ที่มา FB Yingluck Shinawatra
ตามที่ศาลฎีกาแผนกคดีอาญาของผู้ดำรงตำแหน่งทางการเมือง ได้มีคำสั่งประทับรับฟ้องคดีที่อัยการสูงสุดเป็นโจทก์ฟ้องดิฉันในคดีเกี่ยวกับการดำเนินนโยบายโครงการรับจำนำข้าวในวันนี้นั้น
ตลอดระยะเวลาที่ดิฉันปฏิบัติหน้าที่นายกรัฐมนตรีนั้น ดิฉันทำงานด้วยความซื่อสัตย์สุจริต รับใช้พี่น้องประชาชนตามที่ได้รับการเลือกตั้งเข้ามาด้วยอุดมการณ์ที่เชื่อมั่นในระบอบประชาธิปไตยอันมีพระมหากษัตริย์เป็นประมุข และได้ดำเนินการตามอำนาจหน้าที่อย่างครบถ้วนถูกต้องเป็นไปตามบทบัญญัติของรัฐธรรมนูญ ข้อกฎหมาย ตลอดจนกฎระเบียบ ข้อบังคับ ของทางราชการทุกประการ และต้องการเห็นประเทศชาติเจริญก้าวหน้า ทุกคนมีโอกาสที่เท่าเทียมกัน โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งชาวไร่ชาวนาที่ถูกเอารัดเอาเปรียบมาโดยตลอด
ดิฉันขอยืนยันอีกครั้งว่า คดีโครงการรับจำนำข้าวเปลือกที่กล่าวหาดิฉันนี้ ถือเป็นคดีแรกที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการจัดทำนโยบายเศรษฐกิจพื้นฐานของประเทศ อันเป็นนโยบายที่ประชาชนได้มอบหมายความไว้วางใจตามวิถีทางในระบอบประชาธิปไตยให้ดิฉันมาดำเนินการ และเมื่อมีการเสนอนโยบายดังกล่าวต่อประชาชนและเกิดเป็น “ฉันทามติ” ของประชาชนที่ต้องการให้ “กลไกตลาด” เป็นธรรม สะท้อนความเป็นจริงและยกระดับคุณภาพชีวิตของชาวนา เพราะที่ผ่านมาชาวนาเป็นผู้ผลิตไม่สามารถกำหนดราคาผลผลิตของตนเองในตลาดได้ การกำหนดราคาตกอยู่ในมือของผู้ซื้อโดยสิ้นเชิง คดีนี้จึงเป็นคดีที่จะมีผลกระทบต่อระบบเศรษฐกิจ การเมือง ตลอดจนเกษตรกรและประชาชนอย่างกว้างขวาง ทั้งยังมีผลต่อบรรทัดฐานและการตัดสินใจในการจัดทำนโยบายที่จะช่วยเหลือประชาชนในอนาคต
ดิฉันขอตั้งข้อสังเกตต่อเรื่องสิทธิในกระบวนการยุติธรรม โดยเฉพาะ “หลักนิติธรรม” ที่พึงต้องปฏิบัติต่อบุคคลที่ถูกกล่าวหาเพื่ออำนวยความยุติธรรมนั้น ได้ขาดหายไปในคดีที่เกี่ยวกับตัวดิฉัน เห็นได้จากรายงานและสำนวนคดีพร้อมความเห็นของคณะกรรมการ ป.ป.ช. เองก็ระบุอย่างชัดเจนว่า “ไม่มีพยานหลักฐานว่าดิฉันกระทำการทุจริตหรือสมยอมให้ผู้ใดทุจริต” แต่ก็มีการชี้มูลความผิดกับดิฉัน และก่อนหน้าที่อัยการสูงสุดจะฟ้องคดี อัยการสูงสุดได้ชี้ข้อไม่สมบูรณ์ของคดีนี้หลายเรื่องตามที่เป็นข่าวทราบกันโดยทั่วไป และต่อมาทั้งที่ทางอัยการยังไม่ได้มีการสืบพยานหลักฐานให้เสร็จสิ้นก่อนที่จะฟ้องคดีนี้ แต่กลับมีการเร่งรีบที่จะส่งฟ้อง ซึ่งแสดงให้เห็นถึงความไม่เป็นไปตามกระบวนการปกติที่ต้องให้ความเป็นธรรมกับผู้ถูกกล่าวหา
อย่างไรก็ดี แม้เมื่อศาลฎีกาฯ มีคำสั่งประทับฟ้องคดีนี้ ดิฉันมั่นใจในความบริสุทธิ์และเชื่อมั่นในพยานหลักฐานที่จะนำมาพิสูจน์ความจริงต่อศาลตามขั้นตอนกระบวนการพิจารณาคดีของศาลตามที่กฎหมายกำหนดว่า ดิฉันมิได้กระทำความผิดใดๆทั้งสิ้น
ดิฉันเพียงหวังว่าในการพิจารณาคดีในชั้นศาลฎีกาฯ ดิฉันจะมีสิทธิที่จะเข้าถึงกระบวนการยุติธรรมอย่างแท้จริง และมีโอกาสเสนอข้อเท็จจริง ข้อโต้แย้ง และพยานหลักฐานของดิฉันในการต่อสู้คดีอย่างเพียงพอ
ที่สำคัญดิฉันขอให้มีการพิจารณาอย่างถูกต้อง โปร่งใส และเป็นธรรม ปราศจากอคติใดๆ เพราะตลอดระยะเวลาที่ผ่านมาดิฉันเห็นว่า ดิฉันยังไม่ได้รับสิทธิในกระบวนการยุติธรรมในชั้นที่ถูกกล่าวหา และมีวัตถุประสงค์ทางการเมืองที่จะทำลายดิฉันเข้ามาแทรกซ้อนโดยตลอด
สุดท้ายนี้ ดิฉันขอเรียกร้องให้ทุกฝ่ายได้โปรดยุติการวิพากษ์วิจารณ์ใดๆ หยุดกดดันหรือชี้นำเพื่อประโยชน์ทางการเมือง จนกว่ากระบวนการพิจารณาคดีของศาลฎีกาฯ จะเสร็จสิ้น เพื่อให้ความเป็นธรรมกลับคืนสู่สังคมไทยต่อไป
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Statement by Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra 28th Prime Minister of Thailand (Unofficial Translation)
