Prawit plays down Pheu Thai decision to boycott unity pact

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday brushed off the Pheu Thai Party’s decision not to endorse the government’s unity pact, saying it would not derail the reconciliation building process.

Gen Prawit said the former ruling party had made it known for some time that it was not in support of the unity agreement, but that should not affect the efforts because the draft was accepted by the majority of the public.

The deputy premier’s comments came after Pheu Thai issued a statement refusing to sign the draft agreement which was put up for a final round of public hearings this week.

According to Pheu Thai, the 10-point draft lacked true public participation and the process was not based on the right principles. The party said this would not lead to national reconciliation and signing it would not make any difference.

Gen Prawit said the unity draft would be revised to include 15 points proposed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the final draft would be submitted to the Committee for National Administration under the Framework of National Reform, Strategy and Reconciliation, chaired by Gen Prayut, on Monday.

He expressed confidence the ricepledging trial of ex-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and a recent prison term given to red-shirt co-leader Jatuporn Prompan in a defamation case would not affect unity building.

Gen Prawit was speaking after chairing a meeting of members of the committee for national reconciliation after the last public hearing was wrapped up on Thursday.

Defence spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich said yesterday it was undecided when the complete draft would be unveiled to the public. He insisted no major changes would be made to it.

“The 10 points in the draft were derived from public input while 15 points to be added concern the framework leading to implementation,” he said.

The 15 items raised by the premier included a ban against governments using their executive powers for political gain, ensuring political parties take responsibility for the policies they announce, and respecting different viewpoints.

The points were introduced when 300 stakeholders attended a public hearing on the draft at the 1st Army Region on Monday.