Prawit distances govt from PDRF proposal on ‘reform before election’
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who chaired a reconciliation preparation committee meeting on Monday at the Defence Ministry, said the recent proposal by the People’s Democratic Reform Foundation (PDRF), previously the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, suggesting “reform before an election” had nothing to do with the government’s “road map to democracy”.
The committee’s sub-panel would synthesise all submitted proposals, including the PDRF’s, into a “social contract” at a later date, he said.
Prawit said the committee’s working groups had assured him that their work in forging reconciliation “ was on the right track”.
The committee’s advisers advised participants on Monday to meet as many people possible to ensure success of the project.
Prawit also said he had instructed officials to ensure that people knew what the committee had been doing. They should also know how the country would move forward, he added.
The committee has organised talks with 72 political parties and groups, as well as 60 civil organisations. Forums have been held in the provinces as well as in Bangkok, in a process expected to conclude on Thursday.
The committee will hold public hearings in April before wrapping up the proposals and developing a paper regarding the “social contract” by June.