Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has insisted all political camps have embraced the government's push to foster reconciliation in the country, while those taking part are no longer required to sign the unity pact.
Key figures of the parties stood firm in supporting the process, including the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties, Gen Prawit claimed Monday.
Suthep Thaugsuban, who is chairman of the Muan Maha Prachachon for Reform Foundation, expressed no opposition to the process either and would take part in the talks, though he will not sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on unity, said Gen Prawit, who is also the defence Minister.
Mr Suthep is a former Democrat secretary-general and former leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), which led street demonstrations against the Yingluck Shinawatra government prior to the May 22, 2014 coup.
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Gen Prawit is also confident the government's reconciliation process will eventually be successful, adding it is not necessary for participants to sign the MoU, which is deemed a social contract.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said earlier that gathering opinions will take about three months before groups and parties would be asked to sign the MoU.
Gen Prawit said minutes of the meetings under the reconciliation process will be recorded.
According to Gen Prawit, representatives of political parties and groups would be allowed to speak their minds to the Defence Ministry's reconciliation committee, chaired by Gen Chaicharn Changmongkol, permanent secretary for defence. The event will also be attended by chiefs of the armed forces and members of a subcommittee gathering opinions.
The military officers would not voice opinion, but only let participants talk, Gen Prawit said, adding 10 topics have been prepared for discussion.
"We invite them for talks and will let them say what they want," said Gen Prawit. "Opinions of each party will be heard and examined to nail them down to collective views."
He said the public should not be worried about the process.
"I ask for cooperation from all sides [in the reconciliation process], particularly the media, " Gen Prawit said. "It is very important to create public recognition that the prime minister, myself and the Defence Ministry really want reconciliation in the country to take shape."
He noted the armed forces are also determined to push for peace and security.
Apart from politicians and political groups, academics and business people would be invited to give input, he said.
According to Gen Prawit, the list of people who will sit on the reconciliation committee is nearly completed and it could be wrapped up in a few days.
Also on Monday, a meeting of the National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) secretariat office touched on ways to foster national unity.
NCPO deputy secretary-general Gen Pisit Sitthisarn stressed a three-step approach, covering gathering opinions and recommendations from political parties and groups, nailing down agreements and asking them to agree to social contracts, said Col Sirichan Ngathong, deputy spokeswoman of the NCPO.
The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) panel on approaches to tackle conflicts and create political reconciliation also held its first meeting Monday.
Sangsit Piriyarangsan, the panel's chairman, said the key plan is to put an end to conflicts among political parties and groups, while their prejudices against each other must be eased.
The move is to ensure political stability, which would subsequently lead to economic prosperity, he said, adding the panel will produce a report on its approach within 60 days before sending it to the NRSA for consideration.
The Pheu Thai and Democrat parties as well as the red-shirt United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship and former leaders of the PDRC have been approached to provide input within two weeks, Mr Sangsit said.
To create reconciliation and ease conflicts, the panel would suggest an idea similar to the policy formulated under the government of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda in handling the communist movements of the past, Mr Sangsit said, adding the focus will be on creating peace, offering forgiveness and ending resentment.
"The government's steps to begin the reconciliation approach have sent a good signal and vastly eased political tensions," said Mr Sangsit.
Nikorn Chamnong, deputy chairman of the panel, said he personally would propose some ideas that had been raised in the past by the former parliamentary committee led by Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, ex-army chief and the 2006 coup maker, as ways to foster reconciliation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon during the meet-the-press session.(Video by Apichart Jinakul)