Reconciliation process begins at local level

At a forum on Friday, First Army Area commander Lt-General Apirat Kongsompong said the process was expected to be completed at the end of next month.
The area under the responsibility of the First Army covers 21 provinces in the central region. 
The governors on Friday adopted the policy passed down from the reconciliation preparing committee and will be implemented by inviting target groups in the provinces to join reconciliation talks, with their comments to be submitted for further proceedings.
The targets are four primary groups – local politicians, academics, civil servants, and community leaders. 
Apirat said the discussion involved 10 points as laid out by the reconciliation preparing committee, plus the extra issue raised by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, on the outlook of the current problems and how to solve them to bring about peace to society.
The participants are free to address any local issues in the talks, he said.
The commander added that he would like the participants to look at the big picture and be neutral. They should not focus on the problems but the solutions, or the reconciliation would not work, he said.
Apirat stressed the government and the National Council for Peace and Order were sincere in this attempt to bring about reconciliation.