial court in a case where the Prime Minister, a minister, member of the House of Representatives, senator or other political official is accused of becoming unusually wealthy, committing crimes with in office, performing duties dishonestly, or being corrupted according to other laws.  ศาลฎีกา แผนกคดีอาญาของผู้ดำรงตำแหน่งทางการเมือง
find guilty – to prove in a court of law that someone has committed a crime พิสูจน์ว่ามีความผิด
abusing authority – using of power in a bad, dishonest or unlawful way การใช้อำนาจในทางที่ผิด
prime – of the best quality ที่ดีที่สุด
plot – a piece of land used for a particular purpose ที่ดินแปลงเล็ก
discount – a reduced price or rate การลดราคา
fled (past of flee) – escaped; left an area very quickly because of a danger there หนีไป
verdict – a decision by a court of law คำพิพากษา
(party)-list – a system that gives each party in an election a number of seats in relation to the number of votes its candidates receive ระบบสัดส่วน, ระบบปาร์ตี้ลิสต์
conflict – an angry disagreement between people or groups ความขัดแย้ง
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
grant – to officially give something  ให้
convict – someone who is or has been in prison because they have committed a crime นักโทษ, ผู้ที่ถูกตัดสินว่ามีความผิด
jail term – the length of time a person is required to spend in jail
specify – to explain something in an exact and detailed way ระบุ  ชี้แจงรายละเอียด
constitutional right – something that you are legally allowed to do or have under the constitution  สิทธิตามรัฐธรรมนูญ
party – one of the people or groups of people involved in an official argument, arrangement or similar situation คู่กรณี

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