Thai government whip to propose amnesty bill to House

BANGKOK, July 24 (TNA) - The Thai government whip committee has resolved to propose an amnesty bill to the House of Representatives on August 7, 2013. Government chief whip Amnuay Khlangpha told journalists on Wednesday that the amnesty bill, written by a ruling Puea Thai Party MP for Bangkok's suburban Samut Prakan Province, Worachai Hema, will be picked up for the House's deliberation on August 7. Amnuay acknowledged that the Puea Thai bill is aimed to offer amnesties to all parties involved in Thailand's political demonstrations in 2010 for the sake of national reconciliation. Deputy House Speaker Charoen Chankomol said, meanwhile, that the Puea Thai Party's amnesty bill has been already placed on top of the agenda; so the Lower House will have to consider it first and the authorities of the House have already prepared to cope with any possible disturbance. Relatives of those killed during the protest crackdowns in 2010 have, on the other hand, asked the coalition Bhumjaithai Party to, instead, support their amnesty bill intended to offer amnesties to innocent people, but not to government personnel who took unnecessarily harsh actions in the incidents. The opposition Democrat Party, however, demanded that the Puea Thai Party-led incumbent government withdraw all four amnesty bills from the House, stating that any amnesty must be applied only for political wrongdoing and offences against the executive decree on public administration in emergency situations and would not cover those damaging people's lives and public property and those offending the most revered Thai monarchy. (TNA)