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Person Holding Political Position has decided to accept the indictment for further proceedings against me on charges of negligence in the rice pledging scheme.
Throughout my time as Prime Minister, I did my job serving all Thais with utmost honesty and integrity based on the principles of democracy with a constitutional monarchy. I also adhered strictly to all clauses as stipulated in the constitution and all related laws and regulations. I only wished to see our country prosper where all Thais are given equal opportunities, in particular the rice farmers, as they have long suffered from unfair treatment.
I would like to empathize here again that the accusations directed towards me under the rice pledging policy sets a new precedent. It is the first case related to the implementation of fundamental economic policy that was supported by the majority of Thais under the principles of democracy. The rice pledging scheme helped promote fairness in the market mechanism and enhance the living standards of the rice farmers. Prior to the scheme, the farmers worked hard as producers but had no influence on the price in the market as the bargaining power was all in the hands of small group of buyers. Therefore, the case does not only directly affect the economic and political systems but more importantly, the decision of future governments on the implementation of policies for the benefits of all Thai citizens.
I noted that “rule of law” was not applied in the proceedings in my case, which should be a basic right of all Thais in order to ensure justice for the accused. As evident in the incident where the report and finding materials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) stated that “the evidence that I engaged in corruption or allowed for corruption to take place does not exist” but they made the decision to indict me in spite of making such statement. Subsequently, the Office of the Auditor’s General also failed to undertake sufficient investigation and rushed to file the charges. These procedures and actions indicate that the accused did not received justice.
Despite the fact that the Supreme Court has decided to accept the charges, I remain confident that I am innocent and I believe in the evidence that will be presented during the court proceedings that will prove that I am not guilty of any wrongdoing.
I can only hope that the Supreme Court proceedings will be fair and I will be given access and adequate opportunity to present facts and evidence to support my case while on trial. More importantly, I hope that the Supreme Court proceed the case with a view to achieve accurate findings and do so in a transparent manner free from any prejudice. This is because I feel that in the past I have not been given such rights and there were frequent political interference in the case in order to target me personally.
Finally, I would like to kindly request that all sides refrain from any criticisms or engage in actions for political gain until the completion of the trial, so that justice may one day return to the Thai society.
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Person Holding Political Position has decided to accept the indictment for further proceedings against me on charges of negligence in the rice pledging scheme.
