Plenty of talk, but very little unity

[Lite Beer]

SPECIAL REPORT
Plenty of talk, but very little unity
Attayuth Bootsripoom
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Moves to reform the political divide are seen as ill-fated because of insincerity and different ideas on what to do

With political groups playing politics and launching "reform" moves without sincerity, unity or, sacrifice, the country has little hope of seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

Critics say some politicians are simply ignoring efforts to bridge the deep political divide that could send the country teetering toward civil war, while others are using the reform process only as bait to hook support from voters.

The government's failure to get opposing sides to join a single reform panel has resulted in three other political groups setting uptheir own panels in parallel. The fact that the country has failed to establish a single national panel to find solution to pressing political problems shows how deeply divided the country has become.

The government camp kicked off its forum "Political reform: the country's solution" on August 25 with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, saying the government would act as an organiser, inviting all political parties, the media and civic groups to take part.

However, political groups with different views turned down the invitation, saying the government lacked sincerity, as it has refused to withdraw controversial amnesty and charter amendment bills.

The government stuck to its plan and asked Banharn Silapa-archa, a former PM, to coordinate with all groups to win support for "reform".

Banharn agreed to the mission and will meet next week with former PM Anand Panyarachun and eminent social critic Prawase Wasi, who both headed separate political reform panels during the Democrat-led government.

Banharn also plans to meet Democrat heavyweights like chief adviser Chuan Leekpai, leader Abhisit Vejjajiva plus former secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban next Sunday.

The government also received international publicity when former British PM Tony Blair visited and said he was ready to support attempts to bring about national reconciliation in Thailand at the one-day forum entitled "Uniting for the Future: Learning from Each Other's Experiences" on Monday. Blair was invited to attend, along with a range of other well-known international peace advocates.

The opposition Democrat Party, feeling that they are losing political leverage amid the government reform push, has proposed that a national reform panel be set up by civic groups.

Democrat Nipit Intarasombat explained the concept, saying that 50 civic groups could take part in discussing reform by using models from its Thailand's Blueprint project as well as others presented by the Anand reform panel, the Prawase panel and one suggested by Kanit na Nakorn, who headed the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand.

The Democrats jumped ahead of Banharn - now chief adviser of the Chart Thai Pattana Party, part of the government coalition - by meeting with Anand on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Green Politics movement also put up its own idea for a reform forum, suggesting the set-up of a political reform council absolutely free of politicians and made up solely of civic groups.

Warit Chinsai, leader of an anti-government group, also declared on Wednesday the formation of the Thailand Reform Council by the Civic Sector in association "with the National Human Rights Commission". However, NHRC commissioner Dr Niran Pitakwatchara later denied the agency had any part in establishing the council, saying it only helped the group organise a press conference.

Rival reform panel proposals

1. Political reform council stage

Operator: government

Progress of implementation:

1. Holding 108 reform discussion talks across the country

2. Holding political reform forum on August 25

3. Seminar held early last week: Uniting for the Future: Learning from Each Other's Experiences

4. Banharn Silapa-archa assigned to invite opposing sides to join the panel



2. The national reform committee by civic sector

Operator: the Democrats

Progress of the implementation:

1. Meeting Anand Panyarachun for advice

2. Seeking advice from Prawase Wasi and Kanit na Nakorn

3. Holding seminars



3. Political reform council by the civic sector

Operator: Green Politics

Progress of the implementation:

To be launched on September 15



4.The national reform council by civic sector

Operator: civic groups led by Warit Chinsai

Progress of the implementation:

Still a work in progress.

-- The Nation 2013-09-08

[clockman]

If talk could turned in to work! what a country Thailand would be. But that is all it is Talk!

[chainarong]

It is the height of ignorance to expect people to join the unity talks and agree , when the perpetrators are the ones calling the shots. If the said gentleman in Dubai had faced up to he's responsibilities and carried out he's promise to return from the Beijing Olympics, instead of running off like a criminal , this unity talk would not be on the agenda and Thailand social divide would not be split down the middle, the Shinawatra family , along with the PTP have a lot to answer for, this dose not absolve the democrats, as they fell for the Thaskin promise to return, Thaskins passport should have been stamped, rtn only to BKK, no travel allowed.

[noitom]

Always a Thai "point" program.

[ratcatcher]

Plenty of talk, but very little unity.

Always has been, always is and always will be. Such is the nature of Thai (and most others) politics.

All flatulence and no fertilizer.

[ramrod711]

However, political groups with different views turned down the invitation, saying the government lacked sincerity, as it has refused to withdraw controversial amnesty and charter amendment bills.

How dare anyone, individual or party, refuse to take part in the whitewash and spoil Thaksins triumphant return.