PM hits out at Thaksin pardon bid

POLITICS

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has poured cold water on the red-shirt movement's petition campaign to seek a royal pardon for Thaksin Shinawatra.

The prime minister yesterday warned that the campaign, first touted at a red-shirt rally last week, must not get the royal institution involved in politics.

But the red-shirt movement led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, is pressing ahead with its attempt to collect a million signatures to secure a royal pardon for Thaksin.

UDD key leader Veera Musikhapong said the group would immediately end the campaign if the number of signatures collected fell below target.

Mr Abhisit said a petition to seek a royal pardon can only be initiated by a person convicted of an offence or their relatives.

The convicted person must first admit guilt and serve part of the sentence before seeking a royal pardon, he said.

Thaksin was sentenced to two years' imprisonment after the Supreme Court last year found him guilty of a conflict of interest when he was prime minister, over his wife's purchase of land on Ratchadaphisek Road from the Financial Institutions Development Fund in 2003.

Mr Abhisit warned that it would be wrong to politicise the matter and use numbers to pressure the monarchy.

The signature bid drew criticism from academics and senators.

Former Bangkok senator Kaewsun Atibhodhi and his political activist brother, Kwansuang, voiced opposition to the UDD's campaign.

They said the case against Thaksin was closed and the court's decision was final. Thaksin has to return to serve his two-year jail sentence.

The two men said the campaign was simply political marketing aimed at pitting Thaksin's supporters against his opponents.

Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn said the petition was a propaganda move and could offend the monarchy.

Bangkok Senator Rosana Tositrakul said Thaksin was probably enlisting his supporters to "shield" him from an impending court ruling on a case involving the seizing and freezing of his assets.

The UDD is preparing to celebrate Thaksin's 60th birthday on July 26.

Chinnawat Haboonpad, a UDD leader, said red shirts nationwide will hold simultaneous birthday parties for Thaksin, who is expected to make a phone-in address on the day.