Govt dumps opposition's amnesty law proposal

Calling it a national reconciliation bill, the opposition Pheu Thai Party floated the idea of having the law clear the names of politicians who had been banned after the 2006 military coup, because many of them were supporters of the current government.

However, Thammasat University academic Prinya Thaewanarumitkul said the proposal would only create a rift within the government if coalition parties, whose major supporters are banned politicians, agreed with the idea.

"What does the Democrat Party think about the possibility of Bhum Jai Thai Party bringing former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak to run in the coming elections," he said.

Somkid was banned from politics for five years after the Thai Rak Thai Party was dissolved after the military coup.

Coalition chief whip Chinnaworn Boonyakiart said the coalition's coordination committee had realised that this was not the right time to propose such a law because the government had more immediate issues at hand like tackling the economic crisis and solving people's economic hardship.

Bhum Jai Thai's Khon Kaen MP Panha Siripanya, in a move to show unity, said the coalition parties agreed with the idea of dumping the proposal for the time being. Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, who is also the party's leader, had early voiced support for the proposal because his son, Anuthin, is one of the banned politicians.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he had confidence in the coalition and did not expect them to split up in order to support the opposition. He added that the government would consider the national reconciliation bill in the context of political reform, rather than an amnesty for a select group of politicians, he said.

Abhisit said he would consult with the opposition to explore the possibility of political reform.

Chairman of the National Human Right Commission Saneh Chamarik said it was not very wise of the politicians to propose a law for their own benefit.

"Using a law that interferes with the justice system is worse than a military coup," he said.

When asked if the law could be put into the context of political reform, Saneh said that would be even worse. "If you mix up the two ideas, political reform would not move forward at all," he told reporters.