Chronology of Events Related to the Amnesty Bill

7 – 8 August 2013

The House of Representatives passed the Amnesty Bill in its first reading.

18 October 2013

The Ad hoc Committee of the House of Representatives vetting the Amnesty Bill resolved to rewrite Section 3 of the Bill.  The approved clause reads:

“For any act of a person or people which is related to political protests, political expression, political conflict or those accused of being a wrongdoer by a group of individuals or an entity established after the coup of 19 September 2006 including organizations or agencies who proceeded in relation to the aforementioned matters that occurred between 2004 until 8 August 2013 notwithstanding whether the person who carried out such act had done so as the principal, supporter, someone who gave orders or someone who acted under orders, if those acts were illegal, the person committing such act shall be absolved from wrongdoing and all responsibility. 

Acts under paragraph 1 does not include wrongful acts committed under Section 112 of the Criminal Code.”

31 October – 1 November 2013

The House of Representatives passed the Amnesty Bill in its second and third reading.

5 November 2013

The Prime Minister gave a televised statement regarding the Amnesty Bill that amnesty has been granted in many countries which have experienced serious political conflict, and it is therefore a solution that should be considered.  She assured that the Government will act in accordance with the national interest and will not use its majority voice to disregard the feelings of the people.  Views for and against the Bill would be listened to.

7 November 2013

The Prime Minister made a televised statement regarding the Amnesty Bill that all related parties have shown their clear intention not to pursue the passage of the Amnesty Bill, while the Pheu Thai Party and the House of Representatives have also resolved to withdraw all other versions of the bill which have not yet been adopted.  She said that the Government respects the voice of the people and also stressed that the only real purpose of the Bill is to assist those who have been aggrieved and those who have been affected by the coup in 2006; therefore, the view that it is for helping corruption cases is not correct.

9 November 2013

Due to the strong opposition to the Amnesty Bill expressed by some sectors of society, the leaders of the four coalition parties gave a joint statement and signed a written pledge that if the Amnesty Bill is rejected by the Senate and returned to the House of Representatives, the Members of Parliament of the coalition parties would not revive the Bill and will allow it to be dropped in accordance with the Constitution.  They explained that this decision was made out of respect for the views of the people and upon consideration that allowing the conflict to persist would adversely affect the country.

11 November 2013

The Senate unanimously rejected the Amnesty Bill.  Therefore, in accordance with Section 147 of the Constitution, the Bill shall be withheld and returned to the House of Representatives. Under Section 148 of the Constitution, the Bill may be reconsidered by the House of Representatives only after the lapse of 180 days as from the date the Bill was returned to the House of Representatives by the Senate.

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          2 December 2013