Some roads opened to ease traffic congestion
Police yesterday opened a few major roads to ease congestion after the routes were closed in accordance with the Internal Security Act. The opened roads were Phitsanulok from the Panit intersection to Wangdaeng and Rajdamnoen Avenue from the Miskawan inte
Surapong ready to clarify amnesty bill to the UN
Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said yesterday that he would ask the United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to send a representative to hear clarifications on the government’s stance on the amnesty bill next week. The UN previously voiced concerns that the bill, if adopted, would pardon people involved in serious rights violations during the April-May 2010 political turmoil.
Surapong said the bill would only grant amnesty to those whose rights were violated, not those who were responsible for deaths. "We are pushing for a solution, so please don’t politicise the issue," the minister said.
Push for withdrawal of protest leaders’ bail
Pongniwat Yutthaphan-boriphan, executive director of the Department of Criminal Litigation, said he had received a report from Deputy Police Commissioner Pol General Aek Angsananont about a request submitted with the special prosecutor asking for the withdrawal of bail granted to yellow-shirt protest leaders Thaikorn Polsuwan and Pichet Pattanachot.
A request has been submitted to the special prosecutor asking to see if there is enough evidence for the court to withdraw the duo’s temporary release order.
The pair was granted bail while they are being tried over the 2008 airport closure.
NHRC voices concern
The National Human Rights Commission yesterday voiced concerns over the imposition of the Internal Security Act and the intimidation of social-media users who had posted comments about a rumoured military coup and the amnesty bill, saying such actions could be seen as violation of people’s rights.
