Thai DPM asks all parties to stop proposing Section 112 amendments

BANGKOK, February 7 (TNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa said Tuesday he supports the stance of Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha that all parties in the country should stop proposing any amendment to Section 112 of the Criminal Code in order to avoid conflicts in the society and in order not to affect the most-revered royal institution. Deputy Prime Minister Police Captain Chalerm Yubumrung also voiced his support to General Prayuth's stance against a civic group, called itself the Nitirat group, comprising some law lecturers who propose the amendment. Police Captain Chalerm told journalists that he wonders why the group does not stop, as the government and MPs do not support any amendment to the lese majeste law, urging all Royal Thai Armed Forces chiefs to air their opposition to the proposed amendment. Deputy Premier Chalerm, however, insisted on his proposal to amend the Criminal Procedure Code on setting deadlines for the execution of drug convicts, whom both the Lower Court and the Court of Appeals sentence to death, encouraging the National Human Rights Commission and human rights networks to share their opinions on his idea. (TNA)