The Pheu Thai Party has vowed to push an amnesty bill through parliament when the House convenes its next session later this month.
Pheu Thai MP for Nakhon Phanom and government deputy chief whip Phaijit Sriworakhan yesterday said the party will work with other coalition parties to push for the amnesty bill to be tabled during the next parliamentary session.
Mr Phaijit said the party will call a meeting today to prepare for the next House session which will primarily focus on deliberating and passing legislation drafts.
He said Pheu Thai needs to make sure party members have reached a common position on these issues before the House meeting begins on Dec 21.
Mr Phaijit confirmed the party will press ahead with the constitutional amendments and with an amnesty bill bid, which were part of the party's election campaign pledges this year and most party MPs from all regions have agreed to this.
It is now up to the prime minister and the party executives to clarify when and how the party will set out to act on the issues, Mr Phaijit said.
He said the party will hold public hearings to listen to public opinion on proposed amendments on some controversial laws, such as the Defence Ministry Administration Act or the amnesty bill.
Bills to amend the constitution and to amend other laws such as the Defence Ministry Administration Act and other legislation bills, notably the amnesty bill, are expected to be tabled for consideration at the next House meeting.
Mr Phaijit said the content of the amnesty bill will be modelled on the recommendation of a special parliamentary committee on national reconciliation chaired by Matubhum Party leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin.
The committee has asked King Prajadhipok's Institute to draw up a road map for national reconciliation.
Mr Phaijit admitted some members of the committee have opposed the amnesty bill. He said it was best for its critics to try to find a common ground acceptable to all sides.
Anti-Thaksin groups fear the Pheu Thai Party-led government will try to use the report to create a new amnesty law that would pave the way for the return of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup led by Gen Sonthi.
Mr Phaijit believed the amnesty bill should at least pass the first reading during the four-month House session.
Pheu Thai MP for Nong Bua Lamphu Chaiya Promma, the committee's spokesman, insisted the committee has nothing to do with proposing any legislation or legal amendments. It is up to the King Prajadhipok's Institute to come up with any recommendations, Mr Chaiya said.
Chaiyaphat Prapassawat, director the Institute for Community Rights, disagreed with Pheu Thai's amnesty bill move.
He said the primary aim of the move is to clear the name of Thaksin and bring him back to Thailand.
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