Skepticism over national strategy
By KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN
THE NATION

 

 

Plan shows regime intends to cling to power, says critic of 20-year strategy.

 

BANGKOK: -- THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly (NLA)’s passage of the 20-year national strategy and reform draft bills yesterday drew mixed reactions from a politician and a scholar, while the bills’ drafters insisted the inclusion of security officials was necessary.

 

Political critic Sukhum Nualsakul said the legally binding, long-term plan clearly showed the political ambitions of the military-installed regime to cling to power but he did not express concerns because he said he believed society would find a way around it.

 

 

Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was disappointed over limited public participation and concerned the strategy would become a burden for future governments.

 

Sukhum, the former rector of Ramkhamhaeng University, said he was not surprised by the passage of the two laws, as they had been on the agenda of many coup-installed regimes in their attempt to prolong their hold on power. However, such efforts had not proved successful in the past, he added. 

 

“Look at Thanom [Kittikachorn] and his regime. He also tried to lay down a foundation for the succession of absolute power. But then it just did not work,” he said. “Look at Thanin [Kraivichien]’s proposal for 12-year political reforms. That, too, turned out to be a failure.”

 

The critic said he was confident that the strategy would collapse when the public will was strong enough to reject them. “In two years, five years or whatever, if people say no, they [the bills] cannot persist,” Sukhum said.

 

Meanwhile, Abhisit, the current leader of the Democrat Party, said it was disappointing that the national strategy draft bill had only been open to limited participation.

 

The process was not in line with the intent of the Constitution, which intended that people participate more in legislation, he said. The writing and passing of the draft bill relied mainly on the NLA, he said.

 

The strategy would be more effective if people were aware of it and took part in it, the former prime minister said.

 

Abhisit said the national strategy would be a burden on future governments, making it more difficult to implement policy. 

 

Other critics were concerned that the committee overseeing the national strategy would be dominated by military or security officers.

 

Admiral Pallop Tamisanon, a spokesman of the committee vetting the draft bill, said the five top Armed Forces officers would be responsible for security matters in the 20-year strategy and insisted that five was the right number.

 

He also said the 20-year timeframe to which the country would be bound was not too long given it covered short, medium and long-term plans. In other countries, similar plans were created for 20 to 50 years, he said.

 

The comments came after the NLA endorsed both laws yesterday after about three hours of deliberations with no major disagreements. 

 

The NLA had a small debate over the inclusion of the presidents of the lower and upper houses of Parliament and the exclusion of the judicial branch in the committee, but resolved to maintain original stipulations.

 

The committee will be responsible for creating a national strategy that is intended to play a significant role in shaping public policies and bind governments and governmental agencies over the next 20 years.

 

The reform draft bill will set up 11 committees overseeing 11 points of reform. Each committee, comprised 13 members appointed by the Cabinet, will serve a five year term. 

 

After the bill takes effect, the current National Reform Steering Assembly will be dissolved according to the Constitution.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30318833

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-06-23

It's all going to end up in tears. 

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was disappointed over limited public participation and concerned the strategy would become a burden for future governments.

I hope junta hugger Steven100 does not read this story. He will go ballistic!

Someone daring to criticize his beloved military. We can expect a flurry of posts pointing out the errors of these political critics ways

This is what happens when you trade your freedom for momentary security.  You get neither and you deserve to lose your freedom. 

Where is this all going? After the elections, then what? Thailand has to embrace its past and its mistakes and learn from them. 

 

This country is being led by a tiny, tiny minority who are desperate to be revered. Look at all the demanding of respect and support. How will that ever lead to democracy?

 

You vote someone in, and if they're rubbish, you suck it up 'til you can vote them out. 

Easy 100K + + per month plus perks for doing nothing for the next 20 years to go alongside all the other 'positions' being held. Will be great continuity in this when the heads of the armed forces/police change every year or so. Maybe retiring heads will be kept on advisor's.

 

 

The reform draft bill will set up 11 committees overseeing 11 points of reform. Each committee, comprised 13 members appointed by the Cabinet, will serve a five year term. 
 

 

Nice, trough-wise.

 

As many as 143 members, at what 115,000 baht/month plus meeting stipends, plus five salaried family members at 50,000 baht/month each for five years.

 

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Other critics were concerned that the committee overseeing the national strategy would be dominated by military or security officers.

have to keep those 1200 generals and 500 admirals(!!) busy

Who would have guessed that?

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the military-installed regime to cling to power but he did not express concerns because he said he believed society would find a way around it.

Hey,  society will come to the rescue! Or maybe some spirits will get tired from foretelling the lottery and decide to show the junta what's what! Or, Lord Buddha will share gentle advice on proper governing! 

One believe is as good as another, as long as it doesn't involve physical any from the believer.

4 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

It's all going to end up in tears. 

and down the line another coups. 20 coups in 80 years, surely there is a pattern. wash rinse and repeat. someone must be getting rich off it all other wise it would not keep being repeated over and over again.

their attempt to prolong their hold on power. However, such efforts had not proved successful in the past, he added. 

 

Well spoken. This will happen to Prayuth and friends too. Hopefully soon

Where are all the lawmakers in the pic?   They parsed them out pretty evenly, but it's half empty.   It 's really depressing that nobody knows what they are doing, and it doesn't even seem like they care