Thai PM calls for calm during debate on Amnesty Bill

BANGKOK, July 28 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Sunday (Jul 28) urged both proponents and opponents to move peacefully during an upcoming debate of the controversial draft Amnesty Bill by members of the House of Representatives, expected to be held on August 7. Miss Yingluck told journalists before her departure for a six-day official visits to Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda that members of the Lower House will make the decision on the draft Amnesty Bill and every party concerned should listen to their opinions by using reasons and think of the country’s benefits as priority. People attending rallies ought to move peacefully, she said. The House of Representatives is expected to consider the draft Amnesty Bill proposed by Vorachai Hema, a member of the ruling Pheu Thai Party representing Samut Prakan province, on August 7. The Lower House is scheduled to reopen for ordinary session this Thursday (Aug 1). Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the major opposition Democrat Party, expressed concern that there was no guarantee the government would not bring other related draft laws for discussions during the debate on the draft Amnesty Bill. The former prime minister opined that members of the coalition government should not use people as “hostage” and noted that they should listen to opinions from everybody. However, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the draft bill proposed by Mr. Vorachai is not bad as Mr. Abhisit thought and it would not grant amnesty to fugitive, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr. Prompong said this draft Amnesty Bill specified clearly that amnesty would be offered to every people who were political victims only and not to core leaders of the so-called ‘Red Shirt’ group. A survey conducted by an independent Dusit Poll said majority of the respondents are worried about violence which might occur both inside and outside the parliament after the House is open this week. Dusit Poll said up to 68.15 per cent of the total respondents said the draft Amnesty Bill should grant amnesty to every party concerned.(TNA)