The Constitution Drafting Committee’s reconciliation panel will propose an amnesty for cases connected to political conflicts over the past decade as part of its six-point guide to national reconciliation.
Anek Laothamatas, the reconciliation panel chairman, said on Thursday the 28-member group would submit a six point recommendation that includes the amnesty to National Reform Council chairman Thienchay Kiranandana on Monday. If approved, the proposal will be sent to the cabinet, the National Council for Peace and Order, the National Legislative Assembly and justice-related agencies.
Two of the points are aimed at encouraging the building of a collective understanding of past political conflicts as well as finding and disseminating truth behind violent events.
The planned amnesty is listed as the third point and is aimed at promoting justice, repentance and forgiveness.
The other three points involve rehabilitation and help for those affected, creating the right environment for Thais to live together, and measures to prevent the use of violence to resolve conflicts.
Reconciliation committee member Bhumi Moonsil, deputy dean of Assumption University’s faculty of law, said the amnesty would cover two groups of political offenders -- civilians and government officials (at the operational level) -- during events from 2005 to 2014.
The offenders would be divided into three groups -- those who committed politically motivated offences; persons who committed actual crime-related offences such as murder or carrying weapons; and individuals committing both criminal and politically motivated offences.
Mr Bhumi said the last two groups would face legal prosecution, and if convicted, would be eligible to request a pardon only after they had served a certain amount of time.
Amnesty would be granted to protest leaders and senior officials making executive decisions or giving orders under certain conditions. It would be granted one year after a pardon is given to civilians and operational authorities; they must show repentance to the public and have proof of such acts; and their victims must forgive them.
The amnesty would not apply to corruption, criminal and lese majeste cases, nor cases of severe breaches of human rights.
Asked if fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would receive the pardon, Mr Bhumi said the ex-premier was regarded as a leader of political demonstrators and would have to enter “the repentance and judicial process” first.