Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra did not order Pheu Thai to push for an amnesty law when he talked via Skype with the party's coordinating committee yesterday, his legal adviser and close aide Noppadon Pattama said on Tuesday.
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra did not order Pheu Thai to push for an amnesty law when he talked via Skype with the party's coordinating committee yesterday, according to Noppadon Pattama. Photo by Thiti Wannamontha.
Mr Noppadon admitted Thaksin had phoned in on Skype, but said reports that he ordered Pheu Thai to push for quick action in passing an amnesty law for political offenders were not correct.
He said Thaksin told the party that any move for an amnesty should proceed spontaneously and naturally, without caring whether he would be able to return home.
The former prime minister had sympathy for those affected by political protests and asked Pheu Thai to listen to the opinions of the red-shirts who are part of the government, otherwise the party might lose its support base, Mr Noppadon said.
Mr Noppadon also said Thaksin did not say that Pheu Thai had conceded too much to the military and the ammart (aristocrat elite) but did say there could be no reconiliation with the two groups.
On the issue of constitutional amendment, Thaksin preferred that the charter be amended by sections, not in its entirety, otherwise some people might seek the Constitution Court's interpretation, he said.
Thaksin did not care how long it takes to get the charter amended, Mr Noppadon said.
Pheu Thai sources said Thaksin yesterday talked with the party's coordinating committee via Skype, including such core members as Phumtham Vechayachai, the secretary-general, Mr Noppadon, Saroj Hongchuvej, a deputy party director, and Chusak Sirinil, the party's legal adviser.