Forums 'will be like rallies'
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The government's plan to hold reconciliation forums across the country except in the South is nothing more than an opportunity for Pheu Thai to hold political rallies paid for by taxpayers in hope of amending the charter, Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjaj
The government was hoping for political benefit for the ruling party to whitewash the red-shirt movement from ties with the “men in black” to push its proposed amnesty law, he said. Premier Yingluck Shinawatra assigned the Interior Ministry to host the forums earlier this month.
“I want [deputy premier] Chalerm Yoobamrung responsible for this look into the booklet produced by King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI), which states how to hold deliberative forums and choosing resource speakers that must be impartial.
“But looking at the names of people like Sutham Saengprathum and Adisorn Piengket, it’s clear that there’s no impartiality.”
Both Sutham and Adisorn are among the red-shirt leaders.
“People who attend the forums must also be diverse and the Democrat Party has sent text SMS to all its members to monitor the holding of such forum in all areas. The Democrat Party will not hold a parallel forum but will hold ‘Truth forums’ as normal in all areas,” Abhisit said.
