Protesters refuse to back down until bill dropped
SEVERAL GROUPS of protesters said they would not stop rallying against the government's blanket amnesty bill even if the Senate rejects the draft.
This declaration came despite the fact that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Tuesday that her government would accept the Senate’s decision, provided the bill is thoroughly deliberated on.
Phakin Issayaworachot, a protester from the Student and People Network for Thailand’s Reform, however, said his group will continue protesting even if the bill is rejected by the Senate because the House of Representatives can still pass it 180 days later. He also said he had no faith in Yingluck.
“I will only stop protesting when it is actually rejected in the House,” Phakin said.
Another man at the rally said he would continue protesting because this government was corrupt and he believed it would push the bill through.
Somkiat Homlaor, leader of the Business Club for Democracy (BCD), added that Yingluck was just avoiding her responsibility and passing the buck on to the Senate. However, he said, the very fact that the bill was rushed through at 4am last week was enough reason not to trust her.
Meanwhile Chalisa Thammawong, president of Thammasat University’s student organisation, said she would wait for the Senate’s decision on Monday and might stop protesting unless the draft returns to the House.
Separately, in a move to check the sentiment on social media, Jin Somroutai posted this question on her Facebook timeline: “If the Senate rejects the amnesty bill, will you stop your protest?”
Here are some of the responses:
Angie-ja Pongvutitham said: “I will keep protesting because my goal is for this House to be dissolved.”
Wara Laksana said: “Even if the Senate rejects the bill, the House can still decide to push it through. The Senate is only a rubber stamp, but the people can be the political machinery to stop it.”
Panachit Kittipanya-ngam said: “I will continue rallying.”
Picha Rattanadilok, a member of the National Institute of Development Administration, called on the 310 MPs who voted for the bill to take responsibility and step down. He was speaking on behalf of the People’s Assembly Reforming Thailand group.
The Business Club for Democracy also called on the MPs to apologise to the public.
