Privy Councillor, judge: no comment for UDD’s bid to seek royal pardon for Thaksin

BANGKOK, 6 July 2009 (NNT) – The Privy Councillor and Constitutional Court judge declined to make comments on the bid of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to seek royal pardon for fugitive Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Privy Councilor and former Supreme Court President Charnchai Likhitjitta said as a Privy Councillor, it would be inappropriate to comment on the issue. He elaborated that once the petition was submitted, it would be brought to the meeting of the Privy Councillors for consideration and the Privy Council would deal with the matter accordingly.

Meanwhile, one of the judges of the Constitutional Court, Jaran Pakdeethanakul also declined to comment on the issue, saying that his comment could be used in court by the accused if the matter was brought to court.

As for Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, he said it would be difficult for the UDD to process the petition via the Justice Ministry, saying that no one had ever done such a thing before. He said if the UDD would really submit the petition, he would have to check with the Correction Department to see if it was the correct procedure before forwarding it to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Royal Household Bureau accordingly.