WITH A House special committee’s observations on a report on drafting an amnesty bill for political offenders up for vote at the House of Representatives tomorrow (Oct. 24) the government whip said he is confident it would be approved as the largest parties both sides of the aisle, Pheu Thai and People’s, would be voting for it, Naewna newspaper said this evening (Oct. 23).
Mr. Somkid Chueakong, the government whip, said tomorrow’s vote is only on the committee’s observations on drafting an amnesty bill for political prisoners and not on the report itself which was already acknowledged.
However there is no resolution for coalition parties to vote for or against these observations with each party allowed to do so according to their guidelines because of differing opinions, he said.
Pheu Thai MPs will hold a meeting tomorrow morning and it is likely that they will approve the observations.
Asked whether the amnesty report observations would be approved, Somkid said it should be approved if both Pheu Thai and People’s Party vote for it and it would be strange if Pheu Thai voted against it.
However even if it is not approved it is not a serious matter and would be considered a loss of face for all parties because the committee has representatives from all of them and would show that the parties do not trust the committee they themselves set up.
Somkid added that despite this only being a study on drafting an amnesty bill, there is an attempt to mislead the public that it is an amnesty bill that is up for vote.
Some people have linked it to amending Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law, when in fact if the amnesty bill is passed by House it would be sent to the government for further action, he said, adding it is still not known what action the government would take and what content it would have.
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Top and Front Page: Government whip Mr. Somkid Chueakong. Photos: Thai Rath
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