Reconciliation is easier said than done and, so far, nothing has been done to address the problem which cannot be tackled through legal means alone, writes columnist Sai Lor Fah in Thai Rath newspaper. The columnist mentioned a remark by Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), who said recently the reconciliation issue would not be incorporated in the draft constitution but Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha could use his power or invoke Section 44 of the interim charter to appoint a reconciliation committee.
Sai Lor Fah said the prime minister promised to do his best to bring about reconciliation before the country goes to the polls in line with the political roadmap, while the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is pondering a peace committee to bring about reconciliation.
The peace committee, according to the NLA, will comprise NLA members, representatives of rival political camps, academics and peace specialists.
Nevertheless, the writer said both the NLA's idea of a peace committee and Mr Meechai's suggestion of a reconciliation committee handpicked by the prime minister were immediately shot down by Jatuporn Promphan, chairman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.
Mr Jatuporn dismissed the ideas as nothing new, pointing out it would be the same old people in charge of reconciliation talks. He stressed the prime minister alone could make reconciliation happen and suggested that a blanket amnesty should be granted to all political offenders.
"It is pointless. They are the same old faces. Perhaps we should better talk in a mental hospital. The problem rests with the prime
minister alone whether he will do it or not. Why doesn't he grant a blanket amnesty?" said Mr Jatuporn.
The writer concluded that as long as rival political groups are as divided as ever, reconciliation is doomed.
In its editorial, Thai Rath said many people were surprised that Mr Meechai, the CDC chairman, admitted he could not figure out who best to write a law which would help restore reconciliation.
Mr Meechai's remarks about a reconciliation panel went down well with some, including the prime minister who suggested the NLA set up a panel to look for ways to restore reconciliation by inviting all political groups to come forward for talks.
However, the editorial noted that both the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties are unmoved by the premier's suggestion.
Thai Rath pointed out the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has not done anything substantial to address the reconciliation problem since its takeover in May 22, 2014.
Instead, the junta appears to have created more rivals.
The only tangible achievement was the inclusion of seven sections regarding reconciliation in the draft charter drawn up by the former CDC headed by Bowornsak Uwanno.
Both Mr Meechai and Mr Bowornsak are highly regarded legal experts, but both had different thoughts on reconciliation, said the editorial, adding the NLA's proposed peace committee is nothing new.
The big issue of contention is whether reconciliation should be accompanied with a general amnesty or not.
Touching on the draft constitution, Sai Lor Fah mentioned the prime minister's talk on his weekly Returning Happiness to the People last Friday when he said he was not sure the draft charter would survive the referendum.
If the draft charter fails to get endorsed, the NCPO would have to decide what to do next, the writer said.
That could mean a new draft will be drawn up, this time involving another legal expert, Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krea-ngarm.