Amnesty for politicians opposed by senators

Lawmakers are still divided over the amnesty draft proposed by the independent National Rule of Law Commission (NRLC) headed by Dr Ukrit Mongkolnavin.

Appointed Senator Paiboon Nititawan said yesterday he opposed the NRLC's amnesty draft on the grounds that Prime Minister Yingluck would be accused of supporting people who have committed lese majeste offences - such as Daranee Chanchoengsilapakul or Da Torpedo.

He said the amnesty bill should not pardon political office holders and former political office holders because they had not only joined the rallies but were protest leaders.

Appointed Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn suggested the government take into account suggestions from the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand on the amnesty bill and advice from Nicha Hiranburana, wife of Col Romklao Thuwatham, who was killed during the political rally.

Somchai said 30 suspects who allegedly committed serious crimes and were being detained at Bang Khen prison with special privileges should not be pardoned - such as those accused of firing RPG rockets like Banthit Sithitum and Surachai Thewarak who allegedly killed nine military officers, two police and 10 others.

Pheu Thai party-list MP Korkaew Pikulthong opposed Paiboon's proposal that political office holders should not be pardoned, saying the idea was a discrimination and unconstitutional. He said no political office holders were protest leaders or pulled strings behind the protest. "They might [have taken] to the rally stage but they did not take part in the rally as protest leaders," he said.

Deputy House Speaker Charoen Jankomol yesterday met with Pheu Thai leader Charupong Ruangsuwan. He said he had talked to Trairong Suwankiri of the Democrats. Charoen proposed two bills to Charupong.