Steering assembly briefs Thailand-based foreign diplomats on its planned reforms

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Steering assembly briefs foreign diplomats on its planned reforms
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) yesterday briefed 74 Thailand-based foreign diplomats and the heads of six international organisations about its reconciliation and reform efforts.

"We explained to them that reconciliation can't simply be done by having two sides negotiating with each other," said Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, the NRSA spokesperson.

"We have to reform in order to eliminate [social] inequality, which is the root of crises [in the country]."

Some of the diplomats asked how reconciliation would be carried out by the "Five Rivers" of power, which comprises the NRSA, the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC), the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the Cabinet and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

Initially, the NRSA's committee on political affairs would propose a framework for reconciliation within 30 days, Kamnoon said. They agreed that it was one of the most important agendas that needed to be accomplished during the NRSA's 18-month timeframe. The joint committee of the NRSA, the Cabinet and the NLA would also decide if amnesty was appropriate and how reconciliation should be achieved.

Alongkorn Ponlaboot, vice president of the NRSA, explained the NRSA's reform agenda with regard to the interim charter and its 1+1+18 formula to drive reforms over 20 months.

He informed the diplomats that the NRSA would work with the other "Five Rivers" and follow the NCPO's three-step road map to democracy.

Alongkorn said he would cooperate with the eight new reform and steering committees soon to be set up and led by the deputy prime ministers.

Meanwhile, Captain Tinnapan Nakata, the NRSA president, stressed that the special powers given to the government under Article 44 of the interim charter had to be exercised to solve various aspects of the problems facing the Kingdom, including reforms.

Suvat Chirapant, another NRSA spokesperson, said the NRSA also assured the continuity of work between itself and the former National Reform Council (NRC), especially with regard to the changes in action to be applied to all 11 reform aspects held by both bodies.

When asked by the diplomats how people would participate in the reform process, the NRSA said participation would be through 11 communication centres and more than 700 public stages. So far, it has received more than 200,000 comments from the public.

The NRSA and the Cabinet would also travel together to explain their reform work and to hear opinions from ordinary citizens, Kamnoon said, starting this weekend in the provinces of Phrae and Nan.

Suvat said the briefing was conducted in a friendly manner with the diplomats sharing their experiences. Although attended by 74 diplomats and the heads of six international organisations, no representatives from major powers were present.

Among the countries, confederations and international organisations attending were Argentina, Brazil, Finland, Morocco, Nepal, the Philippines, Spain, Libya, Myanmar, Oman, Timore-Leste, Ukraine, the European Union, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Future NRSA briefings with the diplomats might be possible depending on the emergence of future issues, Suvat said.

The NRSA will conduct another briefing with Thai ambassadors serving around the world on Saturday at 9am at the Foreign Ministry, he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Steering-assembly-briefs-foreign-diplomats-on-its--30272738.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-12

[Wilsonandson]

"20 months to go, 20 months to go, hi hoe yippy yo, 20 months to go". Can't wait for the public stage events, "You sir, what do you want?" "Democracy" "Ha, ha, ha" , "Take him round the back and beat him", "Next?"

Big Chief 5 Rivers is going to be with us for another 2 years, "Horray!". "For he's a miserable bugger, for he's a miserable bugger, for he's a miserable bu ug ger and so say him not me, pls not the attitude adjustment camp.

[oneday]

It's a simple plan. The "BKK elite" plan to dominate the government for the next several decades.

[waldroj]

So, we've now had 18 months of junta control, and still no real start to reconciliation.

If it can't be done by having two sides negotiate then how can it be done? By reform you say - so, when will that start then?

I suspect the foreign diplomats understand the situation pretty well without the need for this "briefing".

[phoenixdoglover]

It's really rather simple. There are just a few elements:

"Five Rivers" of power

the NRSA,

the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC),

the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO),

the Cabinet

the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

NRSA's committee on political affairs

The joint committee of the NRSA, the Cabinet and the NLA

1+1+18 formula

three-step road map

eight new reform and steering committees

Article 44

the former National Reform Council (NRC)

11 reform aspects

11 communication centres

700 public stages

Later, I believe they will get a fellow named Bilbo to make a long journey to defeat the forces of darkness that threaten the land.

[Srikcir]

"200,000 comments from the public"

That's out of a total electoral base of about 49 million based on 66% voter turnout in the 2011 election. In other words the 5 Rivers has heard from 0.4% of the total electorate. If the nation held elections today it would have comments from at least 32 million voters (based on the turnout in 2011). Obviously, the current government isn't ready yet to hear from 99.6% of the electorate.

[FangFerang]

“Some of the diplomats asked how reconciliation would be carried out by the "Five Rivers" of power”

“He informed the diplomats that the NRSA would work with the other "Five Rivers" and follow the NCPO's three-step road map to democracy.”

The Artful Dodger is alive and well and living in BKK.

[heybruce]

I naively thought a briefing to foreign journalists on planned reforms might actually state what these planned reforms are. I was disappointed again.

[candide]

I naively thought a briefing to foreign journalists on planned reforms might actually state what these planned reforms are. I was disappointed again.

If you add Suthep's campaign on "reform before elections" to the time the Junta spent in power, it's about 2 years and half that they talk about reforms (that could not be conducted by an elected government, of course) without ever being able to explain what these reforms are.

[Eric Loh]

If the reform and reconciliation plan was just to get rid of the Shin regime and wrestled power back to the Amart, the junta has accomplished that and no need for further briefing.