NRSA member stresses political approach

A National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) member says a political approach should take centre stage in national reconciliation while playing down a proposal to adopt a particular reconciliation approach known as the 66/23 policy.

Sangsit Piriyarangsan, chairman of an NRSA panel on ways to tackle conflicts and create political reconciliation, yesterday stressed that a political approach should take precedence over a military one in the unity building process.

He also disagreed with calls for the adoption of the so-called 66/23 policy introduced by the government of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda to handle communist movements in the past.

Under Gen Prem’s policy, a political approach was also given priority over a military one, which eventually resolved the communist insurgency, said Mr Sangsit, who also serves as the dean of Rangsit University’s College of Social Innovation.

However, Mr Sangsit explained that the policy known as 66/23 was designed for a situation in the past and it could not be applied to current circumstances.

“A political approach must take a leading role while the rule of law must be upheld and the spirit of kindness and compassion also taken into account,” Mr Sangsit said, adding that the proposed political approach does not involve granting an amnesty to political offenders.

Mr Sangsit also said that the NRSA had invited former members of various committees set up in the past to study approaches to achieving national unity to share ideas on Monday.

They include former army chief, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who staged the 2006 coup that ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra from power and later chaired a special House committee on reconciliation during the administration of Yingluck Shinawatra.