Women's organizations urge govt to decentralize powers

BANGKOK, 1 February 2016 (NNT) - Women's rights organizations have said the political system in Thailand should be constructed based on a decentralized government and greater public participation.

We Move to Reform and Women Watch Association have held their first joint seminar on national reform and public participation at Parliament. The objective was to compare the current draft charter to its predecessors enacted in 1997 and 2007.

Their findings will be proposed to the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) and relevant agencies for consideration. Among the seminar's participants, Rangsit University said the government must be committed to good governance and allow the public to determine how it should run the country.

A group of labor representatives has also urged the government to provide more for the elderly via a social welfare scheme, claiming the National Savings Fund would not suffice.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed his gratitude to agencies involved in political reform such as the CDC, the National Legislative Assembly and the National Reform Steering Assembly for their hard work. He urged the Thai people to use this opportunity to put aside their differences and unite for a better future.


-- NNT 2016-02-01

"said the government must ... allow the public to determine how it should run the country."

Did these people not understand the loss of their sovereignty from the 2014 military coup, abolishment of the constitution, and military absolute power to decide what is best for the Thai people? Better late than never, but maybe never based on the bad reception the Meechai draft Constitution is receiving from the public.

Edited February 1, 201610 yr by Srikcir

It is late, but a welcome ray of light. Let's see what happens to the organization.

It does not take a rocket scientist to come to the conclusion that some form of decentralization is the long term solution in Thailand. That said, it is complicated and it may be years before the leadership in the Provinces are ready to undertake it.