PHUKET: The leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy on Phuket said today that the yellow shirt organisation will not agitate on the streets about the apparent covert attempt to win freedom for fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.
''We will take it step by step,'' said Aparat Chutikamjom, perhaps the most influential woman in the PAD. ''On Monday, a letter will be delivered questioning the Cabinet decision.''
It is believed that in secret this week, Cabinet authorised an amnesty for prisoner to mark the 84th birthday of HM The King on December 5 that would make it possible for Khun Thaksin to walk free.
Phuket is the southern heartland of the PAD movement that in 2008 invaded Phuket International Airport and later Suvarnabhumi International Airport, bringing down the then Thaksin-supporting government and replacing it with the Democrat Party government of Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The PAD letter on Monday will go to the Office of the Council of State (Krisdika), which reviews Cabinet decisions to assess their legality.
Khun Aparat said that non-PAD opponents of any secret move to allow Khun Thaksin to escape serving a term for his crime would accompany PAD officials on Monday.
''No street protests are planned at this stage,'' she said. ''But we think it's essential that Thailand's elected MPs uphold the law in the best interests of all the people in the country, not just one or two.
''If the law is not upheld in this case, what faith can people have in justice?''
Many yellow shirts on Phuket had told her they were upset at the thought that the Pheu Thai party might seek a pardon for their absent mentor.
''The Government must think about their obligations to the people,'' Khun Aparat said.
Commentators believe an amnesty for Khun Thaksin has the potential to divide the country all over again.
The 72-hour occupation of Phuket International Airport in 2008 by the PAD was a precursor to the taking of Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Security did not attempt to prevent either invasion.
The PAD on Phuket has been low-key since the days when politics, not soap operas, was what everyone watched on television, and when gatherings of PAD leaders at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City attracted crowds of many thousands.
Small street protests were mounted on Phuket last year during the red shirt occupation of Bangkok, with the PAD urging the military to take action.
The PAD remains intensely nationalistic and has mounted recent campaigns against accepting that Cambodia should be allowed to control a controversial Hindu temple on the border with Thailand.
''We will take it step by step,'' said Aparat Chutikamjom, perhaps the most influential woman in the PAD. ''On Monday, a letter will be delivered questioning the Cabinet decision.''
It is believed that in secret this week, Cabinet authorised an amnesty for prisoner to mark the 84th birthday of HM The King on December 5 that would make it possible for Khun Thaksin to walk free.
Phuket is the southern heartland of the PAD movement that in 2008 invaded Phuket International Airport and later Suvarnabhumi International Airport, bringing down the then Thaksin-supporting government and replacing it with the Democrat Party government of Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The PAD letter on Monday will go to the Office of the Council of State (Krisdika), which reviews Cabinet decisions to assess their legality.
Khun Aparat said that non-PAD opponents of any secret move to allow Khun Thaksin to escape serving a term for his crime would accompany PAD officials on Monday.
''No street protests are planned at this stage,'' she said. ''But we think it's essential that Thailand's elected MPs uphold the law in the best interests of all the people in the country, not just one or two.
''If the law is not upheld in this case, what faith can people have in justice?''
Many yellow shirts on Phuket had told her they were upset at the thought that the Pheu Thai party might seek a pardon for their absent mentor.
''The Government must think about their obligations to the people,'' Khun Aparat said.
Commentators believe an amnesty for Khun Thaksin has the potential to divide the country all over again.
The 72-hour occupation of Phuket International Airport in 2008 by the PAD was a precursor to the taking of Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Security did not attempt to prevent either invasion.
The PAD on Phuket has been low-key since the days when politics, not soap operas, was what everyone watched on television, and when gatherings of PAD leaders at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City attracted crowds of many thousands.
Small street protests were mounted on Phuket last year during the red shirt occupation of Bangkok, with the PAD urging the military to take action.
The PAD remains intensely nationalistic and has mounted recent campaigns against accepting that Cambodia should be allowed to control a controversial Hindu temple on the border with Thailand.
It seems to me that the way to knock back an attention seeker like Takky is to just ignore him. It was pretty obvious that he would get an amnesty at some point, just surprising it took so long (when he actually does receive it, speculation aside). The more publicity he gets, the more he thrives on it. Grant the amnesty, play it down, ignore him and move on. Either way it doesn't affect most PW readers anyway - although the soap opera side of it all is entertaining.
Posted by Mister Ree on November 19, 2011 11:32