Junta failed to achieve reconciliation: poll

Disharmony in politics (70.5 per cent) was top among the five concerns 1,278 people expressed in a survey conducted by Suan Dusit Poll during the past week and released yesterday.
Coming second and third on the list were the behaviour of politicians and their comments on current politics. More than two-thirds, or 68.7 per cent, of the poll respondents said that politicians were inclined to abuse their power for their own ends, and that they often set a bad example due to their verbal abuse. Some 66.98 per cent of the people surveyed believed that politicians’ comments were not constructive and provoked further political conflict.
The second-last and last of the five concerns related to the election road map and the legislation of organic laws. Some 57.76 per cent of respondents were afraid that the election would be postponed as the process was still unclear and politicians were still debating the new voting system.
More than half of the people, 53.68 per cent, said they had no knowledge of the organic laws because there were so many pieces of legislation, and they were concerned that the laws would not be completed in time for the election. The respondents were also uncertain of the transparency of the legislation.
The poll also asked what people wanted to see in Thai politics today, and the first of the top five responses was harmony – 84.66 per cent. Progress and a healthy economy came second, at 71.63 per cent, while clean and corruption-free politics was third with 69.25 percent.
The fourth thing people wanted to see in politics was democracy and inclusive participation (64.87 per cent). Finally, people wanted to see new blood in politics and politicians who would be more constructive (63.07 per cent).
Meanwhile, authorities have continued with their efforts to bring about national reconciliation. The Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) has invited major political camps and parties to participate in a final seminar on the so-called social contract for national reconciliation tomorrow.
The seminar, in which the Isoc is to discuss the harmony pact with participants, will be held at the First Army Area command in Bangkok as well as other military barracks in all regions from tomorrow to Thursday.
Isoc spokesman Colonel Peerawat Saengthong said he expected some 500 people to join the session in Bangkok. Among the participants, besides the political groups, are NGOs and concerned public members.
The agency has prepared and got everything in place for the seminar on the social contract, the spokesman said. So, it had invited all people who had contributed to the pact’s creation since the scheme kick-started in February to join the session again for a final brush up before submitting it to the reform and reconciliation committee, he added.
Similar sessions are to be held this week at the regional Army commands in Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast, Phitsanulok in the North and Nakhon Si Thammarat in the South.