February 8, 201511 yr Forum seeks true reflection of problemsThe NationBANGKOK: -- Over 100 people from 10 provinces took part in a Citizens Forum for Reform in Bangkok at the weekend to discuss the Kingdom's problems - and ways to solve them.The meeting, the eleventh forum of its kind, was organised by NOW 26 TV channel and Bangkok Biz News newspaper, both part of the Nation Multimedia Group (NMG).Forum participants were treated to audio-visual presentations from citizens from the 10 provinces, their ideas and input from previous forums.Suthichai Yoon, NMG chairman, said the meeting was the culmination and crystallization of eight months of citizens' ideas on national reform.He said the effort had nothing to do with the bid for national reform pushed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) as the NMG initiative was launched earlier in 2014 with an aim of truly reflecting people's aspirations.Suthichai said the priority was on how to get the nation reformed in order to solve various problems."Today, people must find conclusions from the brainstorming [forums] and when the findings are forwarded to the National Reform Council [NRC] or measures announced, the reform process won't be over as reform must take place in every era. There will be hope for Thailand when citizens converge," said Suthichai.More intense than usualThepchai Yong, NMG Group Editor-in-Chief, said the forums proved people had aspirations and predicted that the current reform bid would be more intense than usual. He reminded them the country belonged to everyone.Calls by participants sought solutions for problems like poverty among farmers - adjusting the structure of rice farming and trade, greater utilisation of knowledge and technological knowhow in solving agricultural problems.On income disparity, Permsak Mokrapirom from Mahidol University's Centre for Peace and Development Studies said, with 60 to 70 per cent of land being rented, most people lacked access to resources. Permsak said if farmers couldn't make ends meet it would affect the whole of society. Consequently, land reform was necessary.General Ekkachai Srivilas, deputy chairman of the Committee for National Reform of the National Reform Council (NRC), warned that social and economic disparities would lead to disunity and the country needed to be restructured to benefit the poor. Ekkachai said although one-fifth of the national budget was spent on education, it had yet to be improved.The NRC member also called for the creation of a Citizens' Council that would scrutinise public affairs and make recommendations.Amornvit Nakornthap, another NRC member, expressed a similar view, saying major education reform was needed and it would require greater local participation in managing education.Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Forum-seeks-true-reflection-of-problems-30253664.html-- The Nation 2015-02-09
February 8, 201511 yr Fix corruption and a ton of problems will be fixed. Oh, and get rid of that loss of face thingy that Thais hide behind.
February 9, 201511 yr Fix corruption and a ton of problems will be fixed. Oh, and get rid of that loss of face thingy that Thais hide behind. These are two of the vertebrae in the spine of local society.....will not change.
February 9, 201511 yr 76 provinces in Thailand and they have people from just 10. Who are these 10 provinces, it would be interesting to know. Why aren't they saying, could it be that they are a handpicked pro Junta group?
February 9, 201511 yr forums organized by and for junta supporters: OK... forums to discuss democracy: cancelled because that's divisive.
February 9, 201511 yr If they could not fix the price of a lottery ticket what hope is there in fixing big problems. The biggest problem the country has is the continual illegal military coups to keep the interests of a small elite protected.
February 9, 201511 yr If only also have half an ear for all of us expats. Does anyone have any figures of how many expats live in Thailand?
February 9, 201511 yr Useless efforts for reform by citizens. "the country belonged to everyone" - yes, past tense and not now. The country belongs to the NCPO and it will NEVER let go again. Sovereignty of the nation by the Thai Peoples is a myth. "the effort had nothing to do with the bid for national reform pushed by the National Council for Peace and Order" - absolutely CORRECT. The NCPO isn't concerned about such forums as the NLA/NRC/CDC WILL comply with the NCPO agenda.
February 9, 201511 yr 10 provinces of over 70. 100 people. "Nothing to do with the NCPO". Arranged by Mahidol University, whose regent sits on both the NCPO and the CDC, and whose students had NO satire in last week's annual parade... Posturing, in short and simple.
February 9, 201511 yr But, but, but, I thought that 96.87% of all people were content with the way things were under the junta. Where did they find all these people to complain?
February 9, 201511 yr 76 provinces in Thailand and they have people from just 10. Who are these 10 provinces, it would be interesting to know. Why aren't they saying, could it be that they are a handpicked pro Junta group? Anything North of Rangsit probably wasn't asked to attend.....
February 9, 201511 yr Thailand - most dangerous country in the world for motorcycles Most murders in Asia per capita second most dangerous roadways in the world no media transparency tourist fatality numbers are not reported properly 1 in 2,400 Brits dies in Thailand ya want more? I got it in spades bro
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