Parliament is set to debate the Amnesty Bill on July 8, just days before the current session ends on July 11, after the Senate returned the legislation with amendments.
The bill, formally titled the Social Peace Promotion Bill, would grant amnesty for political offences committed over the past 20 years. It was sent back to the House after the Senate approved amendments on June 30.
MPs will decide whether to accept the Senate’s changes. If they do, the bill will be submitted for royal endorsement. If they reject them, a joint House-Senate committee will be formed to resolve the differences, delaying the legislation until the next parliamentary session.
One of the Senate’s key amendments excludes offences under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse-majesté law, from the amnesty provisions, including cases involving offenders under the age of 18. The original version passed by the House contained no such exclusion.
Pheu Thai list MP Sutin Klungsang said the coalition whips would first gather the views of each coalition party before deciding the government’s position.
He said he was confident lawmakers would reach a conclusion that served the national interest while allowing the bill to move forward.
Mr Sutin said the legislation would give people who had made mistakes or been misled a chance to return to normal life, promote national reconciliation and enable them to contribute to the country’s development.
Chief government whip Korrawee Prissananantakul said coalition parties would discuss the Senate’s amendments at their meeting on Monday.
Mr Korrawee said the Bhumjaithai Party supported an amnesty for political offences but opposed extending it to Section 112 cases. Discussions with Pheu Thai would determine whether the coalition could proceed without further amendments, he said.
The opposition has indicated it will oppose the Senate’s amendments and instead push for the formation of a joint committee.
Mr Korrawee said he believed the bill would eventually become law.