Abhisit: KPI Reconciliation Study Still Incomplete

[webfact]

RECONCILIATION

KPI study still incomplete : Abhisit

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday questioned the validity of a report on reconciliation that is allegedly based on the findings of a study by the Parliament's King Prajadhipok Institute.

Abhisit, who is also leader of the Democrat Party, said he does not believe the study has been completed because the institute was still waiting for written replies from some people selected as subjects of the study, including him. "They are waiting for a reply from me, as an interviewee in the second round," he said.

The KPI conducted its study by interviewing 47 people involved in the political conflict, including Abhisit, ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, as well as leaders of the red- and yellow-shirt movements.

Abhisit said yesterday that it was a misunderstanding that the KPI had made reconciliation proposals, which included granting general amnesty as well as voiding the legal effects of post-coup cases against those involved in the political conflict.

"In reality, the institute has only gathered proposals from people interviewed. Certainly, people suffering from cases brought to court by the Assets Examination Committee [AEC] want these cases to be expunged," Abhisit said. "Most of the 47 people interviewed said they wanted AEC cases to continue normally, without any intervention, though some also proposed that the cases be reviewed or cancelled."

The opposition leader is also against the House committee on reconciliation being able to vote on what proposals are adopted as part of the reconciliation efforts. "The reconciliation committee should find common ground between both sides and not make new proposals that could lead to a new round of conflict," he said.

He added that all Democrat MPs who were members of the House panel were opposed to adopting any proposals from the incomplete study that could renew the conflict. "It is not right for the House committee to vote on the proposals, and the Democrat members of the panel do not accept it," he said.

The House panel, which is chaired by MP Sonthi Boonyaratglin, had given the job of conducting the study to the institute. Sonthi as Army chief had led the coup in September 2006 to overthrow Thaksin's government and his National Council for Security later appointed the AEC to investigate corruption charges against members of the Thaksin Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday that he did not think the House committee or the KPI would help bring about reconciliation. Instead, he said, he placed his hopes on a reconciliation law that he will propose later.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday distanced himself from the debate on reconciliation proposals, saying that the military had nothing to do with the matter.

However, he said, reconciliation can only be reached when all involved parties respect the law "or the problems will continue endlessly and there could be carnage".

-- The Nation 2012-03-15