Reconciliation is achievable, says Anek

That has resulted in the setting up of a new supreme committee to oversee reform, reconciliation, and national strategy, under which a preparation committee was established to assume direct responsibility for reconciliation.
On Friday, its sub-panel, processing political input after talks with more than 70 political parties and civil organisations over the past few months, wrapped up its work. This will now be forwarded to the next panel to help formulate synchronised views into a “social contract” to help bridge division among political parties.
According to Anek Laothanmatas, former chairman of the reconciliation study committee under the National Reform Council, who has been invited to advise the government’s reconciliation committee, the latest attempts can help bring about a smooth election as promised as well as “political reconciliation and stability”.
However, it still remains questionable whether it can help heal the deep social divisions, which are at the root of the reconciliation problem.
In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Nation, Anek said there were some signs that suggest “political fruition” from these latest efforts.
From the outset, the chairman of the committees, Deputy Premier Prawit Wongsuwan, set his goal, clearly and firmly, saying that the new round of talks aimed to ensure the country would not fall back into division again. 
Moreover, it must help pave the way for a smooth poll, with candidates able to campaign anywhere without disruptions, like in the past. 
Amnesty for jailed individuals was excluded from the process, which was undertaken to pave the way for such goals, Anek said.
And besides the government’s clear goals, political parties and their leaders had agreed they want to see an election held. The long years of division has exhausted them and they want to have a break, he said.
Only a few involved with certain critical incidents wanted an amnesty as a precondition for reconciliation. The hopes of those already in jail, in discussions he had when he visited them, had receded. What they wished for now was to serve their terms and hope for a pardon to end their unfortunate plight, he said. As such, all energy was channelled towards the set goals, which were now foreseeable, Anek |said.
“This is made possible, crucially because all key figures sit on the committee and when they propose something, it’s something that cannot be denied,” he said.
“Political reconciliation”, Anek said, was dependent on the eventual election because, if it yields the expected results, the country will see a mixed government, under which no political parties could dominate others in the House. 
As such, political stability and reconciliation could last for some time because they would need to compromise and work together and would not wish to return to the previous political conditions under which democracy was frozen.
However, given the economic inequality in the country, Anek pondered whether this could bring about the desired “social reconciliation”.
While the government has been striving to get all concerned parties geared towards the election, one hard fact is that economic conditions in the country are rather painful for all, partly because |of the global downturn. This impact can be now felt widely, said Anek, and underlines the problems of “social inequity and division”.
To forge true reconciliation, he said the fundamental need was to allow conflicting parties participate in the process, not only forging reconciliation and rehabilitation among themselves but for all in society.
“They should not be treated as bullies or the bullied, who keep asking for forgiveness or waiting for forgiveness, but treated as social healers who can help contribute healing for the whole of society together,” he said. 
Fundamental problems, he added, need to be tackled seriously so such inequity can be addressed and resolved. 
“This is about nurturing political culture and mindsets,” he said. “We once had it, but it has been lost over the past 10 years in a fierce political competition and deep divisions. The question is how we can reboot such a nurturing culture to help reduce the gap and give a more equal chance to all.”
So what really needs to be done? 
“We need to listen to one another, truly, I mean, not just among political blocs, but between people in the cities and people in the rural areas,” he said. 
“It doesn’t always mean that your equality as defined under your ‘democracy’ would mean the same as that of people living in rural areas, and as such we must think for them. What we need to do is listen to one another so that we can hear what they really want, and want to pursue in life; that’s giving an equal chance to others.”