PM Prayut wary of 'mirror council' checking reforms

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PM wary of 'mirror council' checking reforms
The Nation


Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha gives his autograph to people participating in a Kathin monastic robe presentation ceremony at Wat Ratchanaddaram in Bangkok yesterday. The PM chaired the ceremony that was organised by Office of the Prime Minister

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER PRAYUT Chan-o-cha yesterday warned the newly-established Thailand Reform Institute (TRI) against staging political activities that might be deemed illegal and give rise to more national conflict.

Announcing the establishment of the institute on Sunday, TRI chairman Sangsidh Piriyarangsan said he was concerned the government and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) could see the TRI as a threat and perceive it as undermining the administration's stability.

He urged them not to consider the TRI's reform movement as presenting different reform ideologies than those of the government-run National Reform Council (NRC), or seeing it as an anti-government movement.

Prayut questioned TRI's objectives of working in parallel with the NRC to consider reform ideas and checking the government’s implementation of reform. The PM said there must be only one reform council. He said he would have his deputy in charge of legal affairs check if it was legal for the TRI to organise a parallel reform stage with the NRC.

"We have the law in force. I do not know if it is legal to set up 'a mirror council'. I do not wish to see more conflict in the country,'' Prayut said.

The TRI chairman said the institute would act as a mirror to reflect public opinion on certain reform issues and present the proposals to the NRC.

Prayut, however, said he welcomed reform ideas from any sector but they must be submitted via Damrongtham centres, the Secretariat of the House of Representatives, or the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).

"These are legal channels. If the TRI wants to present reform proposals, it must submit them to these channels only,'' the PM said.

TRI founders

The TRI was founded by a group of 19 academics and reformers, including some NRC members and six advisers. Among them are political activists Suriyasai Katasila, and Pipop Thongchai, NRC members including Rosana Tositrakul, Poldej Pinprateep and Anek Laothamatas and prominent academics such as Dr Chirmsak Pinthong, Niran Pitakwatchara, Banjerd Singkaneti, Banjong Nasae and Sirichai Mai-ngarm. The group has envisioned a grand idea of developing the country under "dhammocracy" or democracy based on Buddhist philosophies and principles and strengthening citizen politics and political innovation.

The TRI claimed the NRC might adopt reform ideas mainly presented by bureaucrats. The institute would like to present the NRC with well-rounded information or proposals from people around the country and civic groups.

"I have no problem heeding proposals from people across the country. But the problem is can we arrive at a conclusion? If we dissent from the start, we cannot solve any problem," the PM said.

Prayut said his government could not complete a comprehensive reform on 11 fronts within one year, saying what it could do was to establish a short-term objective to achieve in one year. The next government would have to continue the reform mechanism established by his government.

Meanwhile, Thaworn Senneam, a leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee said the PDRC would join the ISOC's public hearing on reform from November to March.

Thaworn urged the NRC to heed reform ideas from various sectors of society. "The government must admit that 250 members of the NRC do not know everything. So the council must ensure that they accept different opinions to achieve our ultimate goals of reform,'' he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/PM-wary-of-mirror-council-checking-reforms-30246393.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-28

[mca]

I hope they sort something out soon. I don't think I can handle many more initialisms!

[Fatty123]

I hope they sort something out soon. I don't think I can handle many more initialisms!

Only thing missing is JPF (Judean People's Front). Or was the PFJ? Splitters!

[MAJIC]

It was a bit long winded,but seemed to be saying: don't rock my Junta boat,but we are prepared to listen as long as you are talking the same language as we are!

And anything might be deemed illegal,according to what we decide!

And later:"I have no problem heeding proposals from people across the country. But the problem is can we arrive at a conclusion? If we dissent from the start, we cannot solve any problem," the PM said.

In other words: I will listen to you,but can you agree with me? if not we are going nowhere!

[RustBucket]

It's all a bit dictatorial don't you think?

I personally think it is a good idea as long s it is 100% politically neutral and not something being set up by a certain individual with a political agenda.

It is a minor form of checks and balances or a reform policy debating society.

I think as a PM he is showing he is not as strong as people make out, a bit of a political pussy cat if you ask me, that he can get so intimidated by something so benign.

[londonthai]

some religious nuts trying to reform the country back to XIX century, while prayuth just wants early twentieth.

both trying to prevent thailand from democracy and development into a modern country

[Chris Lawrence]

They can put their ideas or complaints in writing and they will be filed?

But then again how dare anyone question the supreme commander?

It could also be the first step in a dialogue that is not happening at the moment in the country. At the end of the day they will be challenged by martial law.

[fab4]

It's all a bit dictatorial don't you think?

I personally think it is a good idea as long s it is 100% politically neutral and not something being set up by a certain individual with a political agenda.

It is a minor form of checks and balances or a reform policy debating society.

I think as a PM he is showing he is not as strong as people make out, a bit of a political pussy cat if you ask me, that he can get so intimidated by something so benign.

as long (a)s it is 100% politically neutral and not something being set up by a certain individual with a political agenda

Well that rules out the NRC........................

[Eric Loh]

Look like PDRC member Suriyasai and Group of 40 senators Rosana are not too happy that they previous work to destablish the govenment are not rewarded. Now they are trying to steer and influence the junta to made reforms the way PDRC want with their mirror council. Too bad, the PM is not buying it.

[55Jay]

Another step toward exit stage left - giving autographs. Won't be long now. Tick tock.

[EnglishJohn]

The problem is that you can't trust anyone in Thai politics and the General knows it. There are too many people who are willing to be cronies if the price is right and if any organisation becomes powerful enough to influence the government, you can be sure Thaksin will start buying them up with promises of positions and power if they pull it off.

In terms of politics, this country is seriously sick and 'democracy' is impossible until a cure is found. The problem for the General is that nobody else wants it. I fear he will soon be sick of the whole thing and retire. The vultures will descend quickly and everything will go back how it was : massive corruption and eventually another coup to save the country from it's leaders.

[rickirs]

"We have the law in force. I do not know if it is legal to set up 'a mirror council'. – Gen. Prayut

The General is so casual for ...... HE IS THE LAW !!!

Even Judge Dredd would have to admire his resolve.

[Eric Loh]

The problem is that you can't trust anyone in Thai politics and the General knows it. There are too many people who are willing to be cronies if the price is right and if any organisation becomes powerful enough to influence the government, you can be sure Thaksin will start buying them up with promises of positions and power if they pull it off.

In terms of politics, this country is seriously sick and 'democracy' is impossible until a cure is found. The problem for the General is that nobody else wants it. I fear he will soon be sick of the whole thing and retire. The vultures will descend quickly and everything will go back how it was : massive corruption and eventually another coup to save the country from it's leaders.

The temperament of the PM has changed much from the first day he announced the coup and current. Then he was full of positive ness and conviction to do his duty for the country. Now he is like a reluctant accidental PM who keep telling others of his personal woes and his dislike for the job. Like you, I think he is hating his job and will be happy to pass the baton to another person. This does not augur for a complete and fair reforms and likely to be rush and heavily influenced and most likely will not be completed on time. It will be the 2007 constitutional reform all over again and unlikely to spare the country of another coup in the future.