Victims' families join call for amnesty for

Relatives of victims killed and injured in the May 1992 uprising called on the government yesterday to enact an amnesty law to absolve all demonstrators, with the exception of the protest leaders.

The Committee of May 1992 Heroes' Relatives, led by Adul Khiewboribun, called on the government in a statement to act immediately to grant amnesty to ordinary people who took part in political rallies.

Adul said it had become clear that all sides agreed that an amnesty law should be enacted and it should not cover the government leaders at that time, the military officers in the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation, government officials and leaders of the protesters.

Adul said the government should heed a proposal of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship - red shirts - to issue an amnesty decree immediately instead of waiting further.

He said the government should at least consider two other options from Suda Rangukphan, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, and the National Rule of Law Commission (NRLC).

Suda proposed the government should back a charter amendment bill to add a chapter on amnesty to the Constitution and that the amendment should start before the current parliamentary session ends in three months.

NRLC chairman Ukrit Mongkolnavin said MPs should sponsor an amnesty bill within the current parliamentary session or else he would cooperate with civil groups to raise signatures from voters to sponsor such a |bill.

Adul said the government should not further drag its feet because it was the first time in Thailand's history that the people had come out on their own to call for an amnesty.

He said the leaders of rallies were ready to face the consequences so they had not called for an amnesty for themselves.