The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the amended amnesty bill, which will benefit hundreds of people found guilty of participating in political demonstrations in Thailand over the last 20 years — but not those sentenced for corruption or violating the lese-majeste law.
The draft Act on Promoting a Peaceful Society, as amended by the Senate, was passed with 306 votes in favour, 141 against and two abstentions. The vote paves the way for enactment once it is endorsed by His Majesty the King.
Once enacted, the law would erase criminal liability for political acts committed between Jan 1, 2005 and July 16, 2025, provided they fall within the offences listed. It would apply to people who participated in political demonstrations or political expression motivated by political conflict.
Among the groups covered are members of both the conservative Yellow Shirts and the Red Shirts loyal to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who clashed on numerous occasions over two decades. This group is expected to include between 1,000 and 2,000 people.
While most have served their sentences, the amnesty lifts the bar on them holding political office, according to Yutthaporn Issarachai of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.
However, the bill will not cover civil lawsuits. “For example, Yellow Shirts who were found guilty of closing the airports (in 2008) will still have to pay compensation for their actions,” Mr Yutthaporn said.
The bill will also cover youth protesters involved in the pro-democracy movement in 2020 and 2021, but not those charged with violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese-majeste law.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, 1,997 people have been prosecuted under various laws for participation in rallies and expressing political opinions in the protests that began in July 2020 and lasted for several months.
The figure includes 290 people charged with lese-majeste since its use was revived in 2020 by the Prayut Chan-o-cha government to deter and punish protesters, most of them students. At last count, 55 remain in custody, having been denied bail while awaiting trial or appeals of their convictions.
While the amnesty bill earlier left the door open for juveniles in lese-majeste cases to undergo rehabilitation, an amendment made by the Senate specifies that amnesty in Section 112 cases would be denied to everyone, regardless of age.
The bill will also not cover anyone convicted of corruption and therefore would not benefit Thaksin, who was released from prison in June following a royal pardon after serving eight months of a one-year sentence for corruption and abuse of power while in office from 2001-06.
- Editorial : Amnesty for the half-hearted
