‘Social contract’ on the agenda in lead-up to election
The reconciliation preparation committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan will meet to follow up the government’s reconciliation plans, and prepare for the general election, after the New Year festival ends.
Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt-General Kongcheep Tantrawanich said on Saturday that the meeting would be held on January 8 and discussions were expected to focus on the implementation of a “social contract”.
The committee this year gathered opinions about conflict resolution from civil society and political parties, and drafted a social contract to which all conflicting parties must abide, regardless of whether such a contract was legally biding.
Kongcheep said the contract aimed to create recognition, understanding and consciousness among members of the public at every level nationwide, starting from villages, by using the mechanisms of the Internal Security Operations Command and Interior Ministry.
In the meantime, all government agencies would adjust their plans to be in line with the contract. This would especially apply to solutions for tackling inequality in society, he said.
If the process for enhancing reconciliation goes well, he believes the road map to the election will go ahead as planned.
“The election will certainly be held following the road map. If society is peaceful and people have a common understanding and make compromises, I believe we can move forward with the election,” he added.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has said that the election will be held in November next year.