Kwanchai urges 'slow' amnesty

Kwanchai urges 'slow' amnesty

Red-shirt core member Kwanchai Praipana Wednesday called on members of a red shirt-affiliated group to remain calm after they pressured the government to consider an amnesty for political offenders, warning such move could undermine voters’ support for Pheu Thai governor candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen.

The Udon Thani-based red-shirt leader was speaking after the “January 29 for the Release of Political Prisoners'' group, led by Chulalongkorn University lecturer Suda Rankupan, gathered at the Royal Plaza on Tuesday to urge the government to consider an amnesty proposal by the Nitirat group.

“Our Bangkok governor candidate (Pol Gen Pongsapat) is doing well so far. Coming out like this may unnecessarily frustrate undecided, neutral voters in the capital,” Mr Kwanchai said.

“It’s not the right timing [for the rally]. Can’t we wait. Why bring in the mass of people. Why five or six leaders from the group don’t sit down and discuss the issue with prime minister, why mobilised the rally.”

 He said the group should not have thrown a political hot potato to the government as they already had difficulty handling the amnesty issue and listening to both supporters and opponents of the proposal. The group should wait for the outcome of the March 3rd election and file its request after that, Mr Kwanchai added.

The January 29 group dispersed about 8pm on Tuesday after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had agreed to forward Nitirat's proposal to the Council of State for consideration. The proposal will be referred back to the cabinet for further submission to parliament.

Nitirat's proposed amnesty would reach back to the September 2006 coup that ousted Ms Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra. It would cover all political offences committed since then.

The group, previously named the Declaration Outside the Court, has been campaigning for the release of political prisoners of all colours.



Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (8)