Not consistent and compatible
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The words reconciliation and amnesty have been bandied in the press and the meanings seem to get intertwined.
Amnesty is for people who have carried out criminal acts out of political conviction, not just for convictions as such.
According to an online dictionary, reconciliation is the process of making consistent or compatible; consistent is not self-contradictory; compatible is capable of existing in harmony. It gives as an example: “His claims are not compatible with the facts.”
In argument Pheu Thai advertises reconciliation for all, but means reconciliation for Thaksin Shinawatra. In common with many politicians, consistency is not Thaksin’s strong point. His relationship with compatibility is given in the example above.
This means that when Pheu Thai talks of reconciliation it is putting a new meaning to the word. What they want is for everybody to accept that whatever Thaksin has done is to be forgiven and forgotten. This may well be the only way to go forward. Pheu Thai now just needs to tell the world what exactly everybody is being asked to forgive. If they omit anything, that will give cause for retribution later. If they have problems compiling a list, I am sure The Nation readers will be more than willing to contribute.
Richard Bowler
Bangkok
