PUBLISHED: 18 Oct 2024 at 04: 45
As a special House committee was examining the bill’s report, MPs voiced differing views on whether der major crimes should be included in an amnesty bill.
The main opposition party, the People’s Party ( PP ), supported the inclusion of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, while government MPs vehemently opposed an amnesty for lese majeste offenders.
Pheu Thai’s legitimate professional, Chousak Sirinil, who heads the particular board, told the House on Thursday that an asylum does not remove wrong and that a wrongful activity remains an offence.
He noted that Thailand has passed 23 asylum laws to help conflict resolution and promote tranquility.
According to Mr Chousak, who is also the PM’s Office Minister, the committee’s statement does not constitute an asylum expenses, its goal is to provide detailed insight for the House to consider.
He said the statement also suggests other conceivable alternatives, including seeking a royal pardon for asylum criminals, delaying trial, and dropping charges in situations that are not in the common interest.
Mr Chousak said the government is not obliged to follow the committee’s suggestions.
On whether lese majeste offenders should be covered by the amnesty, the report is still unsure.
The panel has floated three options: an amnesty for lese majeste offenders, no amnesty for them, or a conditional amnesty.
According to the law, a lese majeste offence is politically sensitive, and relevant parties must take this into account when drafting an amnesty bill.
The report’s findings were criticized by PP MP for Khon Kaen Weeranant Huadsri, who claimed that the lack of a conclusion would lead to lese majeste crimes being excluded from an amnesty bill.
The MP backed the inclusion of the lese majeste offence in the amnesty bill to allow for progress and achieving national harmony.
Noppadon Pattama, a member of the Pheu Thai list, told the House that the general public has divergent viewpoints on the subject, and there is still time to come to a consensus. However, he disagreed with a proposal to include Section 112 in an amnesty bill.
Bhumjaithai list-MP Nanthana Songpracha said the party was not going to participate in any review of any amnesty plans that cover lese major offenses but that it was willing to take a look at an amnesty for political cases.
On Thursday, Warong Dechgitvigrom, the leader of the Thai Pakdee Party, warned that the Pheu Thai-led government would be in trouble if it extended an amnesty to Section 112 offenders. He posted on Facebook on Thursday that this was the end allies.