OPINION: Thailand and NGOs both need transparency

[webfact]

 

At the latest Thai cabinet meeting, on Dec 28th, the draft bill on so-called Not-for-Profit Organisations was withdrawn at the last minute. The bill will now be considered after the New Year holiday.

 

The Prayut government would like to reign in both local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) because they allegedly perpetuate fake news against and negative views of the government. Worse still, some of them, with funding from abroad, have reportedly tried to topple the current political system under the constitutional monarchy.

 

There are more than 25,000 local and 87 foreign NGOs in Thailand, making it one of the biggest hubs in Asia. For decades, Thailand has welcomed the presence of foreign-funded civil society organizations (CSOs), thinking that this would raise the country’s image as an open society moving toward full democracy. Somehow, that deep rooted good will and projected image has not come to fruition.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/op-ed-thailand-and-ngos-both-need-transparency/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-01-01

 

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[RichardColeman]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

and negative views of the government

Hugely insecure if they cannot put up with negative views being said.

[Tarteso]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

…the country’s image as an open society moving toward full democracy.

????

Edited January 1, 2022 by Tarteso

[Puwa]

The Beijing model.

[Enzian]

6 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Hugely insecure if they cannot put up with negative views being said.

Of course, but this is Asia with an authoritarian outlook different from the west, and it's going to be a while before it changes... or if China takes over the world it never will change. And I would like to add that it is a good article, I learned something.

China delenda est.

Edited January 1, 2022 by Enzian
add

[Pedrogaz]

Most local NGOs are tax dodgers. Most foreign NGOs have some axe to grind and are not impartial. Why China or Russia allow US NGOs to operate in their countries, I have no idea.

[Enzian]

7 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

Most local NGOs are tax dodgers. Most foreign NGOs have some axe to grind and are not impartial. Why China or Russia allow US NGOs to operate in their countries, I have no idea.

You raise a host of issues. I'd like to know more about the tax dodging. And of course foreign NGOs have an agenda everywhere; look at the ships moving migrants from north Africa to Italy. As for western NGOs in China (there are some?) and Russia, that's a topic for a book in itself I'd reckon.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand has welcomed the presence of foreign-funded civil society organizations (CSOs), thinking that this would raise the country’s image as an open society moving toward full democracy. Somehow, that deep rooted good will and projected image has not come to fruition.

Truth always hurts.

[thaibook]

2 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Most local NGOs are tax dodgers. Most foreign NGOs have some axe to grind and are not impartial. Why China or Russia allow US NGOs to operate in their countries, I have no idea.

Many countries, including the USA, either ban or impose strict conditions including registration on foreign funding.  Also in the USA one can find out a great deal of information on "not for profit" or charitable organisations (which includes NGOs) such as amount and source of income, spending, salary levels, promotional spend etc.  Here I do not know but doubt it.

 

I think it is quite reasonable to ban all overseas funding of an organisation that seeks to influence the policies of a government and to deny visa to foreigners seconded or hired to work for such an organisation.

 

 

S pu or impose strict con

[khunPer]

If a NGO wants transparency of Thailand, they shall shall of course be transparent themselves. I think many countries are like my home country, and demand open books of financial sources over a certain minimum, which is relative quite low; and I think that is fair, even very fair.

 

When I read this in the article...

Thailand is still tolerant of the presence of NGOs, especially foreign NGOs of all creeds, but it will not tolerate those who advocate for the ongoing campaign for reform of the royal institutional, which it considers an internal matter.

–I think about how my very democratic and open minded Danish home country – with a wide toleration for freedom of speech – would react, if a foreign NGO is advocating against our royal institution. I'm pretty certain that the Danes – both population and government – wouldn't be happy, In general Danes don't like foreigners to tell them, how they shall handle internal matters. Why shall Thailand – and other nations – be different?

[Lee4Life]

On 1/1/2022 at 9:21 AM, Pedrogaz said:

Most local NGOs are tax dodgers. Most foreign NGOs have some axe to grind and are not impartial. Why China or Russia allow US NGOs to operate in their countries, I have no idea.

Maybe you have some sources to back up these claims? There are many NGOs out there that are doing a lot of good for a lot of people. I hope you are the type of person who has done the same.