Wissanu admits reconciliation efforts sluggish

PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvadhana yesterday reported to various reform committees and members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) regarding the government’s progress towards reconciliation and the agenda for its remaining 18-month term.

Suwaphan also confirmed that reconciliation efforts were principally the responsibility of Wissanu’s central steering committee, the Interior Ministry and the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC). He added, however, that the government acknowledged the NLA’s recent proposal to set up its own special committee for reconciliation and the promotion of peace, and would collaborate with its efforts.

Akanit Muensawat, the NLA member who initiated the idea for the special committee, said he would float his proposal during the NLA whip meeting today, and the issue would be considered further by the assembly later in the week.

The special committee would act as a platform for people who held different opinions to express their concerns in a bid to solve persistent problems, Akanit said.

Under Akanit’s proposal, the committee would consist of 24 members, including 14 NLA members and 10 others coming from key political camps such as the former People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD); the now-defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC); activist monk Phra Buddha Issara’s group; the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD); and academic and business blocs.

Once established, the special committee would have 180 days to receive input from all parties, Akanit said, with the first meeting set for Friday when members’ roles and the initial framework would be defined.

If the NLA committee can agree on solutions for reconciliation, it will submit its findings to the junta for further proceedings, Akanit said. 

“It depends on participation from all sides on whether we can achieve a peaceful society ... We’re ready to invite all [parties] to inform and provide us with as many opinions as possible,” Akanit said, responding to criticism that a separate NLA committee would not serve a useful purpose.

Alongkorn Ponlaboot, vice president of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), said yesterday that he backed the NLA’s plan for the “peace promoting” commission.

He said the idea should be supported but “no matter what form [the commission] takes, every party must agree that they want reconciliation to happen”.

“We cannot just write a law to make people harmonise when their minds are not set on it,” Alongkorn said.

He added that the reconciliation should be created at two separate levels, including promoting dialogue and bridging the gaps between parties.

Everyone should first have the common national goal of getting over conflict, Alongkorn said, adding that action had to be taken before the next election or history would repeat itself with new protests and political battles.

He said the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties should engage in dialogue because they shared common ground in desiring reconciliation.

The NLA is a suitable choice to initiate the peace-building commission because it is not a stakeholder in former conflicts, Alongkorn said.

Suthep Thaugsuban, chairman of the People’s Democratic Reform Foundation (PDRF), the successor to the former PDRC protest group, said he supported the establishment of the special committee and his group would join if invited. 

However, UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan said that his group would not join the committee because it would be powerless. The only real authority to achieve reconciliation, Jatuporn added, belonged to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.