Prayut says no to amnesty
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Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Friday voiced his opposition against a planned talk among politicians if it would focus on seeking amnesty for politicians and protest leaders having trouble with the law.
He said that he was not opposed to any such talk if no law or post-coup order was violated.
“I don’t give them any permission. They can do anything they like as long as it is not against the law,” he told reporters at Government House.
Rival groups of politicians planned a talk next week to discuss how to reach political reconciliation. They were expected to make their proposals to the government. The talk reportedly was initiated by veteran politician Sudarat Keyuraphan from the previously ruling Pheu Thai Party.
General Prayut Friday said that as far as he knew, politicians wanted his government to expedite the amnesty process, as well as encouraging political reconciliation.
He said law violators should fight their legal cases properly and they should not expect the law to be bent in their favour in exchange for peace to be restored.
“Don’t you sympathise with people who got shot and killed in bombings, as well as those being imprisoned?” the PM said, referring to ordinary protesters who suffered after taking part in the street rallies over the past decade.
“You seem to have more concern for politicians and protest leaders,” he added.
