Only truth and justice will close the gap, says Prawase

What issue does the new government need to address immediately as part of its reform efforts?

The reform committee and assembly still exist. Under an order from the Prime Minister's Office [in the previous government], they will last three years. They have existed for a year and have two more years to go. We made proposals on eight issues. The government may look into them if they are interested, but they are all are difficult issues. They include land reform, reform of coastal resources and reform of the tax system.

Our proposal is to create an independent organisation to look into these matters. Such organisation can help poor people effectively if it is independent. We are pleased to support the government. We are not politicians and can work with any administration.

What are the major problems that need to be addressed urgently to reduce inequity?

They are justice and land. Some poor people are sued and detained for encroaching on land their families have been living on for generations. Suddenly, they are told that they are trespassing. Some of them have died in jail. We have to offer leniency. The government should urgently address this issue. People become resentful when they fail to get justice.

I have spoken to Justice Minister Pracha Promnok about this issue, and have urged him to set up a justice fund for communities. Poor people need financial help when they get arrested. They have no money to pay for lawyers, court fees or even to get to court.

These are issues the government needs to address urgently. First, give land to as many poor people as possible - may be just a rai or two each. The government has so much land, as does the military. Second, increase land tax. Third, set up a fund to buy land. In the United States, businesspeople set up a fund to buy land for poor people. This is not a big issue but is difficult to do because land-rich people are often powerful.

It seems the problems are interconnected.

The government must look into the inequality issue. Even developed countries like the United Kingdom and the United States still have the problem of inequity. There were riots and they will happen again.

Do we have to wait for a turning point when the poor people rise up against social inequality?

Naturally, they will fight for themselves. But for Thailand, an important turning point is to be kind to poor people and love justice. Thai society dislikes poor people, even though most of our population is poor. There are 38 million labourers and many of the farmers are living in poverty. If people lack security in their life and fail to live well, the country will be weakened. We have to start loving poor people. Change now.

Do you think raising the minimum daily wage to Bt300 and setting the minimum salary for new graduates at Bt15,000 will help ease social inequality?

They are good policies. We must try to make people of lower classes earn more. A daily wage of Bt300 may not be enough to buy food and pay rent because the cost of living is rising. One solution is to provide more land to poor people.

The Justice Ministry has set up a committee to look into the petition to get a royal pardon for former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Do you think this could lead to criticism that the government is unaware of the need for national reform?

Reform can and will continue. As for the pardon issue, it involves one big problem - social division. To solve this problem, we have to address social inequity that is caused by a flawed power structure. We have to reform the power structure.

Do you think the government made a wrong move by focusing on Thaksin rather than reform or reconciliation?

I don't want to criticise the government. I just want to help them.