The process of reconciliation should take place under democratic rule and hence it would not be a process that could be achieved in one day, the Pheu Thai said.

The former ruling party was yesterday the 35th party to attend the invitation-only forum organised by the Defence Ministry to discuss conflict resolution and peace. It’s a part of the government committee on reconciliation chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

Pheu Thai, however, did not directly bring up the issue of amnesty in the talks as some people had expected, but touched only on “reconciliatory and transitional justice delivery”.

The party said it had not consulted with former prime ministers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra regarding the details of the reconciliation talks.

After two hours of discussions, Bhokin Bhalakula, a Pheu Thai core member, said to overcome the persisting conflict, the government must be sincere, show proper understanding in solving the problems, be free from prejudice, and act as per the rule of law.

Bhokin told reporters that the party viewed that reconciliation building should take place under democratic rule and it was not a process that could be achieved in one day.

Therefore, even after an elected government took office, it should still continue, the politician said.

Bhokin said Pheu Thai strongly proposed that reconciliation must be based on the rule of law and all sides must “forgive one another as well as apologise for what they had done”.

Talking of the political ban imposed on some 200 Pheu Thai politicians as an instance, Bhokin said that it was proved later they were not guilty. He said they were victims. However, he said that those politicians had condoned the ban otherwise reconciliation could not be achieved.

It was a sacrifice to make, maybe with pain, Bhokin said, adding that the powers that be should stop abusing these victims.

Apart from that, the Pheu Thai politician also urged all parties concerned to stop using hate speech, and said entities in the justice system such as the courts and state agencies must remain non-partisan in the conflict and be subject to scrutiny of the public.

Given the party’s stance against the junta, Bhokin said Pheu Thai had decided to join the junta-backed reconciliation scheme because society was aware that it was impossible to remain in conflict.

Although some people in Pheu Thai disagreed with the military taking the leading role in achieving reconciliation, Bhokin said it did not matter who initiated it and as the Defence Ministry had already made the talks happen, it was impossible to tell them to stop.

Apart from Bhokin, five other party senior figures joined the talks. They were: acting party leader Pol Lt-General Viroj Pao-in, party secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai, and key members Sudarat Keyuraphan, Chusak Sirinil, Phokin Palakul, Chaikasem Nitisiri.

Defence Ministry spokesman Maj-General Kongcheep Tantra-wanich said the atmosphere with Pheu Thai, as well as other parties who met the committee this week, had been friendly and participants showed determination to find solutions to issues facing the country.