Thai politics: For real change, we must grasp the concept of reform

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
For real change, we must grasp the concept of reform
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG

BANGKOK: -- WITH the National Reform Council (NRC)'s term being cut short by an amendment in the interim charter, there's one big question on everybody's mind - will any major reforms actually materialise and guide the country toward a brighter future?

However, with NRC's term so badly disrupted, few people expect to see much accomplished. Yet, placing the high expectation of reforming Thailand's deeply rooted problems on the NRC's shoulders alone might have been a flaw from the very beginning.

We all know that Thailand's fast-pace development has been beneficial for some and not so beneficial for others - creating a gap in society that has been widening over time.

This gap in one of the most deeply rooted problems, and the NRC seems to have recognised this, as its chairman Thienchay Kiranandana and first vice chairman Borwornsak Uwanno have been pointing this out since the council first convened on October 22 last year.

They have been calling for support from the public, explaining that this is the one point that needs to be changed. Yet, as time goes by, the job appears to have been left implicitly on NRC's shoulders alone.

For several months, NRC members have been putting their heads together to come up with proposals to tackle the country's fundamental problems, such as centralised power and widening income gap to name a few.

A few days ago, Thienchay told The Nation that there have been several logistical problems that have hindered progress - a major one being long-winded parliamentary procedures.

He explained that the concept of reform was much like academic work - it needed in-depth study, research and critical analysis of problems as well as the creation of a new body of knowledge to help resolve problems.

Instead, he pointed out, NRC has been tied up with parliamentary procedures, which has hardly given them any time for forge ideas together to formulate "a best and most delicately crafted reform plan".

Another, perhaps the most critical, problem the professor has been facing is the lack of a thorough understanding of the term "reform" and the general lack of determination or political will to solve the country's problems.

As a result, so-called reforms have been implemented in a disintegrated manner by different agencies. Then there's the problem of vastly different versions of the reform plan being put forward by the government, the National Legislative Assembly and the NRC.

If NRC's proposals were implemented, then they would tear down several political structures in the Kingdom - a move few appear to want despite having absolute power.

Thienchay said he would be very disappointed if nothing changed and long-standing structures are not torn down and rebuilt under this absolute power. He said it was imperative for the NRC to do what it can, even though it hasn't been given much power to change and has been more or less an advisory body.

In order to ensure real change, the task at hand is to correct misunderstandings about the concept of reform and actually becoming serious about implementing changes if we want a brighter future for our country.

After all, as Thienchay said, we all need to work together, not just leave everything in the hands of the reform council.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/For-real-change-we-must-grasp-the-concept-of-refor-30263654.html

-- The Nation 2015-07-03

[Emster23]

Oh where to start..... "He explained that the concept of reform was much like academic work - it needed in-depth study, research and critical analysis of problems as well as the creation of a new body of knowledge to help resolve problems." aka do nothing and don't rock the boat.

"If NRC's proposals were implemented, then they would tear down several political structures in the Kingdom - a move few appear to want despite having absolute power." Heck it is the "political structures" that put those with "absolute power" into office in the first place. Of course they don't want to tear them down, no more than they want to tear down illegal structures on beach side of Walking Street (sorry, do wonder about that.....).

Informal Thai dictionary many of us have added to and learned by experience that words such as "loan" and "gift" are synonyms, so too are terms "reform" and "purge".

I'll let those who have had more coffee this morning take it from here...

[quandow]

The REAL reform will have to be cultural. The hubris has GOT to go! Until people up and down the food chain can admit they made a mistake and correct processes, both big and small, Thailand will always be "business as usual." Ferchrissake, look at the fishing industry! Instead of admitting they were fishing illegally then work towards fixing the process, they dig their heels in deeper and give the one-fingered salute. Thai education system? Ministers hem, haw, make grandiose promises instead of admitting the "All Pass System" is a failure. Corruption? A recent TV news story exposed that the same old tea money is not only being paid but the monthly cost has gone up.

Yeah, reform is good (as long as it's not in MY rice bowl!).

[Srikcir]

"placing the high expectation of reforming Thailand's deeply rooted problems on the NRC's shoulders alone might have been a flaw from the very beginning."

NO

It was the Junta-appointed government acting solely on the NCPO political agenda without the endorsement of the Thai People in a setting that has taken control of the Thai People's rights and liberties that was the fundamental problem.

Edited July 3, 2015 by Srikcir

[candide]

I doubt the word reform has been more than a political slogan (by the PDRC and the junta) aiming at overthrowing the previous government, and put in place a constitution in which appointed people have more power than elected people. Who's really surprised that no other reform (except a few cosmetic ones) has been initiated?