Pheu Thai blasted for rejecting amnesty bills

Excuse unconvincing, opposition says

- AEKARACH SATTABURUTH

The opposition has lashed out at Pheu Thai for refusing to support proposed amnesty efforts related to the lese majeste law, dismissing as unconvincing the ruling party's justification that it must appease coalition partners due to the government's slim majority.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed three amnesty bills but rejected two versions submitted by civil society groups and the former Move Forward Party (MFP), which is now the main opposition People's Party (PP), during their first readings.

The three bills, also known as the "Promote Peaceful Society Bill", were proposed by different parties.

The two that did not pass were the MFP's "Amnesty for Political Offences Bill" and the "People's Amnesty Bill", which was backed by 36,723 signatories.