KPI to consider withdrawing report to House
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King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI) is likely to discuss today whether to withdraw its study of the causes of political conflicts and possible reconciliation measures, submitted earlier to the House panel on national reconciliation, the institute's chief
KPI secretary general Prof Borwornsak Uwanno said he was unaware of speculation that institute researchers involved with the study might withdraw or suspend the controversial research results.
He declined to comment on the matter and said he would wait for a clear stance from the researchers.
The research team met yesterday but it was unknown whether they discussed the matter. The KPI council is due to convene today.
The institute is an academic organisation under the supervision of Parliament.
Critics and Opposition politicians have called for the withdrawal of the study findings, based partly on interviews with politicians and activists involved in the conflict in recent years.
They say the study’s findings have been cited selectively by the majority of the House panel, headed by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, with the hidden goal of whitewashing certain politicians’ wrongdoing.
They say the study’s findings have been cited selectively by the majority of the House panel, headed by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, with the hidden goal of whitewashing certain politicians’ wrongdoing.
Dr Tul Sitthisomwong, a leader of the multicoloured-shirts group, said yesterday that his group would hold a protest outside Parliament tomorrow, when the House of Representatives is expected to convene a meeting to debate the Sonthi panel’s proposals.
He said his group would oppose any attempt to distort the KPI study for political benefit.
“It is likely the research results may be distorted in order to issue an amnesty law in the guise of a reconciliation law for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Our protest is a warning to the ruling politicians that an attempt to whitewash Thaksin’s wrongdoing will lead to a lengthy and large protest,” said Tul, who is an obstetrician at Chulalongkorn Hospital.
Meanwhile, founding KPI member Marut Bunnag suggested yesterday that the institute withdraw the reconciliation report submitted to the House panel. He expressed concern that it would be distorted and used as a tool.
Marut, a senior member of the opposition Democrat Party, said the KPI had compiled a report listing pros and cons of potential reconciliation methods but the House panel headed by Sonthi would select only certain proposals for use.
As a result, he said, the KPI should withdraw the report to maintain its credibility.
As a result, he said, the KPI should withdraw the report to maintain its credibility.
He said selective use of certain proposals from the reconciliation report – instead of adopting the entire study – would damage the institute’s reputation.