Throughout my time as Prime Minister, I did my job serving all Thais with utmost honesty and integrity based on the principles of democracy with a constitutional monarchy. I also adhered strictly to all clauses as stipulated in the constitution and all related laws and regulations. I only wished to see our country prosper where all Thais are given equal opportunities, in particular the rice farmers, as they have long suffered from unfair treatment.
I would like to empathize here again that the accusations directed towards me under the rice pledging policy sets a new precedent. It is the first case related to the implementation of fundamental economic policy that was supported by the majority of Thais under the principles of democracy. The rice pledging scheme helped promote fairness in the market mechanism and enhance the living standards of the rice farmers. Prior to the scheme, the farmers worked hard as producers but had no influence on the price in the market as the bargaining power was all in the hands of small group of buyers. Therefore, the case does not only directly affect the economic and political systems but more importantly, the decision of future governments on the implementation of policies for the benefits of all Thai citizens.
I noted that “rule of law” was not applied in the proceedings in my case, which should be a basic right of all Thais in order to ensure justice for the accused. As evident in the incident where the report and finding materials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) stated that “the evidence that I engaged in corruption or allowed for corruption to take place does not exist” but they made the decision to indict me in spite of making such statement. Subsequently, the Office of the Auditor’s General also failed to undertake sufficient investigation and rushed to file the charges. These procedures and actions indicate that the accused did not received justice.
Despite the fact that the Supreme Court has decided to accept the charges, I remain confident that I am innocent and I believe in the evidence that will be presented during the court proceedings that will prove that I am not guilty of any wrongdoing.
I can only hope that the Supreme Court proceedings will be fair and I will be given access and adequate opportunity to present facts and evidence to support my case while on trial. More importantly, I hope that the Supreme Court proceed the case with a view to achieve accurate findings and do so in a transparent manner free from any prejudice. This is because I feel that in the past I have not been given such rights and there were frequent political interference in the case in order to target me personally.
Finally, I would like to kindly request that all sides refrain from any criticisms or engage in actions for political gain until the completion of the trial, so that justice may one day return to the Thai society.
ooo
Steve Herman
March 19, 2015 12:10 AM
March 19, 2015 12:10 AM
Voice of America
BANGKOK—
Thailand's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a criminal case against the country's last elected prime minister could proceed. If convicted, Yingluck Shinawatra could be imprisoned for a decade. Her supporters see this as part of the junta's campaign to permanently eliminate the Shinawatra clan from Thai politics.
Thailand's Supreme Court has set May 19 as the date for the first court hearing in a criminal case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
The high court, in announcing acceptance of the case from the attorney general's office, declared it had jurisdiction.
Yingluck was forced from office shortly before last year's military coup. She is accused of dereliction of duty and negligence in connection with a bungled rice-pledging scheme. Her government paid farmers twice the market rate for their crops.
The project was popular among her core rural supporters in the north, who primarily compose the Red Shirt movement, as opposed to the Yellow Shirts, favored by the Bangkok middle class and staunch monarchists.
On her Facebook page shortly after the Supreme Court announcement, Yingluck defended the scheme, saying that it had benefited farmers and "I did nothing wrong."
The rice subsidy plan was the catalyst for a junta-appointed legislative assembly in January to impeach Yingluck -- a move intended to ban her automatically from politics for a five-year period. A criminal conviction could put her behind bars for years beyond that period.
Kyoto University associate professor Pavin Chachalvalpongpun, speaking to VOA from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, sees the case as a way for the military to justify its takeover of the government and the Constitutional Court's ordering Yingluck to step down prior to the coup.
“But I think this is quite dangerous because it could be counter-productive against the military junta, as well. Because more and more people look at it and see that this is a case once again of injustice, a double standard,” said Pavin.
Pavin, with the university's Center for Southeast Asian Studies, and who is considered a fugitive by Thailand's military junta, said Yingluck is unlikely to get a fair trial. He contends the judiciary in Thailand has been greatly politicized since 2008, when Yingluck's brother, Thaksin, was convicted on a corruption charge two years after a coup ousted him as prime minister.
There is growing speculation Yingluck might also flee the country to avoid imprisonment, as her brother did. Pavin said the junta and the judiciary might not mind her doing that.
“Considering that Yingluck is still very much popular and any difficult or harsh verdict against her would bring up that level of sympathy among the Red Shirt supporters that might not be good for the military government. In the military and in the judge's hearts they might want her to run away like her brother," he said.
