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de gule er på gaden igen klar til kamp stakles thailand
Supporters of the anti-red shirt Network for Citizen Volunteers Protecting the Land gathered at Lumpini Park on Rama IV Road on Friday evening, opposing any move to pardon former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the People's Alliance for Democracy announced plans for a mass protest on Monday
The rally began about 5pm, and about 1,000 people quickly gathered.
Organisers said they expected many office workers from Silom Road and nearby areas to join the rally.
Tul Sithisomwong, leader of the network, called for people nationwide who disagreed with the proposed decree to sign their names to a protest list and submit it to their provincial governor on Sunday.
He said supporters of the would later gather at Government House on Monday, from 9am, and submit lists of all the names to put pressure on the government.
The People’s Alliance for Democracy plans a mass rally on Monday against the government’s proposed royal decree, PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan said.
Mr Panthep said supporters of the yellow-shirt people group will gather against the “law for Thaksin” in front of the Office of the Council of State from 11am to 6pm on Monday.
Further details of the rally will be confirmed on Saturday, he added.
The Council of State has the task of scrutinising the draft royal decree to ensure it does not violate the law.
Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit, the interior minister, rejected the many claims by the government's opponents, media commentators, academics and the expressed worries of the business community, that the proposed King's Birthday royal pardon decree is aimed at helping fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra evade a two-year jail sentence for abuse of power while in office.
All people eligible to benefit from the decree must meet the criteria set down, therefore this law was not aimed at helping any particular person, he said. It would benefit about 25,000 people convicted of offences.
Mr Yongyuth said the cabinet did not take advantage of the distraction caused by the flood to quickly push through the controversial decree, as alleged.
Asked about the PAD protest rally on Monday, the interior minister said all people have the constitutional right of assembly.
Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said in an interview with Reuters at his residence in Dubai that he had no knowledge about the controversial pardon decree, Post Today website reported.
“I have no idea about it. It’s a secret issue in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Everything rests with the decision of the high institution,” he said.
The cabinet on Tuesday approved the royal decree seeking clemency for some convicts on His Majesty the King's birthday, Dec 5.
On Thursday, senior officials of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) made it clear they think the government is wrong to push through its controversial decree for the annual royal pardons to mark the King's birthday on Dec 5.
TCC acting chairman Pongsak Assakul said the cabinet's timing was way off in pushing ahead at this time with a royal decree widely criticised as being intended to help fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The Pheu Thai-led coalition government should focus its priorities on rapidly solving the problems caused by the widespread flooding, rehabilitation of the flooded areas and assistance for flood victims, Mr Pongsak said.
TCC vice chairman Pornsilp Phatcharintanakul took the same tone, saying that the business sector did not want the proposed royal decree to be pushed ahead at this time.
The attempt to seek royal clemency for a group of convicts who would include Thaksin could lead to unrest in the country.
If the anti-Thaksin groups take to the streets in protest it would damage investors' confidence in the country, he said.
“The government should think of the country’s image. It should also try to ensure a balance between politics and the economic and social sectors, otherwise there could be a serious problem.
“The government should think twice about whether to move forward with the planned amnesty. It is now clearly seen that the decree is opposed by several parties and the situation could worsen,” said Mr Pornsilp.
FTI chairman Pongsak Chartsutthipol said the proposed royal decree would be both supported and opposed by the various groups, and a peaceful joint solution was needed.
“The private sector does not want to see any more pictures of conflict as it would not be good for the country.
"The government must be careful in making a decision on this matter,” he said.
In the North, the coordinator of the local United front for Democracy against Dictatorship in Uttaradit, Pannawat Nakmoon, declared that red-shirts, in fact most grassroots people in the province, supported the cabinet.
The widespread flooding had severely damaged the country and if Thaksin could just return to Thailand, he would quickly lift the country out of the flood crisis.
The former prime minister was capable of restoring confidence of both Thai and foreign investors and of preventing a recurrence of the flood, he added.
Mr Pannawat called on all parties to give Thaksin an opportunity to return home.
The UDD coordinator said Thaksin had not done any wrong thing and has to stay in foreign countries only because he was defamed by his political opponents.
“The country is now facing a crisis and is in need of capable people to deal with it. All parties should help bring Thaksin back to work for the country,” Mr Pannawat said, adding that he believed Thaksin’s return would lead to a national reconciliation.
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