Amnesty talks mark progress

EDITORIAL

Published: 14 Feb 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The fact that representatives of two rival political groups, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), met last Thursday to discuss the amnesty issue is a healthy political development.

Thanks to deputy House speaker Charoen Chankomol who arranged the unprecedented closed-door meeting, the two sides agreed in principle that an amnesty should be granted to the ordinary protesters of the yellow-shirt and red-shirt camps charged with defying the states of emergency during the anti-government protests between 2006 until 2011.

The UDD, however, has another agenda in mind _ the group also wants the amnesty to cover protest leaders who "did not give orders to their protesters to break the law" as explained by Korkaew Pikulthong, a UDD co-leader and Pheu Thai list MP who held talks on the amnesty issue with the PAD's Panthep Puapongphan.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

nui
Post : 532
Send message

Discussion 2 : 14 Feb 2013 at 07.232
Post this to my Facebook
The UDD protest leaders want the amnesty to cover UDD protest leaders. Especially for Korkaew, who is released from prison until the present parliamentary session ends. He did not give orders to protesters to break the law and will be included in the amnesty. This is not a healthy political development at all. Let Voranai Vanijaka write about that matter.
Like dislike 21 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
oldairman
Post : 737
Send message

Discussion 1 : 14 Feb 2013 at 06.541
Post this to my Facebook
What is a government-appointed Independent National Rule of Law Commission?

It seems like an oxymoron.
If it is government appointed how can it be "independent".
If it is independent how can it be "government appointed", that is, set up, paid for and run by the government?
Like dislike 22 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment

Amnesty talks mark progress | Bangkok Post: opinion