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Monday, November 11, 2013

Thailand Senate Rejects Amnesty Bill Monday Nov 11,2013


Thailand's Senate on Monday Nov 11,2013 has rejected amnesty bill that could have led to the return of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra


The bill, which was proposed by the governing Pheu Thai party, applied to offences committed during the upheaval after Thaksin Shinawatra was removed from office


Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra 's Govt had argued that the legislation was a necessary step towards reconciliation, after several years of political turmoil. This turmoil included the occupation of Bangkok's main airport in 2008 and then two months of street protests in Bangkok in 2010 that left about 90 people - mostly civilian protesters - dead

Thailand's Troubles

  • Sept 2006: Army overthrows government of Thaksin Shinawatra, rewrites constitution
  • Dec 2007: Pro-Thaksin  People Power Party wins most votes in election
  • Aug 2008: Thaksin Shinawatra flees into exile before end of corruption trial
  • Dec 2008: Mass yellow-shirt protests paralyse Bangkok; Constitutional Court bans People Power Party; Abhisit Vejjajiva comes to power
  • Mar-May 2010: Thousands of pro-Thaksin  red shirts occupy parts of Bangkok; eventually cleared by army; dozens killed
  • July 2011: Yingluck Shinawatra leads Pheu Thai party to general election win

As the bill went to the Senate, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Bangkok. As protests gathered strength, the governing Pheu Thai party withdrew its support from the bill and all 141 senators present voted against it.







Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra - who is  Thaksin Shinawatra's sister - has promised to respect the Senate's decision


The amnesty would have applied to offences committed during the political turmoil after Thailand's 2006 coup, which ousted Thaksin Shinawatra

The main opposition Democrat Party believed the bill was aimed at allowing Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand without having to serve a jail sentence

The lower house passed the bill on Friday Nov 01,2013 .The opposition Democrat Party has warned that the passage of the bill will trigger street protests and did not take part in the vote, but the bill passed by 310 votes to 0
despite an opposition boycott

 

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