'People with different views need to discuss solutions'

[Lite Beer]

'People with different views need to discuss solutions'
Khanittha Thepphajorn,
Phochana Phichitsiri
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- It is not hard to predict that the Yingluck government's council on national reform will fail if it repeats mistakes of previous governments - and fails to act on advice to allow people with different views to discuss solutions to national division and political conflicts, academics say.

Panel after panel has been appointed and hundreds of millions of baht in taxpayers' money spent to find solutions to the ongoing problems. But the former Democrat administration and the current Pheu Thai government have failed to take up recommendations proposed by these panels, which were headed by widely respected figures such as former PM Anand Panyarachun, social critic Dr Prawase Wasi and law reform chief Kanit na Nakhon.

With a political crisis looming and Parliament is set to debate bills seen by critics as a bid to grant amnesty to questionable figures and pass legislation to gain absolute control of the upper and lower houses in parliament, the Yingluck government has opted to form another panel to seek solutions to the ongoing conflicts.

The panel has yet to be fully set up but has already been attacked by critics, who have played down its significance, saying it will merely serve as an advisory council for politicians.

Assoc Prof Trakul Meechai, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Science said: "I believe the government already has political solutions in its mind but we cannot read its mind right now. It invited people who have the same mindset to join the panel so we have to watch whether the government will resort to the tactic of putting words in their mouths."

Critics say most people invited or agreeing to join the panel are those with a tendency to side with the ruling party while those seen as opponents have rejected the invitations.

Five appointed Senators invited to join the panel have knocked back invitations. Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda said on Friday he would need time to decide whether to take part in the political reform assembly if he is invited to join, as he did not know who would invite him.

Trakul urged the government to allow full public disclosure of the panel's meetings and called on the civic and academic sectors to join forces - to appoint a parallel panel to discuss solutions to whatever woes the government or politicians cite.

Dr Somkiat Onwimon, former member of the National Legislative Assembly, believed setting up a panel on political reform was just a short-term solution to diffuse conflicts. To solve problems at the root level, politicians must be instilled with ethics and morality and the power of capitalists eliminated from the national political structure.

"Politicians, especially the opposition camp, act like uneducated ignorant people. We must make politicians realise they have a duty to serve the people. If they do not shake off self-interest, forget about discussion solutions,'' he said.

Somkiat urged the government to hold a public hearing to get opinion from civic and academic sectors. "Hold a world stopping stage to discuss the country's problems and make people stop quarrelling and listen to what this stage has to say.

"If the government does not allow people with different views to join the stage in order that the panel's recommendations can be truly implemented, we will see the beginning of this committee as the end," he said.



Panels established to find solution to conflicts



The reconciliation panel on political reform and charter amendments, chaired by Senator Direk Teungfung appointed in May 2009 during Abhisit government



The National Reform Committee chaired by Anand Panyarachun-appointed in June 2010 during Abhisit government



The National Reform Assembly chaired by Prawase Wasi appointed in 2010 during Abhisit government



The Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) chaired by Kanit na Nakhon



King Prajadhipok's Institute in March 2012 disseminated its research, sponsored by the Parliament





Recommendations by each panel



1. Power restructuring: administration, political and economic aspects

2. Adjust political culture to be in line with international economic, social and democratic system

3. Identify political roles of various sectors and promote public participation in democratic development

4. Amend law and regulations to promote democracy in the medium- and long-term.



The Anand and Prawase committees suggested that the country resorts to decentralisation of power since a centralised political structure is believed to be the cause of social and economic disparity which destroys democracy and people's strength.



The committees recommended that the central government gives local government the ability to manage and make decisions about community development and other decisions that affect quality of life, natural resources and environment. It advised that centrally-controlled state agencies be dissolved and remain only in three sectors:

1. Offices involved in policy and academic work;

2. Offices involved in tax collection and travel documents;

3. Offices involved in checking local administration.

They also advised that local administrative organisations be upgraded into municipalities, depending on the number of people, and the power of local governments be balanced by setting up a social public committee.



All political or rival groups must end activities that lead to more conflict and the public must trust the democratic system even though the system has flaws. People must exercise tolerance and learn to solve problems through democratic and peaceful means. The government must run the country with transparency and promote checks and balances.



Politicians and stakeholders hold talks with local people to find solutions to conflicts on six topics:

1. Find and reveal truth

2. Pardon people who joined political rallies

3. Review cases ruled by the Assets Examination Committee to restore confidence in the justice system

4. Amend the laws and Constitution

5. Established principles under the Constitutional Monarchy that are accepted by all parties

6. Restructure administrative power to reduce social and economic disparity and instil a sense of unity for people with different views.

-- The Nation 2013-08-25

[bigbamboo]

"Sod this. Anyone fancy a pint?"

[theblether]

A mature government would reach out for the best ideas wherever they came from, even the opposition. How often have we seen our governments stealing opposition proposals and getting the credit for them?

