1 November 2013

Amnesty bill passage ignites mass street protests

The House of Representatives’ decision to pass an amnesty bill triggered a political crisis and prompted former Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban to lead protests against the government.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party allegedly designed the bill to offer a blanket amnesty, not only pardoning political demonstrators in 2010 but also absolving deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of his corruption charges.

Protesters stayed put as the Constitution Court ruled on November 20 that the government-sponsored charter amendment on the make-up of the Senate violated the constitution. It ruled that the amendment to make the Senate a fully elected chamber violated Section 68 of the constitution which prohibited unconstitutional efforts to seize power.

Pheu Thai key members, its leader, the House Speaker and the Senate Speaker, who were directly involved in the passage of the amendment draft, announced their defiance of the court’s ruling and power. Anti-government protest leaders escalated their demonstrations and demanded the ouster of the Yingluck Shinawatra government.

Their rally on November 24 drew a huge crowd, yet the government did not respond. Mr Suthep led another big rally on December 9 and even more people joined his movement. Prime Minister Yingluck dissolved the House that morning before demonstrators moved from Democracy Monument to Government House. Demonstrations continued, as the movement’s leaders would not accept a House dissolution as a solution.

1 November 2013

Amnesty bill passage ignites mass street protests

The House of Representatives’ decision to pass an amnesty bill triggered a political crisis and prompted former Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban to lead protests against the government.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party allegedly designed the bill to offer a blanket amnesty, not only pardoning political demonstrators in 2010 but also absolving deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of his corruption charges.

Protesters stayed put as the Constitution Court ruled on November 20 that the government-sponsored charter amendment on the make-up of the Senate violated the constitution. It ruled that the amendment to make the Senate a fully elected chamber violated Section 68 of the constitution which prohibited unconstitutional efforts to seize power.

Pheu Thai key members, its leader, the House Speaker and the Senate Speaker, who were directly involved in the passage of the amendment draft, announced their defiance of the court’s ruling and power. Anti-government protest leaders escalated their demonstrations and demanded the ouster of the Yingluck Shinawatra government.

Their rally on November 24 drew a huge crowd, yet the government did not respond. Mr Suthep led another big rally on December 9 and even more people joined his movement. Prime Minister Yingluck dissolved the House that morning before demonstrators moved from Democracy Monument to Government House. Demonstrations continued, as the movement’s leaders would not accept a House dissolution as a solution.