Originally Posted by Bangkok Post
Should Gen Sonthi be allowed to have his way to pardon "The Thai Rak Thai 111," months of the tribunal's deliberation of the historic case, condensed into 10 hours of verdict reading, would amount to a total waste.
When Council for National Security commander Sonthi Boonyaratkalin floated the idea of seeking amnesty for the banned executives of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party, many were left scratching their heads and wondering about the real intentions of the top brass.
The idea was obviously ill-timed and ill-conceived and top brass are inviting trouble by defending the idea as a reconciliatory move. So what was running through Gen Sonthi's mind when he was struck with the idea of a pardon?
Where is the sanctity of the Constitution Tribunal's verdict and respect for the institution entrusted to deliver justice so lacking in today's free-wheeling politics?
It does not appear to make an ounce of sense to defend the idea as a reconciliatory move either. It should be a matter of letting justice take its course and making the wrongdoers face the consequences.
At first, it gave the impression that the tables had finally turned with the Thai Rak Thai suddenly going under. But when Gen Sonthi was seen to be trying to rescue the party executives from a five-year ban, during which period they would be barred from engaging in any political activities as a result of their alleged involvement in electoral fraud in the April 2 general election, even the wisest political pundits were baffled.
Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra happens to be one of the 111 banned executives.
It is all the more puzzling why a pardon was even being mentioned when it was the CNS which was the one which had spent so much energy and effort in preventing Mr Thaksin's return to power.
Gen Sonthi has reasoned in his own defence in calling for a pardon that not all the TRT executives had a hand in the bankrolling of small parties that took part in the general election to help Thai Rak Thai. But the executives should be held accountable, both in theory and practice, because they had proceeded together as a team. One simply could not distance oneself from the pack for a collective decision gone wrong.
Gen Sonthi, according to a source, said a certain individual, whom he refused to name, had recommended the amnesty idea to him. Could the amnesty idea be the CNS' response to a verdict which defied its expectations?
The CNS was said to have been inclined to believe that both the Thai Rak Thai and Democrat parties would be dissolved.
The CNS could have analysed some significant events incorrectly, including His Majesty the King's address to the Supreme Administrative Court judges, which had taken place prior to the May 30 judgement day, and concluded that the tribunal would only punish individual executives linked to election fraud and spare the parties from dissolution.
There are others who also believe that the CNS could have influenced the tribunal's decision on the case. It had been reported that Gen Sonthi had met Supreme Administrative Court president Ackaratorn Chularat, concurrently the Constitution Tribunal vice-president, on May 29. Gen Sonthi, however, denied that he was lobbying Mr Ackaratorn over the dissolution trial, saying it was a casual get-together of two Muslims for a round of merit-making.
But will anyone buy it?
The outcome of the trial, however, has led to perceptions that the CNS sided with the Democrats, which pulled through, as a reward for the party's support of the Sept 19 military coup which toppled Mr Thaksin.
A source in the CNS has insisted that this was not the case as the dissolution verdict against Thai Rak Thai, which is the Democrats' gain, could also bring trouble for the CNS in the long run.
An army source close to the CNS said support at the polls could now swing in the Democrats' favour although questions remained about its leader Abhisit Vejjajiva's ability to run the country as prime minister.
If Mr Abhisit proves to be a weak leader, Mr Thaksin would make a comeback sooner than expected, and that would also mean trouble for the CNS.
To fight that future adversary, it would be unreasonable then not to build some political immunity. To do so may require establishing a connection with politicians so as to capitalise on their backing later.
The Matchima group headed by Somsak Thepsuthin, a former Thai Rak Thai stalwart also listed as one of the 111 banned executives, is thought to be in regular contact with the CNS.
In fact, Gen Sonthi and Defence Minister Gen Boonrawd Somtas have already discussed the country's political affairs with Mr Somsak and other Matchima leaders, including Phinij Jarusombat and Preecha Laohapongchana, on many occasions.
Some of the TRT politicians were hoping that the council would at least help to protect them from the five-year political activities ban, and that included Mr Somsak, who ''felt cheated,'' said the source. The May 30 verdict has halted the political manoeuvrings for now, unless, of course, an amnesty is passed to get the ball rolling again.
