Multi-colours won't join amnesty talks

Multi-colours won't join amnesty talks

The so-called multi-colours will not take part in a planned discussion of a proposed new amnesty bill Monday because it is not the right time for it, their leader Tul Sitthisomwong said on Sunday.

Dr Tul said he had turned down House deputy speaker Charoen Chankomol's invitation for the group to attend the discussion over the new amnesty draft proposed by 42 Pheu Thai MPs led by Worachai Hema.

Mr Worachai's draft aims to grant amnesty to offenders, excluding protest leaders, between the Sept 19, 2006 coup and May 10, 2011.

It also covers people who did not join political protests but were charged for acts or statements contributing to the conflicts. It would cover more people than any of the other proposals.

Dr Tul said it was not yet the right time to talk about this matter.

He said what should be done first was to speed up the judicial process against alleged offenders of the laws in connection with political protests. Amnesty should be considered individually after the court delivered a verdict on each one, he said.

If the parliament proceeded with the amnesty bill, it would be tantamount to obstructing the judicial process and interfering in judicial power.

Moreove, the legislation would go against the rule of law because during the April-May 2010 violent protests a large number of people including government authorities and protesters were killed and wounded and the culprits had still not been punished, Dr Tul said.

The Democrat Party had earlier refused to attend the discussion planned for Monday.

Mr Charoen has invited representatives of 11 groups to the meeting. He said those invited included representatives from the army, the multi-colour group and the Bhumjaithai Party.

Supachai Jaisamut, deputy secretary-general of the opposition Bhumjaithai Party, said earlier that his party had not yet decided whether to attend the talks.

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