BANGKOK, June 11 — A Reform Network held a meeting at a Bangkok hotel today, attracting representatives of more than 70 professional and civil organizations who exchanged national reform ideas.
The forum advised the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) that it should not become involved in a conflict but should convince all concerned parties to negotiate in order to win support from the people nationwide.
In the sixth forum of its kind, Kittipong Kittayarak, former permanent secretary for justice who was transferred to become advisor to the prime minister, and former foreign affairs minister Surakiart Sathirathai were present.
Mr Surakiart said that as conflicts in the nation were long-standing, all conflicting parties should be allowed to take part in a national reconciliation process with no parties left out.
Proposing forgiveness in some areas, Mr Kittipong said there had not been a friendly atmosphere for conflicting parties to talk to one another.
There would be punishment for unforgivable issues, but in the meantime the Peace and Order Council must not become another conflicting party, he said. Mr Kittipong encouraged the NCPO to focus on working out solutions.
Wiboon Sanguanpong, permanent secretary for interior, said the Ministry of Interior would explain the intentions of the NCPO chief to local people and gather public opinion to facilitate the subsequent formulation of national reconciliation initiatives.
