BANGKOK, Feb 16 — Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said at Government House today that he could not discuss reconciliation with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as the spokesman of the National Reform Council (NRC) whip committee proposed.
Gen Prayut stressed that anyone wanting reconciliation must return to the justice system first.
He was responding to Wanchai Sornsiri, spokesman of the NRC whip committee, who proposed that the prime minister discuss ways to national reconciliation with Mr Thaksin.
Gen Prayut said that the NRC had no authority to order the discussion and as a government official he or his representative could not talk with the former premier.
Anyone who wanted reconciliation had to return to the justice system, the prime minister said.
Regarding the possibility of amnesty, Gen Prayut said that everything must be based on the justice system and as a government official, it was impossible for him to reach any deal in favor of any party.
The prime minister said that he was solving problems for national progress and he was open to every party as long as it was legal.
“Is Khun Thaksin in the middle of any legal case? Can I talk to him? Anyone who talks to him does wrong. The point is that the one who wants reconciliation must return to the system. I cannot talk to anyone who has been prosecuted,” the prime minister said. (MCOT online news)
