Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Energy News .




DEMOCRACY
Activists protest against Thai government amnesty bill
by Staff Writers
Bangkok (UPI) Oct 28, 2013


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Pro-government activists held a street demonstration to protest the administration's plan to grant amnesty to politicians alleged to have ordered the crackdown on demonstrators in 2010.

More than 200 Red Shirt activists disrupted traffic in Bangkok Sunday to protest what they called the "twisted amendment" to the amnesty bill, the Bangkok Post reported.

The Red Shirts appeared at an intersection for a discussion at a nearby McDonald's restaurant where they used to gather right after the crackdown three years ago.

It followed a protest Thursday by the normally pro-government Red Shirts against the amended amnesty bill, the Post reported.

Protesters called the bill a "blank check" that would write off the debt to those who suffered violence at the hands of security authorities.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung proposed the bill in April, saying it would heal the wounds of the past.

If passed by Parliament, all prisoners involved in political violence since the military coup Sept. 19, 2006, that toppled the government led by Thaksin Shinawatra, would be freed.

Amendments mean allegations against former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who led the Democrat Party and whom many people hold responsible for events during the 2010 crackdown, wouldn't be followed up.

A 73-year-old woman protester said she couldn't make peace with the ruling Pheu Thai Party for whom she voted, because of the blanket amnesty.

Thaksin, who lost power in the 2006 coup, was sentenced in 2008 to two years in prison for tax fraud, but fled Thailand rather than serve the sentence. He left an estimated $2 billion in frozen assets.

Since Thaksin left the country, his supporters have clashed with police many times, most notably in April and May 2010.

More than 90 people died and around 2,000 people were believed injured during the 2010 clashes when protesters blocked Bangkok's central old town streets for several weeks.

The fighting took place between security forces and the Thaksin-supporting Red Shirts and their political allies within the smaller United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship party.

The Red Shirts and their UFDD supporters were demanding the resignation of Abhisit and the reinstatement of Thaksin who often is credited with improving the financial situation of the poor, many of whom traveled into Bangkok to swell the ranks of the Red Shirts.

Supporters of Abhisit are called Yellow Shirts.

But the demonstrations turned violent when the army moved in to clear the streets.

The two-month extent and high number of deaths in the 2010 riots forced the government to set up a Truth for Reconciliation Commission.

Many Red Shirts would welcome the return of Thaksin, but abhor an amnesty for Abhisit who resigned after he lost the July 2011 election to Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.

Critics of her government claim her disgraced brother wields considerable political influence thanks to familial connections.

Yingluck gained a master's degree in political science from Kentucky State University in 1990 and was a successful businesswoman within the family businesses before becoming Thailand's first female prime minister.

.


Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








DEMOCRACY
Thousands protest Putin's crackdown in Russia
Moscow (AFP) Oct 27, 2013
Several thousand Russians marched through central Moscow on Sunday in a new protest at President Vladimir Putin's rule and a judicial crackdown against opponents. Chanting "Putin is a thief" and "Freedom to political prisoners!", protesters marched with flags and portraits of people seen as victims of political persecution, such as jailed former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, members of pu ... read more


DEMOCRACY
UC Researcher Proposes Classification System for Green Roofs

Weatherizing Homes to Uniform Standard Can Achieve $33 Billion in Annual Energy Savings

Business, labor urge German politicos to unite on energy transition

Russia switches Greenpeace piracy charge to 'hooliganism'

DEMOCRACY
Iraq oil exports plunge to 19-month low: ministry

Futuristic copper foam batteries get more bang for the buck

Thousands march in Romania against shale gas, gold mine

Real wildcatters go to Ethiopia to hunt for oil

DEMOCRACY
Spain launches first offshore wind turbine

Key German lawmaker: End renewable energy subsidies by 2020

Installation of the first AREVA turbines at Trianel Windpark Borkum and Global Tech 1

Trump's suit to halt wind farm project to be heard in November

DEMOCRACY
Scientists' new approach improves efficiency of solar cells

KYOCERA Announces 1000-Volt Solar PV Modules

Hanwha SolarOne Introduces a Residential Zep Compatible Solar Module in the US

NRG Energy Introduces Solar Canopy to Extend Energy Independence Beyond the Rooftop

DEMOCRACY
French energy giant signs uranium deal with Mongolia

Russia firms to build Jordan's first nuclear plant

Japan nuclear watchdog urges 'bold' Fukushima action

British nuclear deal opens new fronts for China atom firms

DEMOCRACY
The proteins in major biodiesel plant have been mapped - and it does not look good

The potential of straw for the energy mix has been underestimated

Scientists Identify Key Genes for Increasing Oil Content in Plant Leaves

Ethanol Safety Seminar Planned in Tacoma

DEMOCRACY
China launches experimental satellite Shijian-16

China Moon Rover A New Opportunity To Explore Our Nearest Neighbor

Is China Challenging Space Security

NASA's China policy faces mounting pressure

DEMOCRACY
Climate change and coevolution: We've done the math

Loss and damage from climate change

Reading ancient climate from plankton shells

Carbon cycle models underestimate indirect role of animals




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement