Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva hit back yesterday at Thaksin Shinawatra's supposed efforts to boost national reconciliation, saying the former PM should act immediately if he truly wants to achieve reconciliation - not just talk about it.
Abhisit said the government was ready to take reconciliatory steps but he asked the Opposition not to carry out any activity that is disloyal to the monarchy.
"We have to admit that there has been systematic actions to cause national security [alerts] and violate the monarchy. [If there were no such acts] I believe everything would be bright and optimistic,'' he said.
In regard to the opposition Pheu Thai Party's five-point reconciliation plan, which the party released details of on Friday, Abhisit said it was the right move and it would be good if Thaksin or Pheu Thai brought all sides to support the plan.
Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the party would meet tomorrow to decide whether to accept the five-point reconciliation plan.
Party executives and members would air opinions before reaching any resolution. He said his opinion on the government reconciliation plan was that it would not materialise unless the government granted clemency and allowed the country "to return to democracy".
"What the government has been doing is to beat the Opposition, attract MPs to defect from the Opposition and siphon off state funds.
Reconciliation will be achieved when the red shirts and yellow shirts engage in direct talk and amnesty is granted," he said.
Bhum Jai Thai Party deputy leader Boonjong Wongtrairat said the party supported the Pheu Thai's five-point reconciliation plan as it believed it would be useful and wanted every sector to push for it to be a success.
"The Bhum Jai Thai Party wants to see solidarity and national unity and I believe PM Abhisit is happy to accept the Opposition's recommendations," he said.