MP files complaint over pardon petition

Posted by sothea Thursday, August 13, 2009


By The Nation
Published on August 14, 2009


A Democrat MP filed a complaint with police yesterday accusing three leading red shirts of contempt of court over their campaign to seek a royal pardon for fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Watchara Phetthong named Veera Musigapong, Jatuporn Prompan and Natthawut Saikua in his complaint lodged at Dusit police station.

He cited Articles 189 and 198 of the Criminal Code as the basis to launch a police investigation.

By organising the signature campaign to seek a royal pardon, the three suspects acted in contempt of the judicial conviction of Thaksin, he said.

The three claimed to have gathered signatures from five million people in support of a royal pardon regardless of the offence it may cause to the monarchy and that it violated procedures for pardons, the MP said.

"If Thaksin sees himself as a truly innocent man, then why did he flee the courts?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai MP Pracha Prasopdee claimed that Thaksin would come back after political upheaval within three months.

"Today his [Thaksin's] shoes and clothes are already packed and his return may be facilitated by a pardon or an amnesty; the slate must be wiped clean, just you watch the next three months," he said.

Pracha speculated that there would either be riots involving the "grassroots" or a coup.

Riots were expected around November and would force the government to dissolve the House and organise an election in December, he said. Thaksin was expected to return after a snap poll regardless of its outcome.

Chief coalition whip Chinnaworn Boonyakiart reminded the government to take pre-emptive measures for a political storm that may erupt on Monday.

"The government should remain vigilant because the red shirts will submit the pardon petition on the same day as the judicial verdict on the rubber sapling case," he said.

Chinnaworn said the red shirts may want to stir up an opposition mob by timing their rally to coincide with the verdict.

Supporters of Newin Chidchob are expected to turn out in force to give him moral support during the verdict session at the Supreme Court opposite Sanam Luang, where the red-shirt rally is due to take place.

Red-shirt leader Veera Musigapong said organisers of the signature campaign would submit the petition to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary on Monday.

"The appointment has been made and there will be no changes," he said.

Veera said the red shirts would set up a stage at Sanam Luang to explain about their petition for an amnesty for Thaksin. About 2,000 red shirts would gather outside the Grand Palace and their eight leaders would lodge the petition with the Office, which is located inside the compound.

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