The government needs to seriously rethink the DSI proposal of amnesty for supposedly non-violent red-shirt detainees.
First of all, the public was repeatedly informed that peaceful red-shirt activists were never arrested in the first place, so who are these "non-violent" detainees? Can they be men arrested for disturbances around Rama IV and Din Daeng during the Army actions of May 14-19? Do they include men resisting the Army in the Lumpini area during its advance of May 19? Do they include men arrested for weapons possession at the rally site?
If this amnesty plan includes any of those men, then it's a slap in the face to justice. I understand Prime Minister Abhisit wants to move forward with reconciliation, but reconciliation does not mean bending over backwards to appease red-shirt sentiment. The prime minister must not forget that the majority of this country did not support this rally, and most Thais who are peaceful, law-abiding citizens need to know that people who broke the law will be punished, not, once again, be excused and forgiven.
Reconciliation cannot move forward if the government does not enforce laws. Many red-shirt detainees are capable of violence and will be ready to commit violent acts again if given the opportunity. Red-shirt leader Arisman was released on bail after the Songkran riots of 2009, only to commit even worse crimes. Thank goodness the DSI is excluding red-shirt leaders from amnesty this time around, but leniency for lesser offenders may not be a good idea either. These offenders' sentences, which are as short as a few months in jail, are already lenient enough. The message the government should be sending is: 'The law will be enforced'. Not 'forgive and forget'.
Finally, if there's to be any amnesty, the public has a right to know exactly who is being amnestied and what were they detained for. The people of Thailand deserve that much.
Abhisit needs to understand that when the dust settles and the voices of hysteria die down, no reasonable person will remember him as a tyrant or some hard-line monster. Instead history may judge him for being too lenient and weak in the moment his country needed him to be just and strong.
BANGKOKDAVE
BANGKOK
Amnesty only for those who deserve it
Amnesty should be granted only to any red shirt not suspected of terrorism. They should, however: Be made aware of the jeopardy that their leaders led them into; say in what way they participated in the rally; say why they participated; say what they were paid; acknowledge that they broke the law; tell of any weapons they saw; and accept that a repetition will be treated harshly.
Which country in the world gives bail to terrorists or suspected terrorists? If the people charged with terorism are given bail, the prosecution is not serious and they may as well be released now. Arisman is a good example of what happens if you give bail to the undeserving
RICHARD BOWLER
BANGKOK
Exploited have given us a wake-up call
Re: "Won't make do with karma anymore", Letters, June 15.
The current unrest in Thailand results from underprivileged Thais being exploited by those politicians who have lost governing power, and not due to rhetorical terms like "culture clash", "wealth gap", "income gap", "rural and urban divide", or "class war" as most Westerners like to pigeonhole the conflict. The underprivileged were there for politicians to manipulate in their attacks on those in power. However, once the mayhem is over, (temporary in the eyes of the pessimists), the poor will return to their belief in karma. They are not the types to carry a grudge for being poor and create daily havoc in our society.
However, the unrest is a wake-up call for the elites to start to care and to respect the poor as our fellow human beings. The elites have now been reminded of the goodness of Isaan people, without whom their enriched lives could not function. They [the poor] should be fairly cared for and compensated and given greater opportunities to better their lives. This wake-up call is the only benefit we have received from the recent losses. Ignoring the call will be at our own peril.
SONGDEJ PRADITSMANONT
BANGKOK