iLaw proposes amnesty bill for political activists since 2006 in Thailand
The Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) revealed a proposed bill yesterday that offers amnesty to all individuals in Thailand who have been prosecuted or are currently facing charges related to political activities since September 19, 2006, up to the present day.
This proposed legislation was introduced at a seminar, sponsored by iLaw, sparking a call to action for the Pheu Thai-led coalition to back the draft as an initial move towards fostering reconciliation across all political factions.
The bill’s objective, as outlined by Benja Apan, an activist facing criminal charges due to her past political engagement, is to establish legal protection for her and other activists that has been lacking for the past two decades. The amnesty suggested within the bill comprises two categories, Apan explained.
“The first is an instant amnesty for those who should never have been prosecuted initially. This includes citizens who were sentenced by the military court for breaching National Council for Peace and Order orders and individuals confronting legal action for contravening Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the Emergency Decree or the 2016 referendum law.”
According to Apan, all these cases are political and these individuals should not have been prosecuted. The second form of amnesty will necessitate a committee decision. This committee will determine which of the additional criminal cases linked with political violence were genuinely propelled by political motives.
The proposed committee would consist of 19 members, including the Parliament president, the leader of the opposition, the chief whip, representatives from all political parties, and representatives of the people who have been facing legal action since the 2006 military coup, reported Bangkok Post.
During the seminar, a former supporter of the yellow shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Amorn Amornratananont, expressed his personal endorsement of this amnesty bill. Amorn believes it holds the potential to aid all sides in overcoming past political conflicts.
