BANGKOK, Nov 12 – The Thai government has proposed a joint session of the upper and lower houses of Parliament tomorrow to find other solutions to the government-backed amnesty bill after the Senate rejected the bill on Monday, according to a Cabinet member.
Science and Technology Minister Phiraphan Phalusuk said the joint session will be in line with Section 179 of the Constitution and the move is to enable both MPs and senators to find ways to help the government to disengage from its earlier agenda.
Amnuay Klangpa, chief of government whips, said the joint parliamentary session would try to discuss possible ways for the government to disengage from the amnesty bill without having to wait for 180 days as imposed by the law.
The move is to assure Thai people that the House of Representatives will not raise the amnesty bill for debate again, he said.
He said he personally objects to reintroducing the bill to the Lower House for debate after it was rejected by the Senate.
The Senate on late Monday night voted to reject the controversial amnesty bill by 140 votes to none after 12 hours of debate.
