Ahead of today’s parliamentary debate on the amnesty bill for people facing political charges, the Network for People’s Amnesty, a network of civil society organizations, filed a petition to three political parties demanding that charges of royal defamation under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and harming the Queen or her liberty under Section 110 be included in the bill.

Parliament has dismissed an amnesty bill for political crimes that was proposed by the People’s Party and the Network for People’s Amnesty.

Debate began on Wednesday (9 July) in parliament on five proposed amnesty bills for prosecutions deemed political crimes. However, the House Speaker abruptly adjourned the session before parliament could finish the debate and vote on the bills.

Amid growing political turmoil, Parliament is expected on 9 July to debate five bills proposing amnesty for people facing political prosecution. The royal defamation law remains a point of contention as the Government Whip insisted that all draft legislation must not propose amnesty for those found guilty of violating it.

The Network for People’s Amnesty has called on the opposition to raise the issue of political prosecutions in the no-confidence debate scheduled for 24-25 March, urging the government to fulfil its commitments to political detainees.

The Network for People’s Amnesty filed a petition today (18 July) calling on the ad-hoc committee studying approaches to an amnesty bill to include those facing royal defamation charges in its amnesty programme.

A network of civil society organisations and activist groups has called on the government to investigate the death of detained activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom, and to release all political prisoners held in pre-trial detention.

Several volunteers collecting signatures for a campaign to introduce an amnesty bill for pro-democracy activists and protesters reported being harassed by police officers over the 14-day campaign, said Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).

With at least 1,947 people facing prosecution for participating in the pro-democracy movement and 25 people detained pending trial or appeal, a network of civil society organisations is running a campaign to introduce to parliament an amnesty bill for pro-democracy activists and protesters, which they say is the first step towards reconciliation.

Amnesty International Thailand and the Network for People's Amnesty today (5 February) submitted a petition signed by 7,301 people calling for the release of detained human rights lawyer Anon Nampa and for charges against him to be dropped. They also called for the repeal or amendments of laws violating people’s rights to freedom of expression.

A group of activists and protesters marched through the Siam Square shopping district in central Bangkok on Monday (29 January) as part of a campaign for a bill granting amnesty to pro-democracy activists and protesters.

The Network for People’s Amnesty, a network of civil society organizations, has filed a letter with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCHR) asking the Office to call on the Thai government to pass an amnesty bill for human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists.