Pheu Thai: Amnesty bill in Senate's hands now

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Bill in Senate's hands now: Pheu Thai
The Nation

'Limited' revision of controversial bill planned, MP claims

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party has shown no sign of retreating from its push for a blanket amnesty despite big protests in Bangkok and around the country.

"The ruling party's strategic committee is of the opinion that the Senate is duty-bound to deliberate and decide on the draft amnesty provisions," Pheu Thai MP Paijit Sreewarakan said yesterday.

If the upper chamber revises the bill to a limited extent, the ruling party may be willing to go along with such revision, Paijit said.

If these further changes were deemed to be major, a House-Senate committee would be formed to thrash out their differences, he said.

He called on government leaders and coalition lawmakers to explain amnesty provisions to the public.

The ruling party was concerned about conflict among the red shirts in regard to the amnesty, he said, urging the reds to quickly reconcile their differing views.

The prime minister was not stressed, but Yingluck Shinawatra was concerned about the anti-amnesty protests, her deputy secretary general Thawat Boonfueng said.

Thawat said protests mobilised partly via social media remained under control with the turnout of "no more than 10,000 protesters".

He said after assessing the prevailing situation, the authorities did not plan on upgrading security measures or anti-riot forces.

Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong said opponents of the amnesty bill should clarify if their true intent is to oppose Thaksin. He said he saw no justification for why the anti-amnesty movement refused to accept the bill designed to undo damage inflicted by the power seizure in 2006.

If the anti-Thaksin camp wanted to prosecute Thaksin after the amnesty was passed, it still could do so via an independent organisation such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission, he claimed.

Amnesty, if granted, would nullify the coup-sponsored cases but Thaksin was still accountable for alleged violations prosecuted under normal legal procedures, he said.

Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, former yellow-shirt leader Chamlong Srimuang and Green Group coordinator Suriyasai Katasila should reflect on their activities, he said. The amnesty had not been enacted into law and opponents had "curiously" mobilised crowds even though there was no way of predicting the final outcome of the bill, he said.

In a separate development, families of 24 victims of the 2010 riots met with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to voice support for the amnesty bill.

Speaking for the group, Somchai Jiampol said the meeting was meant as a gesture of moral support for Yingluck. "Granting amnesty is the way to advance the country forward," he said.

Somchai is the father of red shirt Thipnet, who was killed at Soi Rangnam during rallies in mid-2010. PM Yingluck said in response she would like to see compassion and forgiveness from all sides. "If no one forgives, the country cannot move on."

Forgiveness was essential to determine the success or failure of an amnesty, as political conflict may resume if opposing camps refused to show compassion toward the other.


-- The Nation 2013-11-05

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Forgiveness was essential to determine the success or failure of an amnesty, as political conflict may resume if opposing camps refused to show compassion toward the other.

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Damage inflicted by the power seizure in 2006? Damage to who? Can he clarify that point a bit?