Amnesty law for political cases takes effect tomorrow

The Peaceful Society Promotion Act, commonly known as the “amnesty law”, which seeks to exonerate people convicted, on trial, prosecuted or charged with political offences between January 1, 2005 and July 16 last year, was published in the Royal Gazette and will take effect tomorrow.

Under the Act, which was signed by His Majesty the King on August 18 and countersigned by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, people convicted, on trial, prosecuted or charged with political offences arising from street protests or the expression of political views during the 20-year period will be granted amnesty.

However, the Act does not cover people charged with or convicted of corruption or malfeasance in office, offences under the lese majeste law or Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or other criminal offences resulting in death or serious injury.

The Act will cover protests organised by the now-defunct anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy, the pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, also known as the red-shirt movement, and the anti-Thaksin People's Democratic Reform Committee.