Red-shirts who protested may benefit if move wins backing
A joint working group of three state agencies yesterday suggested the government consider an amnesty for some red-shirt protesters who broke the law during the recent political turmoil.
The decision was reached at a meeting of representatives from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Council of State and the National Security Council, according to DSI director-general Tharit Pengdit, who was at the meeting.
After the two-hour-long meeting at Government House, Tharit said the working group agreed the government should consider issuing a royal decree or passing a law to give amnesty to red-shirt protesters who committed offences with a maximum jail term of no more than two years.
"The draft [amnesty legislation] will be drawn up and submitted |to the CRES soon," Tharit said, referring to the Centre for Resolution |of the Emergency Situation.
The Council of State, which is |the government's legal adviser, would be responsible for drafting the law. Tharit said the three |agencies would refer their joint |decision to the CRES.
The DSI chief said the three agencies discussed the "pros and cons" of an amnesty. He said such moves had been offered in past political conflicts of a similar nature - and doing so again would be in line with the government's push for national reconciliation. The problem was an amnesty would fail to discourage people breaking the law again.
Tharit said mainstream social views were not taken into consideration when the meeting discussed whether to offer an amnesty.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declined to comment about the proposed amnesty yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who heads the CRES, said the government would have to decide carefully about any amnesty for the red shirts.
Suthep said that at the recent CRES meeting, some participants cautioned against an amnesty, saying it could encourage red-shirt leaders to mobilise people for another rally soon.
"If the government imposes a state of emergency again, people may not be afraid of the law," he explained.
The deputy premier said he would not raise the matter at the Cabinet meeting today, adding that the move needed to be considered by the CRES first.
When asked if an amnesty would take immediate effect, he said: "The draft law is not completed yet. There may be no amnesty at all."
Meanwhile, Law Society of Thailand president Sak Korsaengruang yesterday met with Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej at Parliament to ask the Upper House to carefully consider an amnesty law.
"Looking from another perspective, giving amnesty to offenders will result in them having no fear of the law. This in turn would have adverse impacts on the rule of law and legal justice," Sak said.
He said that to ensure national reconciliation, all sides should be guaranteed justice and equal treatment. Those affected by the political turmoil should get recompense, while offenders should be punished to prevent more damage in the future.
Sak was part of the Assets Examination Committee, which was appointed after the coup in September 2006 to investigate allegations of corruption against ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his Cabinet members. The AEC investigation led to court cases against Thaksin.
Prasopsuk said the amnesty was a sensitive issue. On one hand, it could cause people to have no fear of the law, but on the other hand it could lead to reconciliation. He personally saw no need for an amnesty law, saying that leniency during the justice process was sufficient.