A contentious report regarding the potential eligibility for amnesty for offenses under the lese majeste law is finally scheduled for a parliamentary debate this week, following two prior delays, as confirmed by the House panel overseeing the study.
The report, which includes a proposal for amnesty for political offenders, is slated for discussion on Thursday, according to Sasinan Thammanithinan, a Bangkok MP from the People’s Party and spokesperson for the committee. The committee is led by Chusak Sirinil, the minister of the PM’s Office.
Sasinan noted that the repeated delays—originally set for September 26, October 3, and October 10—were due to disagreements among coalition parties regarding the inclusion of Section 112 violations, which pertain to the lese majeste law. The parties involved in the dispute include Bhumjaithai, United Thai Nation, and the Democrats.
Dr. Cherdchai Tantisirin, a list MP from the Pheu Thai Party and member of the study committee, stated that they have drafted much of the content for the amnesty bills that will be proposed by various parties. However, these bills will not be submitted to parliament until the lawmakers have first debated the committee’s findings. Dr. Cherdchai emphasized that this marks the first time amnesty considerations have encompassed Section 112 offenses.
The Chusak committee has explored three options: granting amnesty to Section 112 offenders, denying amnesty for lese majeste offenses, or offering conditional amnesty. Dr. Cherdchai mentioned that the panel is particularly examining the possibility of denying amnesty to offenders whose actions were deliberate, while considering amnesty for those who violated Section 112 without the intent to insult the monarchy.
In the meantime, Jurin Laksanawisit, a Democrat Party list MP and former party leader, remarked on Monday that the study has created significant divisions and presents a potential legal dilemma. “If parliament permits the committee’s findings to proceed, it will present a challenging situation for the government,” he stated.
