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The Pheu Thai Party has confirmed its plan to issue an amnesty decree for all politicians and political groups facing charges or who have been convicted of political-related charges if it wins the July 3 election.
Chalerm Yubamrung, former chief Pheu Thai MP and a prospective party-list candidate, told the Bangkok Post Pheu Thai would soon reveal details of the draft executive decree. He said it would grant an amnesty to not only Thaksin Shinawatra, the deposed prime minister, but also the yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the red shirts.
The amnesty issue resurfaced soon after Pheu Thai officially named Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin's younger sister, as its candidate for prime minister.
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Red-shirt supporters have expressed dismay over ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's call for them to set aside their anger and frustration over social and legal injustices for the sake of national reconciliation.
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Discussion 52 : 19/05/2011 at 09:33 PM52
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For those that are all heated up about this you may have missed it but PTP has stated that the amnesty plan is just that a plan and that it is also not a very high priority. While this and a few other articles in the English press push it as their only policy, it is not.
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Discussion 51 : 19/05/2011 at 05:29 PM51
abbub (d49)... I am happy to debate with you but please don't tell me what I think! I agree the coup was illegal and I know all about the immunity but what the UDD did last year was also illegal. What shouldn't happen is the UDD are given immunity just because the coup leaders did. That's part of the long term underlying problem; no one is held accountable and we get this coup/protest cycle. Immunity is a short term solution to help out lawbreakers on both sides and does nothing to solve the long term problem because if they keep getting away with it it will keep happening! In a democracy criminals get punished. If the UDD and PAD don't get punished we will see the cycle repeat itself. I know you won't agree with me, but the fact that AV stood up to mob rule last year is a positive move towards democracy.
Discussion 50 : 19/05/2011 at 05:00 PM50
johninbkk (d48). I agree that if it has to happen it should be decided by the people and not politicians with a vested interest. But the problem with your election majority theory is that if the PTP win the with a majority of seats it's likely they will do it with less than 50% of the popular vote because as you know seats count not votes. If this proposal gets support on both sides, which I hope not, they should hold a referendum and let the people decide. That is the only way to guarantee a democratic majority result.
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Discussion 49 : 19/05/2011 at 11:16 AM49
ELV #47: You and others are against the amnesty plan because the culprits responsibility for the post 2006 coup chaos are all in power and will, of course, never incarcerate themselves. Their style of amnesty (for example the military writing their own immunity [and thereby acknowledging the illegality of their acts] into the new constitution) means amnesty for themselves and their lackeys and eventually those willing to get on their knees for them. Those who do not want to see Taksin get amnesty were very willing to see him get railroaded. If all people in Thailand who are corrupt were convicted there would be few to run government, the police force would dwindle away and the military would have to start promoting new generals for reasons of merit rather than for having crushed the people. Thailand would have to re-invent itself. MAybe not such a bad thing...
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Discussion 48 : 19/05/2011 at 08:01 AM48
PTP is making this amnesty plan a key aspect of their election policy. If PTP wins a majority, that means the majority agrees with the amnesty plan. If PTP does not win a majority, then the majority does not want it, and it won't happen. That's how democracy works. I think amnesty is worth a try - it worked in many other countries with similar divisions so why not Thailand?
Discussion 47 : 18/05/2011 at 05:31 PM47
Amnesty is just another leap backwards and sets a dangerous precedent for the future. Surely this proposal is corrupt. The PTP are trying to buy freedom for TS by bribing others with amnesty. Let the courts decide the fate of them all. Johninbkk (d14) wrote.."Many commentators fully support the amnesty for only the coup plotters written directly into the 2007 constitution." John, I read the 13 previous comments to yours, and can't find one commentator supporting amnesty only for coup plotters. browser (d16) and wynner (d25) well said both, I completely agree.
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Discussion 46 : 18/05/2011 at 05:05 PM46
smiles Post : 154 An opportunity for comments should not be abused. Voting for Pheu Thai party does not make a Thai stupid. After all, there is no good governement without an opposition. Weather the democrats have done well or they are going to do well, it is because they have a formidable opposition. Even if the Pheu Thai may lose in this election, the Thai people should be grateful to them for making the opposition to think. Competition leads to innovations. Absence of opposition may retard initiatives. Paradoxically, it could be said that the opposition is more important than government.
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Discussion 45 : 18/05/2011 at 03:42 PM45
Grant amnesty to everyone in Thailand see what happens. Then what is the use of having a justice system? No point in having a court no point in having a trial no point in having lawyers no point in having policemen no point in having jails.
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Discussion 44 : 18/05/2011 at 03:36 PM44
Eric 29 Agree 100%
Discussion 43 : 18/05/2011 at 03:34 PM43
geffo. discussion 32. Thaksin was convicted of a crime that only applies to politicians, in a court set up by an illegal military junta, I would think that there are ample grounds for lawyers to argue that his conviction was political. What are the details of Thaksin's tax evasion conviction?
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