Leaked NRC names 'disappointing'

The 173 names of National Reform Council (NRC) members that were leaked yesterday clearly signify political bias and social exclusion, which could lead to unfair reform proposals that will make all reconciliation efforts fail, academics and politicians said. 

Ekachai Chainuvati, deputy dean of law at Siam University, said the list wasn’t surprising as the individuals had the “same political stance and military influence”. He added that this would result in the exclusion of a large group in Thai society, resulting in “narrow” reform proposals. 

“The fact that a big group of the popular sector was not given an opportunity to engage in the NRC means that in the end, the prime minister will not achieve his goal of reconciliation,” he said.

Ekachai said he did not have a problem with the fact that many anti-Pheu Thai people were chosen, but added that he was disappointed that not all groups were included. 

Mahidol University peace expert Gothom Arya agreed, saying it would be impossible for a junta-appointed NRC to achieve reconciliation. 

“You can’t achieve reconciliation with that [list],” Gothom said, adding that perhaps the NRC could organise events to foster dialogue and national reconciliation. 

“We need to get people who think differently to start talking to one another,” he said. The peace expert said he would also be organising such events on his own, and holding brainstorming sessions on three key reform issues, namely elections, decentralisation, and political parties, from next month onwards. 

He added that the NRC would eventually deliver conservative proposals, as the members chosen were known conservatives. 

 

NRC ‘will have little influence’

However, Chamnan Chaneyang, independent law expert and a member of the Midnight University, said he was indifferent to the list. He said the purpose of establishing the NRC was for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to gain public approval and credibility, pointing out that the NRC would not have any real influence on the country’s reform.

“The NRC is not an essential part of the country’s reform because its only task is to propose a reform agenda, which will be approved by the NCPO. 

“They only have two months to come up with wide-ranging reform proposals. What can you do in that time? It’s impossible,” he said. 

Surapong Tovichakchaikul, former deputy PM and ex-foreign minister, said he was disappointed because these were the same individuals who had been working with the NCPO. This means the reform agenda will not be inclusive of all sides and the real benefits will not reach ordinary people, he said. 

He added that it was a huge disappointment, as backward reform proposals would not ease any problems. 

Former Pheu Thai MP Amnuay Khangpha said the “same faces” who opposed the Pheu Thai-led government were selected, and the list included several members of the former “40 Senators” group. That was a group of conservative former senators who were known for their opposition to Thaksin Shinawatra and launched many fierce attacks in Parliament against the Pheu Thai administration. 

Amnuay also said he wasn’t sure if the NCPO wanted to establish peace and reconciliation, or if it wanted to create another crisis. 

Meanwhile, Chulalongkorn labour expert Associate Professor Lae Dilokvidhyarat said the country’s labour movement was deeply divided along the lines of Thai politics, and as a result, it failed to nominate candidates for the NRC. 

He added that many people also did not want to have anything to do with the military junta for fear their reputation would be tainted. As a result, there is nobody in the NRC who can truly represent the interests of the labour sector. 

Former Democrat MP Attawit Suwanpakdee said judging from the names, he believed they could contribute to an effective and fair constitution. However, he said, he wasn’t sure if they could come up with good proposals for the 11 reform areas. 

Before the coup, “politicians and bureaucrats were part of the conflict, but now the former have been pushed to the side, as there appear to be many bureaucrats in the NRC list. This will make it difficult for the NRC to come up with innovative reform plans, for instance in terms of the police, governor elections or local administration,” as these bureaucrats are fettered by their own ideas that “do not truly represent the voice of the people”, he said.