Thailand's national reconciliation expected in four years

BANGKOK, January 8 (TNA) - Key figures in Thailand's National Reform Council (NRC) expect to push for national reconciliation along with national reform within four years. NRC Chairman Thienchay Kiranandana, Constitution Drafting Committee Chairman Borwornsak Uwanno and Political Reform Committee Chairman Sombat Thamrongthanyawong held a joint press conference on the formation of a 20-member reconciliation-planning committee in Bangkok on Thursday, comprising of representatives of the NRC, conflict resolution experts and people affected by past political strife. Borwornsak said that national reconciliation and reform, aimed to reduce inequality, and solutions to domestic political problems are three main objectives of the new Thai Constitution, assessing that the Thai society should be able to experience reconciliation movements within four years. Borwornsak explained that the process must be short and fast, but it must not be immediate amnesty, as there will be another process to create reconciliation which will include the acceptance of wrongdoing, rehabilitation for victims and promises to prevent the recurrence of past incidents. The newly-set up panel, headed by Anek Laothamatas, will take actions to promote national reconciliation along with national reform, while also campaigning for public understanding on causes and adverse impacts of conflicts, creating atmosphere and participation which facilitate national reconciliation, preventing the repetition of conflicts and reducing prejudices among groups of people. Thienchay said that affected people would have their say and lessons would be drawn from past incidents, asking the mass media to help gather public opinions on reconciliation methods and expected reconciliation to be achieved in the near future. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krue-ngam told reporters that he will ask all committees of the National Reform Council (NRC) next week to achieve concrete reform within a three-month timeframe, set by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, who also assigned him and Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Suwaphan Tanyuwattana to supervise 11 areas of national reform. (TNA)