Rice-pledging scheme: PM Yingluck won't acknowledge charges in person

[webfact]

NATIONAL ANTI-GRAFT COMMISSION
PM won't acknowledge charges in person
PIYANART SRIVALO
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- CARETAKER Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will not report to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to acknowledge charges related to the rice-pledging scheme as requested next Thursday, a government source said yesterday.

The source close to Yingluck, who asked not to be named, said the PM would send a representative team and submit a written clarification.

Yingluck had not discussed the NACC's decision to press charges against her with legal advisers, the source said. However, the team representing her would include Council of State members and attorneys, since she, as premier, is a government official.


-- The Nation 2014-02-20

[PaullyW]

Nobody is allowed to lose face! Nobody can therefore accept responsibility and apologize! Thainess summarized.

[Bluespunk]

Not show up in person. Well at least she's consistent.

[Robby nz]

Why not ?

Abhasit had to.

[Soutpeel]

Wouldnt have expected anything less from Dear YK, obviously too busy shopping for her up coming trip to Dubai..

[Dr Bruce]

Would Yingluk be safe if she were to show up in person. Who would supply security for her?

[PatOngo]

Run Yingluck Run

[Smiles]

Would Yingluk be safe if she were to show up in person. Who would supply security for her?

Red Shirts from the North has 5,000 to 6,000 guards at her disposal

[NongKhaiKid]

This woman is supposed to lead the country and fails at every turn.

She chairs committees she never attends, has no time to attend the House, ignores the Ombudsman and court decisions that don't suit her and on and on.

Any supposed rule of law clearly only applies to lesser mortals so why should she personally acknowledge charges against her ?

I don't know the NACC's powers and procedures but wouldn't it be nice if they could order her appearance and have what it takes to see if through ?

[NongKhaiKid]

Would Yingluk be safe if she were to show up in person. Who would supply security for her?

Are you saying the BIB, the military and her personal security detail aren't up to the task or is it you don't trust them ?

Anyway she's proved at any sign of problems she more than capable of legging it.

[Soutpeel]

Would Yingluk be safe if she were to show up in person. Who would supply security for her?

Pretty sure Suthep would gladly supply the security to ensure she turns up to face charges..

[Ricardo]

The caretaker-PM doesn't seem to 'do' personal-appearances, a family-trait perhaps ?

[looping]

Of course she won't show up, it's a family policy.

She may claim that it's not her fault because she wasn't there at the meetings.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[thesetat2013]

Without her there to contest the charges and explain her uhhh innocence she is free to lay not guilty claims and politically motivated charges the same way Thaksin does.

Either she flees to Dubai with her brother after conviction or sbe flees to the North under the protection of the PTP and possibly starts a civil war and splits Thailand in 2.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Dr Bruce]

This is Thailand and she knows that only politicians with her surname are ever found guilty and sent to prison.

[GeorgeO]

The NACC should go to the courts and ask then to issue a subpoena to ensure that she is there to accept the charges personally. She is once again showing significant contempt of court by sending someone else to accept the charges on her behalf.

Recall that when the EC waited patiently for her to respond to a request for a meeting, the PTP simply said that she had never received such a request. They probably believe they can use the same tactic here...!!

[Siripon]

This is Thailand and she knows that only politicians with her surname are ever found guilty and sent to prison.

I didn't know Thaksin was in jail, I thought he got bail and ran away.

I know Mr Rakiart, ex Minister of Health went to jail for corruption.

Could one reason she won't attend the hearing be because she is unable to answer the charges herself?

[dinom]

At least she is consistant in delegating others

[SABloke]

This is Thailand and she knows that only politicians with her surname are ever found guilty and sent to prison.

Which Shinawatra is or has ever been to prison?

[ramrod711]

Why not ?

Abhasit had to.

True, but then abhisit isn't the spoiled rotten darling of issan.

[ratcatcher]

This is Thailand and she knows that only politicians with her surname are ever found guilty and sent to prison.

And how many Shinawats are in jail?

[tonytigerbkk]

This is Thailand and she knows that only politicians with her surname are ever found guilty and sent to prison.

Are you on medication?

Do you know anything about the crimes of the Shin clan?

The puppet master has managed to avoid the major charges against him and for the 3 years that Yingluck served as Prime Minister she has managed to bleed the country dry through her family's greed without having to answer to anyone (apart from the Puppet master himself).

Throw in the irregularities in her bank account in 2009 and 2010 and you should be able to understand why this woman (and her family) should stand trial.

if the politicians with her surname are the main culprits of political crime, terrorism and corruption, why shouldn't they be found guilty?

If Yingluck has done nothing wrong then she has nothing to fear.

[SABloke]

This is Thailand and she knows that only politicians with her surname are ever found guilty and sent to prison.

