Several political groups have slammed a proposed law seeking to give a reprieve to political offenders while the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) has distanced itself from the legislation proposed by its political reform panel.
NRSA deputy chairman Alongkorn Ponlaboot said Monday the proposed law was only at the committee level, and the NRSA has not yet considered the matter.
But Mr Alongkorn had earlier praised the proposal, saying that, "It will not favour any particular party". The former Democrat Party official spoke before and after strong opposition became clear.
Mr Alongkorn said he believed all sides wanted the country to return to peace and should welcome efforts to bring about unity, though the thrust of the issue is how and when reconciliation can be achieved.
- Editorial: Proposal would widen political rift
The prime minister has designed a roadmap for the NRSA to begin a process to foster reconciliation next year as this year's priorities are the drafting of the constitution for the charter referendum, and reforms, Mr Alongkorn said.
He said the NRSA political reform panel has worked "quietly" on restoring national unity.
Regarding the proposal, the panel was ready to listen to suggestions from all stakeholders, including the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), Mr Alongkorn said.
He added it was a sensitive issue and the panel also needs to discuss the matter with the other four of the so-called five rivers of power -- the National Council for Peace and Order, the National Legislative Assembly, the cabinet and the Constitution Drafting Committee.
The political reform panel chaired by Seree Suwanphanont has proposed legislation seeking to suspend court proceedings and convictions against all political offenders during the political unrest over the past decade as part of efforts to heal rifts and bring about national unity.
Those who would benefit from the proposed law include protesters who laid siege to state offices, blocked roads and stormed airports during political strife.
Under the proposed law, prosecutions and court cases derived from past political unrest will be suspended, despite some cases having gone through court proceedings.
Mr Seree said the proposal is different from an amnesty in that it requires the offenders to plead guilty in a court trial first and abide by certain tough conditions to ensure they will not repeat the offences. An amnesty, according to Mr Seree, does not impose any terms on the beneficiaries.
According to Mr Seree, once the convictions are suspended, the offenders must abide by the terms and conditions specified or risk having the suspension revoked. "The proposal, however, does not include charges of corruption and lese majeste and crimes such as arson," he said.
Sources say protesters from the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who broke through police cordons and stormed Suvarnabhumi airport in 2008, forcing the airport to close, would benefit.
For lesser politically-motivated offences, the committee recommends the prime minister drop the charges by invoking powers under Section 44 of the interim charter to suspend the investigation and prosecution stages, he said.
Veera Somkwamkid, secretary-general of the People's Network Against Corruption, questioned Monday if there was anyone behind the move to push for the proposal.
He also said the conditions set out by the proposal would be damaging to the country as they would deter protesters from coming out to safeguard the country's interests from being threatened by corrupt governments in the future.
Former Democrat Party MP Watchara Phetthong said the political reform panel might have proposed the law at the behest of someone, and said the push for the law could be politically motivated. He said using the proposal to clear up charges without court rulings could trample on the authority of the court.
Akanat Promphan, secretary-general of the Muan Maha Prachachon for Reforms Foundation, also voiced opposition to the proposal.
The foundation is a new incarnation of the defunct People's Democratic Reform Committee which held street protests against the Yingluck Shinawatra government, leading to the May 22, 2014 coup. Mr Akanat insisted that former PDRC members did not want any reprieve.
UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan also rejected the proposal and said all protest leaders should fight their cases in court. He added he had done nothing wrong so there was no need for him to plead guilty in court.
He said previously the proposal stands to benefit the PAD more, as its members were accused of more serious offences.