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Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat said on Tuesday he was unaware of the details of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s petition seeking an amnesty under the Peaceful Society Promotion Act, and would not be involved.
Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said he did not know which provisions Thaksin had invoked in his petition to the Peaceful Society Promotion Committee.
“There are already rules and criteria in place, but I do not yet know what he has applied for,” the justice minister said.
Asked whether Thaksin’s claim that he had been treated unjustly because of political conflicts stemming from the 2005-2006 coup period met the eligibility criteria, the minister said the committee would have to examine the details. He would leave it to them to decide.
On Monday, Winyat Chatmontree, Thaksin's personal lawyer, disclosed that the former premier had authorised him on Oct 8 to submit a petition to the Peaceful Society Promotion Committee through the Prime Minister's Office service centre.
The petition requested a ruling on Mr Thaksin's eligibility for amnesty and release from all legal liabilities under the Peaceful Society Promotion Act of 2025.
Mr Winyat said the decision rested with the committee, expressing hope that the law would be interpreted broadly, applied without discrimination and in accordance with its original intent.
He said the petition covered all cases related to amnesty, rather than seeking relief in individual cases separately.
“Thaksin wants to clear his name and show that everything he has done was for the people and the country, and that all the matters were political in nature. The former prime minister wants to clear his name of the accusations against him and the punishments he has received. He wants to earn a living and live peacefully. He is getting old and wishes to stay out of politics, including not running for political office,” Thaksin's lawyer said.
Chatchai Bangchuad, permanent secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office and secretary of the peace-building committee, said he first needed to check whether Thaksin’s petition had actually been submitted.
If confirmed, it would be handled by a subcommittee chaired by the permanent secretary for justice, which would assess whether the request met the criteria for consideration, Mr Chatchai said.
Thaksin was entitled to submit a petition, Mr Chatchai said. If the subcommittee found that it qualified, the matter would be forwarded to the full committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt. Mr Pakorn is a non-partisan member of the cabinet.
Asked whether Thaksin’s stated desire to clear his name in the interests of national unity and reconciliation would constitute sufficient grounds, Mr Chatchai said the committee would need to examine the principles governing such petitions, particularly whether the cases involved political motives.
The secretary of the peace-building committee said ordinary criminal cases with no political connection would not qualify, adding that some cases might require supporting evidence or grounds demonstrating a political connection.
The committee had yet to schedule a meeting, but Mr Chatchai said he would consult the permanent secretary for justice. A meeting was expected soon as officials were compiling the petitions.
Under the law, the committee must complete its work within 180 days.
Thaksin was released from Klongprem Central Prison in Bangkok on parole on May 11.
The former prime minister, 76, had been behind bars since Sept 9 last year, when the Supreme Court ordered him to actually serve his one-year sentence for abuse of authority and conflict of interest while serving as prime minister prior to the 2006 military coup.
Thaksin had returned to Thailand on Aug 22, 2023 after self-exile for 15 years. He stayed at Police General Hospital instead of in prison until his previous parole in early 2024.
