House approves withdrawal of 6 bills

House approves withdrawal of 6 bills

The House of Representatives on Thursday agreed to withdraw six amnesty-related bills from the House agenda.

The vote was called after Deputy Speaker Charoen Chankomol, who chaired the meeting, said he had invited the five MPs who submitted the six bills for talks and they had all agreed to withdraw their draft legislations.

Of the six items of legislation, five are "reconciliation bills" proposed by Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, Niyom Worapanya, Samart Kaewmeechai, Peerapan Palusuk and Nattawut Saikuar. The other is an "amnesty bill" proposed by Niyom Worapanya. Mr Niyom proposed two bills - one referred to as a reconciliation bill and the other an amnesty bill.

All five MPs rose to confirm that they wanted to withdraw their legislation and asked for House approval.

The House voted 310-1 to approve the request.

Mr Charoen adjourned the House meeting immediately after the vote.

Gen Sonthi, who proposed one of the reconciliation bills, said he agreed to withdraw his draft in response to calls from people across various sectors.

"Before, I did something that many people branded as undemocratic," the former coup leader said.

"Today I am in parliament, I want everything to be done through parliamentary channels. I therefore ask for your permission to withdraw the bill."

Gen Sonthi led the Sept 19, 2006, military coup that ended the Thaksin Shinawatra administration.

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