BANGKOK, 8 November 2013 University rectors urge the government to issue a Cabinet resolution that it will withdraw the amnesty bill and will not put it back on the House agenda.
The Office of the Higher Education Commission called an urgent meeting on Friday between rectors nationwide on the blanket amnesty bill. Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkarnchana, Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng, PM’s Office Minister Warathep Rattanakorn as well as Chairman of the ad-hoc committee on the draft amnesty bill Samart Kaewmeechai also attended the meeting.
The rectors called on the government to promise in written document to drop the blanket amnesty bill for good. They said written assurances would help improve the political situation much better than verbal ones which could be diversely interpreted.
The ministers and the amnesty bill committee chairman confirmed in the meeting that the Pheu Thai party and the Government Whip would not propose the legislation again. If the Senate vetoed it, the government would toss the bill after 180 days without issuing it as an executive decree.
