Bangkok: Mr. Koravee Prisnanantakul, a Bhumjaithai Party MP, reiterated the stance on the recently approved draft bill promoting a peaceful society, emphasizing that the amnesty law does not absolve individuals involved in senator collusion or corruption cases. He underscored that there are still legal avenues available for cases under Article 112 and encouraged citizens to act responsibly when disseminating information.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Koravee addressed concerns that the draft bill might include amnesty provisions for senator collusion cases, affirming that significant parts of the law remained unaltered during the House of Representatives' consideration. Notably, Article 112 of the Criminal Code, approved by the previous House, remains unchanged. The annexed legislation regarding senator collusion allegations was also left intact, with only adjustments made to the ranking of statutes of precedence.
The new law does not introduce fresh legislation; instead, it addresses amnesty for cases related to the closure of polling stations due to protests, encompassing various protest groups. Mr. Koravee clarified that the amnesty bill excludes corruption, violence resulting in death, and issues under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, which had already been reviewed by the previous House and Senate without amendments.
Addressing concerns about the exclusion of juvenile offenders from amnesty under Section 112, Mr. Koravee explained that this issue had been under discussion since the draft law's consideration last year. He highlighted the importance of utilizing judicial processes to foster reconciliation and avoid creating new conflicts. Section 112 remains a sensitive issue; any action could potentially lead to social discord. He referenced past experiences with controversial amnesty laws that conflicted with public opinion, resulting in significant problems. The current amnesty law aims to benefit over 6,000 individuals and address more than 2,000,000 cases, prioritizing societal well-being.
Mr. Koravee also addressed the People's Party's dissemination of distorted and fake news regarding the amnesty for Senate collusion cases. Expressing shock at their actions, he urged the People's Party to maintain high standards in politics and present factual information rather than misleading the public. He questioned how the People's Party intends to take responsibility for their actions, given their acknowledgment of the mistake.