No amnesty for on-the-run lawbreakers: PM
Play
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha maintained yesterday that amnesty should not be given to those who have escaped the long arm of the law.
He made the declaration while shooting down a proposal by members of the Reform Steering Council (RSC) for general amnesty to people involved in political conflicts.
The PM said only those lawbreakers who have entered or are entering the justice process would be considered for amnesty. Those who are still in hiding would not be eligible, he said.
“You should follow the law. I don’t like it when people threaten that the country will not be peaceful unless there is amnesty. Let them try it,” Prayut said.
He was speaking after chairing a meeting on the national economic-development strategies for the next 20 years.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan also voiced his opposition to the proposed amnesty.
“You need to pass the justice process first. You can’t just expect amnesty immediately. The legal process should be followed step by step,” he said.
Some newly appointed members of the RSC have suggested that the idea of amnesty, proposed by the now-defunct National Reform Council’s reconciliation subcommittee, should be revived.
Proponents of the idea are mainly members of the new council from political parties.
Paiboon Nititawan, a former NRC member, said it was possible to achieve reconciliation as part of national reform.
He supports amnesty for people who were engaged in previous political activities, but not those in political positions such as former senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, a council member and former NRC member, said that although the RSC had no direct authority over amnesty, he expected the matter to be discussed by the council soon.
He said the NRC subcommittee had studied the related issues of amnesty, reform and reconciliation.
Another RSC member, Kasit Piromya, disagreed with pushing the reconciliation plan as part of national reform as it would not comply with the objectives of national reforms.
“This is not right and it misses the point,” he said, adding that the RSC was not in the business of assisting wrongdoers.
Kasit said that following the justice system was needed in order to build reconciliation.
Meanwhile, the leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Foundation opposed the idea that the RSC should push for amnesty as part of national reform and reconciliation.
Akanat Promphan, secretary-general of the foundation, said the council should focus on reforming the country, not reconciliation.
“The RSC should carry on the work of the NRC. It should focus on urgent issues, such as power distribution, inequality and police reform,” Akanat said.
Akanat, who once staged a demonstration against the Yingluck Shinawatra government after its blanket amnesty bill, said reform and reconciliation should not mix or “people will get confused and there will be obstacles in reforming the country”.
Jatuporn Prompan, leader of the red shirts, said he did not think the council would help the country achieve reconciliation but that the prime minister could.
As the reconciliation effort must get all parties engaged, accepting divergent views is needed to attain it, he said.
Adul Keawboriboon, a member of the defunct reconciliation commission, said that in order to achieve national reform, reconciliation and unity must exist first.
He said the result of the reconciliation plan’s study was accepted by the Cabinet, the National Legislative Council and the NRC, which means it was useful for bringing about reconciliation.
“A new reconciliation commission could now be set up, regardless of whether we have a new constitution,” Adul said.
