Today the Bangkok Post flags an alternative path for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand: a royal pardon.
I appreciate the appeal of the idea for any number of Thailand’s key political players if they become convinced that, one-way-or-another, Thaksin is coming home. Bringing him back to the kingdom with an explicit debt to the palace and after enduring a period of ritual subservience is surely more palatable than some of the other options. It hardly resolves the issues, but it would set some new terms for the next round.
Indeed, another report this week notes that ”rumours persist that the army, which has attempted 18 coups since 1932, is planning to again seize power. But Thais are used to such rumours, and the talk of turmoil ahead”.
So which will it be? A royal pardon? Or a coup? Or neither? Or both?
This seems like another one of those times when we all need to consult our favourite fortune tellers. For those intrigued about why this matters, a New Mandala post from back in 2009 has historical details on the role of ritual, “black magic” and astrological insights in Thai politics.
A royal pardon is an interesting scenario, potentially the smoothest path toward a return. I could see it happening if some serious back-room deals are done on a whole raft of issues. However, I am dubious that the opposing forces would really allow such a move. Interesting times we live in.
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Am I the only person on New Mandala who believes that a deal will definitely be reached among serious royalists, democrats and Thaksin?
Why would we still think it is necessary for the military or democrats or royalists to block his return? The past 6 years have proved that no single faction of political power can secure an absolute domination any more. This is not a time of Sarit or Prem, not a time of Prince Dhani, and not a time of Thaksin.
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It’s a ridiculous if he could ask for a a royal pardon without getting any punishment or never ever been in a prison? I hardly believe it can happen, I’d rather think he still have to fight with the justice system but in a way more VIP.
His solely solution is ‘fighting with justice system’
We appreciate a man who surrender and feel guilty for what he has done.
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#3 Taxirubjang
“We appreciate a man who surrender and feel guilty for what he has done.”
So are you saying that he should feel guilty for winning the election, and get ousted by the undemocratic coup, and serves the jail sentence for winning the election? Because if you are going to say he is guilty due to that land deal, I’d say the judgment is BS. Conflict of interest (if any) would result in the deal being cancelled, nothing more, as it is a civil matter. Not to say that the Justice system in Thailand is rotten to the core anyway.
So tell me please, why do you think he should feel guilty and serve jail sentence for winning the election?
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taxirubjang # 3. That’s right. With the acceptance of a pardon in the implicit acceptance of guilt. Though in Thailand I am sure there is still the magic reality where one can happen without the other. Hell yeah! Release a few birds and a few months in a monastery and any amount of mass murder and massive corruption is washed away. Ah the land of smiles.
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taxirubjang – 3
We appreciate a man who surrender and feel guilty for what he has done.
Unless he got a retrial under a proper due process, I still think the man got nothing to feel guilty about.
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“We appreciate a man who surrender and feel guilty for what he has done”
That seems contradictory to the avoidance of loss of face (at all costs) mentality which is usually so prevalent.
Also, how does that fit with the ‘we don’t care’ comments about A. M. Marshall’s thai tragedy?
btw, Thaksin is the only Thai politician (or puu yai) I can recall who has been big enough to admit that he might have made some mistakes
(he’s still an asshole though
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An observer said, Thaksin will never feel beholden to anyone fo4r favors other than himself. There are instances when he will be forced to accommodate people and “arrangements,” but deep down he personally feels no obligation to anyone for anything, yet feels that everyone owes him. Whether these observations are accurate will remain under conjecture.
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Taxirubjang QUOTE It’s a ridiculous if he could ask for a a royal pardon without getting any punishment or never ever been in a prison? I hardly believe it can happen, I’d rather think he still have to fight with the justice system but in a way more VIP.
His solely solution is ‘fighting with justice system’
We appreciate a man who surrender and feel guilty for what he has done. UNQUOTE
Slice it whichever way you like intellectual nothingnesses, Thaksin is no innocent. The fact that his ill-gotten gain manages to garner millions of votes, does not indicate that he is beyond criticism or punishment. The same, of course, goes for his enemies. Climb off your intellectual high-horses and find out what it is really like to breath the fetid air of corruption and uniformed mafia politics at street level in this country.
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#4 CT
“So tell me please, why do you think he should feel guilty and serve jail sentence for winning the election?”
He shouldn’t feel guilty for winning the election, but for manipulating the system and indirectly bribing his and his sister’s way to the power !
And “the justice system in Thailand is rotten to the core” is way to harsh ! It should improve but rotten is not the word for it !
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@Jesse
“He shouldn’t feel guilty for winning the election, but for manipulating the system and indirectly bribing his and his sister’s way to the power !”
He should feel guilty for ‘bringing his sister to power’. Is there any provision in Thai law which made it illegal for one to ‘bring his own sister’ to win the election? And if so, is it an imprisonable offence? Browse the entire Thai legislation if you wish. You won’t find any.
As for manipulating the system, I agree with you that he has done that. But to what extent? And is the manipulation at the extent which he has done an ‘imprisonable’ offence internationally? (ie. is what he has done would be regarded as an imprisonable offence in other countries where the democratic system functions effectively?) This is what you will have to explain to me, and this requires some academic research.
As for the Thai Courts, I am glad you believe it needs improvement.
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@CT
“Is there any provision in Thai law which made it illegal for one to bring his own sister to win the election?”
The answer is no. But I wrote
“manipulating the system and indirectly bribing his and his sisters way to the power. ”
I don’t even need academic research to see that !!!! Sometimes when people study too hard, they become delusional !
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