Updated: Amnesty for lese majeste prisoners?

Update: Available in French.

One of the questions often asked regarding amnesty bills is whether they include those charged or convicted under the draconian lese majeste law.

A report at The Nation tells readers that:

Pheu Thai MP … Vorachai Haema has unveiled his own amnesty bill…. It differs from existing amnesty bills in its proposal that those convicted of lese majeste offences from September 19, 2006 to May 2010 would be granted amnesty along with protesters jailed for burning down provincial halls in various provinces.

Some of the latter group of red shirts has been sentenced to 20 years but, perhaps miraculously, have been bailed.

It is reported that Vorachai’s proposed bill would impact several cases, including the high-profile case of Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, sentenced to 10 years, and Surachai Danwattanusorn, of the Red Siam group, serving 12 years and six months.

It would also free the indomitable Darunee Charnchoensilpakul (Da Torpedo), sentenced to 15 years for comments she made in 2008. It is great that Da is not forgotten.

Lese majeste victims and their supporters will naturally be hopeful that these political prisoners will be released soon. Royalists will be furious for they operate with a feudal mindset that demands punishment for those who think differently.