Six independent organizations air proposal on ending political strife

BANGKOK, March 17 (TNA) - Six independent organizations have proposed a process to settle domestic political strife between the caretaker government and the anti-governemnt People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC). Election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn told journalists on Monday that, under the proposal, there will be a neutral panel, acceptable to both the caretaker government and the protesting PDRC, set up to listen to their proposals. Somchai revealed that the panel will then create new proposals which are also acceptable to both sides and organize official meetings for both sides' leaders to reach a compromise. According to the election commissioner, the six organizations will ask Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban to nominate 10 neutral and reliable persons each on March 18 and the independent organizations will then select the same persons whom both sides propose and the persons will later work out a roadmap for the settlement of the domestic political strife, with the six organizations facilitating their discussions and the reconciliation process expected to take about a month. The election commissioner stated that the six organizations would, however, withdraw from the process if both sides placed any demand for a favor in legal actions against them and the negotiation process would also end if both sides refused to compromise but they would be held responsible if their persistent different stances damage the nation. Chief Ombudsman Panit Nitithanprapas said she expected replies from the caretaker government and the PDRC within seven days, and that the six organizations made their movement to restore national peace. Amara Pongsapich, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said she believes that there are neutral and acceptable persons in Thailand to conduct the mission and if the proposal of the six independent organizations failed, it would be unnecessary to involve any foreign party. The six organizations include the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Economic and Social Advisory Council (NESAC), the Election Commission of Thailand (EC), the NHRC, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Office of the Auditor General, with their representatives holding a joint press conference to air the proposal.(TNA)