Lessons on democracy to be taught shortly

[Lite Beer]

Lessons on democracy to be taught shortly
Chanikarn Poomhiran
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- The curriculum on democracy, formulated by the Election Commission for the civic duty subject, is expected to be taught from November.

At the Education Ministry yesterday where training on history and civic duty was held, EC member Pravich Rattanapian told attending educational personnel that the commission had in the past eight months set the

civic duty foundation. That included the democracy curriculum for students involved in the 12-year free basic education.

He said the curriculum was completed and the ministry would start teaching it to students in the second semester.

"An election is not the only solution for democracy, which needs to have the standardised rule of law and Rechtsstaat, the exercise of rights and liberties within a frame of respect to others, and the people's discipline and peaceful co-existence," he said.

Pravich said although other fully-developed democratic countries provided freedom and rights to express views and to observe a religious faith, they wrote that the exercise of rights and liberties must respect others and that people must have discipline and abide by regulations.

He urged the ministry to create a new culture in society for people to accurately understand democracy.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Lessons-on-democracy-to-be-taught-shortly-30244295.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-28

[mikemac]

Hope they drum this into them -

"Democracies conduct regular free and fair elections open to all citizens. Elections in a democracy cannot be facades that dictators or a single party hide behind, but authentic competitions for the support of the people."

[NongKhaiKid]

Hope they drum this into them -

"Democracies conduct regular free and fair elections open to all citizens. Elections in a democracy cannot be facades that dictators or a single party hide behind, but authentic competitions for the support of the people."

and if any current govt is getting it all wrong, for any number of reasons, don't wait to get rid of them at the ballot box when a military coup will do.

[cloudhopper]

"He urged the ministry to create a new culture in society for people to accurately understand democracy."

Too bad George Orwell is not available.

[Fred Flinstone]

Quote

accurately understand democracy

Unquote

This is troubling coming from a man who ceased power.

[ThailandNoob]

"An election is not the only solution for democracy"

So it is possible to have democracy without elections?

"which needs to have the standardised rule of law and Rechtsstaat, the exercise of rights and liberties within a frame of respect to others, and the people's discipline and peaceful co-existence,"

"Standardised rule of law" would presumably imply an absence of arbitrary detention. And if we are talking about "rights and liberties", I'm assuming that free speech would be a core part of this, given that we are talking about "democracy".

Sent from my IS11T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited September 28, 2014 by ThailandNoob

[tx22cb]

They should teach the adults too.

Strange, I went to one of the best schools and universities, yet never had (nor needed) any lesson on "Democracy" per se.

Why don't they encourage children to read books and the Thai equivalent of (e.g.) the Economist for themselves, and form their own independent opinions?

[ChrisY1]

"He urged the ministry to create a new culture in society for people to accurately understand democracy."

Too bad George Orwell is not available.

These guys are better than George Orwell.............!!

Here we have a dictatorship going to teach democracy.......

[Gsxrnz]

This is all good stuff, especially when the country is currently operating under Obrigkeitsstaat.

The irony is classical Thai.

[Thailand]

Seems to get dafter by the day.

Would make a good plot for a soap opera.

Know any good scriptwriters?

[metisdead]

Trolling nonsense posts have been removed as well as the replies.

[selftaopath]

The article mentions two noteworthy things:

Rule of Law and discipline (personal and systemic) . I believe it would take Thailand - at least- 50 years to have these .

[Sena Dave]

That reminds me . Free speech should always play a big role in Democracy

[chainarong]

Which version will it be , the Thai version , the western Democracy version or the Shinawatra version 2.

[Publicus]

Which version will it be , the Thai version , the western Democracy version or the Shinawatra version 2.

[manarak]

Quote

accurately understand democracy

Unquote

This is troubling coming from a man who ceased power.

actually, he hasn't ceased power yet, but he promised to do so !

[rubl]

Which version will it be , the Thai version , the western Democracy version or the Shinawatra version 2.

Maybe Ms. thida and Dr. weng offered the E.C. their 'red-shirt school for democracy' curriculum ?

[Plutojames88]

Quote

accurately understand democracy

Unquote

This is troubling coming from a man who ceased power.

Yes, it's certainly not good

[halloween]

A look at the subject matter would be interesting, but I'm sure it will be quite a bit different to the privately run "democracy schools" of a few years back.

Perhaps we could get some of our TVF posters a seat in a class. There are quite a few who seem never to have got past "elections" and into the more challenging aspects.

[halloween]

Quote

accurately understand democracy

Unquote

This is troubling coming from a man who ceased power.

Yes, it's certainly not good

I thought it was a hilarious post.

[heybruce]

"An election is not the only solution for democracy, which needs to have the standardised rule of law..."

The people who have toppled the government, suspended the constitution, suspended basic human rights (freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of association, etc.) and granted themselves amnesty for their actions are going to teach 'standardized rule of law'?

[englishoak]

Oh the Irony

[baboon]

"An election is not the only solution for democracy, which needs to have the standardised rule of law..."

The people who have toppled the government, suspended the constitution, suspended basic human rights (freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of association, etc.) and granted themselves amnesty for their actions are going to teach 'standardized rule of law'?

Of course not. That's a job for their hangers on.

[Zooheekock]

The people who have toppled the government, suspended the constitution, suspended basic human rights (freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of association, etc.) and granted themselves amnesty for their actions are going to teach 'standardized rule of law'?

Yes. It would be hard to find a collection of people less qualified than the EC to lecture others on the principles of democracy but then that's life under a military dictatorship. One can only hope that come the revolution,....etc. etc.

[halloween]

"An election is not the only solution for democracy, which needs to have the standardised rule of law..."

The people who have toppled the government, suspended the constitution, suspended basic human rights (freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of association, etc.) and granted themselves amnesty for their actions are going to teach 'standardized rule of law'?

They could also explain "conflicts of interest" and "insider trading" pointing out that these are actually illegal and should not be why politicians seek the job. Then they could move on to "nepotism and cronyism", emphasis being made that they are NOT desirable in a democracy, even if your retarded cousin needs a job.

I admit the concept of altruism is going to be a hard sell, but it really wouldn't hurt to let people know that it exists.

Edited September 28, 2014 by halloween

[jesimps]

Nearly choked on my cornflakes reading that headline.

[j15mth]

And what qualifications will the People who teach Democracy have ?? Thai people are NOT good listeners.

[Seastallion]

Hopefully the current and upcoming next generation will be taught that with democracy comes the civic duty that corruption is not tolerated.

[Somtamnication]

The blind will teach us how to drive.

Thai girls will teach us how to attain white skin

Monks from the temple in Sukothai will teach us how to deal in drugs and watch porno movies

Taxi drivers will teach us how to be responsible drives

and.....the Thai government will teach democracy.

Ok, got it!

[fab4]

A look at the subject matter would be interesting, but I'm sure it will be quite a bit different to the privately run "democracy schools" of a few years back.

Perhaps we could get some of our TVF posters a seat in a class. There are quite a few who seem never to have got past "elections" and into the more challenging aspects.

With your extensive knowledge of democracy perhaps you could detail and explain the more challenging aspects of that democracy that "quite a few" are not sufficiently intelligent to grasp.

Perhaps you could start with explaining how the "democracy" that existed and was readily accepted between 2008 and 2011 apparently morphed into a "democracy" that the Thai populace was not ready for in subsequent years. Then maybe you could expound on why the abrogation of all democratic rights as a result of a military coup and the establishment of a pseudo "government" whose actions can be overturned at any time by the junta under Article 44 is supposedly the antidote to a fully functional democracy?

Ready when you are.

Edited September 28, 2014 by fab4