Committee Concludes Review of Political Offences Eligible for Amnesty
PUBLISHED : 26 Jul 2024 at 20:36
The House committee reviewing the proposed amnesty bill has completed its assessment without reaching a definitive conclusion on whether to include offences related to the lese-majeste law, specifically Sections 112 and 110 of the Criminal Code.
Committee chairman Chusak Sirinil, a member of Pheu Thai, announced that the panel has prepared a report to submit to the House for further deliberation. The committee resolved three key issues pertinent to the amnesty proposal.
Firstly, the committee agreed that the amnesty bill will apply to politically motivated offences committed from 2005 to the present. A specialized committee will be formed to categorize offences eligible for amnesty, creating a detailed list for consideration.
“The core principle is that the cases must be politically motivated, and a qualifying list will be established,” Chusak explained.
Furthermore, the committee confirmed that serious human rights violations, particularly under Sections 288 and 289 of the Criminal Code (murder and acts leading to death), will be excluded from the amnesty.
Discussions regarding offences against the monarchy revealed a divide among committee members: some advocate for their exclusion from the amnesty, others for their inclusion, and a third group suggests inclusion under special conditions.
“The committee recognizes that the success of the amnesty proposal will largely depend on government support or initiative,” Chusak emphasized.
Nikorn Chamnong, the committee’s secretary, indicated that government whips would be urged to prioritize the report and place it on the House agenda for discussion next month.
The 35-member panel was established earlier this year following a proposal from the ruling Pheu Thai Party to conduct a thorough examination of the amnesty bill. This move came after resistance to a bill introduced by the main opposition party, particularly regarding the inclusion of Section 112 offences.
Move Forward Party leader Chaithawat Tulathon expressed hope that the complexities of the political conflict over the past two decades would be adequately addressed by a committee-led review of the amnesty issue. He urged the government and political entities to craft their own amnesty bill proposals for the House’s consideration.
