Payao slams lack of progress

The mother of a slain red-shirt volunteer medic yesterday blasted the government for making little headway in its amnesty push.

Payao Akkahad, the mother of Kamolkate Akkahad, the volunteer medic shot and killed during the 2010 political violence, yesterday attended a meeting of a House committee scrutinising an amnesty bill proposed by Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan Worachai Hema.

Deliberation of the bill entered its fifth week yesterday.

The committee summoned lawyers representing the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy and the redshirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship to testify.

Mrs Payao and family members of others killed in the 2010 violence also attended the meeting.

After the meeting, Mrs Payao said she was upset the government had not made much progress in its amnesty push.

She said it appeared the information provided by government MPs on the committee was not solid enough and their list of political offenders was still unclear, which only stalled the panel’s deliberation of the matter.

‘‘Frankly speaking, the government has failed to do anything. There has been no progress. It has not proposed anything that can be put into action. I admit I am angry despite the fact that we are on the same side, ‘’ Ms Payao said.

Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Rai Samart Kaewmeechai, who chairs the committee, said his panel had tried to give all those involved in the political violence an opportunity to give their comprehensive views on the proposed amnesty.

The Worachai bill seeks to provide an amnesty for people involved in political unrest between Sept 19, 2006 and May 10, 2011.

The bill would exclude ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the protest leaders and authorities responsible for the crackdowns but include all others previously convicted of crimes relating to political violence.

But the committee last Saturday agreed the coverage period should start from Jan 1, 2005 and extend to cover incidents beyond May 10, 2011.