Anek meets prisoners, talks up reconciliation prospects
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A KEY member of the National Reform Council (NRC) visited 19 political prisoners yesterday to explore ways to bring about national reconciliation and secure pardons for those caught up in the political conflict.
Anek Laothamatas, chairman of the NRC committee on studies for national reconciliation, visited Bangkok Special Remand Prison yesterday and held a discussion with 19 prisoners – mostly middle-aged men (with the oldest 62) – to exchange views on how to bring about reconciliation.
Anek held a press conference after the meeting, saying all of those he met had confessed to their crimes and he saw a light of hope when prisoners from a different political spectrum voiced concern for a fellow political prisoner who needed urgent medical attention because he was at risk of going blind.
Anek said all inmates asked him to push for pardons, adding that they told him they wished to see a return to peace and no political conflict.
He said he told them he could not make any promises but would try to do what he could. Besides losing their freedom, many of these inmates – jailed in relation to political protests in 2009, 2010 and 2014 – were at risk of losing their families and asked him to help care for their relatives, he said.
Some had been in prison for four years but had four more years to serve. Others had abandoned their fight at the Appeal Court and decided to try to get a pardon instead.
“When I visited the prison I realised that reconciliation is possible. But I will have to consult with those in power as to how to come up with a special pardon.
“I stressed to them, however, that they should not abandon their political stance but should express it in a peaceful manner,” Anek told reporters.
He said the committee was waiting for the latest initiatives from the Justice Ministry to help those affected by political turmoil, as instructed by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.
