No change to lese majeste provisions
PUBLISHED : 18 Dec 2023 at 04:57
The United Thai Nation (UTN) Party is putting the final touches on an amnesty bill which would not seek to absolve corruption and lese majeste offences.
The draft law, given a name loosely translated as “promoting peaceful and constructive society”, is due for a final vetting by the party on Tuesday.
It is to be submitted to parliament alongside a similar version sponsored by the main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP).
UTN deputy leader Witthaya Kaewparadai said on Sunday the bill will be forwarded to parliament after party members scrutinise it one last time.
“It’s time to call a permanent truce,” he said.
Mr Witthaya said the UTN-proposed amnesty seeks to absolve offences stemming from political expressions or acts where the state is the damaged party.
Offences to be covered include violations of traffic law as a result of protests in public places and destruction of state property.
However, the UTN’s bill excludes offences which endanger lives and pertain to corruption and Section 112 of the Criminal Code or the lese majeste law.
The bill, if adopted by the parliament for deliberation, would be in direct competition with the MFP-initiated amnesty bill which proposes to forgive violators of various laws including those governing lese majeste.
It received support from its MPs last Tuesday; however, party executives found some of the content was still unclear and must be improved. It will be resubmitted to the party at tomorrow’s meeting. If approved, the bill will be forwarded to parliament this week or next week.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang and core member of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, said all bills presented would be considered carefully for selection or inclusion in a final draft.
Pheu Thai and coalition parties will eventually reach a common decision on which amnesty bill they will pass, he said.