Plan to expunge coup moves backed

Government figures yesterday threw their support behind a proposal by a group of legal scholars to expunge all records and judicial decisions originating from the 2006 coup.

They said implementing the proposal could lead to social reconciliation and get rid of a negative legacy of the coup blamed as a cause of the ongoing political conflict.

The coalition's chief whip, Udomdej Ratanasathien, who is a Pheu Thai MP, said that the government and the ruling party would look into the proposal.

"It is an interesting proposal that deserves attention. The government can use this proposal in an attempt to bring about reconciliation to society," he said.

Pheu Thai MP and red-shirt leader Korkaew Pikulthong praised the legal scholars for their "courage" in making such a proposal.

He said the proposal to act as if all the legal cases resulting from the coup had never happened was "not extreme", when compared to staging a coup. "The coup is already most extreme. Article 309 of the Constitution has caused many problems," he said.

The final article of the charter states that all acts "recognised in the post-coup Interim Constitution of 2006 as lawful and constitutional, including acts performed prior to or subsequent to the date of the promulgation of the Constitution, shall be deemed constitutional under this Constitution."

The provision is viewed as providing protection to the coup-makers and the committees they set up after the coup.

"The proposal by the Nitirat Group will help unlock [the problems caused by the coup]," Korkaew said.

The legal scholars' group, known as Nitirat (Citizens of Law), outlined steps it said could restore the country as if the seizure of power had never happened. The proposal called on the government to nullify all decrees and actions taken by the coup-makers, revoke all court decisions originating from post-coup decrees, and terminate all legal proceedings initiated by the post-coup Assets Examination Committee (AEC).

Investigation by the AEC, which was set up by the coup-makers, led to court cases against figures in the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, which was accused of corruption and abuse of power.

One case led to a two-year imprisonment sentence against Thaksin, who has been in self-exile overseas escaping the jail term.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday said that although he agreed with the law scholars' proposal, he believed it would be difficult to implement. "However, anything could happen if most people in the country agree," he added.

He also said that for the government, constitutional amendment was not a priority. "The urgent matters are to solve the problems of drugs, poverty and corruption," he said.