Red-shirt supporters have expressed dismay over ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's call for them to set aside their anger and frustration over social and legal injustices for the sake of national reconciliation.
Thaksin: Pushing for reconciliation
Pansak Srithep, father of a 17-year-old boy who was killed on Ratchaprarop Road on May 15, 2010, said Thaksin's comments showed that he loves himself more than the people.
"Certainly, it's not fair for our family. But the 91 deaths [in the 2010 unrest] are perhaps a minority compared to hundreds of thousands of supporters who really love Thaksin. So the damaged parties like us have to sacrifice for the Thaksin supporters too," Mr Pansak said.
Panitan Prueksakasemsuk, a third-year law student at Thammasat University, said Thaksin might feel he could continue to command the support of the mainstream red-shirt movement in making such a call.
He said that while he understood Thaksin's desire, he felt unhappy with call.
"Thaksin and this government should be doing more to help political detainees receive their basic rights," he said.
Pornchai Yuanyee, outgoing chairman of the Students Federation of Thailand, said national reconciliation was needed, but it could not be reached under a compromised justice system.
"We need to know first which parties should reconcile," said Mr Pornchai, a fourth-year student in Chulalongkorn University's political science faculty.
"If we compromise just to help bring one particular person back home, that should not be the case.
"He [Thaksin] should return home through democratic means."
Prayuth Chumnasiew, Ubon Ratchathani's core leader of the People and Academic Movement, said Thaksin was choosing a convenient path.
"People need to analyse the fact that perhaps Thaksin and Pheu Thai and the UDD are not the people to overhaul the present socio-political structure," said Mr Prayuth, 60. "Economically, these players might be able to respond to the people's need. But they are not the ones who can change the superstructure of society."
Meanwhile, liberal red shirt members are proclaiming on social media websites that they would still continue their quest for change, regardless of Thaksin's call.
Saovalux Phonga, a red shirt lawyer, said Thaksin was self-centred and cruel in making such a request.
"The truth and fact-finding process can actually proceed together with the reconciliation efforts. Why do we have to forget so easily, and so soon?" she said. "The truth must be disclosed to prevent impunity, which remains prevalent in Thai society."
Sombat Boonngamanong, leader of the Red Sunday Group, wrote on his Twitter page that the red shirts were getting fed up with Thaksin."The red shirts were fighting for democracy, so Thaksin must stop talking about himself," he said.
"Thaksin must stop talking about returning home. Instead, he must put himself in a proper place."
However, Tida Tawornseth, chairwoman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said she did not care what people or the political opposition thought about Thaksin's message.
"Thaksin will never leave the red shirts. Thaksin, the red shirts and the Pheu Thai Party are all close allies," she said.
She said Thaksin asked the red shirts to reconcile because he wanted the country to move forward so the government would be able to solve problems including the cost of living and other economic issues.
Ms Tida insisted that although the red shirts had close ties to Thaksin, the movement was independent of him.
"The red shirts gathered [at the Ratchaprasong intersection] on Saturday to commemorate those who died in the military crackdown on May 19, 2010. We did not go there because of Thaksin," she said.
The UDD will continue to call for justice for those who died during the April and May protests two years ago and to support an amendment to the constitution and other laws to ensure all Thais have equal rights, liberty and opportunity.
Thaksin believes that if the national reconciliation process moves forward he would receive justice, and a chance to return to the country, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Nattawut Saikua said.