Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Monday spurned a call by a member of the National Reform Council for him to talk with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in order to achieve national reconciliation, claiming the law doesn’t allow it.
Gen Prayut, who also is chairman of the National Council for Peace and Order, said that he, as a state official, cannot hold talks with anyone wanted for legal action.
Thaksin is a fugitive convicted in absentia to two years imprisonment in the Ratchadapisek land case. He fled the country before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced him.
Gen Prayut said that not only would he be breaking the law by holding talks with Thaksin, but anyone he ordered to do so would be violating the law as well.
He said the only way for Thaksin to take part in the reconciliation process was for him to return to the country and contest the cases brought against him in court.
Army chief Udomdej Sitabutr said Monday it was up to Gen Prayut to decide whether to hold talks with Thaksin, but said he thought the general might accept the proposal for consideration.
Gen Prayut said he took the prime minister's post to solve the country's problems while legal cases should be handled by those in the judicial branch.
He said his door was always open to all, but everything must proceed according to the law. He asserted the media should not pay attention to the matter and not pursue it further.
Gen Prayut said he had long avoided issues regarding Thaksin, but the media had not.
Wanchai Sornsiri, a member of the National Reform Council, on Sunday proposed that Gen Prayut arrange for a meeting with Thaksin and moderate talks between conflicting political parties and groups in order for the country to successfully achieve reconciliation.
Mr Wanchai's proposal was in reference with a call by Kwanchai Praipana, a red-shirt leader in Udon Thani, who called for Gen Prayut to hold talks with Thaksin and grant amnesty to people facing legal action in connection with political violence, except their leaders.