Thai Government and Opposition Differ Over Amnesty Bills

BANGKOK, March 10 (TNA) – Thailand’s ruling Pheu Thai Party has told the opposition Democrat Party to discuss amnesty bills to free those involved in recent political unrest as invited by a Deputy House Speaker. Meanwhile, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is ready to protest against the move. Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said his party would cooperate with the invitation of First Deputy House Speaker Jaroen Jankomol for all concerned parties to discuss amnesty bills on Monday. He said the amnesty would result in national reconciliation and the Democrat Party should join the discussion as it had expressed support for amnesty for political demonstrators. Democrat MP Ong-art Klampaibul said Pheu Thai MPs and the Deputy House Speaker had a hidden agenda to help somebody in the proposal of amnesty bills. The Democrat Party had asked the prime minister to stop the movement to prevent conflicts. The Democrat Party had suggested concerned parties conduct public discussions on the issue first as recommended by the Truth for Reconciliation Commission. Parnthep Pourpongpan, spokesman of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said his group might not attend Monday’s discussions because its conditions were not met due to, for example, the absence of representatives of some stakeholders in past political unrest. Mr Parnthep said if the Deputy House Speaker was sincere to push for reconciliation, he should have Pheu Thai MPs withdraw all their amnesty and reconciliation bills from the House first. Mr Parnthep insisted that the PAD would fight to the end if any amnesty or reconciliation bill was included in the House agenda. (TNA)