NRC chairman answers queries on 'blueprint for change', likelihood of long-term success

Thienchay said during an open session of the “NRC Blueprint for Change” conference with Suthichai Yoon, adviser to the Nation Multimedia Group’s editorial board, that he was never concerned the military would use him.

He said that from Day 1 in the job he was certain the country was in dire need of reform, although he was not sure the outcome would be positive as the work was linked to new mechanisms addressed in the draft charter.

But he insisted that within a limited time frame – five years as proposed – two key issues, the administration and education, could result in the reform process being successful if tackled properly. He said a “a special power” might be needed in the reform process to get things done, or at least to remove obstacles so that fundamental structures, mechanisms and even the country wisdom can have a chance again.

The following is an excerpt from Thienchay’s interview with Suthichai.

 

HOW DO YOU VIEW THE ROLE OF THE NRC IN REFORMING THE COUNTRY – AS AN ARCHITECT, AN ENGINEER, OR A DAYDREAMER?

At present I’m not sure. During the last 10 months, we have not been working only on reforming the country, but we have a duty to vote on the new charter too. After the vote, the NRC will be out of service, but I believe that our reform spirit will still remain and we can act as a watchdog so that our reform work will not be a waste.

 

WHEN YOU FIRST ACCEPTED THE INVITATION TO CHAIR THE NRC, DID YOU THINK THERE WAS A RISK YOU WOULD BE USED BY THE MILITARY?

It’s not a risk, but a must, as the country had no way out. As the time came, we knew that it was such a big bet because if we didn’t do it now, how would we be able to tell our children why we didn’t do it when we had had a chance to do it for them and the country?

 

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL STUDIES ON REFORM. HAVE YOU HAD ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOURS WOULD BE ANOTHER USELESS ONE AS THERE WAS NO COMMITMENT AT ALL TO HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN?

I have. But I must say that the reform this time is not like in the past. We have a bigger task to accomplish. We have synthesised previous work and looked into various issues. And we have come up with a comprehensive set of reform plans to tackle them all together, the point that has made our work different from the past. Reform work is not about solving today’s problems, but about the country’s vision over the next 20 years.

 

HOW MUCH HAVE YOUR REFORM PROPOSALS REFLECTED THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AND WHETHER OR NOT THE NEW GOVERNMENT WILL WORK ON THEM?

We had the process of public hearings, or even taking complaints from people. And we have synthesised it and collected it in our system before distributing it to our committees to consider and shape it in their reform proposals. But how to link it to a future commitment? We have been trying to connect with people and pass on the work to them as well.

 

HOW DO YOU MAKE PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY ARE THE OWNERS OF THE REFORM BLUEPRINT, AND HOW DO YOU MAKE THE ADMINISTRATION TAKE IT AND PURSUE IT?

The reform blueprint is not isolated, but has been placed under the constitution. It’s like a commitment, a guarantee that no matter who comes to power and is the government, they would then have a commitment to the reform under the constitution.

 

IN RELATION TO THE PROPOSAL TO HAVE A COUNCIL TO DRIVE THE REFORM, WHAT WOULD BE ITS APPROACH – HOW WOULD IT WORK?

I will not comment on this because a “council” now has two interpretations. One is under the interim charter, and the other is being drafted under the new charter. It’s a bit frustrating determining what it would drive and for what problems.

 

WOULD THE GOAL OF THE COUNCIL TO DRIVE REFORM BE POSSIBLE AFTER THE NRC IS DISSOLVED?

I am not sure, and I can say it openly. We started this work with a real challenge, but it’s often [true] that things end with politics. So the blueprint can still be adjustable. I would like to point out that some proposals the government has taken from us are important and I am glad to see it include them in its policies. I don’t mind who has been working on the proposals, because at the end of the day it’s the country that has earned the most.

 

WHAT ABOUT TWO OTHER ISSUES THAT THE NRC WILL HAVE TO WORK ON – A QUESTION THAT WILL GO WITH THE REFERENDUM AND VOTING ON THE CHARTER?

 They are sensitive. I will not answer.

 

AS A MIDWIFE WHO HAS HELPED DELIVER THE NEW CONSTITUTION, HOW WILL YOU NEGOTIATE WITH THE CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE SO IT DOES NOT GET KILLED ON THE WAY?

We can consult and look at the details of the charter together, but nobody will be convinced to go one way or the other. We can discuss things in detail, but this needs to be done carefully so there is no lobbying. 

 

SOME NRC MEMBERS HAVE DECLARED THAT THEY WILL VOTE DOWN THE CHARTER, BUT AS A MIDWIFE, WHO WOULD YOU ABORT THIS BABY?

There are only two of them, and actually that’s the beauty of various views blossoming – many views indicate the beginning of true democracy. 

Don’t say it’s an abortion because it may not happen.

 

IS IT NRC’S MISSION TO PUSH IT THROUGH?

