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Daily Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Thailand's parliament starts debates on sensitive political amnesty bills
Published on: Wednesday, July 09, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 09, 2025 Text Size: More than 5,000 people have been charged with offences relating to political rallies since 2006. (EPA Images pic) BANGKOK: Thailand's parliament met today to begin deliberations on draft bills seeking amnesty for thousands of people charged with crimes relating to mass demonstrations and rallies over the two decades of political turmoil. Five draft bills submitted to parliament by four political parties and civil society groups would cover all political demonstration-related cases since 2005, a period of intermittent turbulence that saw two coups, the removal of three prime ministers by court orders and sometimes violent street protests. The ruling Pheu Thai party-led government, which is hanging on to power with a slim parliamentary majority following the suspension of prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty by a court order last week, picked political amnesty as its first legislative agenda as the house reconvenes after a break. A previous bid for political amnesty by the Pheu Thai party in 2013 backfired, triggering protests and, later, a coup. 'People in this country have been in conflict for 20 years, this must come to an end,' Pheu Thai lawmaker and government whip Wisut Chainarun told Reuters. All the draft bills propose to create a committee to determine the scope of political cases eligible for amnesty. More than 5,000 people have been charged with offences relating to political rallies and expression since 2006, including 281 people charged with royal insult, according to legal aid group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. Thailand has one of the world's harshest royal insult laws, setting jail terms of up to 15 years for anyone convicted of defaming, insulting or threatening the monarchy. The kingdom's government is willing to approve amnesty for political cases but not for those involving corruption and insulting the country's monarchy, Wisut said. The main opposition People's Party, which has submitted one of the draft bills, does not specify offences eligible for amnesty but stipulates that those involved in insurrection, murder or abuse of power in security crackdowns would not be eligible. If one of the draft bills passes the first reading in parliament today, a committee will be formed ahead of a second and third readings in the lower house and the senate, before it is sent to the king for endorsement. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Coalition in crisis
Amnesty bills are now taking precedence over the more controversial Entertainment Complex Bill as the administration walks a political tightrope, with critics wondering if the move is a sincere attempt to reconcile a fragmenting coalition or rather a strategic manoeuvre by an embattled government. As the House of Representatives held its first day of debate after it reconvened on July 3, the government has postponed the Entertainment Complex Bill -- which would legalise casinos within certain parameters -- in favour of advancing four amnesty-related draft bills. This has sparked widespread speculation about political motives, coalition dynamics, and the real intent behind the move. Strategic Retreat The decision to delay deliberation of the Entertainment Complex Bill stems from fears that the government, now sitting on a thin majority, lacks sufficient parliamentary support to pass the legislation. With the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) having recently joined the opposition, the coalition has lost at least 69 crucial votes. The Democrat Party, which has 25 seats, and the Prachachat Party (nine seats), which opposes the bill on religious grounds, have also indicated some resistance. Meanwhile, the position of the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party, which has 36 seats, remains uncertain due to an ongoing internal rift. Faced with this fragility, the government chose to avoid risking an early defeat by shelving the bill for now. Amnesty Bills Steal the Spotlight Instead, the House will begin discussions on four amnesty bills: a people's amnesty bill (proposed by civil society), a general amnesty bill (proposed by the main opposition People's Party, or PP), a peace-building bill (put forth by the Thai Teachers for the People Party), and a peace-building bill (sponsored by the UTN Party). A fifth bill from BJT has also been added. These bills differ in scope and detail -- especially concerning the inclusion or exclusion of cases under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, better known as the lèse majesté law. Section 112 remains a contentious issue, which is expected to be a key factor in whether each bill passes the initial approval stage in parliament. Pheu Thai 'Seeks Closure' Wisut Chainarun, a Pheu Thai Party MP and chief government whip, said the push for amnesty was a genuine attempt to reconcile political divisions that have persisted for over two decades. He highlighted the disproportionate suffering of grassroots political activists -- particularly red-shirt supporters -- many of whom remain incarcerated for their involvement in past mass protests. Mr Wisut argued for compassion and closure, not for powerful figures, but for "the small people" who deserve a second chance. While confident that at least two bills -- those not involving Section 112 -- will pass the first reading, Mr Wisut admitted the differing opinions across parties, especially around Section 112, could complicate progress. Still, he insisted the initiative was not a popularity ploy. "This is not about scoring points... It's about peace," he said. Opposition: Sincere Reconciliation? Natthawut Buaprathum, a list-MP of the PP, questioned the government's motives, suggesting the shift to amnesty bills was more about political convenience than genuine reform. He warned against using amnesty as a political