BANGKOK, May 23 – Thailand’s Pheu Thai party MPs officially submitted the highly-criticised reconciliation bill to Parliament today in a move to grant blanket amnesty for offenders in all political demonstrations since 2006.
Peerapan Palusuk, Pheu Thai MP from Yasothorn, led MPs in the government bloc to hand over the proposed legislation which was jointly signed by 163 lawmakers.
According to the bill, all offenders, whether supporters or protesters in the country’s political rallies since 2006 will be pardoned – a proposal which, Mr Peerapan said, is in accord with the government’s policy on national harmony.
Describing the bill as the first chapter of Thailand’s peace and happiness, he said the amnesty should cover all quarters, and not any specific group.
The Yasothorn MP said he believed the bill, comprising five articles, would not breach Section 309 of the constitution.
“An original article on financial compensation to those affected by political activities is omitted. This is not finance-related legislation. There is no mention of returning confiscated assets to former prime minister Thaksin (Shinawatra),” said Mr Peerapan.
Deputy House Speaker Charoen Chankomol said the proposed bill will be thoroughly checked before being added onto the parliamentary agenda.
A special parliamentary session is scheduled for next Wednesday to debate the government-sponsored budget bill. The reconciliation bill will not be slated for deliberation.
