A special House committee is pressing the government to decide whether to include individuals convicted under the lese majeste law in an amnesty bill, following the death of political activist Netiporn Saneysangkhom.
Nikorn Jamnong, chairman of the House sub-committee on politically motivated cases, announced that the committee’s recent meeting addressed several key issues. Among these was a demand from the political group Thalufah to include those convicted under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to lese majeste, in the proposed amnesty legislation.
The committee’s discussions encompassed the investigation into Netiporn’s high-profile death, the bail rights of those detained under Section 112, delays in legal proceedings, and the broader implications of the amnesty bill. The committee will submit its summary and recommendations to the government for consideration. Nikorn indicated that the majority of the House committee supports establishing an amnesty panel. This sub-committee is tasked with categorizing actions and presenting them to the main House committee for a vote on whether the panel should operate in an administrative capacity. The vote is scheduled for next Thursday.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha confirmed that Parliament is ready to discuss the amnesty bill during its regular session if it is brought forward.
Chaithawat Tulathon, leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), stated that the special House committee is considering topics to forward to the government, including the release of political inmates. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin previously commented that while some political inmate cases must be resolved by the courts, the government could negotiate with the judiciary to find a solution if it has a clear policy focused on resolving political conflicts and restoring the rule of law.
Chaithawat emphasized the importance of granting bail rights to political activists, noting that police have recently been denying bail to those accused of violating Section 112, detaining them upon being summoned. He argued that the Prime Minister should implement a clear policy for police to grant bail instead of deferring these decisions to the courts, given that the police are under the premier’s direct supervision.
Addressing Netiporn’s death, Chaithawat clarified that the MFP never encouraged her to undertake a hunger strike. He added that the MFP had attempted to persuade activist Tantawan Tuatulanon to end her hunger strike as well, reported Bangkok Post. He stated, “The right to bail can start with the police, but recently police aren’t allowing bail and detain those who are accused of violating Section 112 when they are summoned. For this type of case, the premier should have a clear policy for police to allow bail instead of leaving those decisions to the court as the police are directly under the supervision of the premier.”
The ongoing discussions and decisions surrounding the amnesty bill and the rights of political detainees continue to be a significant point of contention within the Thai government and among political activists. The resolution of these issues is seen as crucial for addressing political conflicts and ensuring justice within the country.
