Senator Kamnoon Sitthisamarn has proposed that the Thai Parliament’s President, Chuan Leekpai, should head the reconciliation committee, emphasizing the latter’s suitability for the post.

He said that Mr. Chuan is widely respected, is well versed in politics, he has served as Prime Minister and President of the Parliament twice and he doesn’t see anyone more recognized than Mr. Chuan.

Regarding the format of the committee, he said that he is supportive of the two formats proposed by Mr. Chuan. One comprises representatives from seven groups and the other would be a mixture of impartial figures and parties in the conflict.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chuan said a parliamentary working group has been working on the format of the committee, adding that he didn’t feel any pressure at all over Parliament’s role in trying to find a way out of the current political conflict.

Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn said he agrees with the proposed format of the committee which includes seven groups, including politicians, academics, anti-establishment protesters and their opponents.

The committee, he said, should be an open forum in which all stakeholders can share their views on how the current political conflict can be resolved peacefully.

Citing previous such committees, such as the one led by former Attorney-General Dr. Khanit na Nakhorn, or another by former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, Senator Somchai said that those committees had offered good recommendations, but they didn’t work because they were not binding on the parties in conflict.

Regarding the issue of reform of the Monarchy, as demanded by the anti-establishment protesters, the senator said that this is a separate issue, which should not be discussed in this forum.

The reconciliation committee was proposed by the Democrat Party, but opposition parties are still hesitant to join, saying that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha should quit first, seeing him as the cause of the conflict.