Thai opposition urges protests against amnesty bill
Critics fear amnesty bill will clear way for return of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra
Thailand’s opposition called on Wednesday for mass protests against a politically-charged amnesty bill that critics fear will clear the way for the return of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The controversial legislation, which is due to be debated in parliament on Thursday, would cover all crimes related to political unrest since 2004, apart from defaming the monarchy.
The ruling party of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra – Thaksin’s sister – has ordered all its lawmakers to vote in favour of the bill.
Supporters of the amnesty say it will give Thailand a fresh start after years of turmoil culminating in mass protests in 2010 that left dozens of civilians dead in a military crackdown.
But opponents fear it will perpetuate a culture of impunity and absolve Thaksin of his crimes.
“Prime Minister Yingluck’s government insists on exploiting its parliamentary majority to pass an amnesty bill to whitewash Thaksin’s corruption as well as the core terrorist protest leaders,” the deputy leader of the opposition Democrat Party, Suthep Thaugsuban, told reporters.
The party – which was in power at the time of the 2010 crackdown – said more than 10,000 people were expected to protest against the bill at a railway station in Bangkok on Thursday evening.