"Anti-government protesters claim to have collected 5.4 million signatures petitioning for a royal pardon for convicted, ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to be sent to the Royal Household Bureau before August 12. . .
The UDD leadership said their members would rally again Monday at the Ministry of Interior to protest Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul’s opposition to the UDD campaign to seek a royal pardon for Mr. Thaksin, ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006. Sentenced in absentia to a two-year jail term for violating the country’s conflict of interest law regarding his role in a Bangkok land deal last October, Mr Thaksin on Friday night again addressed a UDD rally by live video link and thanked his supporters for signing the petition.
Several parties including university professors have expressed opposition to the move, which they say is inappropriate and illegal. They said the law stipulates that only the convicted prisoner or relatives are entitled to seek a royal pardon. The prisoner must also have been serving punishment before asking for a royal pardon. But in this case, Mr Thaksin never returned to Thailand to serve his jail term.
Dean Charas Suwanmala of the Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Political Science said a number of countries are now governed by a constitutional monarchy like Thailand and they do not grant royal pardon to corrupt politicians. What the UDD supporters are attempting is actually putting political pressure against a legal and institutional process, said Prof Charas, adding that the best solution is for Mr Thaksin to return to Thailand and fight the case in accordance with legal procedures."
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=11087
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Thaksin pardon petition garners 5.4 million signatures
Started by DanT, Aug 01 2009 11:37 AM
4 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 01 August 2009 - 12:37 PM
Day by day, it's becoming clearer just who is really running this country right now:
"Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda said he has ordered commander of all army units to have their subordinates explain the correct procedures for seeking a royal pardon to the people nationwide. But Anupong said he realised that it would not be easy to change the mind of the people.
Anupong took the action after the red-shirt movement announced that it had gathered over 5 million signatures to petition His Majesty for a royal pardon for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Several groups said it was inappropriate to raise the signatures for Thaksin-pardon petition as it could be seen as an attempt to involve His Majesty in politics."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...50/Anupong-depl
"Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda said he has ordered commander of all army units to have their subordinates explain the correct procedures for seeking a royal pardon to the people nationwide. But Anupong said he realised that it would not be easy to change the mind of the people.
Anupong took the action after the red-shirt movement announced that it had gathered over 5 million signatures to petition His Majesty for a royal pardon for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Several groups said it was inappropriate to raise the signatures for Thaksin-pardon petition as it could be seen as an attempt to involve His Majesty in politics."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...50/Anupong-depl
#3
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Posted 02 August 2009 - 03:14 PM
I'm no expert on Thai politics but I got the feeling when I read this latest statement by the Prime Minister that he is losing it.
"Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that the government will verify the signatures attached to the red-shirt movement's petition to seek a royal pardon for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.Abhisit said when the red-shirt movement submits the petition to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, the office will seek an opinion of the government.
The government will verify the signatures to see whether they lists are not forged and the signatories really want to petition His Majesty for Thaksin's pardon, Abhisit said.He said if there are irregularities, the ones who submit the lists must be held responsible.
The prime minister did not say how the government would verify the some 4 million names as the red-shirt movement had earlier announced it gathered over 4 million signatures."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...in-pardon-petit
"Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that the government will verify the signatures attached to the red-shirt movement's petition to seek a royal pardon for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.Abhisit said when the red-shirt movement submits the petition to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, the office will seek an opinion of the government.
The government will verify the signatures to see whether they lists are not forged and the signatories really want to petition His Majesty for Thaksin's pardon, Abhisit said.He said if there are irregularities, the ones who submit the lists must be held responsible.
The prime minister did not say how the government would verify the some 4 million names as the red-shirt movement had earlier announced it gathered over 4 million signatures."
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...in-pardon-petit
#4
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Posted 07 August 2009 - 03:24 PM
"Leaders of Thailand’s United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) announced on Thursday they have gathered nearly six million names of its supporters loyal to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra seeking a royal pardon for the former premier. . .
The key UDD leader however asserted that the group will submit the petition on August 17. About 1,500 representatives of the group will submit the petition, with 600 boxes of documents. . .
Regarding the gathering on August 17 in the capital, Mr Veera said UDD supporters will gather at Sanam Luang beginning in the early morning before marching to submit the petition at 1 pm.About 100,000 Thaksin supporters are expected at the event and will go home peacefully after the petition is submitted, Mr Jatuporn said. "If no one causes any disturbances," said the red-clad leader, "We will disperse immediately after the petition is submitted."
Mr Nattawut accused the government of attempting to obstruct the UDD petition process after the Ministry of Interior set up a special service facilitating those who want to withdraw their names from the petition."
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=11183
The key UDD leader however asserted that the group will submit the petition on August 17. About 1,500 representatives of the group will submit the petition, with 600 boxes of documents. . .
Regarding the gathering on August 17 in the capital, Mr Veera said UDD supporters will gather at Sanam Luang beginning in the early morning before marching to submit the petition at 1 pm.About 100,000 Thaksin supporters are expected at the event and will go home peacefully after the petition is submitted, Mr Jatuporn said. "If no one causes any disturbances," said the red-clad leader, "We will disperse immediately after the petition is submitted."
Mr Nattawut accused the government of attempting to obstruct the UDD petition process after the Ministry of Interior set up a special service facilitating those who want to withdraw their names from the petition."
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=11183
#5
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Posted 08 August 2009 - 01:05 PM
"Interior Minister Chavarat Charnveerakul on Saturday asked village headmen and Kamnans (sub-district chiefs) to explain their villagers that the petition seeking royal pardon for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was not lawful.
Mr Chavarat was speaking at a seminar of representatives from local administration organizations, leaders of local communities and religious leaders at the parliament. The event was jointly organized by the ministry and King Prachadiphoke’s Institute.
The minister called on the participants to help protect the royal institution and to tell their villagers not to support Thaksin pardon seeking move. The royal pardon for Thaksin campaign by the red-shirt people group could affect the country’s high institution."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/15...-thaksin-pardon
Mr Chavarat was speaking at a seminar of representatives from local administration organizations, leaders of local communities and religious leaders at the parliament. The event was jointly organized by the ministry and King Prachadiphoke’s Institute.
The minister called on the participants to help protect the royal institution and to tell their villagers not to support Thaksin pardon seeking move. The royal pardon for Thaksin campaign by the red-shirt people group could affect the country’s high institution."
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/15...-thaksin-pardon
