The government's reconciliation forum kicks off Tuesday amid criticism over "biased" questions to be directed at political parties.
On the first day of the forum, three smaller parties will attend to share their views on national unity.
The New Aspiration Party, the Farmer Network of Thailand Party, and the Commoners Party of Thailand have been invited in (Thai) alphabetical order to avoid allegations of preferential treatment.
The forum, to be held at the Defence Ministry, will be hosted by a sub-committee on public hearings, one of four under the government panel on national reconciliation with Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon as the chairman.
It has been planned to coincide with Valentine's Day, the "day of love".
"I believe all of those invited to the forum will take this chance to float ideas and proposals that are useful to the unity-building process," Defence Ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit said Monday.
He expressed confidence that parties and others who have agreed to take part in the process will not waste the opportunity and use it to contribute ideas on how national unity can be achieved.
According to Maj Gen Kongcheep, the Chart Pattana Party has been invited to join the forum tomorrow.
However, politicians have voiced concerns about the composition of the reconciliation panel and the framework it has set for participants.
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Those who attend will be given a set of 10 reconciliation-related topics. Among them are how to solve conflict through peaceful means, how to tackle corruption, and how to address social and economic disparity.
Participants will also be asked to contribute their ideas on national reform and the government's 20-year strategy for the country.
The Pheu Thai Party's Chaturon Chaisaeng said Monday the reconciliation committee and its working panels which are made up largely of military personnel lack impartial individuals and experts on conflict-solving.
He said the 10 topics selected for discussion also reflect the regime's lack of democratic principles and prejudices which he expected would limit participants' contributions.
"Those who designed the questions seem to be biased and leaning toward one side, so the answers will tend to be limited or narrow. It may restrict participants from giving their opinions [freely].
"The questions seem to be based on the assumption that politicians and political parties are the cause of the conflict and if they promise not to make trouble, no conflicts will ever take place," he said.
Mr Chaturon called for more "neutral" people to be put on the reconciliation committee and said those involved in the conflict should be allowed to speak freely on reconciliation-related issues.
Khon Thai Party leader Uthen Chartpinyo echoed Mr Chaturon's concerns about the guidelines for the talks laid down by the reconciliation committee.
He said participants should not be limited to 10 topics because they might have some other good ideas that could be put to use.
"Now that the government has decided to hold this forum, it should listen to all the participants and treat them equally. Don't just listen to the large parties, otherwise people will see it as just a 'performance'," Mr Uthen said.
Democrat deputy leader Ong-art Klampaiboon Monday called on the regime to keep an open mind and allow the public to contribute to the process to make the environment favourable to the unity process.
He said the regime would need to show the public that it is committed to fostering national reconciliation to build confidence and ensure support from all stakeholders.
He added that the Democrat Party has been asked to attend the forum on Friday.
Somsak Prisanananthakul, a Chartthaipattana Party adviser, urged the regime to put all the recommendations gathered at the forum to good use.
"The party also believes if we cannot achieve unity during this regime which has Section 44 at its disposal, other administrations don't stand a chance. This government has the resources and, if it is sincere, it can work toward reconciliation," he said.