Facts first, colonel's widow demands

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Facts first, colonel's widow demands

Handouts to red-shirts being rushed, truth commission told

Published: 30/01/2012 at 06:13 PM
Online news: Local News

The facts regarding the deaths from political conflict need to be established first, and any decision make compensation payment or allow amnesty should not be rushed, a public hearing called by the truth and reconciliation commission heard on Monday

"All parties involved might be now taking the wrong steps. It's necesary to establish the facts first, before remedies can be offered to those involved in or affected by the political violence," said Nicha Hiranburana Thuwatham, whose husband was the highest ranked solder to die in the 2010 violence.

Mrs Nicha was speaking at a public hearing organised by the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT).

She said she had not seen any explanation from either the truth commission or the current government on what standards, what principles were being applied in handing out financial "remedies".

She questioned whether the death of her husband, Col Romklao Thuwatham, who died on April 10 2010 as a result of organised violence, should be treated in the same manner as those who committed the crime.

"Of the 91 deaths, there were those who were on duty, either officers or volunteers, innocent bystanders, non-violent protesters, and protesters who engaged in violent acts.

"But the government just gives this [financial help] out without bothering to identify the criteria, giving rise to criticism in the social media that those who burned down the capital will be paid for their actions.

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About the author

: Writer: Achara Ashayagachat; Position: Reporter

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ricefield
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Discussion 19 : 31/01/2012 at 10:49 PM19
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Disc 12 - You left out some important poll wording, "in Bangkok".
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spiceman
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Discussion 18 : 31/01/2012 at 03:25 PM18
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Khun Abbub #16, Thaksin struck at the very heart of our democratic system, by circumventing our Rules of Law, and infringing on our Right to Free Speech and Free Press. His money & influence infiltrated into all Govt organizations, including the Election Commission, aiming at achieving an absolute dictatorial parliamentary power. I am for Thailand to be justly governed, preferable by the Majority, but not by an exceedingly corruptible man.
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spiceman
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Discussion 17 : 31/01/2012 at 02:10 PM17
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Khun Abbub #16, neither circumventing the Rules of Law nor infringing on the Right to Free Speech are small matter, because they are at the heart of Democracy. How do you think the Deep Southern Insurgency got started or thousands of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects happened? And did any medias were banned from the airwave during AV premiership? Thaksin used his enormous wealth to infiltrate nearly all Govt organization that his money could buy, including the Election Commission.

Our democratic model came from that of England, and we are going through the exact same thing the English went through, minus a civil war. I am talking about the dissolution of an exceedingly corrupt British Parliament in 1653 by Oliver Cromwell. So, at least, we are on track, except that we are about 350 years behind!
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abbub
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Discussion 16 : 31/01/2012 at 11:30 AM16
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SPICEMAN you are very funny. One man tries to abuse democracy a little bit, so it is OK for you the boys in uniform come and tear down the house?

If there is a fire in the kitchen you put it out. You do not burn down the house!

And as far as imposing on the media goes, everyone nows full well what TS did paled in comparison to the almost total control of and censorship of the opposition by the military and Democrats. You have to to go through some pretty contortionist thinking to try to deny that.

You speak about Democracy as majority rule while preserving the rights of the minority. And then you justify rule by the minority which ignores the rights of the majority!
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spiceman
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Discussion 15 : 31/01/2012 at 09:12 AM15
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Khun abbub #8, PM Thaksin refused to answer any questions about massive corruption allegations against him when asked repeatedly by the Media. And when "Meung-Thai-Rai-Subda," continued to criticize him for it, he banned it from the airwaves. Do you think his conducts as the PM was democratic back then? His infringement on the Right to Free Press, was the last straw, setting off a chain reaction, making the last coup unavoidable. Should I mention to you that Democracy is "Majority Rule, while preserving Minority's Right, based on the Rules of Law?" And without the Rules of Law, Democracy cannot exist.
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howell
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Discussion 14 : 31/01/2012 at 07:00 AM14
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Disc 9. So were TRC hand picked by this government ?
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howell
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Discussion 13 : 31/01/2012 at 06:26 AM13
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Disc 9. You mean TRCT committee ? Or TRC ? Do you know when they were set up ?
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whatajoke
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Discussion 12 : 31/01/2012 at 05:57 AM12
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Abub Disc 8: you can spin it many ways. The coup was an attempt to unseat a democratically formed govt, it succeeded, there was no bloodshed, afterwards a poll revealed more than 70% felt it was a good idea at the time. Obviously the army made no attempt to conceal their identity. The siege Ratchaprasong was an attempt to unseat a democratically formed govt, it didn't succeed, there was bloodshed, afterwards a poll revealed more than 70% felt it was not a good idea. Obviously some of those behind it have tried to conceal themselves. If we want to start talking compensation, where do we begin?
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ricefield
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Discussion 11 : 31/01/2012 at 02:35 AM11
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Disc 10 - As did former FM Kasit BTW
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wvavin
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Discussion 10 : 31/01/2012 at 12:13 AM10
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Hey! The Red Shirt members could still become members of the parliament. Therefore, this suggests that it is absolutely not illegal to riot because by rioting, one can becomes a member of the parliament to rule the country.
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