BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s new Peaceful Society Promotion Act B.E. 2569 (2026) has been officially published in the Royal Gazette and will take effect on August 24, establishing a legal mechanism to provide amnesty for certain offenses linked to political conflicts over the past two decades.
The law covers political demonstrations and political expression motivated by political conflict between January 1, 2005, and July 16, 2025, subject to the offenses and conditions listed in the law’s annex.
However, the amnesty does not cover several serious categories of offenses. These include corruption and misconduct, offenses under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, acts resulting in death or serious injury under Section 297, and private offenses or acts for which an offender remains liable to private individuals rather than the state.
Under the law, a Peaceful Society Promotion Committee will be established, chaired by the prime minister or deputy prime minister. The committee will have authority to receive applications and determine whether individuals or particular acts qualify for amnesty. Its decisions will be final and binding on relevant state agencies.
For those granted amnesty, criminal and punitive liability will be extinguished, and they will not be regarded as having previously been convicted of the relevant offenses. Cases still under investigation or consideration by prosecutors will be terminated, while cases before the courts will be removed from the court docket. People already serving sentences for qualifying offenses will be released in accordance with the law.
Government agencies will also be required to remove or amend related criminal records.
The law does not, however, remove the civil rights of private individuals who suffered damage. Such individuals may still pursue civil claims for compensation under the law.
The legislation also provides special measures for offenders under 18 in certain cases that are not covered by the amnesty, allowing rehabilitation and restorative measures to be considered instead of criminal proceedings under specified conditions. The committee must complete its work within 180 days of its first meeting, although the period may be extended twice, for up to 90 days each time.
The law’s annex covers a range of offenses connected with political demonstrations and conflicts, including certain national security offenses, offenses involving public order and officials, trespassing, property damage and resisting authorities. It also covers specified offenses under laws governing emergency situations, public assemblies, computer-related crimes, traffic and firearms, as well as certain orders and announcements issued by the NCPO and earlier governing bodies.
The legislation therefore creates a formal mechanism for reviewing political-related cases dating back to 2005, while drawing clear limits around serious offenses that remain outside the amnesty framework.
