Earth Pongsakorn, spokesperson for the Democrat Party, pointed out four reasons for rejecting the Peace Promotion Bill. He emphasized opening rehabilitation channels for youth offenders, not granting amnesty for Section 112 cases. He also noted that the bill’s annex might facilitate collusion in Senate elections, raising fears of escalating conflicts.
On 9 July 2026, Mr. Pongsakorn Khwanmuang, spokesperson for the Democrat Party, expressed the party’s stance regarding the urgent House of Representatives meeting to consider the draft Peace Promotion Act of 2026, held the day before (8 July). He stated that the Democrat Party voted "against" the bill and aligned with the views expressed by Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, party list MP and party leader, outlining four main points of objection.
Mr. Pongsakorn said the first point is the party’s firm assertion that the draft bill does not grant amnesty to offenders under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, a fundamental principle that the party has consistently upheld.
The second point concerns youth offenders. The Democrat Party holds a differing view and wishes to raise an objection here, believing that for youth offenders, there should be an option to enter rehabilitation voluntarily. They trust this path is crucial for correcting misunderstandings when youth receive accurate information.
Regarding the third point, if youth charged under Section 112 do not wish to enter rehabilitation, they are not required to do so. This process is not an amnesty for those violating Section 112.
"Rehabilitation should be voluntary. If youth offenders do not request it, they should not be forced into the process. It must be clear that whether or not they undergo rehabilitation, these youths are not granted amnesty under Section 112. Removing this option would not help foster future peace, as we believe providing accurate information to youth will improve relations between the monarchy and young people."
The fourth and most contentious point, Mr. Pongsakorn highlighted irregularities in the bill’s annex, which includes offenses related to Senate elections. Generally, election laws address election fraud, warnings, and sanctions managed by the Election Commission (EC). Including these offenses in the Peace Promotion Act’s annex inevitably raises questions about whether this benefits those accused of colluding in Senate elections.
Mr. Pongsakorn added that Mr. Abhisit also warned in the House that this issue could spark new conflicts involving misuse of political power among politicians. If MPs approve such a bill, it could be seen as a conflict of interest, which is explicitly prohibited under Section 114 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand. For these reasons, the Democrat Party voted against the bill to uphold proper principles for the country.