NATIONAL RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ANNOUNCED

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002255 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM TH NRC SUBJECT: NATIONAL RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ANNOUNCED REF: BANGKOK 1528 ¶1. (U) Summary: On March 28, Prime Minister Thaksin officially appointed a broad-based 48-member National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) to explore solutions to the ongoing separatist turmoil in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces. NRC Chairperson and former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, who is not a political ally of Thaksin, expressed satisfaction at the Prime Minister's immediate acceptance of the list of recommended members he submitted. Anand told the press that he had tried to assemble a diverse group and noted that some members were critics of Thaksin's policies. Local observers have praised the composition of the NRC for its balance of government, academic, NGO, military and political opposition representatives. About one third of the NRC's members are Muslims. Anand counseled patience to the public, saying that the NRC will likely need a full nine months to finish its work and present policy recommendations. The first meeting of the Commission is slated for April 8. The NRC membership follows in para 2. ¶2. (U) National Reconciliation Commission Members are: Chairman: Anand Panyarachun - Former Prime Minister Deputy: Prawese Wasi - Noted social critic and Ramon Magsaysay winner for Government Service (1981) Civilian Representatives (from the South): Gen. (retd.) Narong Dejudom - Former 4th Army Commander Netr Chantharasami - Businessman and department store owner in Hat Yai Bancha Pongpanich - Former Rector of Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province Prasit Meksuwan - Secretary-General of the Teachers Confederation in five southern provinces Piya Kitthavorn - Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani Petdao Tohmena - Medical Doctor and daughter of Senator Den Tohmena Maryam Samoh - Director of the Orphanage Center in Pattani Province Muhamad Adam - Director of the Narul Islam Bhumi School in Pattani Province Ratiya Salae - Lecturer, Thaksin University, Songkhla Province Woravit Baru - Vice-Rector, Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani Aedueramae Mamingli - Chairman of the Pattani Islamic Committee Ananchai Thaiprathan - Advisor to the Young Muslim Association Ismail Lutfi Japakiya - Rector of Yala Islamic College Abduirohmae Jehsae - Chairman of the Yala Islamic Committee Abduraman Abdulsamad - Chairman of the Narathiwat Islamic Committee Asmadsomboon Bualuang - Lecturer, Prince of Songkhla University Civilian Representatives (from other regions of Thailand): Chaiwat Satha-anand - Lecturer and Director of the Peace Information Center, Foundation for Democracy and Development Studies Dejudom Krairit - President of the Law Society of Thailand Naree Charoenpolpirlya - Instructor at the Peace Information Center Pichai Rattanpol - Chairman of the National Security Council's Non-Violent Strategy Committee Piphob Thongchai - Advisor to the Campaign for Popular Democracy Paisal Promyong - Deputy Secretary-General of the Central Islamic Committee of Thailand Phra Paisal Visaro - Abbot of Wat Pasukato, Chayaphum Province Mark Tamthai - Director of the Religious and Cultural Studies Center, Pyap University Srisak Wallipodom - Historian and Archaeologist Saowanee Chitmuad - Lecturer Rajabhat University Ammar Siamwala - Honorary Advisor to the Thailand Development and Research Institute (TDRI) Political Representatives: Kanchana Silpa-archa - Chart Thai Party MP from Suphanburi Province Chaturon Chaisaeng - Deputy Prime Minister Pol.Gen. Chitchai Wannasathit - Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Prasert Pongsuwansiri - Democrat Party MP from Yala Province Pongthep Thepkanchana - Thai Rak Thai Party-List MP and Government Head Whip Surin Pitsuwan - Democrat Party Deputy Leader and former Foreign Minister Sophon Supapong - Bangkok Senator Government: Kittipong Kityarak - Director-General of the Probation Department, Ministry of Justice Jiraporn Bunnag - Deputy Secretary-General of the National Security Council, The Prime Minister's Office Pornnipa Limpapayom - Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education Vichai Thienthawom - Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health Lt.Gen. Weipote Srinual - Assistant Chief-of-Staff, Royal Thai Army Sirachi Choterat - Deputy Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, The Prime Minister's Office Pol. Lt.Gen. Somsak Khwaengsopa - Commissioner of the Border Patrol Police Gen. Sirichai Thanyasiri - Director-General of the Southern Border Provinces Peace Promotion Center Sucharit Patchimnant - Director-General of the Provincial Administration Department, Ministry of Interior National Reconciliation Commission Secretariat Office: Bavornsak Uvanno - Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Peace Promotion Center Gothom Ariya - Lecturer, Peace Solution Studies and Development Center, Mahidol University Surichai Wankaeo - Lecturer, Political Science Faculty, Chulalongkorn University A DIVERSE GROUP ¶3. (SBU) As noted above, Anand recruited a diverse group of nationally-known academics, government officials, opposition politicians, and social activists to the NRC. For example, Police General Chitchai Wannasathit is the senior Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister, a close personal associate of Thaksin and his designated overseer of security activities in the south. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, on the other hand, is a nationally-regarded opposition Democrat Party Member of Parliament (MP),a Muslim, and former foreign minister in Chuan Leekpai's government. He has sharply criticized the Thaksin Administration's policies in the South. Prawet Wasi is a sharp-tongued social commentator and frequent Thaksin critic. Ammar Sianwalar is an Advisor to the Thailand Development Research Institute, and Gothom Ariya was Chairman of Forum Asia, the regional human rights NGO. Mark Tamthai is a prominent academic and senior advisor to the Thai National Security Council (NSC) on southern issues. Ismael Lutfi Japakiya is the highly controversial Rector of Yala Islamic College. Many of the NRC civil society members strongly criticized Thaksin for seeking to establish a "zoning policy" in southern Thailand, that would have punished villages in "red" areas for "cooperating" with separatist groups. Widespread opposition to this zoning policy eventually led to Thaksin's formation of the Commission and selection of Anand to head it (Reftel). More detailed bio material on NRC members will be provided septel. NOW ANAND HAS HIS MISSION ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Thaksin's choice of the widely-regarded former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun to head the high-profile NRC was a surprise. During a meeting March 29 with visiting A/S Designate Chris Hill and the Ambassador (Septel),opposition MP and commission member Surin noted Anand's ability to openly criticize Thaksin, even as the NRC is just being formed. "The Prime Minister may regret that he appointed Anand to head this commission," Surin said. Some cynics say that Thaksin wants to pass the responsibility for solving the chronic troubles in the South to Anand and his Commission, while others have insisted that Thaksin, realizing that he's hit a dead end in resolving the violence is sincerely hoping Anand and the NRC come up with a workable plan. We lean towards the latter characterization of the Prime Minister's attitude. For now, all eyes will be on the commission at the outset of what will be a long and difficult process to find ways to peacefully resolve the increasingly bloody conflict in the Muslim south. BOYCE