Ex-House speaker calls for bills to be scrapped
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Former House speaker Uthai Pimchaichon has called on the current speaker, Somsak Kiatsuranont, to withdraw the amnesty and national-reconciliation bills from the parliamentary agenda.
He also warned parliamentarians against trying to “break a large stick with the knee”, adding that these bills would only plunge the country into deeper division.
He submitted a formal request to Somsak recommending that the 200-300 prisoners detained on charges related to the 2010 protests could be released on bail and their cases expedited.
He said if the government expedited court cases and legal procedure, it would move the country that much closer to reconciliation and unity.
“Thai society is peaceful now. We do not need these bills to cause further rifts,’’ he said. Uthai also urged the Democrat Party against inciting people to rally against the bills.
He later submitted the letter to Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij, expressing his concern and urging him to find a way out of the political morass.
Nikom said he would present to parliamentarians Uthai’s recommendations that those jailed for offences during the 2010 political protests should be released on bail.
Democrats slam Worachai bill
Democrat Party leaders have threatened to lead a campaign to oust the government if it passes an amnesty bill in the third reading.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and other leaders including Suthep Thaugsuban, took to a make-shift stage on Wednesday at the BTS Chong Nonsi Station to protest against the move to pass the amnesty bill proposed by Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema. The rally attracted a large crowd, causing traffic jams.
Suthep said if Worachai’s bill was passed, people jailed for murder would go free without being held accountable. He said gunmen didn’t fear the law because politicians hired them. He also warned Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Camronwit Toopgrajank against cracking down on anti-government protesters, saying he would not be safe if a single person was hurt.
