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Thaksin Amnesty Plan: Shock Report Shakes Thai Social Media
By Phuketwan Reporter Tuesday, November 15, 2011
PHUKET: Thailand's social media networks buzzed tonight with reports about a plan to have a quick amnesty granted to fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that would allow him to serve only a day or two in jail before being granted his freedom.
At least one news report in the Thai language media this evening suggests the idea has been approved in secret by the inner core of the Thai Cabinet, which met today under current Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra*. She is Khun Thaksin's sister.
[*We've since learned that Khun Yingluck was absent from the Cabinet meeting, dealing with the floods.]
An amnesty virtually certain to be granted for prisoners in Thailand to mark the 84th birthday of HM The King on December 5 is likely to include prisoners over 60 and those who have sentences of less than three years.
Thai media was reporting this evening that the plan involved Khun Thaksin returning to Thailand, being arrested and jailed for his outstanding two year sentence, then being freed in a day or two under the terms of a general amnesty.
Khun Thaksin would fulfil both criteria, being over 60 and also being a prisoner serving a term of less than three years.
If there is truth in the reports, the plan would undermine or contradict virtually every public comment Khun Yingluck has made about her brother and his status as a fugitive since she became Prime Minister.
However, a core group of Thaksin supporters would welcome back former Prime Minister Thaksin, who continues to be seen by many to be the absentee leader of the Pheu Thai party, which leads the Government alliance.
Phuketwan has yet to independently confirm the reports.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
The only 'shock' is that it's taken so long, if it proves to be true, 55555.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
November 15, 2011 19:22
Sounds like a plan... a pretty good one, too.
Maybe Thailand can then move forward.
Posted by
Eric
on
November 15, 2011 19:42
A fair way to correct a long standing wrong. No one can give back a missed life to one who has served his country well.
Posted by
Shirley
on
November 15, 2011 22:08
Eric... that's so not true. If the report is true and thaksin's coming back, we will have civil war. So unfortunate for thailand. We used to be a better country. T^T
Posted by
hate what's happening now
on
November 16, 2011 08:23
Personally, I believe it would be Professional Suicide if this happens. She would upset too many people. I am no hater of Thaksin yet no supporter either, but doing what's right for the country has to be more important that self interest....
Sorry, I think I went into a daydream
Posted by
Tbs
on
November 16, 2011 08:35
The article describes Thaksin as a "prisoner", which is wrong. He didn't spend even one day in prison. He is a fugitive.
Posted by
christian
on
November 16, 2011 09:25
Editor Comment:
If you don't bother reading articles, don't bother commenting, christian:
''Thai media was reporting this evening that the plan involved Khun Thaksin returning to Thailand, being arrested and jailed for his outstanding two year sentence, then being freed in a day or two under the terms of a general amnesty.''
Get it?
Everyone has this story this morning; PhuketWan had it last night. Good work!
Posted by
ssresident
on
November 16, 2011 10:31
I agree with Shirley and Scunner. Thaksin was great for Thailand.
The economy was strong, tourism was at all time highs and the drug problem was well under control.
Corruption occurs in all walks of life and isn't ever going away.
Posted by
8Ball
on
November 16, 2011 12:24
@8ball and others. Do some research, Thaksin was not good for Thailand, it is myth. He deserves more than 2 years. He did not serve his country well, far from it.
Posted by
Howell
on
November 16, 2011 13:58
Ed
"Khun Thaksin would fulfil both criteria, being over 60 and also being a prisoner serving a term of less than three years."
I'm not a native english speaker, but this sentence clearly states that Thaksin is a prisoner right now. It describes him as "being" a prisoner. That means he must currently be in prison.
get it?
Posted by
christian
on
November 16, 2011 16:27
Editor Comment:
''Thai media was reporting this evening that the plan involved Khun Thaksin returning to Thailand, being arrested and jailed for his outstanding two year sentence, then being freed in a day or two under the terms of a general amnesty.
''Khun Thaksin would fulfil both criteria, being over 60 and also being a prisoner serving a term of less than three years.''
You'd have to be pretty forgetful, christian, to have the first paragraph disappear from your memory before you started reading the second one.
Do you have something constructive to add? If not you are wasting my time, and yours.
8Ball most crimes, like murder for example, are never going away either so by your logic we should accept it and elect killers?
The economy was strong due to external factors and a time lag of previous government policies if you researched it you would know that by the time he was tossed out it had weakened considerably due to his policies, tourism is already at an all time high and continues to rise despite several issues nothing to do with the Thaksin effect, drugs were clearly not under control. What was under control was any competition to a certain organisation of dealers, intimidation, extra judicial killings were used that removed dissenters as well as free speech. See Amnesty International, the United Nations reports, etc. Also research how badly the situation in the South escalated during the period.
I will agree that under Thaksin corruption was rife and there were some populist policies that helped the poor. Unfortunately it was not worth the overall cost to the Thai people. The mobilisation of the masses into a blind populist movement has dangerous precedence and xenophobia/nationalism was used to make sure that no one disagreed with his actions. Sound familiar? See Europe 1930's, Milosavich or Cambodia more recently.
Also if you read the proposal it is creating a loophole for anyone who is convicted of corruption to be eligible for amnesty under certain terms. Passing laws for 1 person is the ultimate "elitist" move. But yet he and his followers play the humble card. Lincoln said you can fool some of the people some of the time but not all the people all the time. This guy has managed better than most and apparently from the posts here, far longer. Fooling the poor and ignorant with petty handouts, trivial benefits and glittering generalities is one thing but I would assume that some of the posters here are educated.
In the end it is up to the Thai people and they will have to deal with the consequences, what we think doesn't matter. They say also that you get the government you deserve. If he comes back and completes the agenda he has in mind I am pretty sure it will be a government and situation that no one deserves. To those who applaud this move you have no idea of the potential consequences and I promise you that you will be long gone by the time the rest of us are saying I told you so. Take some time to educate yourselves if you are going to take a stand and while you are at it try to understand the motivations of someone who wants to return to power so badly and who has openly stated that his long term goals lie beyond being just PM. Then make up your own mind based on facts and not publicity and diatribe. If you look honestly you will re-evaluate things.
For those who took the time to read this, thank you for letting me get this off my chest. It amazes me that anyone sees any good coming out of such a move.
Posted by
Martin
on
November 16, 2011 17:01
Do not worry that the Democrat Party, PAD, and seniors military generals are waiting more informations about it and will put their thumbs down later on...with may be a coup in the spring as usual.
Tourism season will be short again.
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
November 16, 2011 17:06
Well all comes in line with getting back for his daughter's wedding on December 12.
Posted by
phuket madness
on
November 16, 2011 17:40
I heard there was a problem with floooding somewhere as well but this amnesty thing for the fugitive is much more important for the Thaksin government.
Posted by
somtam
on
November 16, 2011 20:28
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The only 'shock' is that it's taken so long, if it proves to be true, 55555.
Posted by Mister Ree on November 15, 2011 19:22