Bangkok: "Sophon" is rushing to appoint suitable individuals to the Amnesty Committee and will submit the list to the Prime Minister within two days. Mr. Sophon Saram, Speaker of the House of Representatives, gave an interview after the Royal Gazette website announced the use of the Peacebuilding Act 2026 or the Amnesty Act and the Speaker of the House must appoint a committee of qualified persons, saying that according to Section 4 (8), it is the power of the Speaker of the House to nominate persons in organizations that have expertise in conflict resolution, which can nominate 1 person. Currently, I am considering the names of suitable persons to propose as soon as possible so that this committee can move forward with its work and anyone who meets the criteria will be granted amnesty as soon as possible, but I am looking for someone who is recognized in organizations that resolve conflicts.
According to Thai News Agency, when asked whether any qualifications had been specified, Mr. Sophon said that he had just instructed the legal team to review the scope because they must make appointments according to the authority granted by law. He expected to have the list of names within 1-2 days and send it directly to the Prime Minister without needing to go to parliament.
In a separate event, Sophon inspected the readiness of the parliamentary dining hall before the opening of the parliamentary session, stating that quality and price must go hand-in-hand. He also plans to hold legislative meetings with the media once a month. House Speaker Sophon Saram inspected the dining area on floor B2 to ensure everything was in order before the opening of the parliamentary session. During his inspection, he greeted vendors selling food. Today, the dining area was hosting a temple fair-themed event for staff and patrons to participate in.
Following his inspection, Mr. Sophon gave an interview stating that since the Parliament does not provide food for MPs, he had received complaints from MPs about the lack of appeal and quality of the food. Therefore, he came to inspect the situation to ensure that quality food is provided. The price will reflect the quality of the food to please the members. As Speaker of the Parliament, he must provide quality food at a reasonable price. He has given clear instructions to address the members' concerns concretely. Members who can afford it are welcome to purchase food from outside, but to facilitate the work, quality food must be provided. Regarding the area around the Emerald Pool where various events are held and where vendors have booths, he inspected it and is currently developing regulations for appropriate use of the space. Any damaged items will be regularly maintained, and any necessary improvements after construction will be made to maximize benefits.
Mr. Sophon then inspected the press room and added that there might be meetings between legislators, such as the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, or even fellow members, likely once a month in the form of discussions.