United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship
Statement
Proposing a draft of amnesty decree for political convicts and political defendants due to political conflicts from 1st January 2007 to 31st December 2012 to Government of H.E. Yingluck Shinawatra
As The coup d’état of September 19th 2006 executed by the Council of Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM), later renamed the Council of National Security (CNS), provoked political turmoil and caused a great divide in Thailand. This split was manifested in the form of mass political movements, which divide Thai People into factions.
One faction advocated for the overthrow of a democratically-elected government and continue to defend the military coup on the grounds that the deposed government was led by “Crony Capitalist” and won elections by deception, vote-bribery and the ignorance of the electorate. People adhering to this faction could not accept the government despite the fact that it had been elected by a majority of voters. Consequently, there were large political rallies, which led to violence, arrests, criminal charges, injuries and, in the most tragic of cases, loss of lives.
Another group of people objected to the September 19th 2006 coup d’état. They started a political movement that defied those who commenced, prepared, executed, and supported the coup d’état and its aftermath. This faction views the coup d’état and the post-coup intrusions such as appointing on Thailand’s democracy as the acts of an aristocratic network. The movement initiated a political struggles against the effects of a coup d’état that saw a military junta overthrow a democratically elected government, tear down the 1997 Constitution, appoint a puppet government and a committee to write a new constitution in order to control state apparatuses to suit the beliefs and interests of the acting aristocratic network.
The people’s struggle to resist these processes persists. There were injuries, deaths, disappearances and thousands of criminal cases against common men. The repercussions of this political unrest have been felt by the entirety of Thai society that has since witnessed the violent suppression of protesters, street massacres, and the imprisonment their fellow citizens on both sides of the conflict.
Although the UDD does no agree with the political actions taken by some people in the pro-coup faction that has brought about indescribable damage to Thailand and her people, they are fellow Thai Citizens and they are not leaders who have authority and ultimate responsibility for these actions.
Amnesty must be granted for common men on both sides, but not for leaders who has authority and ultimate responsibility for these actions.
Until now, we have witnessed a people’s struggle that has caused pain, suffering, death, imprisonment, and conviction. Since the current democratically elected government has shown that it can run smoothly for more than a year, it is time to consider our proposed draft amnesty decree which we believe would end the suffering stemming from the judicial process, imprisonment and conviction, that has afflicted both sides of the conflict. Furthermore, this would bring political, economic and social stability to the fragile situation of Thailand, since people in each group feel that they are not being treated fairly due to political biases and post-coup policies of the unlawfully-appointed government that have corrupted the investigative process and the rule of law. This has created anger and sorrow in the hearts of prisoners. They have been locked up in jails while their rights to bail and to defend their cases in a fair judicial processes are denied repeatedly. They are depressed. Some died in their cell, some are mentally ill, some are furious due to their view that their cases are falsified.
Considering the concerns listed above, the UDD feels that a continuation of the status quo will do irreparable damage to the people of Thailand and future political, economical and social stability. All we see is suffering which this government can relieve in part if it is willing. The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship urge the Government of Her Excellency Prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to consider this draft amnesty decree and to put it into effect as soon as possible and urge the Parliament to see the people’s suffering and ultimately approve this decree when it goes to the Parliament. These actions would be big steps towards a sustainable solution for Thai Society.
With All Due Respect,
United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship
United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship
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(Draft)
Royal Decree on Amnesty of Political Convicts and Political Defendant due to political conflicts from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2012, B.E. …… (....A.D)
(Draft)
Royal Decree on Amnesty of Political Convicts and Political Defendant due to political conflicts from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2012, B.E. …… (....A.D)
Article 1: This Decree shall be cited as “Royal Decree on Amnesty of Political Convicts and Political Defendant due to Political conflicts from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2012, B.E…… (…..A.D.)”.
Article 2: This Decree shall come into force as from the day following the date of its publication in Royal Thai Governmental Gazette.
Article 3: All person who has been charged of commit any criminal crime due to political conflicts from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2012, whether they are already convicted, or are on judicial processes which have not been convicted yet, shall be declared as innocent, and shall be free of any responsibility to their charge.
The provision of the preceding paragraph shall not include the leaders who have authority or are in charge of political movements during that time.
Article 4: The Prime Minister shall be in charge of this Decree
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(Remark) Political contradiction and Expression of Political idea are endorsed in 2007 Constitution of Thailand. Thus, if people commit misdemeanor due to political contradiction, they should be granted amnesty for their criminal cases, except for the leaders who have authority or are in charge of political movements during that time, so Thailand could becomes a true constitutional monarchy country of democracy.
