Amnesty shouldn't cover my father's assassin, MP says

Pheu Thai party list MP Kattiya Sawasdipol, who lost her father, Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, during the political rally in 2010, said yesterday that whoever shot dead her father intended to kill him and could not be pardoned as part of an amnesty bill.

Kattiya said her father did not die during the dispersal of protesters but as a result of premeditated murder. Whoever committed the offence must face legal action.

She agreed, however, with the latest suggestion between the red and yellow shirts to issue two amnesty bills - one of which would pardon protesters who broke the security laws - because she believed they had joined political rallies with good intent.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party list MP Trairong Suwankhiri admitted he had discussed the amnesty bills with Deputy House Speaker Charoen Chankomol, and he had already reported to Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and Democrat Party adviser Banyat Bantadthan about the talks.

He said he and Charoen broached two issues: first, to pardon those who committed security law breaches, which he believed every party agreed with; and second, to set up a committee to decide which particular individuals should be pardoned. He said it was now up to the party to decide on the matter.

Charoen said he did not take orders from anyone as he had initiated the calling of a meeting between the red and yellow shirts and political parties to discuss drafting amnesty bills. He said he had no ulterior motive but only wanted to be a coordinator for all parties to bring about reconciliation efforts so the country could achieve peace.

He said if both the Pheu Thai and the Democrat parties agreed on the amnesty, he would invite two members from each party to take part in drafting a bill and tabling it in Parliament.