The Prime Minister Is Key To Reconciliation: Sonthi

[Lite Beer]

The prime minister is key to reconciliation: Sonthi

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK:-- The occupant of the prime minister's post is the one person who can help build up national unity, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, chairman of the House ad-hoc committee on reconciliation and leader of the 2006 coup, said yesterday.

He was speaking in a radio programme on FM 100.5MHz.

"The only person who can build up national unity after the national rifts is the person in the prime minister's post. If previous prime ministers had been more determined in creating unity or an atmosphere for unity, they could have succeeded. But nobody really got started," he said.

Sonthi said rehabilitation of people affected by the political conflicts was just one of the ways towards reconciliation. Besides money, building understanding and changing attitudes as well as creating an attitude of forgiving would be the duty of the House members. And the government must also implement such policies.

Sonthi said he believed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra wanted to return to the country. If the atmosphere in the country got better and national reconciliation occurred, that would be the right time for Thaksin to come back.

Meanwhile, Thaksin yesterday phoned-in to a red shirts party at the house of a Pheu Thai MP, telling them to be patient. He also said he would welcome visitors who wanted to meet him during his trips to Laos and Cambodia next month, Matichon Online reported.

The party for red shirts from 20 provinces in the Northeast was held at Teeyai Poonsrithanakul's house in Surin.

Thaksin said he would be in Vientiane from April 12-13 and in Siem Reap from April 14-17.

"If I go home, I won't go just as Kwanchai Praipana [a red-shirt leader in Udon Thani] said. That is not cool. I have to come back cool but I will tell you later how to come back cool," he said.

He told the red shirts not to have conflicts with anyone considering that the government was working hard to help them. He also told the red shirts to petition him via Teeyai and he would fix their problems.

Before departing for the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told reporters that the conclusion on national reconciliation should come from discussions in Parliament.

She said earlier it was up to Parliament to work and decide on reconciliation and the government would not interfere but she did not expand on that remark.

Yingluck did not comment directly yesterday when asked about an option proposed by King Prajadhipok's Institute to waive all the cases against her brother, the former premier Thaksin. She said the principles should be discussed before looking into details of what and how to do.

"If we stick on each side's principles, there will be no way to reconciliation. We should look ahead and think together on what and how we can do for the country. Then we look at the obstacles and solve problems one by one. It might take some time to talk. I agree to have forums. But I'd like the conclusion to follow the legislative procedure," she said.

Democrat Party and Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday: "I am concerned as the Democrats who have joined the reconciliation panel and met with Sonthi told me that the panel was likely to submit the report to the House and there would be no meeting before that. Many members of the committee haven't seen the report. Meanwhile, the previous draft of the report was going in an opposite direction. It brought up amnesty and claimed support by some committee members," he said. He said Yingluck should make sure her MPs on the reconciliation committee do not distort the report or do anything that might lead to a new conflicts.

-- The Nation 2012-03-25

[theblether]

If Yingluck does nothing else in her role as pm, she must keep her brother out of the country.

The consequences of his return may well be terrifying for the nation.

Keep him out Yingluck, keep him out.

[siampolee]

Fine rhetoric, however I must ask ,the following question.

Which Prime Minister is being talked about, the one here in Thailand (proxy) or the one in Dubai ?

The locally based Prime Minister is really not involved in the debate.

Remember please that the foreign based Prime Minister can return any time he wants from his self imposed exile (hissy fit).

All he has to do is surrender to the powers that be, follow the rule of law as the average man and woman in this country have to do ( as they have no recourse to adequate funds to cushion the blow) and the problem is solved.

The kudos that could have, nay would have been gained from accepting the sentence in the first place has long since gone.

Surely there is a detention area big enough somewhere in Thailand to accommodate Thaksin and his ego ?

Edited March 25, 2012 by siampolee

[hellodolly]

Reconciliation will start the minute Thaksin gets out of politics.

Of course that would mean there would be less than a shell in the PM role.

[Pib]

She said earlier it was up to Parliament to work and decide on reconciliation and the government would not interfere but she did not expand on that remark.

I just love how the PM makes Parliament sound like it's not part of the government....a Parliment where the PTP is the majority party which formed the core of the cabinet...the majority party which the PM is the figurehead of. Does the PM really think the Thai people are so stupid that they don't realize whatever the Parliment would ultimately pass law-wise also has the blessing/support of the PM.

[ratcatcher]

She said earlier it was up to Parliament to work and decide on reconciliation and the government would not interfere but she did not expand on that remark.

I just love how the PM makes Parliament sound like it's not part of the government....a Parliment where the PTP is the majority party which formed the core of the cabinet...the majority party which the PM is the figurehead of. Does the PM really think the Thai people are so stupid that they don't realize whatever the Parliment would ultimately pass law-wise also has the blessing/support of the PM.

