Did Panadda's remark hide a threat to local admin?

PM’s Office permanent secretary Panadda Diskul dropped the bombshell in a Facebook remark a few days ago that ruffled the feathers of Provincial Administrative Organisations (PAO). 

 

“Whoever wants to live a luxurious life at the expense of taxpayer money without shame should go into the private sector. Do not become a politician or civil servant, because they will just be a disgrace to the institution.” 

 

Panadda apologised after the PAO association of Thailand demanded the permanent secretary identify to whom he referred because the PAO’s image as a whole had been tarnished. The PAO defended claims that some local leaders had been rich before they entered into politics. “What’s wrong ... if they continue living in the lap of luxury with their own money?”

 

To Panadda’s supporters, his FB remark has raised the question of what action should be taken against such a practice. They also believe that Panadda made the comment with the honest intent of fighting corruption.

 

But to the PAO and its supporters, Panadda made the remark with an ulterior motive to discredit local administration in order to reduce its role and power. They said they had grounds for such belief after the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) – when it first took control – suspended elections of local administrations and opted for a selection process.

 

Panadda’s comment has heightened local leaders’ suspicion that the NCPO’s political aim is to reduce the power of local administrative organisations and increase the central government’s role and power.

 

Local leaders believe the NCPO is developing a mindset that local administrations and local politicians have contributed to the country’s political division as national politicians have used them as their power base.

 

Meanwhile, the NCPO’s selection of local administrative organisation members has met with obstacles. The NCPO has set the criteria that local leaders must be civil servants or former civil servants beyond the C8 level. Many local administrative organisations have become understaffed because of this strict criteria. Some civil servants are members of two or three organisations, and some groups have no local people as their members. Finally, local government has been made another branch of a centralised government system.

 

A number of research studies have proven that decentralisation helps locals understand their needs best. Besides, the system caters to public participation, as locals do not feel they are being ruled by anyone. Also, locals are too diverse to be ruled by one single system or any fixed mindset.

 

Local administration naturally balances the power of central government. 

 

Democracy advocates hope Panadda’s comment would not be used to give legitimacy to centralisation.

 

The path through decentralisation and democracy may not be paved with roses – but going back to square one when people were not given power to rule themselves is not the answer.

 

After the reform process has been completed, the NCPO should not forget to allow local elections to continue.

 

The NCPO should adjust and develop our democracy to become more mature, since we have already chosen the right path.