Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung could defer his plan to file a private amnesty bill with the House of Representatives office on May 23 after hearing what former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had to say on Sunday night, Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan Worachai Hema said on Monday.
Thaksin said via Skype to a large number of red-shirts gathering at the Ratchaprasong intersection on Sunday night to mark the third anniversary of the May 19 military crackdown on anti-government protesters that the government must focus on absolving red-shirts facing legal action over the 2010 political violence.
He said he would not mind if political leaders, including himself, were not exonerated of charges.
Thaksin voiced support for the amnesty bill filed by Mr Worachai, which would grant amnesty to all involved in political violence, except the protest leaders and those responsible for the crackdown.
Mr Chalerm had said earlier he would filed his bill on May 23. His bill would grant a blanket amnesty to all involved in the political violence since 2006, including those responsible for the dispersal of the red-shirts in 2010.
Mr Worachai said that having heard Thaksin's message he would now go all out to push for the passage of his bill.
Mr Chalerm may have to delay his bill, which had been strongly opposed by a majority of the red-shirts, he said.
Mr Worachai said he was not sure if the party would agree to it if Mr Chalerm went ahead and tabled his bill for consideration when parliament next meets in ordinary session.
On Thaksin's comment that he wanted the red-shirts' help for another important move, Mr Worachai said he believed Thaksin was referring to constitutional amendment.