House panel undecided over including Sections 110 and 112 in amnesty bill

The House committee deliberating the Amnesty Bill is unlikely to decide to include offences under controversial Sections 112 and 110 of the Criminal Code, due to conflicting opinions among committee members over the sensitivity of the two provisions, said Nikorn Chamnong, secretary of the committee.

Section 110 states: “Whoever commits an act of violence against the Queen or her liberty, the Heir-apparent or his liberty or the Regent or his/her liberty, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment of 16 to 20 years. “

Section 112, or the lèse majesté law, concerns offenses for defaming, insulting or threatening the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent.

Nikorn said that the House panel is divided into three groups. The first is of the opinion that both Sections 110 and 112 should not be included in the amnesty bill.

The second agrees that the two sections should be included, but with special conditions, and the third agrees that they should be included unconditionally.

He said that the committee will meet again next week to discuss the matter, because some members were not present at the meeting on Thursday, adding that, after the next meeting, the committee will complete a report, together with the three different opinions, to send to the Lower House for consideration.