I didn't know Thaksin was in jail, I thought he got bail and ran away.

I know Mr Rakiart, ex Minister of Health went to jail for corruption.

Could one reason she won't attend the hearing be because she is unable to answer the charges herself?

Don't laden him with such trivial things as facts.

Sent from my GT-S7270 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[chainarong]

The caretaker P.M. isn't one to do herself any favours , but not fronting the court you immediately get the impression Guilty, or I thumb my nose at anyone who questions, the Caretaker PM needs to understand that just like her brother she is only a number, shortly that number could be up.

[Davidhere]

This is Thailand and she knows that only politicians with her surname are ever found guilty and sent to prison.

No one with her surname, or her brother's wife's surname (Damapong), or her sister's husband surname (Wongsawat) has ever spent a day in prison; while other politicians have been found guilty and have spent time in prison.

[Fryslan boppe]

This woman is supposed to lead the country and fails at every turn.

She chairs committees she never attends, has no time to attend the House, ignores the Ombudsman and court decisions that don't suit her and on and on.

Any supposed rule of law clearly only applies to lesser mortals so why should she personally acknowledge charges against her ?

I don't know the NACC's powers and procedures but wouldn't it be nice if they could order her appearance and have what it takes to see if through ?

"This woman is supposed to lead the country and fails at every turn"

Huh!....Fails at every turn?...Who knew....Obviously the millions of voters have been duped.

Normally if a PM 'fails at every turn" they are turfed in system of electoral democracy.

But wait....Is it possible this quote is agenized, opposition mantra unrelated to reality?

Is it possible she has succeeded at every turn and voters reward her?

Either this quote is correct, or it is massive malignment and disrespect of the Thai electorate.

[patjem]

This woman is supposed to lead the country and fails at every turn.

She chairs committees she never attends, has no time to attend the House, ignores the Ombudsman and court decisions that don't suit her and on and on.

Any supposed rule of law clearly only applies to lesser mortals so why should she personally acknowledge charges against her ?

I don't know the NACC's powers and procedures but wouldn't it be nice if they could order her appearance and have what it takes to see if through ?

"This woman is supposed to lead the country and fails at every turn"

Huh!....Fails at every turn?...Who knew....Obviously the millions of voters have been duped.

Normally if a PM 'fails at every turn" they are turfed in system of electoral democracy.

But wait....Is it possible this quote is agenized, opposition mantra unrelated to reality?

Is it possible she has succeeded at every turn and voters reward her?

Either this quote is correct, or it is massive malignment and disrespect of the Thai electorate.

Where didn't she fail, troll?

- rice scam : check

- tablet policy : check

- amnesty bill : check

- off-the books mega loan : check

- floods (twice) : check

- turning up at parliament and most other engagements to 'run the country' : check

It is beggars belief that some people even try to defend such a <deleted> record of performance.

[zaphodbeeblebrox]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

This woman is supposed to lead the country and fails at every turn.

She chairs committees she never attends, has no time to attend the House, ignores the Ombudsman and court decisions that don't suit her and on and on.

Any supposed rule of law clearly only applies to lesser mortals so why should she personally acknowledge charges against her ?

I don't know the NACC's powers and procedures but wouldn't it be nice if they could order her appearance and have what it takes to see if through ?

The NACC should go to the courts and ask then to issue a subpoena to ensure that she is there to accept the charges personally. She is once again showing significant contempt of court by sending someone else to accept the charges on her behalf.

Recall that when the EC waited patiently for her to respond to a request for a meeting, the PTP simply said that she had never received such a request. They probably believe they can use the same tactic here...!!

The NACC has only leveled charges and her personal appearance is not required, although it might help her PR image. If the charges are sustained, she will be indicted which would require her to appear in court, unless she does a runner. She could also be impeached.

[mijan24]

This is Thailand and she knows that only politicians with her surname are ever found guilty and sent to prison.

Small point of order required - "found guilty (yes) - sent to prison - now this raises a question mark - sentenced (yes) but sent (no) - took off with 130 suitcases (yes). - keep your eye on the excess baggage counter at Swampy for further updates.

[geriatrickid]

It is not recommended that a PM participate in what is essentially a legal procedure. It is accepted practice for the attorney general or a representative of the AG or another designated government legal counsel to appear.

It is also very unusual for a sitting PM/President to appear in court to answer such charges. In recent times, it hasn't happened in the UK, Canada, Australia, South Korea, USA etc. One of the more recent cases in a parliamentary democracy where a charge of malfeasance was brought, was that of the disgraced Lord Black in 2001. He sued the sitting PM of Canada for abuse of power, misfeasance in public office and negligence. He also sued the Government of Canada, represented by the Attorney General of Canada, for negligent misrepresentation. The PM of Canada did not appear in court on what was a significant constitutional issue.