Panel eases stand on KPI report

The big change in the institute’s attitude led to immediate repercussions. A member of the ad-hoc committee led by Sonthi indicated that the panel was willing to compromise. Instead of advocating a controversial option of completely absolving Thaksin Shinawatra, the committee now will present all options proposed by the institute’s researchers, said Pheu Thai MP Chaowalit Witchayasut, secretary to the House committee.

The ad-hoc House committee voted last week to favour the total absolution option, putting itself along with the institute on the spot. Critics deemed both the ad-hoc House panel and the institute part of a plan to whitewash Thaksin. 

“Our report to Parliament won’t include any vote,” said Chaowalit.

The softening of the House committee’s stand followed a stern warning by KPI deputy secretary-general Woothisarn Tanchai. He said if the House will rely on a majority vote to bring about mending fences, the institute was ready to pull back its study, which had been commissioned by the Sonthi committee.

“A majority vote is not a solution to the political conflict,” he said.

Woothisarn said the House committee on reconciliation chaired by Sonthi should try to form a consensus on reconciliation measures as per the KPI report.

The KPI report should be viewed and implemented together with the work by the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT), he said, pointing out that the truth about the root cause of the conflict should be established before the House committee chose the reconciliation measures.

He was reacting to Sonthi’s earlier remarks that hinted at adopting the measures without awaiting the completion of the TRCT’s work, which is expected in July.

He warned that if Sonthi acted in haste before uncovering the truth behind the conflict, the country might plunge into deeper social divisions.

He said he would not allow the KPI report to become a political tool for vested interests.

The reconciliation measures will work only after all sides have managed to ensure there is a fence-mending climate by engaging in a dialogue, he said, arguing that such climate has not prevailed because the opposition camps are still confronting one another through their respective stands.

He said all sides, not just political parties, should be convinced to enter into a dialogue in order to form a consensus on conflict resolution.

The House committee will likely trigger a new round of turmoil if it pushes through two controversial measures – a blanket amnesty for those involved in the political disturbances, and a repeal of the work of the Asset Examination Committee seen as a pretext to rescue fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, he said.

Under preliminary checks, the committee has the majority of 23 votes to support the blanket amnesty, followed by 22 votes for the repeal of the AEC work.

TRCT chairman Kanit na Nakorn said he had no comments on the House committee and its push for reconciliation measures.

Kanit said he was puzzled why the committee had completely ignored the TRCT. He said he was sceptical whether reconciliation would prevail as mending of fences was based on the views of some 40 KPI researchers and not a consensus within society.

He also voiced disappointment that a number of TRCT recommendations had not been implemented.

For example, all suspects involved in the political disturbances should be granted a temporary release pending trial but some 100 red shirts remained in remand cells, he said.