Reforms must cover media, land, education and separation of powers

[webfact]

PART 3
Reforms must cover media, land, education and separation of powers
Special to The Nation


An anti-government protester poses for pictures with a man carrying a doll with a picture of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the word tyrant attached to it during an anti-government march in downtown Bangkok on Monday.

BANGKOK: -- If Thailand is to compete with China and its rivals in Asia and elsewhere, fixing the corruption within our government system must be the priority.

For political reform in Thailand, we offer the following suggestions:

14 Economists and historians have convincingly demonstrated that sustainable growth and prosperity can be achieved much faster and with greater certainty under an innovation-driven economy.

South Korea's emergence from the ashes of war to become a world economic powerhouse within 35 years is often cited as proof of this. South Korea achieved the feat by a policy of relying on home-grown innovations to turn raw materials (mostly imported) into high-quality, high-value products sold for lower prices than its competitors could offer.

If Thailand is to succeed in the same way and thereby eradicate current ills - particularly share the wealth more fairly among its citizens in a sustainable way - we must commit to developing an innovation-driven economy.

Home-grown innovation must be aggressively supported. In addition to building the necessary infrastructure, the development of Thai innovators must be given top priority.

For this to happen, major reform of higher education must be carefully planned, developed and implemented.

It is clear that education as well as science and technology, which so far have been low on the list of national priorities, must rise to the top.

Media: The news media are the main source of information for the public. We Thais rely on this information to make informed decisions. In a true democracy, media must be allowed to gather and deliver information without bias or prejudice. It is absolutely necessary that media be allowed to do their work without undue influence or control by any political party, including the government.

At present, this does not seem to be the case, which aggravates the current crisis. Major reform is required:

a) Media must be in tune with public needs and be obligated to serve the public interest, without government and political bias. Suggestions for reform include:

_ Media must be financed through non-political entities;

_ There should be more diverse media ownership, more local access to airwaves;

_ Paid political advertisements should be banned. Instead, every station should be required to provide equal prime-time coverage for candidates' messages.

_ Media reform must place strong emphasis on ensuring that those who are marginalised or semi-marginalised have access to means of publishing or disseminating information.

Land reform: It is widely recognised that disparity of wealth is a key reason for Thailand's ills. Until the country upgrades to an innovation-driven economy, Thailand as a whole, and a major portion of its population, will remain dependent on agriculture.

Land ownership is becoming more and more distorted and seems to be exacerbating the problem of wealth disparity. Hence the need for reforms that will allow farmers to earn a proper and self-sustaining living. They should not have to depend on unsustainable government handouts or unrealistic promises. Assistance given to our less-fortunate populace must be free from any hidden agenda, must not mislead and create false hopes, and must lead to independence rather than dependency.

15 Decentralisation of authority and separation of powers

In a mature democracy like the US, there is a clear separation of power between the central government and state/local governments. State governors are directly elected, as are county commissioners and city mayors. Elected officials at each level have their own budgets (although some portions are allocated from higher levels of government) and have their own laws and ordinances to uphold. There is a minimum degree of micro-management.

In Thailand, high-level authorities are centralised, including provincial governors and police, and there is a high degree of micro-management from the central administration.

We believe Thailand is ready to move forward and rethink this administrative structure.

Once national policies are set in motion, elected politicians should only play a monitoring role (checking on progress towards national goals).

They should not micro-manage the execution of policy by governmental offices. In particular, assignment of key civil service positions should be the responsibility of the head of the respective government body.

Elected politicians should not have any undue interference or influence in this process.

This article represents the collective opinion of the Thai expatriates listed below. None is politically motivated, nor have any ever been actively involved in political activities. We act out of deep concern for the distressing events and the troubling direction in which our beloved motherland is drifting. We all feel this is a critical time to make our feelings known, voice our concerns and offer our heartfelt beliefs. We do not pretend that the opinions expressed here are shared by all Thais living overseas, and nor do we claim to be their representatives. However, we strongly believe that the vast majority of Thais living overseas would support our ideas and beliefs.

