Thursday, July 8, 2010

A tall order: In search of truth, not a witch-hunt


Kanit na Nakhon, chairmn of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), admits: "It's the toughest assignment in my life."

The 9-member TRC insists that they are seeking answers to questions over the country's problemsof divisiveness. It's not a "witch-hunt." And, according to a leading member of the commission: "We aren't here to judge who's right and who's wrong."

The commission will have a two-year term and will file an official report to the Cabinet every six months.

"We will be neutral, transparent and diverse. We are here to restore peace, not conduct a witch-hunt," vowed Kanit.

The other 8 members of the commission: from left, top, Kittipong Kittayarak: Permanent Secretary for Justice; Jutharat Ua-amnoey: Chulalongorn's Political Science Faculty; Decha Sungkawan, Dean of Thammasat's Faculty of Social Administration; Phairoj Polpetch: Secretary of People's Rights Protection Association; Manich Sooksomchitra, Thai Rath's senior editor; Ronnachai Kongsakon: Associate dean of Ramathibodi Hospital's Faculty of Medicine; Somchai Homlaor: Chairman of Human Rights Law Society and Surasak Likasitwatanakul: Dean, Thammasat's Faculty of Law.

That's as diversified as you could get. But then, whatever the formation, criticism will surely come from some quarters. The only yardstick will be how the public judges its performance once the real final report is made public.

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