Regime fails to hit unity goal

Regime fails to hit unity goal

Use of special powers 'worsens splits'

Flashback: Two years ago, on May 22, 2014, the then-heads of the four armed forces and police seized power, with a goal of reconciliation.
Flashback: Two years ago, on May 22, 2014, the then-heads of the four armed forces and police seized power, with a goal of reconciliation.

Having set itself a goal to restore national unity since seizing power almost two years ago, the military regime appears to have fallen short and its persistent use of "special powers" will only perpetuate political conflicts, critics say.

Sunday will mark two years of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) grabbing power from the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.

One of its top priorities declared on May 22 two years ago was to restore reconciliation and heal the political divide and social disharmony entrenched in the society for more than a decade.

But critics say the regime has not done enough to achieve reconciliation in a tangible manner after being given almost two years.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva told the Bangkok Post the NCPO has focused mainly on enforcing both the normal and special laws to maintain peace and order.

While the regime deserves credit for restoring peace and order following the political unrest that took place before the coup, its continued use of special powers (under Section 44 of the interim charter), which is often met with opposition, will only backfire, Mr Abhisit noted.

The former prime minister also criticised initiatives to bring about reconciliation by some of the coup-installed bodies such as an amnesty proposed by the defunct National Reform Council panel on reconciliation chaired by Anek Laothammatat, and a reprieve for political offenders proposed by Seree Suwanphanont, chairman of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA)'s political reform panel.

The proposal calls for a "reprieve" from court proceedings and convictions for all offenders in politically-motivated cases during the last decade of unrest.

These proposals are "stuck in the mire" and will only spark fresh conflict, Mr Abhisit said.

Mr Abhisit said he believed reconciliation can be achieved if the justice system is allowed to take its course and said a selective amnesty should be given to pardon only average protesters who had participated in political demonstrations.

He also warned the NCPO against resorting to the use of special powers as it could fall into a trap set by its opponents seeking to provoke the regime.

Using the special powers too often to deal with them will only erode the regime's credibility and reputation, Mr Abhisit said.

Mr Abhisit also suggested that a report prepared by the defunct national reform committee chaired by former prime minister Anand Panyarachun be adopted to bring about unity and reform.

The Anand panel was appointed by then prime minister Abhisit following the May 2010 political violence.

The Anand panel had come to the conclusion that to solve the country's problems, the government's powers must be decentralised and citizens' power must be strengthened.

Contrary to the Anand penel's suggestions, the NCPO has strengthened the power of prominent civil servants and boosted investors' roles, particularly in the government's Pracharath project designed to strengthen local economies.

Former education minister Chaturon Chaisang told the Bangkok Post the NCPO has failed to grasp the process of mending rifts and building reconciliation.

The regime's concern has only centred around an amnesty or a reprieve and it failed to gather information and experience in resolving conflicts domestically and abroad, Mr Jaturon said.

Over the past two years, the regime has become part of the conflict, he said.

Mr Jaturon echoed the view that the regime's arbitrary use of special powers to deal with its opponents instead of using the normal justice system will perpetuate the conflict.

Suriyasai Katasila, director of National Reform Institute of Thailand, said the NCPO has yet to come up with a "blueprint" to bring about reform and national reconciliation in a tangible manner despite the priorities it had declared upon seizing power.

The NCPO's centre for reconcilation and reform appeared to be active for only 3-4 months after the coup before it faded away, Mr Suriyasai noted.

Mr Suriyasai, a former coordinator for the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said he disagreed with Mr Seree's proposal of the "reprieve law" for political offenders.

He said the proposal is against the rule of law and will create fresh conflicts.

Mr Suriyasai added the NCPO's reform bid does not tackle the country's problems at the root. He cited the measures to restore forests, saying only poor people are targeted in the crackdown on forest encroachment while big businesses are allowed to go scot-free.

Jatuporn Prompan, leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, also told the Bangkok Post the NCPO has been unable to solve conflicts and achieve unity.

The NCPO has failed to maintain its neutrality as it appointed members on the other side of the political divide to the coup-appointed bodies, such as the NSRA and the National Legislative Assembly, Mr Jatuporn said.

** This article is the first of a seven-piece series on two years of the National Council for Peace and Order seizing power on May 22, 2014.

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