A team of senators will today start a two-day trip to Nong Khai and Udon Thani so they can gauge the prevailing sentiments in the areas seen as red-shirt strongholds, Senate Speaker Prasobsook Boondech said yesterday.
Prasobsook said senators would also solicit opinions nationwide and compile a report reflecting the public's sentiment, which will later be forwarded to the government to help with the reconciliation process.
As for the emergency decree, he said it was good that it had been lifted in five of the 24 provinces.
"Once normalcy returns, the enforcement of any special security laws should end, otherwise foreigners might view the country as unsafe to visit and this is not good for tourism," he said.
He doubted speculation about the red shirts taking their movement underground.
However, he said, since the government was relying on intelligence, it felt justified in invoking the emergency decree out of fear for problems that may or may not take place.
In reference to the recently appointed members of the panel in charge of reforms and reconciliation, he said the list was impressive. "The panel members are figures who are accepted by all sides in society," he said.
He said the Bt600-million budget earmarked for "mending fences" was not too much if true reconciliation can be achieved.