People now may doubt whether the national reconciliation plan floated by Pheu Thai deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadi last Friday will ever come true. Is the real leader of the Pheu Thai Party really sincere in wanting to achieve recon-ciliation, or does the party just want to boost its popularity?
On the surface, it looked somewhat serious, as the proposal came out when there were reports that fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra wanted to give up, as he was dog-tired and wanted to find a way out.
There were other reports to support the thinking that the plan could really materialise. A Pheu Thai source said the process of reconciliation began after the clash between red-shirt protesters and the military at the Khok Wua Intersection resulted in 25 deaths. It was started by some UN academics and several foreign ambassadors acting as mediators in inviting representatives of interested par-ties, including Pheu Thai, Democrats and the military, to join in a discussion.
Another report said there were talks between former PM's secretary-general Niphon Promphan and Thaksin's youngest sister Yingluck. Other reports said General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who phoned Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda to wish him a happy birthday, was told he should not betray the country.
However, doubts linger. "We [Pheu Thai members] know a little how the plan emerged. We don't give much to Plodprasop's words. We're afraid Thaksin will grab at all proposals, as his popularity is in decline," the source said.
The reconciliation proposal was most definitely welcomed by all parties, includ?ing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Thaksin, as no one dared reject the idea. But it seems they wanted support and no one took it seriously. So, we'll have to wait to see is how sincere they are in making the plan come true.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban did not seem to believe in Plodprasop's proposal, especially when he heard the names of Chavalit and red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan as the designated representatives for Pheu Thai on the reconciliation committee.
And now it seems the process will drag out, as Suthep said reconciliation should be the government's responsibility. That means the Democrats will set up a committee of all concerned agencies and there could be a long way to go.
Other questions remain unanswered. Is the government sincere about reconcili?ation? Many believe reconciliation would be really possible if the government let Thaksin return to his motherland. Is the government be willing to let him come back? Can the government ensure that disturbances or protests from anti-gov?ernment protesters will never take place again? Can they control everything?
On the contrary, the government does not seem to want to achieve reconcilia?tion but instead is girding for battle, with appointments of its trusted people to key positions in the Armed forces and police.
The government cannot be sure that the situation will calm down, as there have been several bomb attacks in Bangkok. There have been five bomb attacks since the red shirts' dispersal as well as speculation about assassination attempts on high-ranking public figures.
Apparently, no one can trust anyone. So it came as no surprise that veteran politician and former PM Banharn Silapa-Archa said yesterday that reconciliation was a pipe dream.
"I've always said such reconciliation is not possible, not in this lifetime. I cannot say either if reconciliation can really occur. Reconciliation needs the applica?tion of [the principles of] the former leader of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. If they study those, reconciliation can hap?pen. Unless all sides compromise, how can they reconcile? It's too hard," Banharn said.
In Thai politics, that may be true.