Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra defends amnesty bill

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday defended a controversial political amnesty bill that has sparked mass anti-government protests, urging the country to “forgive” after years of civil strife.

Opponents fear the legislation would allow fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra – Yingluck’s brother – to return from self-imposed exile.

Yingluck said the amnesty was needed to reunite the country after years of turmoil culminating in a bloody crackdown by the previous government on pro-Thaksin “Red Shirt” protests in 2010 that left dozens of civilians dead.

“Since this government took power it has focused on reconciliation,” she said in a nationally televised address.

“An amnesty is not about forgetting our painful lessons but about learning so it does not happen again to our young generation,” she said. “If people learn how to forgive, the country will move forward.”

There have been daily demonstrations in Bangkok since parliament began debating the bill last week.

More than 10,000 protesters marched through the capital on Monday, seeking to raise pressure on Yingluck’s government over the controversial bill. Small rallies were also held in several provincial towns.