Thai parliament approves amnesty for hundreds of activists

The Thai parliament approved an amnesty bill on July 8 that would allow hundreds of activists convicted over the past 20 years to benefit. But it does not include people convicted of corruption or insulting the monarchy. The bill covers both the pro-monarchy Yellow Shirts and the red shirts who support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, rival factions that have clashed for more than two decades. Most of them have already served their sentences, but the amnesty will remove the ban on them from holding political office, said Yuthapon Isarachai, an analyst at Sukhothai University. In addition, the law also covers youth protesters who participated in the pro-democracy movements that took place in 2020 and 2021. Between 1,000 and 2,000 people could benefit, but there are some important exceptions, Yuthapon told AFP. "This is the biggest amnesty in the country as it covers a period of 20 years from January 1, 2005 to July 16, 2025," he said. But it does not cover anyone convicted of violating Thailand's very strict anti-monarchy law, which protects the king and royal family from criticism. Therefore, most of the leaders of the 2020-2021 youth-led protests demanding reform of the monarchy will not benefit from this program. Also, those convicted of corruption will not be covered, so it will not benefit Thaksin, who was released from prison last June on a royal pardon after serving eight months of a one-year sentence for corruption and abuse of power. "The bill will not cover civil lawsuits. For example, members of the Yellow Shirt who have been convicted of blocking airports will continue to be compensated for their actions," Yuthapon said. The bill, which is still awaiting royal assent, would end prosecutions of political activists unrelated to the exempted offences. However, most of them have already served their sentences, Yuthapon said. "This bill does not erase their guilt, it restores their political rights," he said. Tech billionaire Thaksin was elected prime minister in 2001 and 2005 and fled abroad after a 2006 military coup. His Pheu Thai Party and its predecessors have been Thailand's most successful political parties in the 21st century, producing as many as four prime ministers from the Shinawatra family and enjoying widespread support from a large, rural-based public. However, the party suffered its worst result in the party's history in the elections held last February, falling to third place. Conservative Prime Minister Anutin Chanveerakul remains part of the ruling coalition government. Ref: AFP Photo: AFP