Same old faces may not meet reform goals: critics

[webfact]

Same old faces may not meet reform goals: critics

By WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION 

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha

 

BANGKOK: -- THE new government-appointed reform committees may not be able to realise intended reforms, given a lack of diversity among members and a constraining legal framework, analysts have said.

 

Established on Tuesday under the new national reform bill, 11 committees have been assigned to come up with a reform action plan and implementation within a year.

 

Their areas of coverage span politics, bureaucratic administration, law, justice, economy, natural resources and environment, public health, mass media, society, energy and anti-corruption.

 

The plans will be forwarded to the national strategy committee, chaired by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, as part of creating the legally binding, 20-year national strategy, to which future governments are supposed to comply.

 

Prayut’s government has made numerous attempts at so-called reforms, from establishing parliamentary reform bodies in place of the usual Lower House to setting up a super committee to “integrate” reform and administration work.

 

Those efforts could be the reason why reform committees are comprised of the same members of the defunct junta-appointed National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), such as Wanchai Sornsiri from the political reform committee; Khamnoon Sitthisaman and Pornthip Rotjanasunan from the NRSA whip; and Khanit Suwannet from the media reform committee.

 

 

The 120 names approved by the Cabinet also include current and former top bureaucratic officials, heads of private companies, former charter drafter chief Borwornsak Uwanno, media personality Seri Wongmontha and academic-turned-politician Anek Laothamatas. 

 

Independent political science academic Trakool Meechai said re-enlisting these figures could mean that attempted reforms would make little or no difference. “It is unlikely to see new, fresh reform suggestions from the same old faces,” Trakool said.

 

Natpakorn Nammuang, from the NGO-based Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw), said that would also mean reform outcomes could be in line with the junta’s approach, given that many of the committee members had worked with, or even under, the junta.

 

“The lack of implementation could also mean that the powers-that-be actually wish to set up a code to conduct for future authorities rather than actual reform,” he said.

 

However, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam argued that the membership of the committees was appropriate without being overshadowed by former NRSA members. “We had to seek good men and they were the only ones we could think of.”

 

Democrat Party deputy leader Nipit Intharasombat questioned whether the appointments could cause conflicts if they are prone to political bias. “Democracy can be realised only if all sides are thoroughly engaged in national reforms,” he said.

 

Prayut said yesterday that the newly appointed reform committees focusing on 11 key areas were meant to complement the government’s 20-year strategy.

 

Prayut also defended the composition of the 11 new panels, saying that their members came from several groups in society – and were not just retired bureaucrats as had been claimed. The PM also invited politicians and people from other groups to join the reform committees, as there were still vacant seats.

 

He was asked if the post-coup government’s reform efforts had already failed, as many of reform panel members were from the now-defunct National Reform Committee and National Reform Steering Assembly. Prayut said those reform assemblies had done a lot of work but more needed to be done.

 

“We need the reform committees to map out a national reform and strategy plan. This kind of work needs time and you should be patient. Things have become better,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30324028

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-17

[Samui Bodoh]

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

“It is unlikely to see new, fresh reform suggestions from the same old faces,”

 

The purpose of these committees is not to enact reforms, it is to retain power without responsibility;

 

“Power without responsibility – the prerogative of the harlot throughout the ages.”

[Chang_paarp]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Established on Tuesday under the new national reform bill, 11 committees have been assigned to come up with a reform action plan and implementation within a year.

 

Their areas of coverage span politics, bureaucratic administration, law, justice, economy, natural resources and environment, public health, mass media, society, energy and anti-corruption.

 

The plans will be forwarded to the national strategy committee, chaired by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, as part of creating the legally binding, 20-year national strategy, to which future governments are supposed to comply

 

There goes any chance of an election till well past next year as the reforms will need to be implemented.

[tracker1]

Jobs for the boys we call it ! I didn't see any Generals amongst the mentioned surely they haven't run out of Generals !

[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“It is unlikely to see new, fresh reform suggestions from the same old faces,” Trakool said.

well said; another round of cronies collecting overblown salaries, publishing high theory that is not practical;

thais , out of insecurity, do not trust us expats, however a group of us would likely do as well as these committees

[klauskunkel]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Their areas of coverage span politics, bureaucratic administration, law, justice, economy, natural resources and environment, public health, mass media, society, energy and anti-corruption.

Sadly, missing areas include twerking, e-cigarettes, boobies at Songkran, alcohol on social media, ThaiBev and the RTP, inactive posts and Government jaunts to Hawaii.

[JAG]

Sadly, missing areas include twerking, e-cigarettes, boobies at Songkran, alcohol on social media, ThaiBev and the RTP, inactive posts and Government jaunts to Hawaii.

No need for committees, they've already made themselves look ridiculous in these areas.

[mtls2005]

154 members, with five family members each, earning 100,000 baht/month, there should be no hurry to actually implement "reforms".

 

Nice trough-age. Slurp, slurp.

 

And people thought the PTP were recklessly pilfering the state's coffers.

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“We need the reform committees to map out a national reform and strategy plan. This kind of work needs time and you should be patient. Things have become better,” he said.

For whom ? 

 

Thais are some of the most patient people on earth, so long as, they are not behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.   How long do these people have to wait before the reforms they have no say in take effect ?   Looking at the panel makes one's eye lids feel heavy.  They all look like they have the same tailor and barber.  

[JCauto]

"Round up the usual suspects..."

[The Deerhunter]

2 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

 

There goes any chance of an election till well past next year as the reforms will need to be implemented.

What were you expecting?

[Rancid]

I'm sure they will deliver exactly the reforms they are being paid to deliver. No government sets up such a committee unless the desired outcome is agreed to beforehand. Yes Minister again comes to mind.

[Srikcir]

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Their areas of coverage span politics, bureaucratic administration, law, justice, economy, natural resources and environment, public health, mass media, society, energy and anti-corruption.

Glaringly missing is the Thai military.

But then its the military's 20-year national strategy to which future governments are supposed to comply. The RTM operates outside the constitutional rule of law and answers to no one for its behavior.