Three National Agendas Proposed To Solve The Country's Crisis

[Jai Dee]

NSC Chairman proposes three national agendas to solve the country's crisis

The Chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS) proposes a three-point national agenda to the government as a guideline to solve the country’s crisis. He also affirmed to expose the last government’s corruptions and called on Thai people to be united as a tribute to His Majesty the King on the occasion of His 80th birthday anniversary.

In his comment after the Prime Minister declared the government's policy to the National Legislative Assembly, Gen.Sonthi Boonyaratglin (สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน), Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army and Chairman of the CNS Saturday (November 4) said that the CNS shared a view with the government that the country’s current problems should be solved immediately. He said that CNS on Friday (Nov 3) discussed the situation at Khun Nane (ขุนเณร) Camp of the 5th Special Warfare Division in Chiang Mai Province. The meeting agreed that the CNS would propose three national agendas to the government. They are promotion of unity and reconciliation, corruption suppression and joint efforts to hold a celebration on HM the King’s 80th birthday anniversary in 2007. Gen. Sonthi said Thai people must be united in holding the celebrations in order to express loyalty to the king.

Asked for his comment on the prime minister’s speech that his acceptance of the premiership was a heavy burden, Gen.Sonthi said that in the current situation where public opinions were diversified, anybody who is assigned to take control of the country must face a heavy burden. As the CNS Chairman, General Sonthi said CNS will help the Prime Minister shoulder that burden. Asked how the CNS could make political parties realize the importance of unity, the CNS chairman revealed that he had invited their representatives for discussion, and some party leaders had already come to meet him.

Regarding the disappearance of the human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit (สมชาย นีละไพจิตร), Gen.Sonthi said that the CNS is not involved in the investigation as it is the responsibility of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). However, he noted that the government should accelerate the investigation because the southern people are very interested in this case.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Social Development and Human Security minister urged 3 strategies to establish strong community

Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham (ไพบูลย์ วัฒนศิริธรรม) reiterated that the three strategies for strengthening the society and reuniting the people in Thailand will apply the principles of justice and morality.

Mr. Paiboon presided over a seminar to listen to different viewpoints from the representatives of flood-affected victims, senior citizens, hill tribe villagers, and disabled people. They reached the conclusion to specify the three strategic plans to develop the Thai society. There are four urgent policies to propel the operation. The policies are campaigning for people to look after one another, devising a model scheme to develop the communities in the deep South, building a model scheme to revive flooded communities in 46 provinces, and campaigning for a volunteer project to urge state officials and communities to make merits. Moreover, there is the need to establish a volunteer network nationwide, and this network will encourage people to make merits in honour of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The Social Development and Human Security Minister also gave his opinion on the solutions for social problems solutions such as youth problems. The minister said it is no use to enforce all the rules, but the best solution is to establish a strong community, as it is a social foundation. The government is willing to support the communities’ ideas.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Cabinet meeting held today

The Prime Minister, Gen. Surayud Chulanont, will have a Cabinet meeting today (Nov 7) to discuss the adjustment of operation plan following the declaration of government policy to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

According to Government Spokesman Yongyuth Maiyalarp, a special Cabinet Meeting was also held yesterday as Gen. Surayud would want to discuss on the issues that have been opposed by the NLA on November 3rd and the adjustment of work procedures of the Cabinet. The discussion covered all five policies including administrative and political reforms, economic policy, foreign affairs policy, social policy, and security policy.

The Cabinet discussed the issue to prioritize those policies because this interim government has only one year to accomplish all assigned tasks. They considered the social and security policies as the first priority because unity is very important for the nation right now.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 07 November 2006

[Jai Dee]

Cabinet approves three national agendas

Based on the Council for National Security report, the Cabinet Tuesday approved three national agendas - the celebrations of His Majesty the King's 80th birthday in 2007, the forging of national unity and the fight against corruption.

"The government will encourage the people's involvement in the year-long celebrations for His Majesty starting from December 5, 2006 to December 5, 2007," Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said.

In regards to the implementation of the anti-corruption campaign, PM's Office Minister Dhipavadee Meksawan said the government will ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

Relevant graft laws will be later amended in accordance with the convention, she said.

Her colleague Thirapat Serirangsan is in charge of drafting a code of ethics for Cabinet members, she said. The code is expected to include penalties and will be in line with the draft bill on conflicts of interest, she added.

Dhipavadee said she will take charge of raising anticorruption awareness in the bureaucracy by working with the Civil Service Commission and the Public Sector Development Commission.

The Education Ministry will promote courses on ethics and morals at all educational levels, she said.

Source: The Nation - 7 November 2006