Perhaps something more lenient, such as the nine-month peace course introduced by King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI), could be the answer as it requires both sides to be patient and listen.

During the KPI course, pro-Thaksin politician Vipoothalaeng Pattanapoomthai befriended anti-Thaksin activist Veera Somkwamkid, while outspoken red-shirt activist Sombat Boonngamanong cosied up with Democrat politician Tankhun Jittitsara.

“I used to oppose his moves, but once I listened to him in classes, I understood and learned that our mutual interest is in the country’s interest,” Vipoothalaeng said, referring to his one-time foe Veera, an anti-corruption activist.

Veera also emphasised his friendship with former Pheu Thai MP Vipoothalaeng, saying, “We are friends now. When we spent time together [during the course], we understood the conflict and each other better.”

Veera was released in July 2014 after being held in Cambodia for three years over charges of spying. He was nabbed while visiting a disputed area at the Thai-Cambodia border.

The friendship of these one-time foes became stronger during the course that was especially designed to bring people from both sides of the political spectrum together.

So far, some 90 participants from different fields have enrolled in the sixth KPI course based on “peaceful society building”, which initially focused on the conflict in the deep South but is now being applied to the ongoing political conflict.

Another pair of former foes participating were former Democrat MP Tankhun, who was also previously a leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, and Sombat, also known as Bor Kor Lai Jud (the Polka Dot Editor).

They too have become friends, and their friendship is being used as an example of how this course encourages people to understand individual differences.

“Though we have different mindsets, paying attention to his thoughts helps me better understand him,” Tankhun said of Sombat.

Sombat, who is also leader of a pro-democracy group called Red Sunday, said his perspective broadened as he understood Tankhun’s thought processes and realised why he was so against the red-shirt movement.

He added that the course showed him that all the participants really want a democratic country. “But we just have different methods for achieving that,” he added.

Sombat, who has been repeatedly warned by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to stop campaigning against it, revealed that the “attitude adjustment” session did nothing to influence his attitude and could not change his mindset.

The activist was briefly detained in June 2014, just a month after the military coup, following his online campaign against the coup-makers. He said that during detention he was only told to “surrender” to the power of the new regime.

Tankhun suggested that creating a “safety zone” where people can share their opinions could help resolve the social divide.

“It could be in the form of a seminar or other forms of engagement, rather using military power,” he said.

The politician added that the junta could employ “soft power” and “accept the fact that it’s human nature [for an individual] to express their thoughts”. He too was taken in for an “attitude adjustment” session in 2014 following his opposition to the coup.

He said the more the NCPO used its sweeping power to detain dissidents, the more disadvantages it would face, warning that the detainees could take advantage of appearing vulnerable in the eye of the public to counterattack the junta.

Vipoothalaeng, Veera, Sombat and Tankhun all agreed that a platform that enables people to listen to each other and “be listened to” would be effective in resolving conflicts.

The friendship between the two pairs of old foes proves that the course is successful, as intended by KPI’s curriculum director General Ekkachai Srivilas.

“This year’s course is far more successful compared to the other courses held over the past five years,” Ekkachai said, who also serves as director of the KPI’s Office of Peace and Governance. He said there were no conflicts among the participants despite their contrasting political beliefs.

“We don’t force the students to wipe out their ideology and think the way we want. But we let them listen each other, talk and accept different opinions,” he explained.

“Making people understand each other certainly cannot be achieved in say three, seven or 15 days, ” he said.

When asked why this course was able to turn foes into friends, Ekkachai explained that it takes time to solve conflicts.

“The course is nine month and we let the participants spend time together, going on field trips and getting involved in discussions. That’s how they become friends,” he pointed out.

The programme that they attended is now nearing an end. They have completed their classes and field trips and are now preparing a play and public talk as part of their “graduation ceremony”. The event is scheduled for April 29 at the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road and are hoping it will promote peace in the country.