Organization: Central Michigan University
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Thu, 8 Oct 1992 18:46:57 EDT
From:         Elliott Parker <3ZLUFUR@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Subject:      TH: Amnesty decree rejected

=======================  Forwarded  Message  ===========================
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 92 22:35:40+0700
From: Kamol Hengkietisak <kamol@ipied.tu.ac.th>


PALANG Dharma MP from Nakhon Si Thammarat Sutham Saengprathum
said the Amnesty Decree rejected by Parliament yesterday was
intended to protect people who had "over-reacted" and used force
to break up peaceful demonstrations.

He said the May bloodshed could not be forgotten until something
is done about those who should be held accountable for the
killing.

"We cannot just forget," he said, adding that a precedent must be
set so that in the future, "anyone who tries to abuse power will
pay the consequences."

The PDP MP said most of the protesters were peaceful and unarmed.
He said investigation reports by three government and House
committees had concluded that the May protests against prime
minister Suchinda Kraprayoon had stemmed from opposition to the
February 1991 coup staged by the "National Peace-keeping
Council".

People took to the streets when the NPKC tried to perpetuate its
power, said Sutham, and when Gen Suchinda, a member of the NPKC,
broke his pledge not to accept the premiership.

Democrat MP Apisit Vejjajiva said the Amnesty Decree issued by
Gen Suchinda was an abuse of legislative power and
unconstitutional.

He said there was no emergency to justify the decree and Gen
Suchinda could have called a meeting of Parliament to enact it.

After the rejection of the decree, he suggested that a full
investigation be conducted and that those responsible for the
shooting of protesters and those responsible for looting and
arson be brought to trial.

The government, he said, must enforce the law and ensure that
everyone is equal before the law.

The May unrest, said Apisit, should not be put to rest simply for
national reconciliation. While there is still doubt, dissent and
even anger, he said, it is essential that the issue be cleared
up.

Meanwhile the Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD) will provide
evidence to people who want to file lawsuits against the generals
who ordered the shooting of unarmed protesters during the May
unrest.

CPD secretary-general Somchai Homlaor said lawyers of the
Coordinating Committee of Religion for Society and the People's
Rights and Freedom Association had enough evidence from the
relatives of victims to sue the officers.

Civil lawsuits could ask for compensation for the relatives of
victims and criminal lawsuits could prosecute officers for abuse
of power, said Mr Somchai.

He said the courts will rule whether the rejection of the Amnesty
Decree by Parliament yesterday will allow people amnestied by the
decree to be put on trial.

Ramkhamhaeng University law lecturer Chusak Sirinil and Thammasat
University law lecturer Kaewsan Atipo said the decree would not
be retroactive because the protests and crackdown happened before
it was issued.

Chusak said abuse of power charges could be lodged against the
officers, but they could claim they were following the law to
quell a riot.

"Reports by government-appointed investigation committees will be
very useful in court," said Chusak.

He believed lawsuits could not be lodged against organisations,
only against individuals who committed crimes.

Mr Kaewsan called on the Chuan government to review accusations
made by the Suchinda government against pro-democracy
demonstrators.

"People gathering for democracy demonstrations on streets could
not be labelled rioters. The government must be fair," said
Kaewsan.

He added that people accused of bloodshed can be freed without
bail because they have proved that they have not tried to run
away.

"Even Gen Suchinda will not need to post bail if he is arrested,"
he said.
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