The Royal Gazette has published the Peaceful Society Promotion Act 2026, which takes effect from 24 August onwards. It establishes an amnesty mechanism for cases arising from political conflict during the period 2005–2025, creates a committee to rule on eligibility, terminates cases and expunges criminal records for those granted amnesty, but excludes corruption offences, Section 112 offences, cases resulting in death, and offences against private individuals.
Today (23 Aug.), the Royal Gazette website published the Peaceful Society Promotion Act 2026. The law takes effect from 24 August 2026 onwards, with the aim of establishing a mechanism to promote a peaceful society and to manage the impacts of past political conflict.
The key substance of the law provides for amnesty to be granted to individuals who participated in political assemblies or engaged in political expression, where the conduct arose from political conflict or political motivation, for acts that occurred between 1 January 2005 and 16 July 2025, under the categories of offences and conditions specified in the schedule annexed to the Act.
However, the law stipulates exceptions that exclude certain categories of offence from amnesty, namely: offences of corruption or misconduct; offences under Section 112 of the Criminal Code; offences that caused the death of another person or caused grievous bodily harm under Section 297; and offences against private individuals, or acts for which the perpetrator is liable to persons who are not state agencies on a specific individual or specific group basis.
Regarding the operational mechanism, the Act establishes the "Peaceful Society Promotion Committee," chaired by the Prime Minister or a Deputy Prime Minister, with authority to consider and adjudicate whether a person or act meets the criteria for amnesty, to receive petitions, to issue relevant regulations, and to prepare reports for submission to Parliament.
The committee's rulings are final and binding on all relevant state agencies.
As for the legal effects, persons granted amnesty are discharged from both criminal liability and administrative penalty liability, and are not deemed to have ever been convicted and sentenced for the relevant offence.
If a case is under investigation or under consideration by the public prosecutor, the proceedings shall be terminated. If a case is before a court, it shall be struck from the docket. Persons currently serving a sentence shall be released immediately in accordance with the conditions set out in the law. In addition, state agencies are required to delete or amend the relevant criminal records, and to terminate civil proceedings and enforcement proceedings insofar as the claims for damages belong to state agencies.
However, the amnesty does not affect the rights of other persons who are not state agencies and who suffered harm from such acts; those persons may still exercise their right to bring civil claims or seek damages under the law.
In the case of offenders who were under 18 years of age, where the offence is not covered by the amnesty — excluding Section 112 offences — a petition may be submitted requesting the preparation of a correction, treatment, and rehabilitation plan, so that special measures may be applied in place of criminal prosecution, or the case may be ordered terminated under the conditions prescribed by the law.
As for the working timeframe, the Peaceful Society Promotion Committee must complete its work within 180 days from the date of its first meeting, with the possibility of extension for no more than two times, each extension not exceeding 90 days.
The schedule annexed to the Act covers several categories of offence connected to assemblies and political conflict, such as certain provisions relating to offences against internal security — including Section 113 in respect of preparation or conspiracy to commit rebellion, Section 114, and Sections 116–118.
It also covers certain terrorism-related offences, offences against officials, offences against public peace, trespass, destruction of property, and obstructing or resisting officials, as well as offences under key legislation such as the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations, the Public Assembly Act, the Computer Crime Act, the Land Traffic Act, and the Firearms Act.
Furthermore, it covers offences arising from violations of announcements or orders of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDR), subject to the conditions and details specified in the schedule annexed to the Act.
The enactment of this law therefore constitutes the establishment of a legal mechanism to address cases arising from political conflict over a period of approximately 20 years, by appointing a committee to consider each case individually, while also drawing a clear boundary for serious offences and certain categories of offence that are not eligible for amnesty.
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Summary of key provisions of the Peaceful Society Promotion Act 2026
Amnesty period and conditions: Amnesty is granted for acts committed by individuals who participated in political assemblies or engaged in political expression arising from political conflict or political motivation, occurring between 1 January 2005 and 16 July 2025, under the laws and categories of offence specified in the annexed schedule.
Exceptions not eligible for amnesty (Section 3):
- Offences of corruption or misconduct
- Offences under Section 112 of the Criminal Code
- Offences causing the death of another person or causing grievous bodily harm (Section 297)
- Offences against private individuals or acts for which the perpetrator is liable to persons who are not state agencies on a specific individual or specific group basis
Operational mechanism (Sections 4–6): Establishes the "Peaceful Society Promotion Committee" (chaired by the Prime Minister or a Deputy Prime Minister), with authority to adjudicate and determine amnesty eligibility, receive petitions, issue regulations, and submit reports to Parliament. The committee's rulings are final and binding on state agencies.
Legal effects (Sections 7–9): The offender is discharged from criminal and administrative penalty liability and is not deemed to have been convicted. If the case is at the investigation or prosecutor stage, proceedings shall be terminated; if at the court stage, the case shall be struck from the docket; if serving a sentence, the person shall be released immediately. State agencies shall expunge criminal records, and civil proceedings and enforcement of damage claims belonging to state agencies shall be terminated.
Civil rights of private parties (Section 10): The rights of other persons (who are not state agencies) who were affected are not extinguished — they may still bring civil claims for damages.
Measures for juveniles (Section 11): Where the offender was under 18 years of age and the offence is not covered by the amnesty (excluding Section 112 offences), a petition may be submitted requesting the preparation of a correction, treatment, and rehabilitation plan so that special measures may be applied in lieu of criminal prosecution or the case may be ordered terminated.
Working timeframe (Section 12): The Committee must complete its work within 180 days from the date of its first meeting (extendable no more than twice, each extension not exceeding 90 days).
Scope of offences under the annexed schedule (key examples):
- Offences against internal security (Section 113(1)(2) limited to preparation/conspiracy for rebellion, Section 114, Sections 116–118)
- Terrorism-related offences (Sections 135/1–135/3 in part), offences against officials, offences against public peace, trespass, destruction of property, obstructing/resisting officials
- Offences under the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations, the Public Assembly Act, the Computer Crime Act, the Land Traffic Act, the Firearms Act, and announcements/orders of the NCPO or the CDR
