Reformers and groups call for Civil Society Fund

At a seminar held by the groups, Pichai Sonchaeng, assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister, said the government realised the significance of civil society to help national development and was drafting PM’s Office directives to boost the work of civil society ahead of pushing for an act related to the matter.
NGO Coordinating Committee chairman Srisuwan Khuankachorn said the body had long presented solutions to problems faced by Thais and many solutions had helped alleviate grievances for people who could not wait for state assistance.
Srisuwan said even though state officials had carried out work to the best of their ability, there was still room for improvement and civil society wanted to bridge this gap by pushing for the establishment of the Civil Society Fund.
He said getting people involved in issues could be achieved by identifying policies so locals could manage their communities and basic necessities to ensure a better way of life.
People had to be educated so they know how to utilise and preserve natural resources and local cultures.
He said young generations should be given roles in managing public or community affairs as this would lead to sustainable solutions.
Sunee Chaiyaros, deputy chairwoman of the Law Reform panel nominated by the National Reform Council, said to strengthen civil society people should not push only agendas aimed at vested interests.
“Every group must realise that all sectors in society are linked in someway and they should help strengthen democracy but first they must know what true democracy is,” she said.
Banjong Nasae, president of Thai Sea Watch Association, said he did not like the term ‘civil society’ as he believes it is too general and does not reflect the diversity of people in each profession.
“We should classify people in terms of professions because there is not one profession in society,” he said. However, he admitted strengthening civil society would allow locals to get together to solve their problems.
National Reform Committee member Churee Wijitwatakarn said one of the root causes of Thai society’s problems was the fact Thais did not trust one another and that was not because the laws were no good.
That was why lawmakers put specific details in the laws to ensure social security, she said.
She agreed that strengthening civil society would enhance bargaining power for the people, pointing out the collective power of a chamber of commerce.
“If a group is strong, it can seek support from the state more efficiently, as the government tends to listen to groups and not people in general,” she said.
Another structural problem centred on the state putting too much emphasis on the business sector, when it could look after itself and manage growth without support.
“Another obstacle is centralisation. The central government is too powerful and decentralisation is needed,” she said.