Besides the two political groups, another seven parties will participate in the junta-sponsored discussion next week as it moves into the second month since the process was kicked off on February 14, said defence spokesman Maj Gen Kongcheep Tantrawanich in a press briefing on Friday.

Kongcheep told reporters that 39 political parties had already attended the talks, as part of the latest reform and reconciliation efforts.

After next week, the committee would continue to gather opinions from society. Other political parties, which had not yet put forward their opinions, can attend the talks next month.

The committee, which is formed under the defence ministry and its permanent secretary Gen Chaichan Changmongkol, initially expected the opinion gathering process to be completed in May, before it processes the conclusions and mutual agreements of all sides.

AVM Rangsan Yaowarat, defence assistant spokesman, said that the opinion gathering in the regional process had taken place in all provinces other than Bangkok. Everything followed the framework, he said.

The discussion, under the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Army Areas in 12 provinces, will be completed this week, Rangsan said.