Thailand's NIDA to present 'wide-ranging' reform proposal

[webfact]

NIDA to present 'wide-ranging' reform proposal
Pravit Rojanaphruk,
Panya Thiosangwan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Warns Thailand faces stagnation if changes not made soon; initially offers suggestions on politics, judiciary, governance

The National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) will, by the end of this month, present a wide-ranging reform proposal to the government and the National Reform Council, NIDA president Assoc Prof Pradit Wanarat said.

The proposal, covering 16 areas, is considered to be the most comprehensive so far.

Pradit warned that if Thailand did not embark on wide-ranging reform to ensure the country is effectively administered, the Kingdom's growth would be stalled in comparison to its neighbours in the next two or three decades.

The announcement was made at NIDA, where its reform proposal in three areas, namely politics, judiciary and governance, were presented yesterday.

Prof Sombat Thamrongthanya-wong, a political scientist and former NIDA president, who was tasked with outlining the "NIDA Model" or reform proposal on politics, was not present.

However, his one-page reform synopsis was distributed among participants.

His proposal pinpointed the need for new electoral rules, requiring that all competing political parties have members covering no less than 10 per cent of the total number of eligible voters nationwide.

This, the proposal said, was to ensure that all parties are true national political parties.

Sombat's proposal also said the leader of the party that wins the highest number of MP seats should automatically become the prime minister, as this will ensure that the PM is independent and free of pressure from MPs.

Other proposals include requiring that MP candidates spend electoral campaign money through bank accounts to ensure transparency and that Senate members represent occupational groups in order to avoid having the upper House dominated by political parties.

An e-voting system should also be adopted to ensure elections are more effective, Sombat's report said.

'Eliminate double standards'

In terms of the judiciary, NIDA's dean of law Prof Banjerd Singkaneti said double standards in the justice system must be eradicated.

He pointed out that some 70 to 80 per cent of lower-court rulings ended up being overturned by the Supreme Court, which clearly shows that there's a problem.

He said the minimum age of lower-court judges should also be raised from 25 to 53 years.

Banjerd added that each criminal case cost Bt144,000 on average, which was too high and should be reduced via means that do not require the unnecessary detention of people.

Access to justice for poor and marginalised people should also be improved, Banjerd noted.

Prof Udom Tumkosit, from NIDA's Faculty of Political Science who was tasked with coming up with a proposal on governance, said decentralisation and good governance were the key issues.

"At present, problems in Mae Hong Son province need to be fixed here in Bangkok. This is what I call a centralised state," he said.

"We need to decentralise, so people can become self reliant. Don't think for them."

Udom said Thai bureaucrats still considered themselves the boss, not servants of the public - an attitude that needs to be changed.

Decentralise power

The professor also proposed the creation of a National Local Administration Council - giving it the same power as that of a ministry in a move to ensure decentralisation.

In a related development, students of the National Defence College's Batch 2013 presented their version of national and military strategies for 2015 to 2019 yesterday in an event presided over by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The proposals included the introduction of a law banning any moves to seek "special favours" from state officials with a clear punishment clause.

They also said the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly needs to stay longer and ensure that good politicians are elected.

The students also proposed that a code of conduct be introduced for politicians and bureaucrats, not unlike the basic Buddhist precepts, in order to reduce corruption.

A mechanism should also be introduced to seize foreign assets of politicians and officials who commit corruption.

The students also said education reform needs to be made part of the national agenda.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/NIDA-to-present-wide-ranging-reform-proposal-30243365.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-16

[BSJ]

That's a sleep inducing post....but a car going past backfired and I woke up!

[chainarong]

Wide ranging reforms indeed , true what is proposed here is a step in the right direction , however the moral values of politicians need to be also addressed this includes any one nominating should have a squeaky clean track record, not like the previous administration where even one was allowed out on parole during parliament , several had been banned for five years, others with past records and yet the same people question the values of the population ,I can't see all of these reforms being implemented, Lower court judges minimum age 54 yrs, what has age got to do with it , if you are good at 30 that's great if not, stiff Shi!!t, age doesn't make you wiser, only grumpier, decentralization is great in a place where rules and values are trusted, but it becomes a nightmare in places like Thailand where trust died out a decade ago and corruption was the order of the day and reigns supreme till this day.

Edited September 16, 2014 by chainarong

[jaltsc]

"Pradit warned that if Thailand did not embark on wide-ranging reform to ensure the country is effectively administered, the Kingdom's growth would be stalled in comparison to its neighbours in the next two or three decades."

How does one reform the national mindset?

[timber]

"Udom said Thai bureaucrats still considered themselves the boss, not servants of the public - an attitude that needs to be changed." I think if they could achieve this everything else would fall into place. Always need a non-political overseerer

to ensure the weak are protected.

[timber]

Many of these things are needed or have been implemented in various governments. Lobbyists have led

politicians astray and although it is the duty of the politicians to maintain the representation of the average

citizen in the government, greed over a period of time has distanced the government from their intended

purpose.

[NongKhaiKid]

Apart from the age issue i know nothing about how judges are appointed however was once more than a little surprised when a teacher friend told me one of his private English students was studying law and after graduation wanted to become a judge.

Unless I had it all wrong it seemed she could without bothering with the ' apprenticeship ' of practicing law in any way.

Sorry but someone in their 20's with little experience of life and only book knowledge of the law sitting in judgement at any level is frightening.

[fab4]

"In a related development, students of the National Defence College's Batch 2013 presented their version of national and military strategies for 2015 to 2019 yesterday in an event presided over by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha

They also said the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly needs to stay longer and ensure that good politicians are elected."

Oh that is scary. Wonder how many of these will become generals when they grow up?

[Nickymaster]

"In a related development, students of the National Defence College's Batch 2013 presented their version of national and military strategies for 2015 to 2019 yesterday in an event presided over by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha

They also said the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly needs to stay longer and ensure that good politicians are elected."

Oh that is scary. Wonder how many of these will become generals when they grow up?

Something positive or constructive to say about the necessary reforms? Or Just another cheap attempt to smear the army again?

[scorecard]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Nickymaster, on 16 Sept 2014 - 10:41, said:

fab4, on 16 Sept 2014 - 10:35, said:

"In a related development, students of the National Defence College's Batch 2013 presented their version of national and military strategies for 2015 to 2019 yesterday in an event presided over by Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha

They also said the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly needs to stay longer and ensure that good politicians are elected."

Oh that is scary. Wonder how many of these will become generals when they grow up?

Something positive or constructive to say about the necessary reforms? Or Just another cheap attempt to smear the army again?

Agree, but sad to say fabie never comes up with anything constructive.

I've asked him several times to share constructive ideas. Never one reply.

Your entitled to your opinion fabie, however IMHO many folks would support the idea that the NLA and more stay as long as needed, to get changes done and locked into place.

Edited September 16, 2014 by scorecard

[Eric Loh]

Nida just dont have the fortitude to include military reform. What about a list of can and cannot do for military in politics. More need to be done to ensure the military never be politicized and this is the last coup.

[oneday]

I think it would read better this way...

"The announcement was made at NIDA, where its reform proposal in three areas, namely CURRUPT politics, CORRUPT judiciary and CORRUPT governance, were presented yesterday."

On a lighter note; it sounds like there are a number of good proposals in this article.

Edited September 16, 2014 by oneday