No political role: self-sufficiency expert

By PIYAPORN WONGRUANG 
THE NATION

 

Wiwat during his recent effort to reforest deforested watersheds in Nan province.

 

LATE KING’S SUSTAINABLE POLICIES STILL SHOW THE WAY, SAYS NEW CABINET MEMBER WIWAT

 

NOTED self-sufficiency practitioner Wiwat Salayakamthorn was invited to join the fifth Prayut Cabinet as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives amid speculation that he, along with other ministers who have long experience working with the masses, have been invited to sit in the Cabinet to help shore up the government’s popularity.

 

Wiwat has dismissed the speculation, saying it had nothing to do with votes. The government, he said, just wished to see him help push forward self-sufficiency.

 

AS PEOPLE SAW [YOU] ENTERING THE AGRICULTURE MINISTRY, THEY SAW IT AS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S POPULARITY AND VOTES IN THE FUTURE. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT?

 

I admit that as soon as I entered the office, there were political comments in the media, both pro and anti, but I must say that I decided to take up the offer as I saw we were in the middle of a crisis once again.

 

How? You may have heard about the economic cycle: like a plane, it parks and then takes off. It later flies to the sky before landing, or sometimes, nose-diving, just like what happened during the 1997 crisis.

Thailand is no different from other parts of the world. Our late His Majesty the King [Bhumibol Adulyadej] once warned us not to be too extreme, but to take the middle path and we would be able to withstand any turbulence. Unfortunately, we took another path, putting money first, despite having other special qualities including self-sufficiency.

 

Thailand has taken the wrong path. The US that we followed barely survived the crisis. Our late King, on the other hand, received much praise from all over the world, and his self-sufficiency ideas won praise and acceptance as part of the new doctrine for the world’s survival: the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

So, it’s a good time for us to review what went wrong and help one another out of the crisis.

 

IS THIS THE ASSIGNMENT YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT?

 

I think this is a good opportunity and this government is supportive. My social networks told me that I would face very hard and exhausting work. Actually, we have been working on our belief. This government has just opened up a chance for us to steer it forward in a wide scale. 

 

One day, the PM’s secretary just called me that he would like to invite me to join his Cabinet. I asked him what he would like me to do. And he simply told me that it was just steering what I have been doing, along with the other two ministers. I checked their work experience and was okay with them. So, I accepted the invitation.

 

Actually, the PM even sent some military officers to learn the way from my centre. The point is people learn things from us and can create similar centres or expand their networks. We would change people, not by power, but by knowledge and mindfulness. 

 

We have been doing this along with some universities, but this time, the head of the government has requested this. So, I think this is a good chance.

 

(Wiwit, the late King’s long-time development project official, founded Mab-uang Natural Farming Centre with self-sufficiency-based farming in Chon Buri.)

 

IT’S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY, AS YOU SAID, TO EXPAND THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY IDEA NATIONWIDE?

 

I think it is. When I went to a village, as Ajarn (teacher), I may be able to introduce it to five people who are interested in the idea. But as a deputy minister, there will be more influential followers than before, who are ready to take my words and practice.

 

With such strong support, the opportunity for us to see the idea introduced in our society would happen fast. And I personally believe that it would be introduced more widely than ever, though we cannot say to what extent it will be.

 

DO YOU EXPECT IT TO REPLACE MAINSTREAM DEVELOPMENT?

 

I would say that now we have it in our national policies. The challenge will be how we can transform the idea into practice, let’s say, in the 20-year national strategy plan. I personally believe that we could, given the global trend that needs similar changes.

 

Besides policies, our academic arena has adopted more of the idea and helped introduce it to people. So, I quite believe that people will see more the importance of self-sufficiency in the future. It may not yet replace the mainstream trend, but at least it has provided a new possibility. Bhutan, for instance, has adopted self-sufficiency lifestyle as its national goal. We Thai people have walked a long way along the development path, and if we are serious enough, I think we can make it, and make it our mainstream path. It’s the way, otherwise we would be at war. Mainstream development does not distribute wealth, and that [would lead to] a war.

 

By saying this, it’s not that I am against the mainstream trend of capitalism. Capitalism has its bad side and good side, and we can pick the good ones and apply them to our thinking.

 

HOW WOULD YOU MATERIALISE THE IDEA HERE AT THE AGRICULTURE MINISTRY?