We must first see the draft charter, otherwise we will not be able to do anything. We are assessing it. If you ask me whether I want it to go through or not, I would rather keep that to myself for now. Otherwise, you may accuse me of manipulation. 

 

NOW THE SUBJECT OF HEATED DEBATE – WHAT ABOUT THE QUESTIONS ATTACHED TO THE REFERENDUM, SUCH AS WHETHER REFORM SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE WE CAN HAVE AN ELECTION?

More proposals on the question keep coming in. Actually there are more proposals than what is reported in the news, but the NRC will have to choose only one. Now, there is also a proposal suggesting that we not have a question at all, especially if it is about a national reconciliation government.

But we have not yet come to a conclusion on the question. I’m not worried about the referendum, provided they consider all proposals and see the difference for themselves. 

It’s like electing an MP, if you follow logic, the election will not be a problem. As chair of the NRC, I have never asked the members to stop talking. If we ask them to stop expressing themselves, what will the 65 million Thais expect from us. This is like a learning and self-training process for us – to learn how to be a grown-up in a democratic world. Rights and freedom come with responsibilities. So, when you speak up, be responsible for what you say too.

 

SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT NEW CONFLICTS MAY ARISE AFTER THE ELECTION. ARE YOU WORRIED THAT REFORM WOULD END UP BEING MEANINGLESS AS A RESULT?

We hope that if a problem does arise, it does not give way to violence. I think all concerned parties have now learned a lesson – that they are part of the problem. I will not say who should step back, because I can’t do it. It should come to a point where everybody can think for themselves. The draft constitution is looking forward, but the root of the problem is still here, 100 per cent. We all know that even though the water may look calm on the surface, a storm may be brewing underneath. 

 

HOW WILL THE REFORM BLUEPRINT HELP RESOLVE THE POLITICAL CONFLICT?

We have submitted the reconciliation recommendation report to the government already, and it contains some very interesting details. It sticks to the principle of moving forward, but at the same time it’s highly possible that it can return to a worse point because it’s very sensitive. So, we must help one another embrace the situation.

 

HOW WILL YOU MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT YOU DID NOT TAKE ORDERS FROM THOSE IN POWER, OR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR PEACE AN ORDER, OR HAVE BEEN DOING HOMEWORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT?

I cannot put it in words, but we at the NRC know how many “orders” we have torn up. Actually, I prefer to call them “requests”. But it is somehow about having different sets of information, which has prompted different decisions on issues to be dealt with. 

Integrating “the five rivers” has helped. I will not blame the lack of understanding, but we have tried to get rid of that as quickly as possible. A case in point, for example, is the difference in understanding of the 21st oil-exploration concession.

 

WHAT PERCENTAGE HAS THE “SOVEREIGN POWER” GAINED FROM YOUR WORK?

They have gained 100 per cent, but depends on what options they choose. Say if they decide to proceed with the blueprint immediately, would they be able to handle the opposition resulting from major reforms? The reform focuses on structural problems. 

So, the information and facts that the strategic committee will help them judge is very important. We want to see every issue placed before us for reform. You don’t have to use absolute power under Article 44 for all issues, but you may have to start working on every issue with a different set of resolutions, so we can more toward a strong democracy. That’s our goal. 

 

ON THE WAY TOWARDS REFORM, WE NEED TO USE “SPECIAL POWERS”?

At the time of a crisis, sometimes we may need to rest, place rules aside. Resting may mean going back to fix our foundation, mechanisms and thinking. It’s like building a new city.

 

WOULD USING SPECIAL POWERS MAKE YOU ADDICTED TO IT? ADDICTED TO SOMETHING UNDEMOCRATIC, LIKE A DRUG. SO, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE REFORM BLUEPRINT THAT CAN HELP US AVOID USING SUCH SPECIAL POWERS?

Development involves various aspects, be it education, morale boosting or good governance. Governance is actually the same as responsibility. Sometimes we may need a mechanism to help us reset the system or fix long-standing issues. If you say that is an addiction, well, if it’s in small doses, I don’t think we will get addicted. 

 

WHAT OUTCOME DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

It might be a bit difficult to provide numbers, because we have problems that have accumulated over time, and I have been able to see that over the last 10 months while we were working. We may not be able to say that in the next five years, we will see 20 per cent success in our work. We may have to shift our priorities. From what we have discussed, there are two issues that need attention – administration and education. 

 

WHAT DOES THE NRC WANT TO SEE CHANGED THE MOST?

Both those issues – administration that has decentralisation as a challenge at its heart, including transparency in the fight against corruption and the justice process. It’s time to downsize our administration. The other issue is education.

 

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO BEING PARTNERS IN REFORMING THE COUNTRY?

I would like to see people care about it, because this is our country and we are working for our children. What we have designed may not satisfy you all, so in the future you must come and contribute. After we finish our work, we will be just Thai citizens. The country will still be ours. We have proposed reform plans, now you must own it and come work with us.