Doubts cast on pardon request for Thaksin
PRIVY COUNCILLOR ASKS IF UDD PLAN IS APPROPRIATE
- Published: 12/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
The anti-government red shirt group should think twice before gathering signatures to request a royal pardon for convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, says Privy Councillor Gen Pichitr Kullavanijaya.
CONVICTED: Thaksin
He was commenting on the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship's (UDD) campaign to collect one million signatures to push for a royal pardon.
The former prime minister was convicted by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions and given a two-year jail term for helping his former wife, Khunying Potjaman Damapong, buy a prime piece of land on Ratchadaphisek Road at a low price while he was prime minister.
"They can decide for themselves if it is appropriate. In Thailand, we have the executive, legislative and judicial branches. Procedures should be observed," he said.
Gen Chettha Thanajaro, an adviser to the opposition Puea Thai Party, said yesterday the UDD had the right to seek a royal pardon, but whether or not the move was appropriate was another matter.
He admitted that asking for a royal pardon was a sensitive issue.
Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai said the UDD's campaign was more of a petition for "justice" for the ousted prime minister than a move to try to gain a royal pardon.
He said UDD supporters believed Thaksin was unlawfully prosecuted following the 2006 military coup.
"If he was prosecuted under normal circumstances, they would accept it [the ruling]," he said.
He disagreed with criticism that the petition was inappropriate. Critics of the petition argue that the campaign risks dragging the monarchy into politics.
"I think they are paying respect to the institution of the monarchy. Children in trouble turn for help. This is not about dragging the institution into politics," he said.
Legal experts say family, immediate relatives or cabinet members are qualified to seek a royal pardon for Thaksin.
Some believe that he must have served at least part of his sentence to be able to request a pardon.
Opponents said Thaksin had shown no remorse for his wrongdoing, and does not deserve to be pardoned.
UDD core member Jatuporn Prompan said the petition would be processed this month before a mass rally in August. More than 1 million signatures had been collected so far.
