Government abandons draft pardon

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Government abandons draft pardon

Thaksin says furore damaged unity efforts

Published: 21/11/2011 at 03:25 AM
Online news: Local News

The government has withdrawn its plan to seek a royal pardon for its de facto leader and fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra following strong opposition.

Thaksin, photographed recently in Dubai during an interview with the Bangkok Post. Below, a facsimile of his letter provided by his Bangkok spokesman and legal adviser Noppadol Pattama. Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said Sunday 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 have conventional conditions.They include bans on convicts found guilty of drugs offences and corruption and convicts who absconded.Pol Gen Pracha said the draft royal decree would not favour any individual in particular and would not run counter to the Criminal Procedure Code.The government will have the Council of State scrutinise the draft before seeking approval from His Majesty the King.Pol Gen Pracha, who is responsible for proposing royal pardons for convicts, was speaking Sunday only hours after Thaksin released a letter saying he has no wish to accept preferential treatment in the royal pardon.Pol Gen Pracha, however, denied any connection between Thaksin's statement and his, insisting his announcement was only in response to widespread criticism on the draft royal decree. Thaksin's handwritten statement was distributed to the press through the ruling Pheu Thai Party.Thaksin said he wrote the letter in Dubai and that he did not want any benefit from the upcoming royal decree for royal pardons next month.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.In response to recent criticisms of the draft royal decree, Thaksin said he did not believe the government would take any action that would benefit him alone.He also wrote that as His Majesty the King was ill, and nobody should do anything that would worry the King and he believed that the prime minister shared his stance.Thaksin was referring to Yingluck Shinawatra who is his younger sister.In his letter, Thaksin also...

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Writer: AEKARACH SATTABURUTH and NATTAYA CHETCHOTIROS

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howell
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Discussion 55 : 26/11/2011 at 03:34 PM55
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Thaksin admits his guilt by asking for forgiveness.

If he did no wrong what would there be to forgive ? So why ask for it ?
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Khun Ken
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Discussion 54 : 21/11/2011 at 09:54 PM54
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D22: He resigned following the 2006 election debacle, then appointed himself as caretaker PM and resisted holding elections despite having no mandate at the time. He was not the elected PM at the time of the coup.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 53 : 21/11/2011 at 07:29 PM53
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@thndhlp #49: Sorry, I like to change your idealistic quote a little: “People SHOULD learn lessons to improve and develop themselves”
It would be terrific if the majority of people would learn from history, their own mistakes and other people mistakes. But obviously this happens only in a few cases. Just look at all the governments all over the world and the people who elected them. How many counties come to your mind which had a better government after each election? Any?
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cursasur
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Discussion 52 : 21/11/2011 at 06:23 PM52
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Discussion 43; You are right. Thaksin should come back and serve his 2-year sentence, I reckon that the coming 4 years is the best time to get this issue out of the way, for himself, the country and his family.
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nui
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Discussion 51 : 21/11/2011 at 06:01 PM51
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Thaksin was not kicked out of Thailand; he left on his own will in 2008, two years after the military coup, while his brother-in-law was prime minister of Thailand. Many people think, he was kicked out by the military,which is not true.
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bkposter
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Discussion 50 : 21/11/2011 at 04:21 PM50
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RE: D44...The phrase added to the DP's Royal pardon request last year to "except corrupt politicians" was the first time this was introduced. Can it have been added for any other reason than to go after "one man"???
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thndhlp
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Discussion 49 : 21/11/2011 at 04:00 PM49
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@bkk-farang #32 People learn lesson to IMPROVE and DEVELOP themselves. I guess from what you are saying, people made an improvement and developed? It's a tragedy how people in this country think they are developed country, just from materialistic view. Look at how they act... Remember as I said earlier, "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it". Aren't they repeating???
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majority
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Discussion 48 : 21/11/2011 at 03:54 PM48
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A few people and small groups, like the PAD and their mastermind behind the scene and so forth, won't give up fighting the rule of the majority before totally die down, and won't stop distorting facts, so as to capitalize on the social division to find space for them to stand. Fortunately, the more they tried, the more they are isolated and the less their space in the society. They should not forget the decades’ long house arrest of Aung Sang Su Kyi did not undermine the pro-democracy movements, but weaken the anti-democracy regime and the army tyrant in disguise.
In the end, no one can stop the power of majority mandate. Only low IQ people will fight the majority mandate to the end.
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Ian Wensor
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Discussion 47 : 21/11/2011 at 03:40 PM47
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Well, if nothing else - IT'S AVERTED A LOT OF BLOOSHED
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lek
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Discussion 46 : 21/11/2011 at 03:29 PM46
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Sanity reigns...but for how long?
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