Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says he can't talk to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in pursuit of national reconciliation, as Thaksin is a convicted fugitive.
Gen Prayut, also chairman of the National Council for Peace and Order, said he cannot hold talks with anyone wanted for legal action. He was responding to a call by a member of the National Reform Council (NRC) that the pair start talks.
Gen Prayut said 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.
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Wanchai Sornsiri, a member of the NRC, on Sunday proposed Gen Prayut arrange a meeting with Thaksin and moderate talks between conflicting political parties and groups.
"What capacity does he [Mr Wanchai] possess that he feels he could impose on me to have the talk?'' Gen Prayut asked.
"Don't forget Thaksin is embroiled in criminal cases. How can I talk to him? Think about it," he said.
Thaksin is a fugitive convicted in absentia to two years imprisonment in the Ratchadaphisek land case. He fled the country before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders sentenced him.
Mr Wanchai was referring to a call by Kwanchai Praipana, a red-shirt leader in Udon Thani, who called for Gen Prayut to hold talks with Thaksin and grant an amnesty to people facing legal action in connection with political violence, except their leaders.
Gen Prayut 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.
However, the premier said the door remains open for talks with people who have gone through the justice process and proved themselves in the court of law.