Anand, Prawase likely to head key reform panel

The idea of national reform amid the lingering political conflict and severe social divisions came up after discussions between representatives from the civil and business sectors and government figures, including PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey and the prime minister's advisers: former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin and Supatra Masdit.

They agreed on the need for a blueprint to address the problems of social inequality and poverty, the source said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva agreed to their choice of Anand and Prawase as the committee's co-chairmen, the source said.

It was unclear yesterday whether the prime minister would name the co-chairmen when he announced the start of his government's reconciliation plan today.

Abhisit this afternoon will meet with representatives from different social sectors at Government House to discuss how to facilitate public participation in national reform as part of his road map for national reconciliation, said Satit.

Among those joining the meeting will be representatives from the mass media, private businesses, universities and local administrative organisations, as well as community leaders.

IMPLEMENTATION

At 6pm today, Abhisit is scheduled to read out "the prime minister's letter to Thai citizens", declaring implementation of the reconciliation plan.

The entire population will be invited to participate in reforming the country.

There will be a live television broadcast of the prime minister's address from the front lawn of Government House.

Satit said a special committee would be set up to manage public hearings to be held around the Kingdom on how best to tackle reform.

The panel will work closely with working groups to be appointed by the prime minister under his five-point reconciliation plan.

Satit said he expected a blueprint this year that collected viewpoints from all sides.

Anand said in a television programme yesterday that Thais must have positive thinking in dealing with the present crisis and should look forward to opportunities to lead the country into a new future.

"In every crisis, there are opportunities, so what we must try to do is see how we can pull away from the present danger, reduce the danger and focus on the opportunity that the crisis gives you," he said.

Asked if the country could come to terms with the present tensions and social divisions, the former prime minister said people had to go along with it and find ways to achieve a proper balance.

"I think we have to have a sense of balance and a sense of proportion. It is going to take time to restore both, as society as a whole has been the victim of hate campaigns over the past three or four years," he said.

"In a developing society, hate campaigns are the most dangerous [phenomena]. I think all of us have to rearrange ourselves, try to lead ourselves out of anger and hatred.

"We cannot make any real move until we are able to 'de-emotionalise' ourselves. We should start with reducing the volume of hatred and anger and lowering the polluted temperature."

Anand said it was a Thai characteristic to personalise every issue, so the way to move out of the crisis situation is to depersonalise the issue. Having different ideas from others should not be something that becomes personalised, he said.

The present crisis is bigger than the issue of one person, Anand said, referring to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

However, Thaksin has exploited the issue to his advantage, he said.

"He is clever, he is smart, I would say … he also has some good points. He is not all bad, not all good. I'm not all bad, I'm not all good," Anand said.

"We have to deal with the issue and not with personality, as personality comes and goes. If he disappeared - I'm not saying in a bad sense - somebody would come to replace him. Perhaps better, perhaps worse, I don't know, but the issue would remain, so we must address the issue."