BANGKOK: Thailand’s senate unanimously rejected a contentious political amnesty bill last night, as tens of thousands of anti-government protesters massed in Bangkok to try to heap pressure on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
All 141 senators present voted to kick out the legislation, which the embattled premier has already pledged not to revive.
The vote is likely to embolden a range of anti-government forces who have gathered in large numbers on Bangkok’s streets for nearly a fortnight.
“This house rejects this bill for consideration,” deputy speaker Surachai Lengboonlertchai said of the legislation, which critics say was aimed at helping former premier Thaksin Shinawatra — Yingluck’s brother — return to Thailand from self-exile.
Thaksin is a hugely polarising figure in Thailand, drawing great support from the rural poor but hatred from many of the Bangkok middle and upper classes.
An estimated 50,000 protesters remained in the city’s political centre last night, according to police, heightening fears of clashes with authorities.
A spokesman for her party said the ruling coalition “would not bring this (bill) back to parliament”, adding the opposition protests were now groundless.
“We believe from tomorrow the political crisis will start to ease as there are no reasons to maintain the protest,” said Pormpong Nopparit.
But anti-government forces — with the Democrats at the helm — earlier vowed to keep up their mass rally.
In a speech to rapturous supporters, a key Democrat leader vowed to turn the heat on Yingluck’s government and urged supporters to observe a three-day strike starting on Wednesday.
AFP
