BANGKOK — Regular street protests h

BANGKOK — Regular street protests have returned to downtown Bangkok as thousands rallied against a controversial blanket amnesty bill for crimes connected to years of political turmoil. The measure could also clear the way for the return of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been living in self imposed exile since 2008. However, even some former Thaksin supporters say the bill goes too far.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra tried to defuse tensions on Tuesday by pledging her government would follow whatever decision the Thai Senate makes on the bill after it passed the House of Representatives late Friday night. However, she also expressed support for the measure, saying that it will help fulfill her party's goal of bringing political reconciliation to Thailand.

Opponents say the bill goes too far by granting amnesty for too many crimes, especially corruption-related offenses by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck's brother.

Protests led by the opposition Democrat Party have been joined by business groups, universities and civil organizations in opposing the measure.

Jurin Laksanavisit, a member of the Democrat Party's parliamentary wing, welcomed the growing numbers turning out at rallies.

"We try hard, we are trying hard. So many people here and we hope to do our duty best," said Jurin.

The bill's initial version had bipartisan parliamentary support and was aimed at pardoning low key protestors and others associated with protests and acts of violence dating back from 2004 until August 2013.

However, the later draft that was passed by the lower house of parliament on Friday includes amnesty for protest organizers and government leaders, such as Thaksin.

For many family members of victims killed in the violence, the bill means they will never get justice for the death of loved ones.

That has drawn opposition from members of the pro-Thaksin Red Shirt movement, who have called for greater accountability in the deaths of protestors in 2010.

One protestor, Khun Boon, says his concern is that the legislation will undermine the rule of law in Thailand.

"We want to show to the government that we don't want this amnesty bill. The process of this bill is not quite correct. We are concerned about the rule of law. The rule of law will be destroyed completely if this bill is finally passed," said Boon.

Other protesters are motivated by the push to prevent former prime minister Thaksin from evading justice for corruption linked to his time in office and returning to Thailand.

Protester Goy Putachartyrajakul pointed out that Thaksin appears to be the main beneficiary of the amnesty.

"I have to decide to show up [and protest] because this situation is more than just shooting or corruption, its Thaksin Shinawatra - he doesn't deserve to come back home there is not home for him [here] anymore," said Goy.

The Yingluck government has been credited with overseeing a period of political stability since coming to office in 2011, but Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, feels the amnesty bill and the strong opposition it has provoked in recent days are a challenge for her administration.

"The amnesty gambit has undermined Thaksin and destabilized the Yingluck government. It makes Thaksin more distant to return to Thailand than ever. It will be more difficult for him now despite the legality of the amnesty, even if it passes, even if it becomes law. In practice, he would have a very difficult time in Thailand functionally because he would have many enemies," said Thitinan.

However, Thitinan believes Thaksin and his political allies may still hold the political upper hand as he remains popular in rural areas. Some suspect his party could call for early polls in 2014 and strengthen its standing in parliament.

The amnesty bill heads to the Upper House of the Senate next week, where its fate remains unclear. The Democrat Party has said that if the Senate accepts the bill, it will challenge the amnesty's legality in the Constitutional Court.

ผลลัพธ์ (แอฟริกา) 1:

