A culture of ethics and compromise is key to political reform that lasts

By PIYAPORN WONGRUANG 
THE SUNDAY NATION

 

Anek Laothamatas

 

AS THE political reform blueprint progresses the focus has become clearer, with concerned parties having agreed that what is more important than the election is how Thai people can step across conflict and a coup – and the answer pretty much lies in a strong political culture that needs to be promoted and rooted.

 

The political reform committee, appointed as one of the 13 committees under the new national reform law, this week invited leaders of key parties to share with it their views on Thailand’s future politics and the reform blueprint.

 

The first day of the week started with Chartthai Pattana’s director Nikorn Chamnong who was first to meet with the committee, before being followed by Bhumjaithai Party’s leader Anutin Charnvirakul, Chart Pattana’s advisor Suwat Liptapanlop and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

 

Chair Anek Laothamatas presented them in turn with five key political reform issues that the committee has addressed to guide reform in the blueprint.

 

While wanting to give support to free and fair elections, the committee wished also to promote Dharma-led democracy where compassion and morality wouldbe adopted to lead the regime, introduce mechanisms to address conflict, decentralise power and, last but not least, promote a healthy political culture as a solid foundation for future Thai politics.

 

Anek later said the invited parties had agreed with all the points, and suggested that political culture, though a long-term process, would be key to helping lay a foundation for strong politics in the country.

Anek said the committee has been developing the plan for transforming political culture, so that it could be put in place, and it’s something “educational” and “time consuming”.

 

However, he said, concerned parties need to join hands and nurture it following their roles and duties. He added that several requirements for developing a stronger political culture already exists, pending further utilisation, and suggested “compromise” as an example.

 

During the meeting, Anek noted his observations on that front. The invited leaders agreed that to reduce conflict and division, they would help reduce their stated “conditions” in order to participate in “negotiations” so that the country could move forward. They said if the conflict and division continued, they wished to see peaceful approaches to deal with it. 

 

They also said they agreed with new rules and laws that have been set, and agreed that they would accept the election results. Whether to join the government or not, the “conditions” could be discussed later, Anek quoted Suwat as saying, recounting his mention of popularity as one of the factors in their decisions.

 

“With such compromise, what we can see now is that the ‘political temperature’ has reduced,” said Anek.

 

Anek said Democrat leader Abhisit particularly stressed that point, calling for introduction of a set of political ethics standards. 

 

Abhisit had said that the best political reform was not through laws, but through political ethics and guidelines to follow. Anchoring behaviour in ethical norms and standards may take time to develop, and time is the biggest challenge in Thai politics.

 

Nikorn also agreed. He said while the election was important, political culture, decentralisation and others were no less so, as they were actually fundamental to politics.

 

The noted political reformer suggested the committee reprioritise its work in the blueprint.

 

“After listening, I have realised that ‘political reform’ is [implementing] critical changes in the way we do things, with concerned parties taking part based on their roles and duties. People need to take part, and on alert, having not just rights, but duties to perform. The politicians, meanwhile said they didn’t want to see a coup again, and they too should take part,” said Anek.

 

The committee will meet with Pheu Thai’s heavyweight, Sudarat Keyurapan to hear her views on Tuesday before holding public hearings and submitting the plan to the government next month.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30332509

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-26

Yawn

Boring empty propaganda.  

Tanks are used to compromise usually in Thailand

7 minutes ago, ChidlomDweller said:

Boring empty propaganda.  

Hmm.....Thailand....

Edited November 25, 20178 yr by Odysseus123

35 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The political reform committee, appointed as one of the 13 committees under the new national reform law, this week invited leaders of key parties to share with it their views on Thailand’s future politics and the reform blueprint.

 

The first day of the week started with Chartthai Pattana’s director Nikorn Chamnong who was first to meet with the committee, before being followed by Bhumjaithai Party’s leader Anutin Charnvirakul, Chart Pattana’s advisor Suwat Liptapanlop and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

 

Hmm... 

 

You have already reached some major conclusions BEFORE meeting the political party that won every election this century. That seems reasonable (sarcasm).

 

36 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

AS THE political reform blueprint progresses the focus has become clearer, with concerned parties having agreed that what is more important than the election is how Thai people can step across conflict and a coup – and the answer pretty much lies in a strong political culture that needs to be promoted and rooted.

 

"...with concerned parties having agreed that what is more important than the election is..."

 

Again, hmm...

 

Somehow I don't think that the party that won every election this century agrees with this 'conclusion'.

 

More propaganda nonsense.

 

C'mon Nation, I was starting to develop some respect for you, now this crap...

 

A compromise of ethics. Just ask Abhisit who gave the order to shoot 90 people. Or setting up an unelected government via a coup, then to keep it running until you believe the numbers will stack up to vote you in. 

 

"Abhisit had said that the best political reform was not through laws, but through political ethics and guidelines to follow. Anchoring behaviour in ethical norms and standards may take time to develop, and time is the biggest challenge in Thai politics." Now that is really putting the cart before the donkey.

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

last but not least, promote a healthy political culture as a solid foundation for future Thai politics.

Sadly it has been last and least, as only talk has happened and no substantive progress has even been attempted beyond filling a room full of hot air. 

The opposite of what has happened in the past, not to mention, in the last three years.  Objective people, who contemplate right from wrong, just do not exist in Thailand.  It is all about winning at any cost.  There is no Thai rak Thai. 

Depends what you define as 'ethics'. People delude themselves everyday that they're not doing something bad when they actually are. This is then amplified when you're born into power and wealth and believe yourself to be better than others. 

 

What you need to do is have law and order to keep everyone in check. You can talk about morals and ethics all you like. Without laws being enforced it's just meaningless. The best analogy is to use drink driving. I don't drink and drive as I don't want to endanger others' lives and also my own. That's my number one reason not to do it. Some people's number 1 reason will be that it's illegal and they'll lose their license, etc. They very well may not even be considering hurting others. But the law is strongly enforced so most don't break it (reference to the UK).

 

Is it wrong for me to take a cut of this money? I don't think it is. Is it illegal? Yes. Ah, better not then. All just a waste of time anyway as the people in charge don't want this change to apply to them. 

 

 

Leave democracy alone and don’t try to nanny the process with regular coups and incompetent junta government. Just ensure that the independence and separation of power of the 3 institution. People make better decision with empowerment and in the p

process will root out unethical and corrupted politicians with an independent justice system than coups. 

Maybe they meant "compromised ethics"? Wait, they already have that....

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"......strong political culture that needs to be promoted and rooted".

The political culture in Thailand is certainly rooted, that's for sure.

Edited November 26, 20178 yr by Cadbury

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The political reform committee, appointed as one of the 13 committees under the new national reform law ....

... created and paid for by the junta

No reason to read any further.

There can be no legitimate reform in any sector of Thai lives so long as it is promoted by organizations that have no respect for the Thai people's sovereignty - rights and liberties.

Everything else following the 2nd paragraph of this article is justification for power-sharing with those organizations.