Thai lawmaker says bill benefits Thaksin

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BANGKOK, May 26 (UPI) -- The opposition leader in Thailand's Parliament says a bill would aid only former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, not resolve pro- and anti-Thaksin conflicts.

Jurin Laksanavisit, opposition chief whip and Democrat Party lawmaker, said the bill would only set back attempts to reconcile disagreements between the two groups and that Thaksin, although not mentioned by name, would benefit from provisions in the bill, which among other things, would grant amnesty to state officials and others involved in political rallies between Sept. 15, 2005, and May 10, 2011, the Bangkok Post reported Saturday.

Jurin voiced his concern Friday after the bill was listed as an urgent agenda item for next week, the Post said.

The bill also would end orders and legal requirements undertaken by the Assets Scrutiny Committee, which investigated allegations of corruption in the Thaksin administration, as well as restore political rights to political party executives not involved in poll fraud that led to the dissolution of their parties.

Accusations against Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and Democrat Party lawmaker Surat Thani Suthep Thaugsuban would be addressed by one part of the bill and the ASC charges against Thaksin would be covered by the second, a parliamentary official said.

The committee probe led to the 2010 seizure of assets worth 46 billion baht (about $1.4 billion) from Thaksin's family after determining he abused his power to benefit his family's telecommunications business.

Thaksin, prime minister from 2001 until a coup led to his ouster in 2006, was sentenced in absentia to a two-year prison term in 2008 for abusing his authority by helping his wife buy state land at a discount. He has been living in exile since 2008.