 

It sounds like a joke, but I think our temples, at least 40,000 temples nationwide, could be good educational centres. Our temples used to function like that before, and they can again.

 

At the ministry, I’m responsible for 10 departments and agencies under the ministry, covering land and 

water issues.

 

To start with, I’ll work on water issues first. To be self-sufficient is to be able to stand on our own feet, and 

that’s the challenge: how we can preserve water in a sustainable way?

 

Royal rain-making would be introduced nationwide to help bring water to people, while small-scale water storage would also be introduced so that people can manage water by themselves.

 

As I said, the challenge is how to transform the idea into practice, and the operational plans that follow are crucial.

 

Again, my standpoint is clear. Every political party that announces the idea as part of their policies would win my support, not just the junta government.

 

But nobody talked to me about helping woo votes. I think if they take the idea seriously enough, they will win praise and votes accordingly.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30337904

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-04

 This should be the way to go,for the farmers that can do it,

relying on a mono crop,is too risky,if you can grow all your 

own food,Rice,fish ,chickens,fruits,herbs,vegetables,at the

very least you should never go hungry,any excess products

can be sold providing income for other necessities,that has 

got to be better than growing rice and been in debt every year.

regards worgeordie

5 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

 This should be the way to go,for the farmers that can do it,

relying on a mono crop,is too risky,if you can grow all your 

own food,Rice,fish ,chickens,fruits,herbs,vegetables,at the

very least you should never go hungry,any excess products

can be sold providing income for other necessities,that has 

got to be better than growing rice and been in debt every year.

regards worgeordie

That won't work they wan't cars new ones motorbikes new phones even if they can't afford it and want the government to pay off their debts. They know they are an important voting block so they exploit it.

1 minute ago, robblok said:

That won't work they wan't cars new ones motorbikes new phones even if they can't afford it and want the government to pay off their debts. They know they are an important voting block so they exploit it.

Exactly, that's the problem.

regards worgeordie

The junta is promoting ( it's definition) of sufficiency as a central part of the reconciled ecstatically happy new Thailand it is seeking to create.

You have accepted a ministerial post dealing with promoting "sufficiency".

That sounds fairly political to me...

6 minutes ago, JAG said:

The junta is promoting ( it's definition) of sufficiency as a central part of the reconciled ecstatically happy new Thailand it is seeking to create.

You have accepted a ministerial post dealing with promoting "sufficiency".

That sounds fairly political to me...

Yes its such a bad thing that an expert with actual knowledge is going to work for the government in a position that his actually knowledgeable in. Wish it happened more often that they hired people based on WHAT they could do instead of who they are or who their friends are. 

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

invited to sit in the Cabinet to help shore up the government’s popularity.

Why the concern about the government's popularity? If its policies are correct for sustainability of the economy, popularity be damned. You do what's right for the nation - not what's right for politics.

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

it had nothing to do with votes.

Deniability just confirmed the government is concerned about its popularity. That matters with "near-term" elections.

'The sufficiency economy' in the twisted minds of the junta simply means: 'Hey, you peasants - be content with the almost nothing that you own or are likely to own, OK? Let us - the 'good people' -  be sufficient with the BILLIONS of baht, property, houses, super-expensive cars and other assets that we possess - and you, peasants, equally be content with the NOTHING that you enjoy living from. Fair deal, OK? That is the divine Order here. That is what sufficiency means: each and everyone should feel he has sufficient - so now shut up and let us get on with running and ruining your lives!'

55 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Why the concern about the government's popularity? If its policies are correct for sustainability of the economy, popularity be damned. You do what's right for the nation - not what's right for politics.

Deniability just confirmed the government is concerned about its popularity. That matters with "near-term" elections.

Because they want to play a part in the next election so they need to be popular. 

"self sufficiency" sounds wonderful. But, surely if you don't export then you cannot import? 

Last week, it was all about empowering 3,500-odd tambon councils to spread the word - and maybe some aid - to rural areas, by way of advice on alternative crop farming and encouraging villagers to enroll for vocational training courses - both about 4 years too late, I would urge - and now the puppet-master pulls yet another performer from out the closet; this time to spread the equally exciting gospel of self-sufficiency. Bloody wonderful.

