Nuttawut urges Prayut to pardon ordinary protesters

However, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said it was still to early to discuss this, adding that it would be up to the 200 members of the National Reform Council (NRC) to make a decision on the matter. 

Nuttawut, a co-leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said in a Facebook post that granting amnesty to the protesters would save a lot of people from angst and would demonstrate mercy on the part of those in power.

The red-shirt leader pointed out that members of the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had already granted amnesty to themselves and those working with the junta would be pardoned anyway. 

Nuttawut said all sides seemed to agree that ordinary protesters should be granted amnesty, while protest leaders should continue facing charges. He added that people should not compare how many people from each side are being incarcerated as many who have not been sentenced are still struggling to fight at different stages of the judicial system. 

“I believe nobody will oppose this,” Nuttawut wrote in his post, adding that he agreed with political scientist Anek Laothamatas, who made a similar suggestion earlier.

“If the idea of granting amnesty to people exists, then it might as well be done today. The climate of reconciliation through the mercy of those in power will become evident,” the red-shirt leader concluded.

Prawit, however, insisted that the idea of amnesty had not “crystallised” yet and that it was up to the NRC to consider and come up with a position on the matter. 

In a related development, Prawit was asked if he is satisfied with the junta’s performance, and he said he was, adding that he was doing his best and that many others in the government had been losing out on their sleep to complete their duties. 

Prawit said military complexes would be open to the public on New Year’s Day as a free gift for everybody.