Kasit plans to propose blanket amnesty for reconciliation

He explained that the idea was inspired by pardons granted in South Africa after the apartheid era, adding that such an amnesty could “unlock” the ongoing political deadlock. He also suggested that an agreed-upon compensation be granted to victims on all sides.

Under his proposal, a pardon would be granted to offenders in all cases, with the exception of those who violated the lese majeste law, the former foreign minister said, adding that this would have fewer conditions than the proposal from the now-defunct National Reform Council’s reconciliation panel.

He said the idea was entirely his own.

“I was also one of the affected and once had to duck through the Foreign Ministry’s gate to escape the red-shirt protesters,” he said. “So I think I understand how reconciliation can be achieved.”

Kasit added that he was also drafting guidelines that could be applied in schools to forge a decent civil-minded culture among the young. He said this work should be done in three months.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch said yesterday that the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC)’s decision to drop malfeasance charges against former senior officials for their role in the 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters was a serious setback for accountability in the country.

The NACC last week voted to drop the case against former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban and former Army chief General Anupong Paochinda for their failure to review the use of military force, which resulted in the loss of lives and damage to property. 

“Despite killings by soldiers of protesters, medics and even reporters in broad daylight in downtown Bangkok for all the world to see, Thailand’s institutions have closed ranks to protect the Army and politicians from justice,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. 

“This adds insult to injury to victims and their families as they watch yet another stage in nearly six years of attempts to airbrush the crimes of officials and soldiers from Thai history.” 

The military crackdown on the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) took place between April 7 and May 19, 2010, and resulted in at least 98 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries.

The prospects for justice for victims of the crackdown have long been bleak, Human Rights Watch said. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) issued a finding in September 2012 that indicated the military was culpable for 36 deaths. However, insufficient efforts have been made to identify the soldiers and commanding officers responsible for the shootings, it added. Under pressure from the military, successive governments charged UDD leaders and supporters with serious criminal offences, but ignored abuses by soldiers. 

The government should direct the DSI to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the deaths and injuries during the May 2010 crackdown without further delay, the rights agency said.

“It’s outrageous that not a single official, military commander, or soldier has been held to account for the bloody 2010 crackdown,” Adams said. “Opportunities for the Thai government to demonstrate that unbiased justice underlies the rule of law and political reconciliation are fading fast.”