Opposition leader lashes out at attempted Thaksin pardon
BANGKOK, Nov 16 - Thailand's Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday said it was unacceptable that the cabinet on Tuesday considered an amnesty decree which could benefit fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra saying the move must be seen as destroying the rule of law and could spark another round of political crisis.
The Democrat Party leaderтАЩs criticism came after the cabinet meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung on Tuesday secretly considered a decree seeking a royal pardon for convicts amid speculation that convicted ex-premier Thaksin could benefit from the move.
Mr Thaksin, ousted in a coup in 2006, was sentenced in absentia in 2008 to two years imprisonment for abuse of power by helping his then wife acquire a parcel of prime Bangkok commercial land at a price far below the market value.
Mr Abhisit asserted he and the Democrat Party could not accept the cabinet's action as there were some irregularities and the move was against principles of transparency, in particular the revision of a clause which allows a fugitive found guilty of corruption to be eligible to seek a royal pardon.
He said the revised decree opened way for convicts or fugitives to seek royal pardons without serving jail terms, as well as allowing those who have been convicted of particular charges such as corruption, earlier disqualified from seeking amnesty, to apply for it.
"This will deepen the rift," Mr Abhisit said. "The prime minister intended not to be present at the cabinet meeting."
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Mr Thaksin's youngest sister, did not chair TuesdayтАЩs cabinet meeting, saying she could not return from Sing Buri province where she visited flood victims as her helicopter had no radar for night flights.
The Democrat leader argued, however, that despite the premier's absence, she could review the cabinet decision and that she could not deny her responsibility on the matter.
Mr Abhisit urged the government to stop pushing the amnesty move for "only one person" and said the premier still has a chance to review the case to avoid possible chaos.
Opposition chief whip Jurin Laksanavisit said the opposition resolved to question cabinet members over the issue in parliament so the public will be informed of the facts. тАЬThe main cause for concern is that if the criteria for royal pardon have been revised, it is meant to serve one particular person,тАЭ Mr Jurin said.
He noted that in the past the convicts must partially serve their jail terms before they are eligible for a royal pardon.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung conceded today that the cabinet secretly discussed the amnesty decree yesterday, but said he could not disclose the details as no conclusion had yet been reached.
Mr Chalerm noted that the government has no authority to seek a royal amnesty, but it is the duty of the Justice Ministry to set up a 20-member panel to study the appropriate criteria for those eligible to apply for royal pardon.
The justice ministry will forward its decision for consideration by the cabinet and the Council of State, the government's legal arm. If all parties concerned agree with the proposal, the amnesty decree will be presented to His Majesty the King for royal endorsement.
Referring to the annual royal pardon for the convicts to be set free Dec 5 as part of the celebrations of the king's birthday, Mr Chalerm said some 26,000 convicts are eligible to be granted royal pardon this year.
The deputy premier however declined to comment whether the government's move will benefit Mr Thaksin. (
-- TNA 2011-11-16
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