Your last sentence is a question, albeit without a ? However the answer is YES!

[nong38]

She should start by explaining to the Red Shirts exactly what reconciliation means, it will no doubt come as ashock to them but compromises will have to be made if the country is to move forward.

[noitom]

A prerequisite for reconciliation would be the recognition of "equal rights," equal vote for all people from all levels of society without prejudice. Laws will have to apply to "all" equally without regard for "social rank" and pecking order status or wealth. Everyone will have due process recourse not only in the spirit of intention but in the application of law. No priorities or preferences would be conceded to people because of social class. There has to be a condemnation of "their proper place" attitude in Thailand.

Additionally, a prerequisite to reconciliation in Thailand is the elimination of the separation of Bangkok and an elimination of its elitist attitude and importance from all of the rest of Thailand. In order to unite, everyone has to count equally. The inbred disposition of corruption has to be addressed and resolved, as well as the deep divisions and violence in the south. After all, southern Thai muslims are entitled to equal treatment and freedoms as well. In fact "individual freedom" and opportunity for all generally needs to be evolved in Thailand before reconciliation can be successful.

[bigbamboo]

She said earlier it was up to Parliament to work and decide on reconciliation and the government would not interfere but she did not expand on that remark.

I just love how the PM makes Parliament sound like it's not part of the government....a Parliment where the PTP is the majority party which formed the core of the cabinet...the majority party which the PM is the figurehead of. Does the PM really think the Thai people are so stupid that they don't realize whatever the Parliment would ultimately pass law-wise also has the blessing/support of the PM.

Maybe she's not au fait with how it works yet?

[tlansford]

hmmmm, it is getting interesting... The leader of the coup now leading the committee for reconciliation has delivered some interesting news.

Sonthi said he believed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra wanted to return to the country. If the atmosphere in the country got better and national reconciliation occurred, that would be the right time for Thaksin to come back.

As well as when Abhisit says this at the end,

Yingluck should make sure her MPs on the reconciliation committee do not distort the report or do anything that might lead to a new conflicts.

He statement had been effectively lampooned already by Sonthi at the top of the article :

If previous prime ministers had been more determined in creating unity or an atmosphere for unity, they could have succeeded. But nobody really got started

[Siripon]

Sonthi hasn't been too bright all along.

He instigated the coup, but almost immediately he handed political power to General Surayud- in other words he knew he had no idea how to run the country. So why seize power if you know you have no idea how to use it? - unless someone else suggested it.

How can the coup leader become the chairman of a reconcilation committee? -unless he's agreed to a plea bargaining where the ex- elite of the army escapes any recriminations, along with the nouveaux riche elite, Thaksin.

General Sanan or someone should ask Sonthi another question-" You, (Sonthi), say we should forget the past- does that mean the 4 reasons you gave for the coup were/.are baseless? If so, you should be punished. If not, then let the court cases proceed."

[hellodolly]

hmmmm, it is getting interesting... The leader of the coup now leading the committee for reconciliation has delivered some interesting news.

Sonthi said he believed former premier Thaksin Shinawatra wanted to return to the country. If the atmosphere in the country got better and national reconciliation occurred, that would be the right time for Thaksin to come back.

As well as when Abhisit says this at the end,

Yingluck should make sure her MPs on the reconciliation committee do not distort the report or do anything that might lead to a new conflicts.

He statement had been effectively lampooned already by Sonthi at the top of the article :

If previous prime ministers had been more determined in creating unity or an atmosphere for unity, they could have succeeded. But nobody really got started

If the previous administration had been willing to reconcile it would have meant they had to over turn a decision made by the previous administration and step down and let Thaksin be Prime Minister. As well as bow low and kiss his puckered a-s like some of the posters here do.

[tlansford]

< previous text deleted due to limits on post-quotes>

If the previous administration had been willing to reconcile it would have meant they had to over turn a decision made by the previous administration and step down and let Thaksin be Prime Minister. As well as bow low and kiss his puckered a-s like some of the posters here do.

It seems unlikely to me that Sonthi was thinking along those lines.

[hellodolly]

< previous text deleted due to limits on post-quotes>

If the previous administration had been willing to reconcile it would have meant they had to over turn a decision made by the previous administration and step down and let Thaksin be Prime Minister. As well as bow low and kiss his puckered a-s like some of the posters here do.

It seems unlikely to me that Sonthi was thinking along those lines.

I believe you are right.

Dosen't say munch for his fact finding.

[bigbamboo]

Only one person is key to reconciliation and that is Thaksin himself.