POLITICS
New 'reform' group appeals to 'non-partisan people'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A GROUP of intellectuals and public figures will today launch a reform campaign amid the political uncertainty caused by the conflict between the government and street protesters.

The movement for "pushing forward reform" includes well-known personalities from various circles such as former deputy prime minister Surakiart Sathirathai, peace-advocating academic Chaiwat Satha-Anand and the permanent secretary of the Justice Ministry, Kittipong Kittayarak.

They will hold a press conference to send a message to civil society and the opposing parties to stop the violence, start a dialogue and renew efforts to remake the country, according to a key member of the group who declined to be named.

The group claims it has no connection with any of the conflicting camps and aims to persuade non-aligned individuals who remain silent to join the "reform" drive, he said.

"If the non-partisan people appear in large numbers, they will automatically put pressure on the rival sides to end their political game," he said.

"We have to show our power to stop violence, which is deeply dividing our nation," he said.

Kittipong is the most likely active member of the group. He recently proposed delaying the election so that the divergent parties could sit in a "middle forum" to discuss a road map for reform.

However, the government has already decided to proceed with the election as scheduled on Sunday, while the demonstrators are threatening to do whatever it takes to defeat it.


-- The Nation 2014-01-30

185 public figures who thrive on the back of the corrupted Thai system for decades. Why not appoint a few dozen farm folks with no teeth who have been slaving on the land for decades? Don't they deserve to be a part of reform? Why aren't they ever included in Thai "in crowd" solutions? This article highlights living in the problem instead of living in the solution.

All groups from Thai society should participate in a reconciliation. It is not the prerogative of an intellectual minority.

WOW the Nation is on PR overdrive on reform reform reform articles today.... cant think why

WOW the Nation is on PR overdrive on reform reform reform articles today.... cant think why

Because they know reform is a much more pressing issue than an election.

WOW the Nation is on PR overdrive on reform reform reform articles today.... cant think why

Yes, turbo charged overdrive. Foreign nation leadership is taking note of the newspaper's relentless campaigning to overthrow the elected government and appoint a hand picked "people's council" that seeks not to embrace every citizen in a free and equal spirit of intention.

WOW the Nation is on PR overdrive on reform reform reform articles today.... cant think why

Desperation stakes.

WOW the Nation is on PR overdrive on reform reform reform articles today.... cant think why

Yes, turbo charged overdrive. Foreign nation leadership is taking note of the newspaper's relentless campaigning to overthrow the elected government and appoint a hand picked "people's council" that seeks not to embrace every citizen in a free and equal spirit of intention.

mildly amusing

Broken records...