If they get in the habit of acting in the best interests of all the people, and showing that they will listen, that will go a long way towards taking the heat out of Thai politics.

[noitom]

Thai points. They always have vague general points.

[dudu]

Start on Thai visa, just look at the posts and opinions, this tells you why there can never be solutions to different views, mostly baseless, unqualified, self centered, arrogant opinions...woops sorry...

[DocN]

Without a proper education and a hearty "good bye" to the old structures, where everybody "bows" (literally) to the "superior" and accepts evrything without questioning, no solution will ever bring Thailand anywhere.

[Nooky2]

They can always talk the talk, but never walk the walk.

[jpinx]

Without a proper education and a hearty "good bye" to the old structures, where everybody "bows" (literally) to the "superior" and accepts evrything without questioning, no solution will ever bring Thailand anywhere.

Proper education -- yes - definitely, but don't kill the culture. Many other countries have a culture of respect and it makes them very charming.

[jpinx]

A mature government would reach out for the best ideas wherever they came from, even the opposition. How often have we seen our governments stealing opposition proposals and getting the credit for them?

If they get in the habit of acting in the best interests of all the people, and showing that they will listen, that will go a long way towards taking the heat out of Thai politics.

Please -- since when did any politican act "in the interests of his constituents" over his personal interests -- and I am not talking only Thailand here

How's the scabs ?

[cardholder]

Start on Thai visa, just look at the posts and opinions, this tells you why there can never be solutions to different views, mostly baseless, unqualified, self centered, arrogant opinions...woops sorry...

Well, your post was certainly self-prophetic... whoops sorry.

[Halion]

Without a proper education and a hearty "good bye" to the old structures, where everybody "bows" (literally) to the "superior" and accepts evrything without questioning, no solution will ever bring Thailand anywhere.

Proper education -- yes - definitely, but don't kill the culture. Many other countries have a culture of respect and it makes them very charming.

It is the very culture that allows the promotion of all that ails this country. Education is key but democracy,truth and integtity can not florish in this cancerous culture. Educate all you want, change all the structures you want and it will just come to more of the same without a radical change in culture. The problems that infest this country are not causes but effects. The cause resides within the culture.

[jpinx]

Without a proper education and a hearty "good bye" to the old structures, where everybody "bows" (literally) to the "superior" and accepts evrything without questioning, no solution will ever bring Thailand anywhere.

Proper education -- yes - definitely, but don't kill the culture. Many other countries have a culture of respect and it makes them very charming.

It is the very culture that allows the promotion of all that ails this country. Education is key but democracy,truth and integtity can not florish in this cancerous culture. Educate all you want, change all the structures you want and it will just come to more of the same without a radical change in culture. The problems that infest this country are not causes but effects. The cause resides within the culture.

You are 100% entitled to your opinion and I trust you have based that on your personal experiences in other "respectful" cultures such as Japan, China, Peru, et al. To say Thai culture is the problem would be a most unfortunate misplacement of blame, as 90% of the problems would be solved if all Thais were educated to a reasonable level. Not knowing the history of one's own country places one at a distinct disadvantage when there is a debate going on.

[Orac]

Most of the recommendations that this government would probably want to implement have probably already been made at some point so what they must be looking for now is some sort of mandate in carrying them out. If the panel can come up with a concrete list of proposals that can be put to a referendum then it might give them what they need to push things forward.

[dudu]

Start on Thai visa, just look at the posts and opinions, this tells you why there can never be solutions to different views, mostly baseless, unqualified, self centered, arrogant opinions...woops sorry...

Well, your post was certainly self-prophetic... whoops sorry.

[Credo]

A mature government would reach out for the best ideas wherever they came from, even the opposition. How often have we seen our governments stealing opposition proposals and getting the credit for them?

If they get in the habit of acting in the best interests of all the people, and showing that they will listen, that will go a long way towards taking the heat out of Thai politics.

The rich and the elite who have a long history of running the country do firmly believe that what is in their best interest is in the best interest of the country. They believe that they know what the poor and uneducated need. Essentially, they believe THEY are the country and the country is theirs.

Without a proper education and a hearty "good bye" to the old structures, where everybody "bows" (literally) to the "superior" and accepts evrything without questioning, no solution will ever bring Thailand anywhere.

As the lower strata of society stop bowing, the upper strata will be threatened.

Tough times ahead, I think.

[Scott]

A post with a reference to the Royal Family has been deleted.

[DocN]

Without a proper education and a hearty "good bye" to the old structures, where everybody "bows" (literally) to the "superior" and accepts evrything without questioning, no solution will ever bring Thailand anywhere.

Proper education -- yes - definitely, but don't kill the culture. Many other countries have a culture of respect and it makes them very charming.

Respect has to be earned, not imposed on!

