'More women lawmakers needed'

[Lite Beer]

POLITICAL REFORMS
'More women lawmakers needed'
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- NRC member Rosana Tositrakul says quota needed for next Parliament

Women members of the National Reform Council should push for the number of women senators and MPs to be at least 30 per cent of the total as part of the reform drive in order to eradicate sexual oppression and inequality, NRC member Rosana Tositrakul said.

Rosana, a member on the energy category, was among 12 women NRC members who revealed their vision when they were congratulated for being named on the body at an event held by the Thai Women Watch Association yesterday.

There are 37 women members among the 250 NRC members.

Rosana believes the women members must help push for a greater role for women in society by pushing for regulations to increase the number of female politicians, senators and MPs to 30 per cent of the total.

"The fact that we live in a male-dominated society reflects a certain degree of sexual oppression, which must be addressed and tackled,'' she said.

Rosana said the social problem that must be addressed urgently is injustice and inequality. She proposed that people adopt the unconditional love that mothers have for children as the solution.

NRC member Nareewan Chintakanont said a woman would be appointed a NRC deputy chairwoman when the council meets on Tuesday to select the chairman and his deputies.

She said women members would meet to brainstorm on areas they would push to have reformed.

Member Kamnoon Sitthisamarn, who works on laws and justice procedures, said the NRC would appoint a committee to draft its meeting regulations after appointing the chairman and deputies.

Meanwhile, the NRC member from the northern province of Nan, Thikamporn Kongsorn, said problems related to natural-resource exploitation must be solved in an integrated and sustainable way.

"People in communities must take part in the solution and must be able to identify the future of their community,'' she said.

In a related development, Election Commission member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn admitted that the EC was among the agencies that was in dire need of reform but he disapproved of the idea of reducing the role and authority of the body.

He called on the NRC to thoroughly study the issue before concluding whether the EC should be given more or less responsibility.

Somchai defended the EC's handling of the political impasse early in the year when there were opponents and supporters of elections, saying the agency did it best to compromise to prevent casualties and losses.

Meanwhile, Somsak Prissanananthakul, a leader of the Chart Thai Pattana Party, yesterday submitted on open letter to the NRC calling on the council to reform the country and draft a new charter that does not create more political conflict.

He said the 2007 Charter focused on removing politicians under the wing of the Thaksin regime.

He believed this was the root cause for the country plunging into several years of political divisions that ran deeply across the nation and led to the political impasse early this year.

Somchai called on NRC members to strictly observe political neutrality and carry out their duty without political favouritism and discrimination. "Please possess the mindset that you must deal with all issues in a professional way. Do not let your emotional response interfere your sound judgement,'' he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/More-women-lawmakers-needed-30245763.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-19

[BSJ]

"Women members of the National Reform Council should push for the number of women senators and MPs to be at least 30 per cent of the total as part of the reform drive in order to eradicate sexual oppression and inequality, NRC member Rosana Tositrakul said." Unworkable!

Maybe workable in a communist country but in a democracy candidates have to take their chances firstly with the party committee and then the electorate.

[Local Drunk]

"The fact that we live in a male-dominated society reflects a certain degree of sexual oppression, which must be addressed and tackled,'' she said."

Fine... Now go to the fridge and get me a beer... and no ice this time!

[jaltsc]

"Women members of the National Reform Council should push for the number of women senators and MPs to be at least 30 per cent of the total as part of the reform drive in order to eradicate sexual oppression and inequality, NRC member Rosana Tositrakul said."

This would have a negligible effect if the women senators come from the wealthier and powerful families. The only difference would be women, instead of men, pushing an elitist agenda. If the NRC wants true reform it should push for socio-economic equality among the members in the legislature.and effective separation of powers between the different branches of the government.

Edited October 19, 2014 by jaltsc

[chainarong]

So long as it is on merit and not a quota system , you start to attract silliness on quotas , although this is a trait that Thailand accomplishes rather well, we need to keep it to a minimum, they have quotas in Political parties in OZ and that place is the land of silliness, both Male and Female politicians are sub-standard, just like in Thailand, sort of like being at home when in either countries.

[Ozziepat]

No quotas, please.

And as for political conflict, the only way to eliminate it is to install a repressive totalitarian regime. I don't read any stories about "political conflict" in North Korea, but is there anyone who believes that to be a good thing? Political conflict is healthy and doesn't have to mean guns in the streets. It should be encouraged, but within socially acceptable and legal bounds, which implies fair and consistent enforcement of appropriate rule of law. That should be the goal, not elimination - well, unless the real goal is a one-party state.

[NongKhaiKid]

So long as it is on merit and not a quota system , you start to attract silliness on quotas , although this is a trait that Thailand accomplishes rather well, we need to keep it to a minimum, they have quotas in Political parties in OZ and that place is the land of silliness, both Male and Female politicians are sub-standard, just like in Thailand, sort of like being at home when in either countries.

Where's Thailand's Pauline Hanson ?

[MaxYakov]

I do my bit on a daily basis to fight "sexual oppression". Or is that "sexual suppression"? I forget (if I ever knew the difference, that is)!

Edited October 19, 2014 by MaxYakov

[recycled]

Bloody women, will use any platform to push their own useless agenda, bugger the rest of us. Just keep them barefoot and pregnant and all will be well.

