The controversial "reform before election" proposal that would allow Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to stay in power for another two years to ensure implementation of reform has triggered considerable debate.
On Tuesday, the cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) jointly approved proposed amendments to the interim constitution. Of the seven amendment proposals, one opens the way for a referendum on the proposed charter — whether it should be accepted or not.
Although there is no specific mention of reform before elections, it is understood that two questions would be posed in the referendum — one from the National Reform Council and another from the National Reform Council and another from the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
A proposal has emerged among the ranks of the NRC that the people should be asked whether they agree that reforms should be held before elections. This question is seen as an attempt that would pave the way for the government to stay on longer — with public consent — to kick-start reforms.
There is no question that reform is badly needed in several areas if Thailand is to move forward with prosperity, stability and better livelihoods for its people, the poor in particular. Reform is long overdue in education, government bureaucracy and the police force. None of them are easy and will take more than two years to start bearing fruit.
But the big question is what the areas of reform are that the government wants to tackle in the next two years. It seems the government itself still does not have the answer. Worse, there appears to be a lack of resolve to initiate and see through major reforms. Vested interest is the main stumbling block.
One example is backpedalling on police reform, apparently out of concern of a possible backlash from the police. The government should look at the issue as an ongoing process, adopting a step-by-step approach with a clear deadline. Police reform, for instance, can begin with decentralising the force by making it smaller, more flexible and efficient with better pay and benefits. This would better cater to the needs of the public. But the key to successful reform is political will, which, unfortunately, is still lacking.
Reform before election is contentious and divisive. Although supporters of the Prayut government support the move, all major political parties, including the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties, and pro-democracy groups, are opposed to this proposal and assert it will unnecessarily prolong the power of the military regime and delay the restoration of democratic rule for at least two more years. Prime Minister Prayut himself reiterated that he wants to stick to his road map.
There is no doubt that a referendum on the proposed charter is a must.
But to include the question of whether reform should occur before elections are held — which effectively prolongs the tenure of the government for another two years — is counter-productive and should be avoided.
Such a move would deepen the political divide and would only confirm deep-seated suspicions that all that has been done since May 22, 2014 has been to ensure the continuity of military rule under the guise of democratic processes. Prime Minister Prayut must resist all suggestions and efforts to stay on beyond his road map. He must be a man who is true to his word.
The controversial "reform before election" proposal that would allow Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to stay in power for another two years to ensure implementation of reform has triggered considerable debate. On Tuesday, the cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) jointly approved proposed amendments to the interim constitution. Of the seven amendment proposals, one opens the way for a referendum on the proposed charter — whether it should be accepted or not. Although there is no specific mention of reform before elections, it is understood that two questions would be posed in the referendum — one from the National Reform Council and another from the National Reform Council and another from the National Legislative Assembly (NLA). A proposal has emerged among the ranks of the NRC that the people should be asked whether they agree that reforms should be held before elections. This question is seen as an attempt that would pave the way for the government to stay on longer — with public consent — to kick-start reforms. There is no question that reform is badly needed in several areas if Thailand is to move forward with prosperity, stability and better livelihoods for its people, the poor in particular. Reform is long overdue in education, government bureaucracy and the police force. None of them are easy and will take more than two years to start bearing fruit. แต่คำถามใหญ่คือ พื้นที่ปฏิรูปบ้างว่า รัฐบาลต้องการที่เล่นงานในสองปีถัดไป ดูเหมือนว่ารัฐบาลเองยังไม่มีคำตอบ เลว มีแล้วจะ ไม่แก้ไขการเริ่มต้น และดูผ่านปฏิรูปหลัก ชอบธรรมเป็นบล็อกสะดุดหลัก ตัวอย่างหนึ่งคือ backpedalling ในการปฏิรูปตำรวจ เห็นได้ชัดจากความกังวลของแบคแลชได้จากตำรวจ รัฐบาลควรดูที่ปัญหาเป็นกระบวนการอย่างต่อเนื่อง ใช้วิธีการแบบทีละขั้นตอน มีกำหนดเวลาชัดเจน ปฏิรูปตำรวจ เช่น สามารถเริ่มต้น ด้วย decentralising แรงโดยเล็ก มากยืดหยุ่น และมีประสิทธิภาพ ด้วยค่าจ้างที่ดีและประโยชน์ ดีกว่านี้จะตอบสนองความต้องการของประชาชน แต่สำคัญการปฏิรูปประสบความสำเร็จคือ จะการเมือง ที่ แต่ ยังขาด ปฏิรูปก่อนเลือกตั้งจะโต้เถียง และ divisive แม้ว่าหัวใจของประยุทธกันรัฐบาลสนับสนุนการย้าย ทั้งหมดสำคัญพรรคการเมือง รวมทั้งพรรคประชาธิปัตย์และพรรคเพื่อไทย และกลุ่มประชาธิปไตย มีการข้อเสนอนี้ และยืนยันรูปโดยไม่จำเป็นจะยืดอำนาจของระบอบทหาร และเลื่อนการฟื้นฟูประชาธิปไตยกฎสำหรับอย่างน้อย 2 ปี ประยุทธกันนายกรัฐมนตรีเองย้ำว่า อยากติดแผนที่ถนนของเขา มีข้อสงสัยว่าประชามติธรรมนูญเสนอต้อง But to include the question of whether reform should occur before elections are held — which effectively prolongs the tenure of the government for another two years — is counter-productive and should be avoided. Such a move would deepen the political divide and would only confirm deep-seated suspicions that all that has been done since May 22, 2014 has been to ensure the continuity of military rule under the guise of democratic processes. Prime Minister Prayut must resist all suggestions and efforts to stay on beyond his road map. He must be a man who is true to his word.
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