Phichit: What privilege protects Thakskin?

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Phichit: What privilege protects Thakskin?

Published: 3/04/2009 at 04:16 PM
Online news: Politics

Privy Councillor Phichit Kullavanijaya is unhappy with the government's failure to act against Thaksin Shinawatra, while the prime minister says the government is ready to talk with the fugitive former premier.

Gen Phichit said on Friday that Thaksin has evaded a jail term and used improper words to criticise the high institution, yet nothing was being done about it.

Gen Phichit, whose name was mentioned at the red-shirt rally on Thursday night, asked what privilege entitled Thaksin to refuse to accept the court's punishment.

"Why is it that, continuously, no action has been taken against him?" he said.

Gen Phichit suggested the government should follow up on these matters, and there should be an investigative team exposing the facts to the public, especially about how Thaksin could shift a large amount of money to an island notorious for money laundering.

Gen Phichit's statement came after Thaksin on Saturday accused Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda and Privy Councillor and former prime minister Gen Surayud Chulanont of being behind the military coup that toppled him in October 2006.

Gen Phichit was adamant that privy councillors were not engaged in politics, as claimed by Thaksin.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva cofirmed the government was prepared to begin talks with Thaksin on ways to end the political conflict, but Thaksin must not set conditions that would free him of charges he faces.

"I can guarantee him fairness," Mr Abhisit said at Suvarnabhumi airport after returning from the G20 summit in London, which he attended as chairman of Asean.

"But the government has a standpoint not to negotiate something that would lead to problems in the future...those who commit wrong but refuse to accept the punishment are not acceptable."

He said the government would not object to a mediator helping to held end the turmoil.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban repeated his willingness to begin talks with Thaksin, but not the protest leaders he dismissed as "Thaksin's puppets".

"The real decision maker is Thaksin," he said.

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nahm roo

Discussion 12 : 07/04/2009 at 01:09 PM12
Why is the Government willing to have meetings with a convicted criminal ?? If he broke the Law then he should pay the price.. He violated Bail and left the Country against Court order, that in it self should have incurred more penalties... If an ordinary Thai citizen did the same thing would he/she be treated the same ???.. If by Law, now you will have to, if your Constitution has an "equal protection" clause similar to the US...
NO ONE

Discussion 11 : 05/04/2009 at 02:04 AM11
Phichit: What privilege protects Thakskin?
How about the only truly elected prime Minister by all Thais before the 2006 coup d'etat?.I think that is good enough..If you do not think that please let any one with the power remove any civilian elected government......Long live the Thai Army and Death to the liberty and freedom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thai Man

Discussion 10 : 05/04/2009 at 01:59 AM10
Phichit: What privilege protects Thakskin?
How about the only truly elected prime Minister by all Thais before the 2006 coup d'etat?.I think that is good enough..If you do not think that please let any one with the power remove any civilian elected government......Long live the Thai Army and Death to the liberty and freedom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mickey Moose

Discussion 9 : 04/04/2009 at 12:10 AM9
Buba, you are right saying Thaksin didn't get a fair trail. It was extremely unfair that the judges didn't accept the 2 million baht bribe offered by him but instead published the attempt. Unacceptable! What a poor, bought juridical system.
Surely you Jest

Discussion 8 : 03/04/2009 at 11:29 PM8
The end is near and like all good novels it will be the unexpected finale providing the most drama.
In another year it will become a top Thai soap opera in evening TV complete with the mia-noi's and the unrealistic sums of money spent on homes and clothes that no one really wears.
One thing I bet you can count on is that Thaksin, the fugitive, will not be back to Thailand anytime soon. Did you really think that is his goal?
On any other subject all bets are off.
Peter

Discussion 7 : 03/04/2009 at 10:21 PM7
Trial yes, but for all convicted criminals, in particular the politicans and their cronicles living idle here in Thailand and close bordering countries. Also those mean corrupt Santika Officials, Police and related murderers. What action has Abhisit taken so far on all of these criminals?
For me this goverment is a farce of old rotten spoiled corrupted bureaucrats as the Democrat party used to deliver in the past.
Thailand needs leadership with no fear, independency, discipline and foresight, to compete with the world head on, or is loosing her fair 3rd world status it has presently for a chaotic and irrepairable downspin to a underdeveloped bunch of landlords.
It is a pitty that those millions of not red and not yellow Thais do not have the guts to come outtogether and speak out what they really want.
No Reds and No Yellows, but unity and prosperity.
Burin Kantabutra

Discussion 6 : 03/04/2009 at 09:57 PM6
He is just a man with 2 hands and 2 feet like us. Why do his words carry more weight? Class and status?

It is just another one of them protecting their own class and status.

They must have an unwritten code of ethics stating that they must protect each other no matter what.
Jack stone

Discussion 5 : 03/04/2009 at 08:58 PM5
Come on you asshole what is wrong with this goverment,Should the govt sever Thaksin’s video link to his supporters?

Should the govt sever Thaksin’s video link to his supporters?
Start date:
Apr 3, 2009
End date:
Apr 6, 2009
Voters:
6,159 times
Yes
82.4% No
17.6%
The guy is a convicted crimminal tell him to fuck off.
Andre M.

Discussion 4 : 03/04/2009 at 08:31 PM4
It was time someone of his statue stands up and ask these questions out loud. I have been wondering how it is possible for a convict and a bunch of followers to try to overthrow a truly elected government, where for once there was no possibility of vote buying. Where I come from and all countries I know so far this is nipped in the but immediately. This has absolutely nothing to do with freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate this borders treason......
Bubba

Discussion 3 : 03/04/2009 at 08:07 PM3
So no we know, all the UDD people are puppets, but all the PAD people were intelligent, thoughtful and rational...

Well then, that ends the discussion

. :-)

I do think everyone knows Taksin did not, and never would get a fair trial. I am not saying he is innocent, just that fairness was not and is not in the equation.

If there were a trial, or trials where they were open to the public and international observers I am sure the whole affair would take a different turn.

Again, I am not suggestion innocence or guilt.

And how can Abhisit guarantee him fairness when Taksin was toppled by the military "unfairly" and Abhisit supported and took advantage of the PAD movement that again toppled a pro-Taksin government "unfairly"?

Maybe Abhisit is having his own pipe dreams is unaware of the reality within which he navigates?

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Phichit: What privilege protects Thakskin?