TEMPO.CO, Bangkok - The leader of Thailand’s opposition party—the Democrat Party—Abhisit Vejjajiva, said that a portion of MPs will resign en masse. The 152 members, out of 500, who will resign are from the Democrat Party. “This is to express our disappointment in the government and Pheu Thai (the leading party) that never take responsibility for the controversial Amnesty Regulation,” said the former Prime Minister of Thailand on Sunday, December 8, 2013.

Previously, thousands of demonstrators protested the proposed Bill that was suspected to return Thaksin Shinawatra—former prime minister and older brother of the current Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra. He was sentenced to two years in jail on allegations of corruption and abuse of power. The demonstrators have urged Yingluck to resign and dissolve the parliamentary. However, she has refused and offered to hold a referendum before the public election.

Noppadon Pattama, a Pheu Thai Party MP, said he was not surprised with the Democrat Party’s resolution. He explained that the party boycotted the national public election in 2005, which resulted in political conflicts and a coup d’état in the following year. “The Democrat Party should be responsible for their actions. Pheu Thai will work harder to maintain the parliamentary system and fight under a democratic government,” he said.

THE NATION | EKO ARI