We need venues where people can speak: Ekachai
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Three things are needed to achieve national reconciliation - the prevention of more conflict, the opening up of public venues where all people can speak, and if people affected by political conflicts are able to get redress, National Reform Council (NRC)
Ekachai, who is also director of the Office for Peace and Governance at King Prajadhipok’s Institute, stressed that opening up spaces for all voices to speak and air their opinions during drafting of the new charter was crucial.
He said the new constitution must be written in a way that all sides can coexist and not written to try to defeat any political group in particular. It must give a chance for all to coexist peacefully under a new charter.
He said the NRC would try to provide forums for all people to voice their opinions. Speaking as an experienced peace advocate, Ekachai said he found that grassroots people are more receptive to coexistence and able to meet and discuss topics like the new electoral system together, unlike political leaders.
Ekachai called on the Prayut Chan-o-cha government and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to allow politicians from all parties to meet in order to come up with possible input for drafting the new charter. He said the new charter should also try to induce cooperation between winning and losing parties instead of inducing political antagonism.
NRC member Paiboon Nititawan, who is also a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), said the charter drafters should work speedily but not hastily in considering others’ ideas. He said he had proposed to the first CDC meeting to listen to views of those who have been politically affected by various protests and demonstrations. He said proposals made by the now defunct Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand created during the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration could also be considered.
In a related development, Suriyasai Katasila, a lecturer at Rangsit University’s College of Social Innovation, said it’s imperative for the government and the NCPO to solidly support the national reconciliation policy that is eventually adopted.
Although red shirts and the former government of Yingluck Shinawatra may be seen as a party in conflict with the current government and the NCPO, Suriyasai said reconciliation could be achieved if the government and junta demonstrate that it has no hidden agenda and does not engage in preferential treatment in pushing for reconciliation.