bargaining chip and called for all four original bills to be accepted for further consideration in the second and third readings. He further noted that if reconciliation is truly the goal, then no bill -- regardless of its sponsor -- should be preemptively dismissed. The refusal to even consider bills covering Section 112, he said, contradicts the spirit of inclusive political healing. Mr Natthawut also warned that, amid speculation suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra may lose her case at the Constitutional Court regarding the leaked audio clip of her conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen leading to a dissolution of parliament, the future of the amnesty legislation remains uncertain. "This shouldn't be about delaying or defusing censure. It should be about real change," he said. He was referring a no-confidence motion BJT plans to file against the government. A parliament vote set for Wednesday to adopt any, if not all, of the amnesty bills for debate may be a key factor in the PP deciding to join the no-confidence campaign since it advocates in favour of amnesties for those who violate the lèse majesté law. Political Trap or Just a Distraction? Political activist and former red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan sees the amnesty bills leap-frogging the Entertainment Complex Bill as a "political trap" designed to create divisions among the opposition -- particularly between the PP and the BJT -- just as the two appeared ready to file a joint no-confidence motion. Mr Jatuporn characterised the move as "a shallow trick" to sow confusion, distract from internal tensions, and pave the way for the later passage of the Entertainment Complex Bill under a different name. He also cast doubt on the sincerity of the reconciliation effort, stating that Pheu Thai lacks the moral authority of past leadership. He accused the government of resorting to "day-by-day survival politics". Academics Warn of Political Chess, Not Reform Olarn Thinbangtieo, deputy dean of Burapha University's Faculty of Political Science and Law, echoed similar concerns. He described the amnesty push as a tactical plot by Pheu Thai to discourage the PP from moving forward with a no-confidence motion. Since the PP demands that any amnesty bill should include violations of Section 112, which the BJT opposes, Mr Olarn said the government is banking on sowing bad blood and hoping that internal disagreements derail the opposition's motion. Without the PP's support, the BJT lacks sufficient votes to push the motion through. Moreover, Mr Olarn argued that the Entertainment Complex Bill would have sparked fierce protests if it were introduced now. Instead, the amnesty issue offers a softer political landing, at least temporarily. "They're trying to kill multiple birds with one stone," he said, referring to Pheu Thai. "But that won't win back public trust." A political source said the government's choice to prioritise amnesty legislation reveals both a political opportunity and a vulnerability. With razor-thin parliamentary margins and mounting internal challenges, the coalition is attempting to stabilise its position by addressing long-standing political wounds. Yet the inclusion, or exclusion, of Section 112 remains a litmus test for the sincerity and reach of reconciliation. Whether such a shift will unify or further fracture parliament and the public remains uncertain, according to the source.
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Gambling push put on hold
The chief government whip has confirmed the highly controversial Entertainment Complex Bill will be withdrawn from parliament tomorrow, so an amnesty bill can proceed. Wisut Chainarun, a Pheu Thai Party MP and chief government whip, said yesterday that the government will officially remove the bill from parliamentary consideration tomorrow. "The bill will definitely be withdrawn on July 9. There is no need for anyone to protest or rally over this matter. Please go home and relax. Discussions have already been held within the party, and I reiterate that the withdrawal is not being made out of fear," Mr Wisut said. He explained that the reason for the withdrawal stems from the need for better public understanding and to allow time for the current wave of intense debate on the issue to subside. "We previously urged everyone to ensure the public fully understood the bill. "Now that the discussion has reached its peak, we believe it is appropriate to withdraw the bill for the time being. There is no loss of face [on Pheu Thai's part]. If anyone still has concerns, the government remains open to listening," he said. When asked whether the bill might be reintroduced in the future, Mr Wisut said that it was too early to say. He cited the example of the Peaceful Society Promotion Bill concerning an amnesty, which faced significant criticism when it was proposed several years ago. "Back then, the amnesty bill was heavily attacked, yet today no one seems to object," he noted. Mr Wisut confirmed that once the Entertainment Complex Bill is officially pulled, four political amnesty bills, including those proposed by coalition parties, will go up for debate instead on July 9, with Pheu Thai hoping the final version of the bill will foster national reconciliation. The bills will definitely be brought forward for parliamentary deliberation, he added. The Pheu Thai Party has drafted its own amnesty bill so political offenders can be pardoned, although it reiterated earlier that the legislation will not include amnesty for those found guilty under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law. As to the charter amendment plan, Mr Wisut explained that Pheu Thai would wait to read it before deciding whether to go full steam ahead. "If the proposal involves Chapters 1 or 2, we will not support it. We seek to amend the constitution, but we will not touch Chapters 1 and 2," he said. Chapter 1 contains sections that define Thailand as a single, indivisible kingdom with a democratic regime and establish the King as the head of state. Chapter 2, meanwhile, outlines royal prerogatives.