Yingluck has insisted she will remain in the country to fight the charges against her.
The Shinawatras, or political parties supported by them, have won every election in Thailand since 2001.
The current prime minister, retired general Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the May 2014 coup, has promised elections -- perhaps early next year -- once a new draft constitution is implemented and reforms are in place.
However, there is growing discomfort about the restrictions on political parties in the proposed charter and Prime Minister Prayuth has expressed his own frustration with critics, warning dissent could delay a return to democracy.
The kingdom remains under martial law, which the junta contends allows it to make arrests without warrants.
Opponents of the junta accuse it of proceeding with politically motivated prosecutions. But public protests about these concerns have been sparsely attended and infrequent, with police and troops quickly racing to any demonstration sites to subdue peaceful dissent.
The international rights organization Human Rights Watch on Wednesday called for the junta to end secret military detentions. The group says since the May, 2014 coup the junta "has detained hundred of politicians, activists, journalists and people they accuse of supporting the deposed government, disrespecting or offending the monarchy, or being involved in anti-coup protests and activities."
Some analysts predict the military will remain in control of the government to shepherd Thailand through the future stressful period of royal succession.
The widely-revered King Bhumibol is 87 and has been in poor health for years. His heir apparent, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, 62, does not command the same level of respect as his father, currently the world's longest reigning monarch.
Open discussion about the royal family is not tolerated under the kingdom's harsh lese majeste laws.
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Thai former PM Yingluck to face trial over rice scheme
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| Yingluck Shinawatra has defended the controversial rice subsidy scheme for improving the living standards of thousands of farmers (AFP Photo/Christophe Archambault) |
The decision is the latest legal move against Yingluck -- Thailand's first female prime minister and sister of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- that could spell the end of her family's political dominance.
The Shinawatras, or parties allied to them, have won every Thai election since 2001.
"The panel (of judges) has decided that this case falls within our authority," said judge Veeraphol Tangsuwan at Bangkok's Supreme Court, adding that the first hearing will be held on May 19.
Thailand's attorney general filed criminal charges against Yingluck in February, accusing her of "dereliction of duty" in relation to the populist but economically disastrous rice scheme, which paid farmers in the rural Shinawatra heartland twice the market rate for their crops.
She is not accused of corruption herself but of failing to prevent alleged graft in the programme which cost billions of dollars and inspired the protests that eventually felled her elected government and led to May's military coup.
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| Thai soldiers keep watch as members of the National Legislative Assembly take part in a vote on impeachment cases against ousted Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the parliament in Bangkok on January 23, 2015 (AFP Photo/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul) |
Yingluck did not attend the Bangkok court on Thursday but will be legally obliged to attend the first hearing in May.
- 'Fight against injustice' -
In a statement on her Facebook page published shortly after the ruling she defended the controversial scheme as one which "lifted the quality of life for rice farmers".
"As prime minister I was always honest and served the Thai people, who voted for my government," she said. "I have not done anything wrong at all."
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| Thai students display placards as they demonstrate in front of the military court in Bangkok on March 16, 2015 (AFP Photo/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul) |
The army takeover last year was the latest twist in Thailand's turbulent political landscape, at the heart of which sits Thaksin, who was toppled by a previous coup in 2006 and now lives in self-exile to avoid jail on a corruption charge.
Yet his influence persists in Thai politics with Shinawatra-allied parties still drawing the loyalty of the rural north as well as urban working-class voters for their populist policies.
But the policeman-turned-billionaire telecoms tycoon is loathed by much of the country's royalist elite, which is backed by parts of the military and judiciary.
Puangthong Pawakapan, a Thai politics expert at Chulalongkorn University, said the charges against Yingluck were an example of history repeating itself given that multiple cases were also brought by Thailand's courts against her brother prior to his flight.
"It's quite clear the elite want to force out the Shinawatras from politics," Puangthong told AFP.
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| Thai junta says the rice subsidy scheme was economically disastrous and led to massive stockpiles of the grain (AFP Photo/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul) |
The decision to prosecute Yingluck will further "raise the political temperature" said Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a Thai academic at Kyoto University.
"It will inspire people to come out and fight against injustice and politicisation of the court," he said.
The junta has said it will hold fresh elections in early 2016 once reforms to tackle corruption and curb the power of political parties are codified in a new constitution.
But the draft charter has already raised deep concerns in the kingdom, and critics doubt whether it will bridge Thailand's political divisions.
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