Thailand ‘s lower house of parliament on November 1 passed a
controversial political amnesty bill which prompted anti-government
rallies.
Lawmakers voted 310-0 to pass the legislation,
with four abstentions, according to news reports. However, the
legislation must be approved by the Senate before it becomes law.
The opposition Democrat Party – which opposes the amnesty – refused to
take part in the vote. Opponents fear that the bill will “whitewash”
past abuses and would allow ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to
return.
Thousands of people joined a rally against the
planned amnesty in Bangkok on October 31 evening, with some holding
the slogan “Stop the amnesty for corrupt people”.
Earlier,
the ruling Puea Thai Party of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had
ordered all its lawmakers to support the amnesty bill, which would cover
crimes related to political unrest since 2004.
Thaksin,
whose sister Yingluck Shinawatra is now prime minister, was convicted of
corruption and was sentenced two years imprisonment in his absence.-VNA