More than 3,000 local officials and leaders of rival political groups in Nakhon Ratchasima have agreed to join military-sponsored reconciliation activities today, as the junta’s national unity drive gets under way across the country.
Liptapanlop Hall will host thousand of people to attend public unity debates. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)
Participants from all 32 districts of the province have been invited to share their views on a range of issues from politics, the economy and education at His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary Sports Complex.
Most of those invited are chiefs of local administrative bodies and kamnans and village heads, who will represent the views of local residents at the meeting.
Maj Gen Chaiphon Rattaphaet, chief of the Reconciliation Centre for Reform under the 2nd Army’s Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), said the event will be dedicated to gathering the opinions of villagers.
Views put forward at the meeting would provide input for the junta’s reform efforts, Maj Gen Chaiphon said.
The centre has been established as part of the National Council for Peace and Order’s (NCPO) attempt to end political strife between pro- and anti-Thaksin groups and promote understanding between differing factions to pave the way for national reform and eventually a general election.
The NCPO said people with different political views must meet and talk to resolve their conflicts.
Somphot Prasatthai, a former red-shirt leader from Nakhon Ratchasima, said he and other leaders are keen to embrace the opportunity.
Nakhon Ratchasima is among nine provinces the NCPO says are on the right track toward reconciliation, said Isoc spokesman Col Banpot Phunpien.
The others are Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sa Kaeo, Lop Buri, Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Tak and Udon Thani.
The NCPO’s efforts are being monitored by key Pheu Thai Party figures including former acting prime minister and foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul. Mr Surapong said he believed people would support reconciliation moves if they are carried out in an impartial manner.
Reconciliation activities are under way in other provinces with officials, local leaders and representatives of political camps taking part in talks.
Third Army chief Lt Gen Preecha Chan-ocha chaired a meeting on ending political conflicts with governors from 17 northern provinces and senior police and military officers yesterday.
Local leaders in Ratchaburi meanwhile took part in a seminar about implementing the NCPO’s reform plan. More than 1,000 officials, kamnans and heads of 975 villages attended the meeting. The province also opened its Reconciliation Centre for Reform, aiming to promote the NCPO’s path to democracy.
In Phayao, the provincial Reconciliation Centre for Reform will today hold a meeting to direct reconciliation efforts. Red- and yellow-shirt leaders have been assigned as advisers to the centre, said Siriwat Chupamattha, a local red-shirt coordinator.
The northern province is being viewed as a model of reconciliation, since attempts to end colour-coded conflicts between residents were launched before the May 22 coup.
Mr Siriwat said red and yellow shirts in Phayao never engaged in serious conflict, but had argued about social injustice and discrimination in the past.
“The intention of the NCPO to restore peace is admirable. However, to ensure success, reconciliation efforts must be carried out to benefit all people, not certain groups,” warned Chumphon Lilanon, Phayao people’s council coordinator.