ID :
295646
Tue, 08/13/2013 - 18:54
Auther :

DPM briefs UN representative on Thailand's amnesty bill

BANGKOK, August 13 (TNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul met a representative of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Southeast Asia, Mathilda Bogner, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday to brief the UN official on the content of the ruling Pheu Thai Party-backed amnesty bill. Surapong explained the draft amnesty bill, which was approved by the Thai House in the first reading last week, emphasizing on benefits of the bill. Surapong told journalists that he would like to create proper understanding on the bill that offers amnesties to people who did wrong during past political demonstrations and expressions in the country. Surapong acknowledged that his meeting with the OHCHR representative was prompted by remarks of OHCHR Spokesperson Cecil Pouilly on the Thai government-supported amnesty bill on August 6 and Thailand's opposition later claimed that the OHCHR disagreed with the passage of the bill in its first reading by the House. The Thai deputy premier quoted the OHCHR representative as denying the claimed disagreement and saying that the OHCHR disagreed with any amnesty for wrongdoers and those whose orders caused injuries among people. The Thai deputy prime minister noted that the stance of the OHCHR was in accordance with the draft amnesty bill, proposed by a Pheu Thai Party MP Worachai Hema. The Thai deputy prime minister also handed the English-language version of the principle and rationale of the amnesty bill to the OHCHR representative. (TNA)

X