Charter panel proposes amnesty

Charter panel proposes amnesty

A constitutional drafting subcommittee will recommend an amnesty for all offences committed in connection with the political protests from 2005 to the May 22 coup, except for death and lese majeste cases.

The proposal was made by a subcommittee on the constitution drafting framework, which met today.

The amnesty will cover both sides of the conflicts and government officials.

Whether the proposal will be included in the new constitution or enforced as an act depends on the Constitution Drafting Committee.

Anek Laothamatas, the subcommittee's chairman, also said a 15-member tripartite reconciliation promotion committee should also be set up, comprising five members from each side of the conflict and another five experts, who will be empowered to reconcile and settle the differences, he said.

Asked whether the proposal will lead to opposition, Mr Anek said: "That depends on the people but I'd like to beg all to enter the reconciliation mode by accepting diverse ideas. If the country remains torn as it is, the damage will be enormous."

The Yingluck Shinawatra government proposed a similar bill earlier which sparked strong opposition from both sides of the conflicts, leading to unrest and culminated in the May 22 coup.

Her version of the bill also granted an amnesty to political offences from 2006-14. Then anti-government groups feared it would be used to forgive Thaksin Shinawatra while pro-govenment groups did not want soldiers to get away with the alleged murders of protesters in 2010 .    

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