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[Lite Beer]

CIVIL-SOCIETY ORGANISATION
P-Move works to aid poor while trying to steer clear of politics
Somroutai Sapsomboon
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Organisers say they do not have allegiance to either side of red-yellow divide

The People's Movement for a Just Society (P-Move) may not be that well known to many people, but as a civil organisation working behind the scenes for the plight of the rural poor, it has been kept very busy in the current climate of political dissent.

The P-Move began its mass rally outside Government House last Monday and vowed to continue it peacefully until people's problems are addressed.

The P-Move is the latest umbrella group of poor farmers and underprivileged people from rural areas and cities, who have been affected by state projects and other government policy shifts.

The main issues they are calling on to be addressed, can be grouped into 10 areas based on their networks:

1) The network of slum communities in four regions;

2) The federation of northern farmers;

3) The network of land reforms for northeastern people;

4) The Assembly of the Poor for Pak Mool Dam;

5) The network of communities for social, political reform;

6) The network for land reforms in the Banthad Mountains;

7) The federation of southern farmers;

8) The network of farmers under social contracts;

9) The network of individual rights; and

10) People affected by bio-mass power plants.

In the current climate of political discord, whenever a group holds a demonstration it is asked which political side it belongs to.

Paijit Silarak, a P-Move coordinator, said: "I admit that in the current political situation, this campaign is under a lot of strain and we really face big pressure.

"But the people have to deal with so many tremendous problems, we feel it's our duty to come out and campaign on their behalf. We have to demonstrate to the government that these groups and the plights that they face must be addressed - we are not a political movement looking to take one side or another."

Paijit said P-Move initially planned to hold a rally in April, but Parliament was still in session and there were conflicts on a number of contentious political issues, including the amnesty bill and charter amendment bills.

"We feared that our rally would have been linked to political conflicts, so we waited for the Parliament to rest first. But now, despite a pro-government rally against the Constitutional Court, we felt we could no longer postpone the event. Moreover, the rainy season is nearly upon us, which could make it rather difficult for us to demonstrate," she said.

One part of the P-Move is the Assembly of the Poor - once a powerful civil group, although its strengths have been eroded by national political conflicts and its leaders have scattered to take opposing sides in political dissent.

When remaining members of the Assembly of the Poor held a rite to honour the passing of their leader Wanida Tantiwitthayapitak in late 2009, they had a chance to hold serious talks about forming a real people's movement. They realised that problems people face had in fact worsened and so they reunited to form the P-Move.

Now, P-Move founders and leaders are trying their best to keep it free from political conflict.

P-Move made its debut in early 2010 by holding a rally to demand assistance from the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

"Several former Assembly of the Poor leaders, who used to fight alongside villagers and had good understanding of their needs, wanted to visit us to provide moral support after they left to join either the yellow-shirt or red-shirt movements. Unfortunately, we had to decline their offers for fear that they might taint our organisation with their views," Paijit said.

She said the P-Move had to be careful when giving interviews to the media, since it often takes a political stance. She said the group tends to send its second-tier and third-tier leaders to give interviews, so as to avoid being perceived as politically biased.

Blue Sky and ASTV stations recently interviewed P-Move and the group sent its second- and third-tier representatives to answer questions. So far, the group has not been invited to talk on any TV channels campaigning for the red shirts, she noted.

"It's very difficult - but also very important - that we portray ourselves as impartial. It's something we are working on. However, we affirm that we don't belong to any political faction. No matter which party becomes the government, we will hold demonstrations as long as our problems still have to be addressed," Paijit said.

Recently, however, there has been significant progress in the government's handling of issues P-Move members are facing.

Working panels set up by the prime minister have reached several agreements with the group, but the agreements have not yet been submitted for Cabinet approval. As a result, villagers in several areas are still facing legal action.

P-Move is now focusing efforts on pressuring the Cabinet to table critical issues of people need addressed.

-- The Nation 2013-05-12

[OzMick]

"So far, the group has not been invited to talk on any TV channels campaigning for the red shirts, she noted."

Why would they be invited? The red media is there to push Thaksin's agenda; only fair seeming that he's paying for it. Why would they want to push unimportant issues which might cloud the simple thought processes of their target audience?

[chainarong]

The problem is in the P-move, it aids the poor, this government couldn't careless about the poor, simply put, the word Poor, there is no money to scam here, although if you think about it ,you could grant 565million Baht for the 10 required projects, no budget controls, now we are talking ,not a bad idea ,Yingluck give Dubai a call.

[bigbamboo]

This sounds like a very worthy organisation for the benefit of the people and worth supporting but they state they are non political which means the government won't be interested.

[Emptyset]

"So far, the group has not been invited to talk on any TV channels campaigning for the red shirts, she noted."

Why would they be invited? The red media is there to push Thaksin's agenda; only fair seeming that he's paying for it. Why would they want to push unimportant issues which might cloud the simple thought processes of their target audience?

They probably haven't been invited to talk because for historical reasons relating to where people positioned themselves regards the coup & the red shirt movement, P-Move is seen as closer to the yellows rather than the red. Apparently, there were several former members of AOP who favoured siding with the red shirts but as the P-Move leadership (probably rightly) decided it was crucial to stay impartial, these members left the movement. The Land Reform Movement which I think used to be part of P-Move is seen as closer to the reds. In any case, because they didn't align themselves with the reds, the government probably won't pay them much attention unfortunately. Red shirts are the priority, and besides P-Moves suggestions would be unfavourable to the interests of large landowners and why would the government risk upsetting them for no gain - after all, it's not like the support of P-Move is crucial to them. It's a shame. I'd like to see the government put partisan interests aside and at least listen to what P-Move have to say, but that probably won't happen.