Give amnesty to protesters, not leaders: big parties
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Heads of parties and colour groups 'happy to fight any charges in court'
Members of the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties insisted yesterday that an amnesty bill should cover only ordinary protesters – not the leaders of political groups, parties or colour-coded groups.
The justice system, they said, should be allowed to play an important role in solving many issues and prolonged disputes in the country.
The proposal for an amnesty bill was discussed by a charter drafters' subcommittee on Monday, as a way of accomplishing true reconciliation.
Anek Laothamatas, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC)’s sub-panel responsible for chapters on national reforms and reconciliation, suggested an amnesty covering political protests going back to 2005, and possibly including protest leaders and military officers.
Former Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat said he disagreed with the suggestion as it could lead to another rally and protests.
“Perhaps CDC members were not in the rally and do not understand the importance of the previous protest against the blanket amnesty bill,” the Democrat member said.
Nipit explained that the previous protest covered two big issues including a blanket amnesty bill – for wrongdoers and for the previous government that sought to amend articles in the previous charter. He said if the country went back to the proposed amnesty bill, it could ignite more demonstrations.
“However, I agree with Anek on granting amnesty for ordinary people who participated in rallies because most came forward and protested peacefully,” Nipit said.
However, leaders whose followers lost their lives in the unrest could be seen as having broken criminal laws, he said, and they had to face charges and defend themselves under the justice system.
Asked whether the red-shirt leaders should also be included in the amnesty bill or not, Nipit said “I heard those red-shirt leaders had insisted on not being included in the bill and they insisted on proving themselves in court for the cases they faced.”
He said those found guilty should not be a part of an amnesty. But if they were charged under criminal laws, they could seek a royal pardon.
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Weng Tojirakarn insisted an amnesty bill must cover only protesters. Their leaders, such as the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), People’s Alliance for Democracy, former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and even his [Weng’s] group of red-shirt leaders should be excluded.
“I still insist that amnesty should only be granted to people who participated in the rallies, because if the leaders are included in the bill it could lead to an excuse for a government ordering the military to execute our citizens,” said the Pheu Thai member, adding that the reds were willing to face any charges in court.
“I am concerned that if the protest leaders are pardoned, they would see themselves as untouchable and later they could come back and use military force against the citizens,” he said.
Weng explained that bringing true reconciliation lies within the justice system. But if the justice system was not neutral or strengthened, reconciliation could not be promoted.
