Amnesty panel to consider Thaksin’s petition next month

The Peaceful Society Promotion Committee (PSPC) is expected to consider former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s petition for a comprehensive amnesty next month.

The petition seeks to clear his name, expunge his criminal records and relieve him of all legal liabilities arising from previous convictions.

Permanent Secretary of Justice Piyasiri Wattanavrangkul, who chairs the PSPC’s screening subcommittee, said today that he would convene a subcommittee meeting as soon as possible once Thaksin’s petition had been received.

He said the PSPC normally meets once a month and would determine the scope of any amnesty, including whether it would cover only cases related to political protests and unrest.

Piyasiri also said PSPC chairman Pakorn Nilpraphan had made it clear that amnesty petitions should be processed promptly, although academics remained divided over the appropriate scope of an amnesty.

Piyasiri admitted that he was not familiar with the full details of Thaksin’s comprehensive amnesty petition. He said he was aware of only two cases under investigation by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and added that he felt no pressure to consider Thaksin’s petition.