Pheu Thai Denies Trying To Hasten Amnesty Law

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Pheu Thai denies trying to hasten amnesty law

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The ruling Pheu Thai Party will not rush to pass an amnesty bill in order to avoid criticism, Pheu Thai party-list MP Prompong Nopparit said yesterday

Prompong said allegations the party would use its majority voice in Parliament to single-handedly pass an amnesty bill is false and it could be next year before such a bill was passed.

He also defended Thaksin Shinawatra’s recent claim that he thinks he could return home this year because it’s an auspicious year in which HM the Queen turns 80. Such a remark is normal, he said, and reflects Thaksin's feelings as a Thai who has been away from Thailand for a long time.

"He misses home", said Promphong, adding that Thaksin would only return to Thailand when conditions were right and acceptable to all sides.

Asked if Thaksin used the thousands of red shirts who travelled to Laos and Cambodia to wish him a happy Songkran to pressure Thai society to accept his return, Prompong discounted such speculation. He said the red shirts only went there because they truly love Thaksin and others should not be envious of Thaksin’s popularity.

Democrat Party deputy spokesperson Sakolthee Pattiyakul said the party would like to make five demands on the Pheu Thai Party, as well as Thaksin and PM Yingluck Shinawatra.

First, Thaksin should accept the existing verdicts handed down by the Supreme Court. Second, the Pheu Thai party should stop acting dictatorially by using the party’s majority voice in Parliament to pass an amnesty bill and amend the charter.

Third, the setting up of the so-called red-shirt villages should cease as it creates division, and Thailand should only have one colour. Fourth, Yingluck must not use her position as PM to help Thaksin, or pretend not to see the party is doing so. Fifth, Thaksin should stop being vengeful and cease creating division in the country.

The government has not sent any signal on whether to issue a reconciliation law, Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol said. But Democrat deputy leader Thaworn Senneam suspected it might take a "fast track" and pass the law swiftly to help fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Charoen, a Pheu Thai MP, said the decision on whether to pass a Reconciliation Act was up to the government to decide.

"The government has to consider the [Parliament's ad hoc committee] reconciliation report. It has to inform the Parliament whether it will or won't take any action within 60 days from the day it receives the report from Parliament," he said.

"It has to give reasons to support why it would not implement and report the progress to the Parliament.

"The Administrative Branch has the authority to issue a decree for an urgent case. The Parliament must consider all this in the case of issuing an Act. So far, there has been no signal from the government on whether it will issue a law."

Democrat deputy leader Thaworn said the government was trying to help fugitive former premier Thaksin return to Thailand without having to serve the penalty.

This coincided with Thaksin's statement that he would return this year. However, he said it would be wrong if the government abused its majority in the Parliament for the sake of itself and cronies without regard for righteousness and legitimacy, as well as the justice system.

Thaworn said he believed the government would first issue an amnesty for Thaksin as a Cabinet resolution to expedite the matter before informing the Parliament.

-- The Nation 2012-04-17