The Pheu Thai Party's decision to back a "wholesale" amnesty for all sides involved in the May 2010 violence has upset some of its red-shirt supporters as well as critics of the government.
Some red shirts see the proposal championed by Deputy Premier Chalerm Yubamrung as a betrayal because it would cover senior Democrat Party figures who were in government when the military crackdown on the Bangkok rally took place three years ago Sunday.
Others say the amnesty is simply a cynical attempt to pave the way for the return home of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the red shirts' patron.
As well, they say, it shows that Pheu Thai is less interested in fighting the elite establishment than in becoming part of it.
Thaksin is reported to have pushed Pheu Thai to back the reconciliation bill that Chalerm plans to introduce in the House on Thursday. The bill proposes a sweeping amnesty for everyone involved in political conflicts dating back to 2006, the year Thaksin was ousted in a military coup.
Deputy PM Chalerm Yubamrung addresses red-shirt activists at a rally in January to press for the release of political prisoners. (Post file photo)
Thaksin is expected to address his supporters via a video link on Sunday when they gather to commemorate the third anniversary of the 2010 events.
Pardoning leaders on one or both sides of the political divide, as well as soldiers involved in the coup, would simply perpetuate the culture of impunity in Thailand, where senior figures rarely take responsibility for anything, say academics.
Pheu Thai earlier had favoured a limited amnesty that would cover only rank-and-file followers who had been locked up for offences deemed political.
Prominent scholars have been criticising the Pheu Thai flip-flop in social media forums. They include Nitirat Group core member Piyabutr Saengkanokkul; Thammasat University scholars Kasian Tejapira and Somsak Jeamteerasakul.
Hard-core red-shirt activists Nithiwat Wannasiri, Jittra Kotchadet and Suda Rungkuphan also oppose the Chalerm plan.
They say the party is betraying the red-shirt rank and file, as if a hundred deaths and a thousand injuries were simply the price to pay for the party’s compromise with the old establishment for the sake of its own survival.
Mr Chalerm, the party's most strident supporter of Thaksin, has made no secret of his determination to bring the former premier home. He reportedly has called meetings with provincial governors and senior police officers nationwide to prepare the way for a smooth return of the fugitive politician, who was convicted in absentia of abuse of power while in office.
Mr Chalerm's campaign appears to have gained the upper hand over one backed by Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema, who had proposed a bill granting amnesty to rank-and-file members on both sides of the political conflict.
However, Mr Worachai is modifying his position and says he has 150 signatures to support introducing a "wholesale amnesty bill" at a parliamentary meeting on Thursday.
An earlier "amnesty for all" bill was advanced by Gen Sonthi Boonyaratklin, who led the coup that overthrew Thaksin in 2006. It would have let everyone off the hook, including soldiers.
Mr Chalerm is also reportedly planning to visit Udon Thani on Friday to explain to sceptical northeastern red shirts why his amnesty proposal is necessary.
Critics are afraid that such an amnesty would only reinforce the culture of impunity in Thai politics.
"It is inappropriate, if not unwise, to make a move during the mourning and commemorations of those who died and injured," wrote Mr Somsak on his Facebook page.
"Thaksin should make clear his position on the matter when he speaks at the videoconference Sunday night."
He added that the ball was now in Thaksin's court and the Thai public would now see the true nature of their exiled leader, whether he cared only for himself or for his comrades in arms.
Banjerd Fungklinchan, the father of a man killed on April 10, 2010, cautioned that Pheu Thai should not think only about its majority votes without hearing the voices of those who lost loved ones in 2010.
"The UDD core leaders have previously announced they could exclude themselves from amnesty so this amnesty would be for whom? How can we forgive before seeing justice is served?" he asked.
"Our beloved leader Khun Thaksin has lived abroad cosily and comfortably so he should not rush to come back. He previously announced that if it was still impossible for him to return home, he could stay away."
But if the politicians intend to work only for their own convenience, the relatives of the dead and the injured would still fight for justice, said Mr Banjerd.
Somchai Homlaor, a member of the Law Reform Commission and the now-defunct Truth for Reconciliation Commission, said the Pheu Thai move was not in line with the TRC recommendations.
It had said that amnesty should be considered thoroughly and details of who did what should be differentiated.
"There must be a real process with some specific timeline that leads to true reconciliation — say those involved in the political turmoil must concede to their guilt, apologies must be made to the victims' families and the general public, and certain information about the incidents must be shared with the public," said Mr Somchai
"Otherwise there is no learning and forgiving as conflicts still remain."
However, he believes there will still be some time for Pheu Thai to reconsider and make the right decision on amnesty and reconciliation, as the actual consideration of the bills would not take place until the next House session in August.