Methi Wecharatana, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Nongnuch Inpanbutr, professor of veterinary biosciences, Ohio State University

Nisai Wanakule, director, Tampa Bay Water, Florida

Vichate Ungvichian, professor of electrical engineering, Florida Atlantic University

Gaviphat Lekutai, head of technical staff, AT&T Labs, Redmond, Washington

Mongkol Mahavongtrakul, electrical engineer, City and County of San Francisco

Wanpracha Chaovalitwongse, associate professor, industrial and systems engineering and radiology, University of Washington

Vira Chankong, associate professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Case Western Reserve University, Ohio

Wiworn Kesavatana, Thai Language Programme, Department of Asian Languages and Literature, University of Washington

Artnarong Thansandote, research scientist and special adviser, Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada

Santi Kulprathipanja, director, Southeast Asia research and development, Honeywell UOP, Des Plaines, Illinois; visiting professor, Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore

Sirivatch Shimpalee, research associate professor, Chemical Engineering Department, University of South Carolina

Chuleeporn Changchit, professor of MIS, decision sciences and economics, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Supapan Seraphin, professor of materials science and engineering, University of Arizona

Rattikorn Boonyavatana, professor and chair, Department of Computer Science, Texas Tech University

Vorakarn Chanyavanich, medical physicist, Emory University

Khokiat Kengskool, professor of Practice, Engineering Management Programme, College of Engineering, Florida International University

Sureerut Kochaon, qualified environmental professional; senior project manager, South Pasadena, California


-- The Nation 2014-02-12

[ShannonT]

Maybe a referendum is needed to see if Thais even want reforms and if so, which ones?

Before forcing them upon them.

Edited February 11, 2014 by ShannonT

[mightyatom]

Maybe a referendum is needed to see if Thais even want reforms and if so, which ones?

Before forcing them upon them.

You are joking right?

I have not seen any of these recommendations as being anything other than beneficial to Thailand.

The only thing I see as not beneficial is what you just suggested.

The vast majority of the public would never even begin to understand them to make an informed decision, and would be open to people deliberately misinforming them for some cynical reason.

Let the intelligent people of Thailand do the deciding.

If you think I am being a bit unfair on the Thai people, then as an example.... last night at a restaurant in my town, a guy on the next table (who looked quite upper working class) asked why Suthep was collecting money for the farmers when he could be giving that to the government to help them out.

I swear by almighty god it's true.

I just turned to the wife and said 'god help these people'.

Also the wife's cousin who is studying for a bachelor's, doesn't even know why there are protesters on the street.

The people of Thailand (The vast majority) live in a bubble, they are the last people I would throw a complex reform referendum onto.

[BillyBobThai]

These guys are from some of the top schools in the U.S.. If only they could all take off for a year, they could serve as the select group to lead the country forward.

[englishoak]

Maybe a referendum is needed to see if Thais even want reforms and if so, which ones?

Before forcing them upon them.

You are joking right?

I have not seen any of these recommendations as being anything other than beneficial to Thailand.

The only thing I see as not beneficial is what you just suggested.

The vast majority of the public would never even begin to understand them to make an informed decision, and would be open to people deliberately misinforming them for some cynical reason.

Let the intelligent people of Thailand do the deciding.

If you think I am being a bit unfair on the Thai people, then as an example.... last night at a restaurant in my town, a guy on the next table (who looked quite upper working class) asked why Suthep was collecting money for the farmers when he could be giving that to the government to help them out.

I swear by almighty god it's true.

I just turned to the wife and said 'god help these people'.

Also the wife's cousin who is studying for a bachelor's, doesn't even know why there are protesters on the street.

The people of Thailand (The vast majority) live in a bubble, they are the last people I would throw a complex reform referendum onto.

No don't let the "intelligent" people of Thailand decide anything for the rest, thats how they got here thinking they knew best, coup after coup one hiso PM after another followed by another coup etc etc. Intelligent my ass. Things will change in time but only with mistakes along the way like every developing country. Nothing different about it here, leave it alone and let democracy run its course, warts and all. They might learn some lessons for a change instead of being reset every few years.

