THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Two of 21 commissioners to form reconciliation panel will represent protesting groups

Two of 21 commissioners to form reconciliation panel will represent protesting groups

A meeting between the House speaker, the chief government whip and the chief opposition whip on Tuesday agreed that 21 commissioners would form a reconciliation panel, two of whom would represent pro-democracy protester groups, House Speaker Chuan Leekpai said.

“Two persons will be representatives of groups that disagree with the government [protesters], two will represent the government, two will be MPs from the government coalition, two MPs from the opposition, two from the Senate, two from groups that agree with the government, and the remaining nine will be experts in related fields,” Chuan said.
The experts will come from the Council of University President of Thailand (three persons), Rajabhat University (one), Rajamangala University of Technology (one), and the other four will be selected from a list of those who have experience in political reconciliation.
“The panel will have as its secretary the deputy secretary-general of the House of Representatives, while four officials from the Office of the Secretary-General will act as assistant secretaries,” Chuan said.
“The president of the committee will be selected by its members.”
When asked about his expectations on the reconciliation panel, Chuan said he did not expect an excellent resolution but a concrete one that could be implemented instantly to solve the current problems.
“If the protesters refuse to join the panel, we will continue working with what we have, and will try to invite all parties to take part in the reconciliation,” he added.
Meanwhile, chief Pheu Thai whip Suthin Klungsaeng said the opposition would later discuss whether or not it would have its representatives join the panel.
“It is a good sign that the first step towards reconciling political problems has been jointly put in motion by the government, the opposition and the Senate,” he said.
House of Representatives deputy secretary-general Khunnawut Tantrakul, who will serve as the reconciliation panel secretary, said that after this he would send formal letters to six authorities (the government, chief government whip, chief opposition whip, Council of University President, Rajabhat University and Rajamangala University of Technology) to select representatives to join the panel as per their quota.
“We will not post a deadline for representative nominations, but will arrange a meeting as soon as we receive all the names required by the quota,” he added.

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