Talk about clutching at straws or, in this case, blowing more air into the already nearly empty life-raft of the good ship 'Vote-for-me-please'. . . that's just about what the Junta have been reduced to. But, it's Monday tomorrow . . . will big-boy be up and about when the media come calling and expect more impressive noises? I can't wait!

Edited February 4, 20188 yr by Ossy
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4 hours ago, robblok said:

Yes its such a bad thing that an expert with actual knowledge is going to work for the government in a position that his actually knowledgeable in. Wish it happened more often that they hired people based on WHAT they could do instead of who they are or who their friends are. 

I wasn't suggesting that he was not a suitable choice for the role, I was suggesting that he was wrong to claim that his role was not political....

2 minutes ago, JAG said:

I wasn't suggesting that he was not a suitable choice for the role, I was suggesting that he was wrong to claim that his role was not political....

Depends how you look at it.. in a way anyone in working for a goverment and who helps improving the lives of civilians thus making the goverment more liked is doing something political. So your right.

 

I just see it as the right man at the right place, something we don't often see unfortunately. Just because someone joins the junta does not make him bad. His work could change things for people in a good way. 

 

Anyway I don't see much wrong with him ar the government plans. Let them try who knows it might help the average person. And if they help the average person then they are doing a good thing better as helping themselves to watches anyway. 

5 minutes ago, robblok said:

Just because someone joins the junta does not make him bad. His work could change things for people in a good way. 

Case in point: Somkid Jatusripitak, former Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Commerce in Thaaksin's government and currently Prayut's Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs.

 

12 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Case in point: Somkid Jatusripitak, former Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Minister of Commerce in Thaaksin's government and currently Prayut's Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs.

 

Yes that is an other good example.. too bad there are so few that actually have the skills that end up in power. Too much croneyism and nepotism going on.

 

Remember the ministers that were fired / had no job anymore after the latest reshuffle. They were canned because they did not preform.. what happened.. they got hired again as advisers  

Edited February 4, 20188 yr by robblok

1 hour ago, Ossy said:

this time to spread the equally exciting gospel of self-sufficiency.

Prayut has been doing that since the time of his coup.

• August 2014 - "the King’s philosophy on self-sufficiency economy and sustainable development would be applied for use to move the country forward." PM to adhere to King’s sufficiency philosophy in running the country http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-adhere-kings-sufficiency-philosophy-running-country/
• September 2015 - " the concept of sustainability should be integrated into all three pillars of the United Nations’ work."  Prayut's speech at UN general assembly http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Prayuts-speech-at-UN-general-assembly-30269855.html
• February 2016 - "At the same time, drawing from His Majesty the King’s Sufficiency Economy philosophy to initiate practical measures and policies, especially for rural and remote areas across the country, has also been a cornerstone undertaking by the  government." National Broadcast by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, February 26, 2016 http://thaiembdc.org/2016/02/29/national-broadcast-by-pm-prayut-chan-o-cha-february-26-2016/

Prayut has made self sufficiency policies into a foolish hobgoblin of little minds. Appropriate for his regime perhaps but not  for the Thai nation.

 

15 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Prayut has been doing that since the time of his coup.

• August 2014 - "the King’s philosophy on self-sufficiency economy and sustainable development would be applied for use to move the country forward." PM to adhere to King’s sufficiency philosophy in running the country http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-adhere-kings-sufficiency-philosophy-running-country/
• September 2015 - " the concept of sustainability should be integrated into all three pillars of the United Nations’ work."  Prayut's speech at UN general assembly http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Prayuts-speech-at-UN-general-assembly-30269855.html
• February 2016 - "At the same time, drawing from His Majesty the King’s Sufficiency Economy philosophy to initiate practical measures and policies, especially for rural and remote areas across the country, has also been a cornerstone undertaking by the  government." National Broadcast by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, February 26, 2016 http://thaiembdc.org/2016/02/29/national-broadcast-by-pm-prayut-chan-o-cha-february-26-2016/

Prayut has made self sufficiency policies into a foolish hobgoblin of little minds. Appropriate for his regime perhaps but not  for the Thai nation.

 

But we all know what crap piled out of His Learnedful's mouth, during those TV and media attempts to justify the NCPO's existence. Yes, we do recall him going on about furthering the late King's Self Sufficiency philosophy. Question is, can you recall anything actually stemming from these sound-good sound bites . . . I doubt it.

Edited February 5, 20188 yr by Ossy
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