Suspicions about renegade legal group

THE NATION September 28, 2011 8:09 am

Legal experts yesterday suspected the ulterior motives behind a proposal by a small group of legal scholars who are seeking invalidation of judicial decisions resulting from the military coup of 2006.

They expressed their suspicions that the move by the group, which calls itself Nitirat (Citizens of Law), appeared to be benefiting certain politicians rather than the country as a whole, contrary to the claim of the group.

The Lawyers Council of Thailand yesterday issued a statement that the Nitirat group's proposal would annul the negative impacts on those corrupt politicians, which would only benefit the politicians rather than society as a whole.

The council called on members of the public to closely monitor the group's next moves.

"The Lawyers Council of Thailand disagrees with the Nitirat group's proposal, which could lead to social division," said Sak Korsaengruang, chairman of the lawyers' council. He noted that Nitirat consisted of only seven people and that many of their fellow law experts at Thammasat University disagreed with their move.

In the council's view, Nitirat's proposal seeking annulment of judicial decisions resulting from the coup would be selective, benefiting certain groups of people favoured by the legal scholars, instead of being applied universally, according to Sak.

He said the council was against overthrowing a legitimate government as it was against the democratic principle. However, he added, the council also disagreed with an elected government that abuses its power by dominating Parliament and influencing the mass media and independent organisations.

Sak said the coup resulted in many beneficial court decisions and laws, adding the current government and Parliament also came into existence as a result of the coup.

In a related development, Thammasat University rector Somkit Lertpaithoon posed 15 questions in his Facebook account to Nitirat regarding its controversial proposal.

He asked whether the asset-concealment case against fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, in which he was acquitted by the Constitution Court with a slim majority, could be retried, as many people were convinced the verdict was wrong. Another question was, "When the Constitution Court ruled in favour of Thaksin, it was fine but when the court ruled against him, it was wrong, wasn't it?"

The rector also asked whether Nitirat considered anything, including the Constitution, that stems from the coup bad, except for the current government.

"Is it true that by implementing Nitirat's proposal, Thaksin will be spared all the legal impacts?" read Somkit's question No 7.

Meanwhile, Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday voiced his opposition to Nitirat's proposal that the Penal Code's Article 112 regarding lese majeste be amended.

"I see no need to amend Article 112 regarding the monarchy. The institution has never harmed anybody but has rather contributed to the country," he said.

The Army chief also called on members of the public to closely follow the matter to determine Nitirat's real intention behind their move.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/new/national/Suspicions-about-renegade-legal-group-30166311.html

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