Thammasat academics and students declare opposition to amnesty bill
Play
Thammasat lecturers, officials and students have officially declared their opposition to the Amnesty bill and called on the senate to reject it.
The university collected 682 signatures on Sunday alone in reaffirming it stand against the bill.
Rector Somkit Lertpaithoon said the bill should only benefit people who took part in the political rallies and not those in government or who are involved in corruption cases.
He added the bill is unconstitutional because it appeared to pardon politicians who had committed illegal acts.
A total of 636 Thammasat lecturers and 46 of the university’s employees signed the petition. Somkit said university's alumni will gather at the statue of university founder Pridi Banomyong on this Thursday. They will file a petition with the president of the Senate.
The university could serve as a stage for discussions on the Amnesty bill.
Chalisa Thammawong, chairman of Thammasat Students’ organisation, said that while they recognise the importance of an amnesty, the bill should cover only ordinary people and not include politicians, Government staff, protest leaders, those accused by Assets Examination Committee (AEC) or organisations set up after the Coup.
She added that the student organisation and student council were calling instead for the original bill to be considered with amnesty bill only applicable to people who took part in the political rally.
