Thailand might need to have a foreigner broker peace and reconciliation because local personalities are too mired in the political predicament and lack the impartiality needed for mediation, banned Thai Rak Thai Party executive Pongthep Thepkanchana said yesterday.
"It is difficult to locate a truly impartial figure in Thailand who commands trust and respect from all sides - a crucial obstacle to advancing with the reconciliation process," he said.
Pongthep was speaking at a seminar on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's road map for national reconciliation. He voiced concern that the government might not be able to have all sides reconciled before the November 14 election date, because there was not enough time to mend fences.
While the stand-off between the government and the red shirts remains unresolved, the priority is how to prevent a repeat of the April 10 clashes, he said.
He said he hoped a peaceful resolution could be mapped out. Negotiations leading to the road map are a clear sign that progress can be made through talks, instead of using force to settle political differences, he said.
When conflicts happen in other countries, the parties concerned often rely on a foreign mediator who is well-versed in local affairs and in a position to be accessible to all sides, he said.
In regard to Abhisit's reconciliation plan, he said it should proceed even though not much progress can be expected due to the time constraints. He also urged the government to quickly form an independent panel to find the truth and culprits behind the April 10 bloodshed.
Government adviser Apirak Kosayodhin, also a panellist at the seminar, said the authorities were sincere about resolving the turmoil via reconciliation instead of using force.
"If Thailand is to restore peace and bring back political normalcy, then it is imperative for the red shirts to accept the road map and join the reconciliation process," he said.
The acceptance of the road map is the first step in bringing about peace temporarily so the country can move forward, though for a lasting solution a major overhaul of politico and socio-economic structures would be needed, Apirak said.
"Social and economic disparity must be tackled if the country is to overcome fractious politics," he said.
Seminar panellist Chaiwat Satha-anan from Thammasat University said that if reconciliation is to succeed, all sides should put the nation before each key player's vested interests.
Chaiwat raised five issues deemed critical for overcoming the turmoil:
- There should not be any attempts to politicise or involve the monarchy in the political rivalry;
- Concerted efforts need to be made to rectify flaws and injustice inherent in the existing political system;
- There should be a panel comprised of respectable figures to take charge of cases related to the April 10 clashes;
- There should be media reforms to prevent any abuse or interference in the freedom of press;
- There should be a security plan to prevent politically motivated and campaign-related violence, paving way for fresh elections later this year.