Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has warned of a "political tsunami" if the government tries to whitewash the crimes of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol, left, pours water over the hands of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a traditional rod nam dam hua ceremony intended to show respect to senior people during Songkran in the Lao capital of Vientiane. Pheu Thai Party MPs from the Northeast were also at the ceremony. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD
In an interview with Blue Sky television channel, the opposition leader said society was not ready to forgive Thaksin, who has been in self-exile since a 2008 conviction for corruption.
Mr Abhisit, also a former prime minister, pointed out that the controversial leader has been at the centre of the political conflicts of the past few years.
Earlier this week, Thaksin told his red shirt supporters from Nong Khai, who travelled to meet him in Vientiane, Laos, that he hoped to return to Thailand by the end of the year.
At present, the only way he can do this without being arrested and serving the two-year jail sentence hanging over him from the 2008 conviction is through a government-sponsored amnesty.
As it happens, among the government's proposals for forwarding the national reconciliation process is an amnesty for all people convicted of political offences resulting from the 2006 coup, which ousted Thaksin.
Such an amnesty was crucial for reconciliation, said Banharn Silpa-archa, chief adviser to the Charthaipattana Party, part of the Pheu-Thai Party-led coalition government headed by Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Mr Banharn, also a former prime minister, said at a Songkran party in Suphan Buri that an amnesty should not be aimed at Thaksin alone but should include all groups, including the red-shirts and the rival yellow shirt groups.
But Mr Abhisit said reconciliation would have to consider proposals from all sides if harmony is to be achieved.
The process should be driven by a neutral party, he said.
Parliamentarians have been locked in fierce debate since the King Prajadhipok's Institute (KPI) submitted a report on national reconciliation.
Its proposals for achieving reconciliation include granting an amnesty to those convicted of politically-related crimes in the wake of the September 2006 coup, as well as dropping corruption charges against Thaksin by the Assets Scrutiny Committee, a panel set up by the coup leaders.
Mr Abhisit said he welcomed the KPI's move to organise public forums nationwide to invite further opinion on the reconciliation report.
"Without this public approach, I think a political tsunami will happen," he said.
"But the process will continue at least until the end of the next House session in November."
But the government has brushed aside calls for a national debate on the KPI report.
The House of Representatives voted on April 6 to forward the proposals by a parliamentary committee on reconciliation, which were based on the KPI report, to the cabinet for consideration.
Ironically, the reconciliation committee is chaired by Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the leader of the 2006 coup and now head of the Matubhum Party.
The KPI opposes the move to seek cabinet approval for the proposals.
It says this would negate the entire process of trying to build "constructive dialogue" towards reconciliation.
Mr Abhisit said that if the committee's proposals are adopted by the cabinet, the government would almost certainly push for a general amnesty.
He warned that such an action could reopen rifts in society, potentially leading to future conflicts.
Thaksin insists the reconciliation process and a general amnesty would not trigger renewed political conflicts.
"It should be left to parliament and the government to work towards national reconciliation," he said yesterday in Vientiane.
Thaksin called on Mr Abhisit to work with the government in the reconciliation push. "It's hard to clap with only one hand," he said.
The former mobile phone magnate also dismissed allegations that he was in conflict with Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda.
"I wish Gen Prem good physical and mental health for this Songkran holiday," Thaksin said, adding that all Thais should step back from conflict and support the country.