His idea of granting amnesty for the 111 Thai Rak Thai executives slapped with comprehensive political bans sounded more like self-serving political appeasement than a genuine desire for political harmony.

General Sonthi's sudden offer of an olive branch to his political foes last week caught everybody by surprise. Even some of those in the CNS confessed they were stunned by General Sonthi's overture - not to mention those who believed that justice had been served in the electoral fraud case against Thai Rak Thai. Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont, obviously aware of the sensitivity of the issue, essentially distanced himself from the Army chief's idea despite General Sonthi's claim that it in fact had his support. But the prime minister made it abundantly clear in an interview that his government was not going to introduce an amnesty bill.

General Sonthi then struggled to justify his suggestion, saying an amnesty would bring about badly needed political healing ahead of the general election scheduled for the end of the year. He dismissed concerns that he was succumbing to pressure from his colleagues in the CNS who allegedly have made a political pact with some Thai Rak Thai turncoats.

It's an open secret that certain elements within the CNS are pursuing their own political agendas. They were reportedly instrumental in convincing breakaway Thai Rak Thai groups to band together under the umbrella of the so-called "Matchima Party" led by Somsak Thepsuthin. This was seen as an attempt by the coup-makers to dismantle the political machine left behind by Thaksin and to pave the way for politicians sympathetic to the CNS generals to attain power.

The former Thai Rak Thai executives had gone as far as settling for Somkid Jatusripitak, a prominent member of the Thaksin administration and a former loyalist of the deposed prime minister, to head their new party and vie for the premiership. But their whole scheme crumbled with the ruling by the Constitution Tribunal, which put an end to the political rights of all executives of the former ruling party.

While the verdict was condemned by Thai Rak Thai members and their supporters, it was widely celebrated as a triumph for the rule of law. One might argue against the legal basis on which Thai Rak Thai and three other small parties were punished, but one cannot definitely dispute the overwhelming evidence that led to the conviction.

Thai people have been lamenting the inability of the law to hold politicians accountable for their wrongdoings. More often than not, political interference or the tendency towards compromise in the name of political unity has allowed corrupt politicians to go scot-free.

The Constitution Tribunal, comprising the country's most able and widely respected judges, has set a precedent by bringing to justice those who committed blatant political crimes. More significantly, the judges have also upheld the sanctity of the laws governing political parties by ruling that the Thai Rak Thai Party could not possibly deny responsibility for the wrongdoings of its executives.

One must not forget the arrogance of power displayed by the Thaksin government. The bribing of small parties to run in the April 2 election last year, by two of Thai Rak Thai's most senior executives, is a classic example of how dangerous runaway political power can be. The tribunal made it clear that it was nothing short of an undermining of the democratic system.

But the CNS chairman, with his amnesty proposal, was effectively going to put a damper on what should have been a landmark ruling. It seemed General Sonthi was willing to trade the rule of law for political expediency. It was both ill-timed and unwarranted - having come from someone who only weeks ago was still trying to portray himself as a champion of cleaner politics. It would also have betrayed what he had repeatedly claimed to be his desire to see the emergence of a new generation of politicians, once their old-school predecessors were wiped out through the judicial process.

However, the strong backlash has had the effect of forcing General Sonthi to backtrack. While still adamant about the need to pardon former Thai Rak Thai executives to pave the way for political reconciliation, Sonthi admits the timing is bad and regrets it might cast a shadow on the verdict.

But he has already kicked up a major storm - that will haunt him for some time to come.

The dust will not settle until it dawns on him that there is much more at stake for the country than appeasing a group of restless politicians, and that the rule of law is far more important than short-term political gains.

Thepchai Yong