Thai DPM:Amnesty is possible for protestors

BANGKOK, March 19 (TNA) - Acknowledging that Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha wants reconciliation among people in the country, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has expressed his agreement with a proposal of a Constitution drafter, Paiboon Nititawan, on granting amnesty to political demonstrators of all groups for the sake of national reconciliation. General Prawit told journalists on Thursday that the proposed amnesty is possible for those who did not commit serious crime. General Prawit noted that, as the Thai prime minister wants reconciliation among people in the country, the proposal can be discussed and a bill can be proposed to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), stressing, however, that anything is possible except for those with serious violations to laws. In response to opponents to the military court's trial on civilians, the deputy prime minister explained that law enforcement by authorities is lenient with legal actions taken only against those who would jeopardize national order. Meanwhile, the Thai army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has dismissed a suspicion voiced by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) about the alleged detention and prosecution of political opponents and alleged authority abuse by the Thai military court. In response to HRW's Asian Director Brad Adams, who demanded that the Thai junta stop arresting and prosecuting opponents, NCPO Spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari stated that it was misunderstanding as the Thai government has not tried to arrest opponents, but the interim administration has enforced laws only when it is necessary and the law enforcement has affected only wrongdoers. The spokesman insisted that the Thai military court takes actions only against severe violations to rights and wrongdoings who cause losses and affect national security, with the conditions having been announced clearly to the public, pointing out that the work of the Thai military court has met the standard of the justice system and its rulings have never been doubted. (TNA)