Thai politics: Hope and worry on the path of reform, reconciliation

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Hope and worry on the path of reform, reconciliation
PIYAPORN WONGRUANG

BANGKOK: --DESPITE the rejection of the draft charter, which contained ambitious strategies for reform and reconciliation, including a new strategic committee as well as subcommittees to help accomplish the task, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said the dream is still alive.

At a weekly press briefing on September 8, he said his government would henceforth focus on moving forward on reform and reconciliation.

What was revealed was the creation of a mechanism like the National Reform Steering Council (NRSC) to act as a key driver for the reform task. The creation of the council was once in a murky stage, as it was proposed in an amendment to the interim charter as a replacement for the National Reform Council (NRC). But it apparently overlapped mechanisms like the national strategic committee proposed in the draft charter that was voted down. With the demise of the draft charter, the only hope left to revive the task of reforms is the NRSC.

On Tuesday, Prayut for the first time revealed the composition of this body, saying its members would come from five main groups of people - former and present bureaucrats, political representatives, lawmakers and academics, security officers, and members of the now-defunct NRC.

Prayut dismissed concerns that security officers, including the military, would dominate the council, saying those being nominated were not his cronies and there were a lot of people he had never known.

"Today, we cannot consider only our cronies," Prayut said. "The country doesn't belong to any one, but all of us. We must include all."

The PM's remarks may have brought some relief to people that at least efforts are still being made to bring about reforms to make the country a better place, as it has been stagnating and, even worse, nose-diving.

The critical question around the new council is still its composition, especially with the high proportion of bureaucrats and security officers. Also, there is a lack of clarity on the council's status, framework and its timeframe.

Those involved in developing reform plans in the past, including those from the former NRC, widely agree that reform means changes in the fundamental structure. As emphasised time and again by former NRC chairman Thienchay Kiranandana, the most problematic element and the one that carries the greatest hope is the country's administration involving bureaucrats.

This was, as proposed by Thienchay's council, the first and foremost area that needed to be reformed so that other fundamental problems in the country would have a chance of being tackled.

This, Thienchay stressed, needed time and understanding so that the reform would not be only about reshuffles or improvements of the administration, but changes at a fundamental level.

With bureaucrats, once referred to as the most problematic element, having a presence in the new reform council, one cannot help but worry about the success of this council's work.

Considering the country's dire need for reforms, the PM must ensure that he will not waste this valuable opportunity. We have already paid too high a price in the name of reform and reconciliation.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Hope-and-worry-on-the-path-of-reform-reconciliatio-30269046.html

-- The Nation 2015-09-18

[Reigntax]

"The country doesn't belong to any one, but all of us. We must include all."

But chief buffalo, isnt this the exact power you gave yourself and your cronies?

[LannaGuy]

Translated "Thai Style"

"The country belongs to me, none of you and I will exclude all"

[MZurf]

The Nation has forced one of it's best reporters (Pravit Rojanaphruk, the guy that was attitude adjusted recently) to resign and reigned in the criticism of the junta. It's now back to basically being a mouthpiece of the yellow movement.

A shame really as it was developing a certain independence.

[jcsmith]

I love how these guys have appointed themselves the representatives of the people.

[deckape]

^^ Is exactly what they did, at the point of a gun.

[waldroj]

"...the only hope left to revive the task of reforms is the NRSC"!

So, now after almost 16 months of going around in circles, the junta's solution (for the rudderless 'ship of state') is the introduction of "Steering" into the NRC.

If this is all that has been achieved, then, to use the words from this very article, "...one cannot help but worry about the success of this council's work".

[candide]

"With bureaucrats, once referred to as the most problematic element, having a presence in the new reform council, one cannot help but worry about the success of this council's work."

That's why there won't be any significant achievement in reducing corruption (if it has ever been the goal of the Junta). Corruption among bureaucrats is the most widespread form of corruption in Thailand.

However, they are also one of the main force supporting the ammart/Dem/Pdrc/Army constellation.

Remember how Suthep has been warmly welcomed in various ministries during protests, and how bureaucrat unions have shown support to PDRC.