BANGKOK, May 26 – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday said that the ruling Pheu Thai Party has not yet made any resolutions on a reconciliation bill nor any conclusions on the bill, proposed by the 2006 coup leader, as it depends on the Parliament.
The prime minister made remarks as she left Bangkok on an official visit to Australia this morning after Gen Sondhi Boonyaratglin, MP and the leader of Matuphum Party, proposed the bill and it was listed on the agenda to be considered in the House session next Wednesday.
Gen Sondhi was the coup leader who toppled then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from power on Sepetmber 19, 2006 as the situation turned tense with mass anti-Thaksin protests by the so-called Yellow Shirt groups.
Ms Yingluck said the bill was proposed by Gen Sondhi and Pheu Thai party did not have any resolution on the matter as the government’s priority at the moment is to administer the country.
Ms Yingluck however commented that any proposal which could lead to national reconciliation should be considered and the entire process will be concluded within parliament with a majority vote from the people’s representatives.
Following criticism that the bill might directly benefit her brother, ex-premier Thaksin, Ms Yingluck said she needs to look into the details of the bill first, adding that if the bill really does favour only one person, no one will support it.
Ms Yingluck added it is common to see different opinions and there must be a conclusion which is acceptable by all parties.
“Let the parliamentary mechanism do its duty to discuss matters which are good for the country,” stated the premier, “For Pheu Thai party, we have not yet talked about this but (we) believe all Thais want to see national reconciliation, so any approach is appreciated as every process leads to one aim.”
The prime minister pledged that her government will avoid conflict, but all parties — political parties, the general public and business sectors — should also join hands.
Meanwhile, the opposition Democrat Party on Saturday reaffirmed that it will oppose the reconciliation bill which is helping the ousted ex-premier, both in and outside the parliament.
The Democrat party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalsut explained that the proposed bill has a “hidden agenda” to help Mr Thaksin and nothing in the two-page bill indicates that this is for the general public, instead allowing for Mr Thaksin to return to the country without having to serve a jail term and returning his seized assets to him.
Mr Chavanond noted the bill also grants amnesty to those who ordered harm on the public in every case of political violence, including 91 deaths from two years ago.
The Democrat party will oppose to the bill at its full capacity, both inside and outside parliament, but will not instigate the crowd to violence or to commit any illegal actions, said the spokesman.
Mr Chavanond added the party’s legal team is now considering a petition to the Constitution Court to rule whether or not the drafted bill violates the law.
