The opposition deployed a wide range of tricks and technicalities yesterday to stall a House debate on the amnesty bill proposed by Pheu Thai Party MP Worachai Hema.
Democrat Party MPs, led by former party leader Chuan Leekpai, centre, and current leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, right, lead about 3,000 demonstrators from a sports recreation area at Uruphong intersection to parliament Wednesday. (Photos by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill and Thiti Wannamontha)
The meeting began on time yesterday afternoon, but the atmosphere soured soon after parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranont convened the session.
Opposition MPs attempted to delay debate on the amnesty bill by asking Mr Somsak to allocate time to other issues before allowing Mr Worachai to introduce his legislation. Democrat MPs also complained their aides had not been allowed to enter the parliament compound and that the debate was not being broadcast on public television.
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They also questioned whether the amnesty bill was a piece of financial legislation, which would require prime ministerial endorsement before its submission to parliament, and asked to move other bills up the agenda for consideration.
Mr Somsak was forced to clarify that the bill was not finance related.
Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva threatened to ask the Constitution Court to rule on Mr Somsak's clarification.
Mr Somsak finally asked Mr Worachai to introduce the bill amid protests and chants of "Servants! Servants!" from the Democrats.
Mr Worachai delivered his speech proposing the bill with the aid of fellow Pheu Thai MP Sunai Jullapongsathon.
However, after three hours of wrangling, the government MPs agreed to pause the debate and discuss other issues so long as the Worachai bill agenda remained intact.
The Lower House finally managed to begin deliberation of the Worachai bill almost seven hours after it convened after government lawmakers won a vote to get the debate back on track. But this was not before the Democrats proposed a motion seeking its postponement.
Mr Abhisit cited concern by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights about the amnesty push. The UN agency has asked the government to ensure that any form of amnesty bill that might be adopted to grant pardons to political offenders excludes perpetrators of human rights abuses.
Mr Abhisit said there was still a chance for talks to achieve reconciliation, but this would involve the government backing down from pushing the amnesty bill.
"Reconciliation that is achieved worldwide cannot take place because one party forges ahead with a solution and has it decided by a majority.
"If the government goes ahead with the bill, I can't see how other parties will sit down for talks," Mr Abhisit said.
He said a vote on the motion to postpone the deliberation would be a test of sincerity for the government.
Pheu Thai list-MP Sunai Jullapongsathon rose to defend the bill, saying it was part of the commitment the government had to fulfil.
He said conflicts did not stem from the amnesty bill, but from the other side that refused to stop.
Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said he was scheduled to meet UN representatives on Monday and would address their concerns.
He noted that the UN agency was not opposed to an amnesty bill but it was concerned perpetrators of human rights abuses might go unpunished.
Second deputy House speaker Wisut Chai-arun asked the House to vote on the motion. The government won by a large margin, 301:160, not to postpone.
The debate on the draft began about 8pm and was scheduled to wrap up about 11pm.
Prompong Nopparit, a government whip, said yesterday a vote would be called today to decide if it would pass the first reading.
Democrat MP Nipit Intarasombat asked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra if she would vote for the bill.
He said if Ms Yingluck voted for the bill he would file a case against her with the Constitution Court because it would be a conflict of interest as the bill would benefit her brother Thaksin Shinawatra.
Bhumjaithai MP Supachai Jaisamut said a committee was likely to spend three months vetting the bill before it goes to its second and third readings.
He said the whole process of passing the legislation would take at least six months and the bill would face a number of obstacles, including a possible review by the Constitution Court.
Meanwhile, the Thai Journalists Association and the Thai Broadcasting Journalism Association yesterday called for the amnesty debate to be broadcast on Channel 11.
"If the public directly receives information from both sides in a straightforward and transparent manner, it may help build trust and the right atmosphere for reconciliation," the associations said.
They asked Mr Somsak to work with the government to have the debate broadcast on Channel 11. Pheu Thai MP Jirayu Huangsap, who is also a member of the parliamentary broadcasting committee, said the government had not blocked the broadcast, and the public could follow the debate on the parliament TV channel and radio network, or download smart-phone applications that support internet-based broadcasting.