Phuket Democrats fight bill that could see the return of a free Thaksin
Representatives of the Democrat Party organised a ‘casual’ gathering at Dragon Park in Phuket town last night (June 1) with the aim of educating and encouraging people to keep abreast of Thailand’s political situation.
Paritta Wangkiat
Saturday 2 June 2012, 12:55PM
Suthep Thaugsuban, the former party secretary-general and former deputy premier, and Trairong Suwannakhiri, a politician known as ‘parliament's star debater’ and Phuket MP Anchalee Vanich Theppabutr among others delivered sharp-tongued speeches to crowds of more than a thousand.
The main focus of their speeches were what they saw as exposing “the truth” behind four contentious reconciliation bills discussed in House Meetings since May 30. They also rallied for the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protestors to gather in front of parliament.
One of the four bills in contention was drafted by the 2006 coup’s leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, while other similar ones were draft by Pheu Thai MP Niyom Vorapanya, Natthawut Saikua and Samart Kaewmeechai.
During the drafting, and according to Pheu Thai supporters, the bills were claimed to solve long conflicts in the country by Metta - love kindness - and forgiving.
However, last night Mr Suthep said that parts of the bills will allow the exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin to become free from corruption charges and regain his B46 billion.
Mr Thaksin’s money was confiscated when he was found guilty of a ‘conflict of interest’ and corruption for enacting policies that benefited his private companies when he was Prime Minister.
“The reconciliation bills will become laws used wipe out Thaksin’s guilt,” said Mr Suthep in reference to the part of the bill that states that every political convict, who has committed an offence after September 2005, will be free from the charge when the bill is passed.
“We can’t allow these bills to be approved. They will change the administrative structure and destroy the country’s legal principle,” said Mr Suthep. “The Democrat Party will go against it both inside and outside the parliament house.”
Due to the tension in the House meeting, House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont decided to postpone the deliberation of the bills indefinitely.
Before arriving in Phuket, the Democrat Party had organised mobile gatherings in Chumporn, Surat Thani, Songkla and Nakorn Sri Thammarat.
Led by Kon Rak Phuket (We Love Phuket) Club, about 2,000 people from around the island joined the gathering.
During the gathering, it was mentioned that Phuket was the first province in the kingdom where attempts to establish a red-shirt village failed.
For an indepth interview with a prominent leader of the Yellow Shirts click here.