Perhaps a large % of the common Thai know a dodgy idiot when they see one and dismiss him and his rantings for what it is, uninteresting and exclusive, dosn't take a 6th grader to get that.

Thailand will muddle on as it always has somehow and some people will continue to tear their hair out over the usual things like they always have, end of the day its no big deal just another drama in Thailand. Life goes on.

Go home you'll obviously be much happier in "intelligent" company and less inclined to show your pitiful arrogance.

These ideas are from a bunch clearly totally out of touch with their home country and the ideas belong in a Thai utopian novel, not surprising they are all in another country. In the real world here in Thailand it would only ever work if the 2/3 of the ruling class died overnight. And thats not going to happen.

Next bunch of dreamers please.

[kikoman]

Great Ideas, exactly what Thailand needs ,Comprehensives reforms of all that is Corrupted" in Thailand, Not just the political reforms the Rich Elite Establishment champion!

The Educational system, the Government, The civil service, The military,ect. all inclusive reforms!

Great Article, Suthep was looking for respected people, not politically aligned, top in there fields, nuetral party not appointed by any side, look not further, oh lie-ing one.

Handed to you .

Cheers

[Suriya4]

No Thaksin no corruption.

Reform on the Thaksin family, and everything else will be OK.

[potters]

No Thaksin no corruption.

Reform on the Thaksin family, and everything else will be OK.

Dream On

[kikoman]

No Thaksin no corruption.

Reform on the Thaksin family, and everything else will be OK.

Yours is a dream, Thaksin is not the cause of corruption in Thailand that is deeply entrenched at all levels of any thing Thai, Educational system, buying admission/ placements in the best universities and schools, the ability to buy your or your sons out of their military obligation, the ability to buy the best jobs in the country, not on competence but on the money you can afford to pay! the ability to appoint judges, E.C. members etc.,

Thaksin is the least of the worries he dose not even reside in the country!

Cheers

[belg]

here is an idea :

tax on land that is not commercially used by owner (that mostly sits on billions of baht worth of land), so if they lease/rent out the land to the farmer, tax him even more

and... maybe let the farang build his home on 1 rai of land in his name ?

Edited February 12, 2014 by belg

[Thai at Heart]

Maybe a referendum is needed to see if Thais even want reforms and if so, which ones?

Before forcing them upon them.

That would need something like an election...bad bad man. Stupid idea

[RubbaJohnny]

Use of local talent,oh the irony many of the best educated in this country are banned by immigration from even helping as volunteer in Thai schools.

The fear of allowing foreigners (except Chinese) to attempt to teach by example.

I think like many other countries much to be learnt from the world,Russian Korean and Japanese `ScienceIrish American and British mercantile traditions,Italian and Geran structural engineering the list goes on and on oh and the Dutch know a bit about water management.

[Thai at Heart]

Maybe a referendum is needed to see if Thais even want reforms and if so, which ones?

Before forcing them upon them.

You are joking right?

I have not seen any of these recommendations as being anything other than beneficial to Thailand.

The only thing I see as not beneficial is what you just suggested.

The vast majority of the public would never even begin to understand them to make an informed decision, and would be open to people deliberately misinforming them for some cynical reason.

Let the intelligent people of Thailand do the deciding.

If you think I am being a bit unfair on the Thai people, then as an example.... last night at a restaurant in my town, a guy on the next table (who looked quite upper working class) asked why Suthep was collecting money for the farmers when he could be giving that to the government to help them out.

I swear by almighty god it's true.

I just turned to the wife and said 'god help these people'.

Also the wife's cousin who is studying for a bachelor's, doesn't even know why there are protesters on the street.

The people of Thailand (The vast majority) live in a bubble, they are the last people I would throw a complex reform referendum onto.

No don't let the "intelligent" people of Thailand decide anything for the rest, thats how they got here thinking they knew best, coup after coup one hiso PM after another followed by another coup etc etc. Intelligent my ass. Things will change in time but only with mistakes along the way like every developing country. Nothing different about it here, leave it alone and let democracy run its course, warts and all. They might learn some lessons for a change instead of being reset every few years.

