A special body is likely to be introduced to address a decade of conflicts and divisions, said Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Borwornsak Uwanno.
The idea was unveiled following the first meeting of a committee set up by the National Reform Council (NRC) to study approaches to national reconciliation. The committee is chaired by NRC member Anek Laothamatas.
Taking part in the meeting were Mr Borwornsak, Mr Anek, NRC chairman Thienchay Kiranandana, and relatives of victims of the 2010 political violence: Phayao Akahad, the mother of Kamolket, who was killed at Wat Pathum Wanaram in May, and Nicha Thuwatham, wife of Col Romklao Thuwatham, a deputy chief-of-staff with the 2nd Infantry Regiment, who was killed at Khok Wua intersection in April.
Mr Borwornsak said while reforms may take up to four years to bear fruit, reconciliation should be achieved sooner. A mechanism to administer justice must be set up as society makes transitions.
The CDC chairman insisted the approach to reconciliation will not be about granting amnesties and leaving the past behind.
The process may involve revealing the truth, admitting guilt and drawing up a rehabilitation plan.
"It is about writing a charter that forces people to reconcile. It is about creating a process in which a mediator will bring people involved in the conflict to the table. It is also about creating an atmosphere conducive to reconciliation. If we can't pull it off, the May 22 coup will be a total waste," he said.
According to Mr Borwornsak, the new charter being drafted by the CDC will have to address three core problems — divisions, disparities and political problems.
It will have a special chapter dedicated to reform and reconciliation and other issues related to inequality.
He said the new charter must be written to achieve reconciliation, which is one of the things the 2007 constitution failed to do. Following the adoption of the 2007 charter, divisions and conflicts recurred almost immediately.
Mr Borwornsak said the Truth for Reconciliation Commission (TRC), set up following the 2010 political violence, operated under a limited time frame.
He said a body similar to the TRC should be set up as the mediator which would bring the conflicting parties to the negotiating table.
Mr Anek said yesterday an approach to reconciliation will include granting amnesties, but it will not cover corruption and criminal offences.
He said the public will be encouraged to give their opinions about how to achieve national reconciliation.
He said it is important to encourage public sentiment about the need for unity within four months.
Mr Anek said several reconciliation proposals have been raised and some are not ready to be discussed in detail. Among them is a plan to set up a coalition administration to see through reconciliation and reform.
Mr Thienchay said yesterday the Anek committee has been set up to better address the conflict that has grown over the years. Without reconciliation, national reforms will be hard to achieve.
"We need to heal the rifts. Conciliation and unity are the main conditions for the reforms. We need to explore the causes before we draft the new charter to make sure the same old problems won't return," he said.
Mr Thienchay said public input is vital to the NRC's efforts to build unity and called on the media to help communicate with the public and send feedback to the NRC and the committee.
Ms Nicha emphasised the rule of law must not be abandoned in efforts to bring about national reconciliation while Ms Phayao said all groups engaged in the conflict must be treated fairly.