Thai Parliament Approves Amnesty Law for Thousands of Political Activists

The Thai Parliament approved a bill on July 9 that could grant amnesty to thousands of activists, ranging from hundreds to thousands, who have been convicted in relation to political activities over the past 20 years, AFP reported. The law covers political cases that occurred from January 1, 2005, to July 16, 2025, and also includes members of Thailand's "Yellow Shirts" royalist group and the "Red Shirts" group, which supports former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Furthermore, those who participated in the pro-democracy youth protest movements in 2020 and 2021 can also benefit from this law. Yutthaporn Issarachai, a political analyst at Sukhothai University, told AFP that between 1,000 and 2,000 people are likely to benefit. He said, "This law covers 20 years, making it the country's largest amnesty law." However, it is known that many leaders of the youth protest movements in 2020 and 2021 will not be able to benefit from this law, as it does not cover those convicted under Article 112 (lèse-majesté) of the law, which prohibits insulting the Thai monarchy. Similarly, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was sentenced to prison for corruption and abuse of power, will also not benefit from the law, as those convicted of corruption are not granted amnesty. Thaksin served eight months of a one-year sentence under royal clemency and was released last June. Political analyst Yutthaporn explained that while the law will halt legal proceedings related to political cases, it does not erase the offenses but rather restores political rights. He also stated that the responsibility to pay compensation for civil lawsuits, such as the airport blockades during the Yellow Shirts movement, will continue to remain. The law still requires further approval from the King of Thailand to become effective.