STREETWISE
Hasty and half-baked moves won't deliver genuine reform
Achara Deboonme

BANGKOK: -- Standing out among the avalanche of suggestions offered to our newly-endorsed National Legislative Assembly (NLA) members is stern advice from Supinya Klangnarong, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission.

In her Tweets, she urged the NLA to pay attention to public opinion rather than just civil servants, when it comes to making laws about natural resources and public health. Notably, she was one of 10 activists arrested for trespass during a protest at the last post-coup Parliament in 2007.

"I hope that today's NLA won't repeat the mistakes of its predecessor, and instead take into account opinions of other parties affected by the laws - especially the poor," she said.

Supinya hit the nail on the head, identifying precisely what this batch of appointed lawmakers must do to prove their intention is for sustainable actions to steer the country out of chaos and towards a brighter future. The list of 200 lawmakers appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order garnered huge public attention as soon as it was posted online on Friday, when traffic overwhelmed the website for an hour or more.

The list is worth close examination. Over half of the 200 legislators are military men, while many others are from the "anti-Thaksin" camp.

I don't doubt the generals' intentions in taking on this job, given that NCPO chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has assured us that the coup was a righteous move by people whose main aim is to restore peace. But one tiny issue remains here: If these generals should endorse laws that "hurt" me in some way, I have no way of holding them to account. Under the provisional constitution, an amnesty protects the NCPO from repercussions of its actions - including the appointment of the generals to review laws that will affect all 62 million Thais.

Few academics and social/environmental activists have made their way on to the NLA list.

There are, however, about a dozen representatives of the business community, including chiefs of the Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries and Thai Bankers Association. Having representatives from those three main associations offers some assurance that laws that should have been amended to facilitate economic prosperity will now be reviewed. But the question is, how will these dozen or so legislators convince the rest to endorse their proposed bills.

Amid all the doubts is one certainty: the first meeting of the NLA will draw huge public attention. Many are eager to hear what its main focus will be.

If the answer is political reforms, then expect to see a raft of new laws forged to prescribe qualifications for politicians and the roles of political parties. The question will then be, just how much of the Election Commission's proposals will become law? Hopefully the lawmakers won't place new age limits on voting, or limit voting rights by levels of education or income.

If environmental protection is a focus, can we anticipate new laws that promise greater punishment for violators? Or legislation to discourage pollution and help fight climate change - such as a promise to end fuel subsidies for ever?

If social inequality is a priority, we should see a budget which allocates more state revenue to the social fabric. Hopefully that will mean more for education and job training. It is vexing to see less-educated, poorer members of society struggle with same old problems year after year, unable to climb the ladder no matter how hard they try. We could also see more budget allocated for nursing homes, given that our elderly poor are queuing up to win precious places in existing facilities that are few and far between.

Thailand has experienced three coups in the past three decades. The first led to the bloodbath of Black May in 1992 and events that paved the way for a legislative assembly whose legacy was a long list of laws.

Enacted then were reforms covering restructuring of everything from the government sector to the tax system. Look deeply and you can see how those laws helped shape today's economy.

Notably, it was the first time that Thailand thought seriously about research and development, resulting in a law to promote R&D funding. To win more foreign investment, the Commerce Ministry gave birth to a new agency - the Intellectual Property Department. Foreseeing a labour shortage - a problem that remains unsolved - two new Interior Ministry departments were established to focus on skills development and labour welfare.

The Pollution Control Department also took shape, along with the environment policy and planning office. More innovation came with the introduction of value-added tax, which has been the main source of government revenue ever since. The government then abolished special business taxes imposed on stock transactions, which helped bolster the stock market and assisted companies in raising funds. Witholding taxes on government bonds were waived, drawing more savings to the bond market.

Needless to say, the post-1992 NLA and government also took into account opinions from various parties.

The lesson for its successor is clear: whatever its focus, for the sake of Thailand today's NLA can't afford to act in haste and without listening to public voices.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Hasty-and-half-baked-moves-wont-deliver-genuine-re-30240203.html

[thenation]2014-08-05[/thenation]

as the saying goes " A HALF BAKED LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE"

Since when did the Thai legislature give a thought about anyone other than their backers?

 

So why should this one be any different?

In the absence of clear underlying principles, concepts and organization, there is no basis on which to assess the "implementation" of a government. Imagine designing a car by piecemeal component inclusion only as obvious needs arises. The result will not be a coherent system, but a hodgepodge. Welcome to "Thai government reform by committee." 

Q.What sort of people get appointed by money-worshiping controllers? Answer: Money worshiping controllers.

Thai leaders are to environmental husbandry what a pastry chef is to bulldozing. The OP article is correct in pointing out that there is no recourse when edicts are implemented which hurt the little people. What Thailand has now is little different than what it's had with pseudo-elected leaders: a sort of 'father knows best' series of proclamations. With a parliament, there can at least be a modicum of controls and balances. With a junta, it's simply: "This is the way we deem it. Like it or lump it."