Perhaps a large % of the common Thai know a dodgy idiot when they see one and dismiss him and his rantings for what it is, uninteresting and exclusive, dosn't take a 6th grader to get that.

Thailand will muddle on as it always has somehow and some people will continue to tear their hair out over the usual things like they always have, end of the day its no big deal just another drama in Thailand. Life goes on.

Go home you'll obviously be much happier in "intelligent" company and less inclined to show your pitiful arrogance.

These ideas are from a bunch clearly totally out of touch with their home country and the ideas belong in a Thai utopian novel, not surprising they are all in another country. In the real world here in Thailand it would only ever work if the 2/3 of the ruling class died overnight. And thats not going to happen.

Next bunch of dreamers please.

Indeed, what needs to be done in theory is open to enormous debate. One narrow group of academics based in one particular type of democracy is hardly representative.

Some ideas are ok. The idea that no government interference I.e. complete deregulation of the media produces better media is nonsense.

Any one for Blue Sky or the opposite version.

Quality public service with a principled private sector to balance it works. Of course it tends to be a prevelant idea in the USA that all government is bad so I am not surprised.

I watched a show last night about child care on the NHS. It isn't perfect to see the world class system delivered for free made me proud.

Edited February 12, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[smutcakes]

Maybe a referendum is needed to see if Thais even want reforms and if so, which ones?

Before forcing them upon them.

You are joking right?

I have not seen any of these recommendations as being anything other than beneficial to Thailand.

The only thing I see as not beneficial is what you just suggested.

The vast majority of the public would never even begin to understand them to make an informed decision, and would be open to people deliberately misinforming them for some cynical reason.

Let the intelligent people of Thailand do the deciding.

If you think I am being a bit unfair on the Thai people, then as an example.... last night at a restaurant in my town, a guy on the next table (who looked quite upper working class) asked why Suthep was collecting money for the farmers when he could be giving that to the government to help them out.

I swear by almighty god it's true.

I just turned to the wife and said 'god help these people'.

Also the wife's cousin who is studying for a bachelor's, doesn't even know why there are protesters on the street.

The people of Thailand (The vast majority) live in a bubble, they are the last people I would throw a complex reform referendum onto.

And which 'intelligent' people developed the system which is completely and utterly f**ked? I would not trust half the 'educated' Thais to run me a bath never mind a country,

[Thai at Heart]

Maybe a referendum is needed to see if Thais even want reforms and if so, which ones?

Before forcing them upon them.

You are joking right?

I have not seen any of these recommendations as being anything other than beneficial to Thailand.

The only thing I see as not beneficial is what you just suggested.

The vast majority of the public would never even begin to understand them to make an informed decision, and would be open to people deliberately misinforming them for some cynical reason.

Let the intelligent people of Thailand do the deciding.

If you think I am being a bit unfair on the Thai people, then as an example.... last night at a restaurant in my town, a guy on the next table (who looked quite upper working class) asked why Suthep was collecting money for the farmers when he could be giving that to the government to help them out.

I swear by almighty god it's true.

I just turned to the wife and said 'god help these people'.

Also the wife's cousin who is studying for a bachelor's, doesn't even know why there are protesters on the street.

The people of Thailand (The vast majority) live in a bubble, they are the last people I would throw a complex reform referendum onto.

And which 'intelligent' people developed the system which is completely and utterly f**ked? I would not trust half the 'educated' Thais to run me a bath never mind a country,

Bear in mind, those coming out of the thai system are the best they've ever had. Just imagine how well educated those.of 40 year ago must be.

[penwithcris]

I think that the complexity of the Thai language seriously holds back the country's development.

Only when the majority of Thai students are taught to understand and speak fluent English will they begin to compete on the World stage

My Thai wife is reasonably well educated, with a Bachelor's degree in Business Studies, but she admits she struggles in many areas because the Thai language is too unsophisticated.

It is very difficult to convert ideas into words because the language doesn't allow it hence the lack of technological innovation and achievement in Thailand

Measuring Intelligent Quotients has shown that Thais are not significantly more or less intelligent than other nationalities, so I would aver that the national language is a significant factor in holding back development on every level