Chaturon says Truth Commission’s Report Can’t Solve Divisiveness

BANGKOK, Oct 7 (TNA) - A report issued recently by the Independent Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (ITRCT) would not solve sharp social divisiveness in the country, Chaturon Chaisaeng, acting leader of the now dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party, said on Sunday. Mr. Chaturon told a press conference that the report which compared political turbulence that led to the October 1976 coup with the crackdown on protesters in May 2010 in the Thai capital had one thing in similarity and that was the using of violence against the people. But the report of ITRCT, dissolved last month, contained “several inaccuracies and considerable limits” which would not bring about national reconciliation, he said. Mr. Chaturon charged that ITRCT did not conduct causes of the problems which led to political crises in both events and, therefore, the society cannot hope that national reconciliation could happen in the country. The October 6, 1976 massacre which led to military coup came as armed forces cracked down on protestors calling for the arrest of former dictator Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn who returned to Bangkok in monkhood after his exiled in overseas. The May 2010 violence occurred after the armed forces clashed with ‘Red Shirt’ people rallying against the then government of Abhisit Vejjajiva government. Mr. Chaturon said he would like to propose to concerned parties not to follow every proposal raised by ITRCT and urged the now dissolved independent agency to continue digging for facts. Several of its proposals such as giving amnesty to people who are not core leaders during the May 2010 violence is interesting, he said. There are still several issues which need to be carried out urgently but are opposed by many people, Mr. Chaturon said. They include an amendment of the Constitution including a revamp of judicial process and an amendment of independent government organisations and these must be resolved quickly. (TNA)