Abhisit ready to back 'people's' amnesty bill
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that he was prepared to back an amnesty bill proposed by relatives of the victims of the 2010 crackdown, provided the government withdraws all previous versions of the amnesty bill proposed to Parliam
“I am discussing with others in my party whether or not the opposition can accept [the bill], if the government withdraws all versions of the amnesty bill that has already been proposed to Parliament, and uses this ‘people’s version’ as a model for unofficial dialogue. The core principle of the bill would cover all groups but would not let those who set fires and those who violated Article 112 [the lese majeste law] go unpunished. I think we can move on with this,” he said.
Payao Akahad, mother of Kamolked – a paramedic who was killed in the crackdown – and Punsak Srithep, father of 17-year-old Samapun, who was killed in crossfire, on Tuesday submitted the group’s version of the amnesty bill to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, via her deputy Phongthep Thepkanjana.