[Roadman]

Rosanna proposed that the unconditional love that mothers have for their children br part of the solution.

Her credibility is already going out the door.

The unconditional love or in Thailand the unconditional spoiling and lack of discipline of male children is the major part of the reason that Thailand has the pathetic sexual inequality it has.

[NativeSon360]

As usual. Putting the cart, before the horse strategies. What's really needed are more Thai (uniformed) female cops "on-the-street", first, as a first generation of new Law Enforcement agents. Then graduate from that point, to the legislation level

[NativeSon360]

The original thread should've read "More Law Enforcement "experienced" Women lawmakers needed', instead

[Thai at Heart]

I will with elected ones before I stress over which sex they are.

[northernjohn]

"Women members of the National Reform Council should push for the number of women senators and MPs to be at least 30 per cent of the total as part of the reform drive in order to eradicate sexual oppression and inequality, NRC member Rosana Tositrakul said."

This would have a negligible effect if the women senators come from the wealthier and powerful families. The only difference would be women, instead of men, pushing an elitist agenda. If the NRC wants true reform it should push for socio-economic equality among the members in the legislature.and effective separation of powers between the different branches of the government.

I agree with you whole heartedly.

How ever I don't think this is the time to be working on women's equality. Try to establish a stable and sane government and let them work on it. As you say the members should represent all levels of society.

But to be honest with you that is not what this is all about and the more time they spend on it the less time they spend on reunification and corruption busting.

As you can see already they are focusing on other issues than the ones they were asked to work on.

This is by no stretch of the imagination a problem that only occurs in Thailand. The answer lies in the educating of society about equality and no amount of political influence or pressure will change that. It begins in the education system and is a long term project.

[northernjohn]

The original thread should've read "More Law Enforcement "experienced" Women lawmakers needed', instead

I was in the immigration here in Chiang Mai the other day and most of them were women. The women officers they do have get pushed into office work.

I shared this on another thread, In Canada the neighbor lady called the RCMP when her partner was drunk and getting mean. They sent out one lady officer and she did what two men could never have done. It was unbelievable the way she backed him down. Mind you she had proper training.

[Fiddlesticks]

Why should the Thai men get all the kickbacks and bribes? Thai women have shown themselves equally qualified.

[Andre0720]

"Women members of the National Reform Council should push for the number of women senators and MPs to be at least 30 per cent of the total as part of the reform drive in order to eradicate sexual oppression and inequality, NRC member Rosana Tositrakul said." Unworkable!

Maybe workable in a communist country but in a democracy candidates have to take their chances firstly with the party committee and then the electorate.

Reminds me of a quote from Anthony Robbins:

I like it when you say something is impossible, and you do it anyway....

[phantomfiddler]

Yes, yes, YES !!!

[Local Drunk]

Thing is... she says absolutely nothing in the article about womens rights... She just spews out generalizations and quotas on gender that really have any basis in reality.

[Loles]

I don't think so, there are many idiot law-rules here with-out them.

[Elmer Gantry]

Does anyone remember the female judge who lost her rag over a parking place,plus also a female judge who was kingpin in a drugs cartel in Klong 4.Do not forget there is no distinction in Thailand between male and female,the bottom line is they are Thai,gender does not come into the equation when money and corruption are the prime factors.

[englishoak]

"Women members of the National Reform Council should push for the number of women senators and MPs to be at least 30 per cent of the total as part of the reform drive in order to eradicate sexual oppression and inequality, NRC member Rosana Tositrakul said."

This would have a negligible effect if the women senators come from the wealthier and powerful families. The only difference would be women, instead of men, pushing an elitist agenda. If the NRC wants true reform it should push for socio-economic equality among the members in the legislature.and effective separation of powers between the different branches of the government.

I agree with you whole heartedly.

How ever I don't think this is the time to be working on women's equality. Try to establish a stable and sane government and let them work on it. As you say the members should represent all levels of society.

But to be honest with you that is not what this is all about and the more time they spend on it the less time they spend on reunification and corruption busting.

As you can see already they are focusing on other issues than the ones they were asked to work on.

This is by no stretch of the imagination a problem that only occurs in Thailand. The answer lies in the educating of society about equality and no amount of political influence or pressure will change that. It begins in the education system and is a long term project.

What ??? thats like saying I dont think now is the time to be freeing the slaves............... or that now isnt the time to worry about child abuse...

Hello, newsflash... its never the wrong time to work on equality and human rights.

It begins where ever it begins and wherever it is possible, the way your talking is it dooms things to remain unchanged for at least a generation or 3

Whilst it may be a long term thing it does not have to wait to get moving or improve, it must inspire those coming generations to want even better equality and opportunity, it must NOT keep excusing todays failings and putting the responsibility on the future... it must be worked on with the same effort NOW

As for the NRC its not even fit for purpose, nothing is going to change apart from the pecking order and who gets their palms greased.

Really amusing how gullible some people are here they actually fall for the spin every time, the real funny or scary part is its sold and acted out so badly and nearly everyone with a bit of common sense can see the old corny BS lines a mile off....

Thailand needs more women in ALL top positions not just lawmakers....