People’s party seeks parliamentary support for its draft amnesty bill

People’s party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has urged government and opposition parties to support its draft amnesty bill in its first reading, so all parties can settle their differences over the bill during its scrutiny period.

Several government and opposition parties, including Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai, have voiced their objections to the People’s party’s draft, because it seeks to pardon those convicted or awaiting trial on lèse majesté charges.

Natthaphong claimed, however, that the party’s draft does not directly seek to pardon lèse majesté offenders, but it paves the way for the enactment of a by-law to do so.

He emphasised the party’s wish to return justice to all political offenders, and to create a good political atmosphere, by appealing to all parties to accept the four draft amnesty bills, including the one proposed by the People’s party and others by civil society.

He said that there is no justification for dropping any of the four bills in their first readings.

Natthaphong maintains that the party’s draft is unrelated to the fact that several of its MPs are being investigated by the National Anti-Corruption Commission for advocating for amendments to Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lèse majesté law.

He also welcomes Culture Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s presence at parliamentary meetings, saying that it is a good that she should keep going, to set an example for other MPs.