Govt ignores KPI's caution, goes ahead with reconciliation debate

Democrat MPs, including opposition and party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, said the debate should be delayed and reiterated KPI’s warning that a premature push for certain controversial proposals could lead to renewed conflict and violence.

Yet, the House reconciliation panel’s chairman, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, refused to withdraw the proposals, saying his duty involving the issue was “over”. 

Sonthi, who is now an MP of the Matubhum Party, led the September 2006 coup to overthrow then-PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

On Tuesday, the KPI advised the House against endorsing proposals made in its research report for fear of a new round of political violence breaking out. Instead, KPI secretary-general Borwornsak Uwanno suggested that the House reconciliation panel’s term be extended until the end of the next parliamentary session to allow a broader debate on its proposals.

 

PREVENTING ‘WINNER’S JUSTICE’

Borwornsak also warned that KPI would take back its report if the House ignored its warning and went ahead with endorsing some of its proposals. “This is to prevent ‘winner’s justice’, which could lead to violence,” he said. 

The reconciliation panel recently chose some proposals from the KPI report and passed them on to the House. Among the more controversial proposals were granting general amnesty to all those involved in political conflict and expunging cases stemming from investigations led by the post-coup Assets Examination Committee. 

Coalition chief whip and Pheu Thai MP Udomdej Ratanasathien yesterday slammed KPI for “interfering with legislature”, noting that the institute was under the Parliament’s supervision.

 “The committee has completed its job and there is no reason to wait. As for suggestions on broader debate, this forum has to be hosted by government agencies that have more resources and personnel than the committee,” Udomdej said.

Coalition whip secretary Cholnan Srikaew, also from Pheu Thai, said the reconciliation proposals were now up to the House to decide upon. 

Abhisit yesterday asked Sonthi to tell the public why his panel chose only some KPI proposals. 

“If they go ahead, General Sonthi and the government will have to be responsible for the damage that will follow. They cannot blame KPI,” he said. 

Law expert Prof Amorn Chandrasomboon said KPI had failed to mention that in Thai politics, it was the financiers of political parties that pulled the strings. 

Meanwhile, a group of multi-coloured shirts led by Dr Tul Sitthisomwong gathered outside Parliament yesterday morning to protest against using KPI’s proposal to grant amnesty to Thaksin. 

The group submitted its petition to Senator Somchai Sawangkarn, chairman of the Senate panel on human rights, freedom and consumer protection. The letter urged the panel to find out if Thaksin was involved in the red-shirt rallies and if people's rights had been violated.

Later yesterday, a group of red-shirt Thaksin supporters gathered near Tul’s group, as some 150 police officers were deployed for security.