As long as everything, the "elders" or the "superior" do and say is okay, without questioning, with no debate and without any kind of logical thinking and some kind of social justice, this land is doomed!

[Thai at Heart]

Without a proper education and a hearty "good bye" to the old structures, where everybody "bows" (literally) to the "superior" and accepts evrything without questioning, no solution will ever bring Thailand anywhere.

Proper education -- yes - definitely, but don't kill the culture. Many other countries have a culture of respect and it makes them very charming.

It is the very culture that allows the promotion of all that ails this country. Education is key but democracy,truth and integtity can not florish in this cancerous culture. Educate all you want, change all the structures you want and it will just come to more of the same without a radical change in culture. The problems that infest this country are not causes but effects. The cause resides within the culture.

You are 100% entitled to your opinion and I trust you have based that on your personal experiences in other "respectful" cultures such as Japan, China, Peru, et al. To say Thai culture is the problem would be a most unfortunate misplacement of blame, as 90% of the problems would be solved if all Thais were educated to a reasonable level. Not knowing the history of one's own country places one at a distinct disadvantage when there is a debate going on.

But the culture chooses what they get taught.

I was truly shocked to see the brainwashing present in the Thai social curriculum.

[Thai at Heart]

Without a proper education and a hearty "good bye" to the old structures, where everybody "bows" (literally) to the "superior" and accepts evrything without questioning, no solution will ever bring Thailand anywhere.

Proper education -- yes - definitely, but don't kill the culture. Many other countries have a culture of respect and it makes them very charming.

How quaint.... ever been to the ethnic minorities park in Yunnan China.

[jpinx]

Without a proper education and a hearty "good bye" to the old structures, where everybody "bows" (literally) to the "superior" and accepts evrything without questioning, no solution will ever bring Thailand anywhere.

Proper education -- yes - definitely, but don't kill the culture. Many other countries have a culture of respect and it makes them very charming.

How quaint.... ever been to the ethnic minorities park in Yunnan China.

How remote do you want to go? I have met amazonian jungle tribes and east african savannah tribes and I have found them to be aware and respectful. The awareness was of their own position in the grand scheme of things - something many humans have lost sight of.....

[Tatsujin]

A mature government would reach out for the best ideas wherever they came from, even the opposition. How often have we seen our governments stealing opposition proposals and getting the credit for them?

If they get in the habit of acting in the best interests of all the people, and showing that they will listen, that will go a long way towards taking the heat out of Thai politics.

"acting in the best interests of all the people" . . . now there's a very novel concept, and one I'd love to see, but it's just NEVER going to happen in this Land of Selfishness . . .

[473geo]

Amazing how the opportunity to influence in an organised 'non protest' mechanism is frequently abandoned by those who welcome the invitation to serve judgement and manipulate from 'appointed' postions

"Critics say most people invited or agreeing to join the panel are those with a tendency to side with the ruling party while those seen as opponents have rejected the invitations.

Five appointed Senators invited to join the panel have knocked back invitations. Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda said on Friday he would need time to decide whether to take part in the political reform assembly if he is invited to join, as he did not know who would invite him."

[marell]

Okay.

[ChrisY1]

Amazing how the opportunity to influence in an organised 'non protest' mechanism is frequently abandoned by those who welcome the invitation to serve judgement and manipulate from 'appointed' postions

"Critics say most people invited or agreeing to join the panel are those with a tendency to side with the ruling party while those seen as opponents have rejected the invitations.

Five appointed Senators invited to join the panel have knocked back invitations. Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda said on Friday he would need time to decide whether to take part in the political reform assembly if he is invited to join, as he did not know who would invite him."

Some just do not know when to let go and live out their lives with dignity.....instead wait to see who invites them to a likely political charade...

[mamypoko]

Does this belong in this forum?...moved to Fox news (lol)

[473geo]

Amazing how the opportunity to influence in an organised 'non protest' mechanism is frequently abandoned by those who welcome the invitation to serve judgement and manipulate from 'appointed' postions

"Critics say most people invited or agreeing to join the panel are those with a tendency to side with the ruling party while those seen as opponents have rejected the invitations.

Five appointed Senators invited to join the panel have knocked back invitations. Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda said on Friday he would need time to decide whether to take part in the political reform assembly if he is invited to join, as he did not know who would invite him."

Some just do not know when to let go and live out their lives with dignity.....instead wait to see who invites them to a likely political charade...

I recall a saying

"He has the right to criticise, who has the heart to help"

Political charade or not, to be incapable of protecting or promoting your agenda when provided with a platform, other than protest, or abstinence, rather defines quality the 'opposition'

[ableguy]

A mature government would reach out for the best ideas wherever they came from, even the opposition. How often have we seen our governments stealing opposition proposals and getting the credit for them?

If they get in the habit of acting in the best interests of all the people, and showing that they will listen, that will go a long way towards taking the heat out of Thai politics.

My friend this is Thailand get real.