Bangkok - gereelde straat protes het teruggekeer na die sentrum Bangkok as die duisende teen 'n omstrede algemene amnestie wetsontwerp vir misdade verbind met jare van politieke onrus. die maatstaf kan ook die weg baan vir die terugkeer van die voormalige Thai eerste minister Thaksin Shinawatra, wat reeds die lewe in selfopgelegde ballingskap sedert 2008. egterselfs 'n paar voormalige Thaksin ondersteuners sê die wetsontwerp te ver gaan.
premier Yingluck Shinawatra probeer spanning op Dinsdag te ontlont deur die verpanding haar regering sou volg wat ook al besluit om die Thai senaat maak op die wetsontwerp na dit verby die Huis van Verteenwoordigers laat Vrydagaand. egter sy ook sy steun vir die meet.sê dat dit sal help om te vervul haar party se doel om politieke versoening na Thailand.
teenstanders sê die wetsontwerp te ver gaan deur die toestaan ​​van amnestie vir te veel misdade, veral korrupsie-verwante oortredings deur die voormalige eerste minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck se broer.
. betogings gelei deur die opposisie Demokratiese Party aangesluit het deur besigheid groepe.universiteite en burgerlike organisasies in die bestryding van die maatstaf.
jurin laksanavisit, 'n lid van die Demokratiese Party se parlementêre vleuel, verwelkom die groeiende getalle draai uit by saamtrekke.
"Ons probeer hard, ons is hard probeer. so baie mense hier en ons. hoop ons plig om die beste te doen, "sê jurin.
.die wetsontwerp se aanvanklike weergawe het twee party parlementêre ondersteuning en was daarop gemik om die algehele grasie lae sleutel betogers en ander wat verband hou met betogings en geweld dateer uit 2004 tot Augustus 2013.
egter die latere konsep wat op geslaag is deur die laer huis van die parlement. Vrydag sluit amnestie vir protes organiseerders en die regering leiers, soos Thaksin.
.vir baie familielede van slagoffers dood in die geweld, die wetsontwerp beteken hulle sal nooit geregtigheid vir die dood van geliefdes.
wat geteken het teenkanting van lede van die pro-Thaksin rooi hemp beweging, wat geroep het vir 'n groter aanspreeklikheid in die dood van die betogers in 2010.
een protestor, Khun seën.sê sy kommer is dat die wetgewing die oppergesag van die reg in Thailand sal ondermyn.
"Ons wil om te wys na die regering wat ons wil nie hierdie amnestie wetsontwerp die proses van hierdie wetsontwerp is nie heeltemal korrek.. ons is bekommerd oor. die oppergesag van die reg. die oppergesag van die reg sal totaal vernietig word as hierdie wetsontwerp is uiteindelik verby is, "sê seën.
.ander betogers is gemotiveer deur die druk om te verhoed dat die voormalige eerste minister Thaksin uit te ontduik geregtigheid vir korrupsie wat verband hou met sy tyd in die kantoor en terugkeer na Thailand
betoger goy putachartyrajakul daarop gewys dat Thaksin blyk die belangrikste begunstigde van die amnestie te wees..
. "Ek het besluit om te wys [en protesteer] want hierdie situasie is meer as net skiet of korrupsie.sy Thaksin Shinawatra - hy het nie verdien om terug by die huis kom is daar nie by die huis vir hom [hier] nie, "sê goy
die Yingluck regering is gekrediteer met die toesig te hou oor 'n tydperk van politieke stabiliteit sedert kom na die kantoor in 2011.. maar thitinan pongsudhirak, 'n politieke wetenskaplike by Chulalongkorn Universiteit.voel die amnestie wetsontwerp en die sterk teenkanting uitgelok het in die afgelope dae is 'n uitdaging vir haar administrasie.
"die amnestie gambiet het ondermyn Thaksin en gedestabiliseer die Yingluck regering. dit maak Thaksin meer ver om terug te keer na Thailand as ooit. dit sal. meer moeilik vir hom nou ten spyte van die wettigheid van die amnestie, selfs al is dit verby, selfs al is dit 'n wet.in die praktyk, sou hy 'n baie moeilike tyd in Thailand het funksioneel omdat hy baie vyande sou hê, "sê thitinan.
egter thitinan glo Thaksin en sy politieke bondgenote kan nog steeds die politieke oorhand as hy bly gewild in die landelike gebiede. Sommige vermoed sy party kan noem vir die vroeë verkiesings in 2014 en sy posisie in die parlement versterk.
.die amnestie wetsontwerp hoof na die boonste verdieping van die senaat volgende week, waar sy lot is steeds onduidelik. die Demokratiese Party het gesê dat indien die senaat aanvaar die wetsontwerp, is dit die amnestie se wettigheid sal 'n uitdaging in die konstitusionele hof.