Reforms can always be reformed,like the Thai constitution, they have had so many its like a by-law for false parking

"The first meeting of the NLA will draw huge public attention. Many are eager to hear what its main focus will be"

 

 

The main focus is clear, anti Taksin, so no governing and all power on that.

Second is create popularity 

Third is get as much family and friends in the next government.

Hasty and half-baked

 

 

Could be the next TAT campaign slogan, that.

Reforms?
Does anyone believe this baloney?

Yes I do.

It's what those reforms are and are they intended to be good for the country as a whole or a privileged few that we're waiting to see.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

as the saying goes " A HALF BAKED LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE"

 

And half baked is better than half stolen by the man in Dubai (Paris)

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In the absence of clear underlying principles, concepts and organization, there is no basis on which to assess the "implementation" of a government. Imagine designing a car by piecemeal component inclusion only as obvious needs arises. The result will not be a coherent system, but a hodgepodge. Welcome to "Thai government reform by committee." 

In the UK they call this Heath Robinson design and in the US it is Rube Goldberg.

"stern advice from Supinya Klangnarong, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission".

 

Not stern enough. Why isn't she demanding that women are properly represented on the NLA and NCPO?

Or aren't 30 million Thai women entitled to have any say in how their country is governed?

 

 

Say what you want about the potential for abuse by the ruling junta but some action is better than what Thailand has experienced from its recently departed 'leadership'.  All I can remember of that administration is an abundance of shopping trips, CYA proclamations and amnesty manipulations.  In Thailand, there has been such a dramatic void in leadership that what what we are seeing now feels like a breath of fresh air and a glimmer of hope.  Let's all hope that real, productive change can occur and that the ENTIRE Thai citizenry are the beneficiaries and not just the 'entitled' few.

as the saying goes " A HALF BAKED LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE"

The only problem is Thailand is baking a half baked bread every time and never a perfect one.

Say what you want about the potential for abuse by the ruling junta but some action is better than what Thailand has experienced from its recently departed 'leadership'.  All I can remember of that administration is an abundance of shopping trips, CYA proclamations and amnesty manipulations.  In Thailand, there has been such a dramatic void in leadership that what what we are seeing now feels like a breath of fresh air and a glimmer of hope.  Let's all hope that real, productive change can occur and that the ENTIRE Thai citizenry are the beneficiaries and not just the 'entitled' few.

 I agree the current scenario is preferable to anything the Puea Thai was offering. On the other hand, it's a half-baked compliment to say: 'this mess is better than the prior abysmal mess catering to one man: Thaksin.' What does the term: "checks and balances" mean to the average Thai person? Perhaps that topic was to have been discussed on day 59 of the university course on 'Democracy.' Unfortunately, the course was cancelled. Only 3 students signed up, and the professor didn't know what to teach.

How many more decades are the ruling elite going to get away with using their military cipher to destroy democracy.

How many decades before the revolution takes place that the history of man portends?

How many more decades are the ruling elite going to get away with using their military cipher to destroy democracy.

How many decades before the revolution takes place that the history of man portends?

In case you haven't noticed, PT and its earlier incarnations (TRT, etc) have been trampling on democracy for at least 10 years.  Conclusion: Thais either don't know what democracy is, or don't mind how it manifests in Thailand:  purchased votes, 3 a.m. secret voting sessions for one party, trampling on the Constitution, firing overseers if their decisions don't suit, enabling Coups D'etats as easily as buying sticky rice at a sidewalk stall, ....etc, ad nauseum.

 

As for the 2nd sentence:  Revolutions may come and go in Thailand, but it's still dealing with the Thai people.  And when you look at how easily they're hoodwinked (and impressed with handouts of money and gifts), and how adept they are at ignoring corruption, how can we expect much to change?  Revolution smethorufion, ....won't make much difference - just another gaggle of old men, but still crazed about money and power.

How many more decades are the ruling elite going to get away with using their military cipher to destroy democracy.

How many decades before the revolution takes place that the history of man portends?

 

The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind.

The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Reforms?
Does anyone believe this baloney?

Yes I do.

It's what those reforms are and are they intended to be good for the country as a whole or a privileged few that we're waiting to see.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

They just banned a video game in case it upset public morality.

Let's not hold out breath for any really deep or considered reform.

What a heap of crock! Who needs reforms? - The needy. Who is going to implement reforms? - The ones who do not need them! Blah blah blah...

So an organization that has not attacked the military mafia that runs protection rackets at street level is somehow suppose to reform the rest of government?

"stern advice from Supinya Klangnarong, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission".

 

Not stern enough. Why isn't she demanding that women are properly represented on the NLA and NCPO?

Or aren't 30 million Thai women entitled to have any say in how their country is governed?

 

 

 

Thai women are more suited in the kitchen, not parliament; especially a military parliament.