Amnesty option is 'based on offences, not individuals'

Buntoon Srethasirote was responding to inquiries from the press after the committee resubmitted its revised report to the National Reform Council (NRC) for endorsement on Tuesday. The committee stood firm on three key conditions for political leaders who are eligible for amnesty, and would only cover those who are not involved in violations concerning serious human rights offences, lese majeste and corruption. Those who have fled the country will have the right to take a stand if he or she believes they meet the criteria. 

Thaksin was sentenced to two years in jail in 2008 for conflict of interest in the Ratchadaphisek land case, but he fled the country.

“If Thaksin Shinawatra thinks he meets those conditions, he can enter the amnesty process like others,” Buntoon said.

He added that the committee would have another seven days to adjust the report as suggested by NRC members at the meeting on Tuesday, during which the report was endorsed with a 162:5 vote. The report will be submitted to NRC chief Thienchay Kiranandana, who will then forward it to the government for implementation. 

Some reformers have suggested that the committee come up with measures directly targeting politicians that they view as the most problematic parties in the conflict. They also pointed out that reconciliation may not succeed if the root of the problem involving these politicians is not tackled. 

Some reformers as well as committee members agree that the seed of the national divide lies with the politicians, not the people. 

Hence, it is necessary for politicians to reconcile first, they said. 

“Prof Anek [Laothamatas]’s report has been crafted well, but the problem is that those fighting are not the people. They are the people in Parliament – they are politicians,” NRC member Wanchai Sornsiri said.

“The problem [the country’s] facing here is that the winners are holding on too tight to their power, while the losers are trying to take down these winners. And both these sides are dragging the people supporting them into the battle,” he added. 

He also pointed out that the committee did not really offer specific measures covering politicians’ problems, so it may not be able to solve the conflict. 

Many NRC members also agreed in the meeting that they were aware of the committee’s good intentions when they were writing the report, however, they said, they were not sure if the plan would bring peace. 

“Reconciliation cannot be achieved through law or other approaches. In the report, I see there are many approaches, but no tangible steps forward,” NRC member Seri Suwanpanon said, adding that amnesty might not be the solution either because many will not be satisfied to see wrongdoers get away.

Other NRC members agreed, adding that all sides need to be committed to reconciliation, otherwise the plan would not work. 

“Reconciliation is the most important thing. Before Constitution and election, we have to reconcile. If not, [we] will just backtrack to the same old cycle,” NRC member Niran Pantharakit said, adding that people would take to the streets again if an election was held before reconciliation had been completed.