Six new panels join 'Five Rivers' as reform plan takes shape

The “Five Rivers” of power had initially formulated a new framework. Now the six newly set-up subcommittees assisted by deputy prime ministries would put their reform initiatives and recommendations into practice, based on the “pracha rat” [people’s state] concept, said PM Prayut.

The number of the committees, chaired by the prime minister himself, have shrunk from eight to six. As reported last week, it was agreed during the Cabinet meeting that all committees under deputy PM and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan be merged into one, said Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

Working top-down, the six committees will direct policies to local organisations and cooperate with the Interior Ministry. The organisations include sheriffs and village headmen, with district chiefs expected to play an increasing role in assisting provincial governors, said Prayut. They would be regarded as “pracha rat” mechanisms. 

The NCPO will also assist every committee to facilitate policy-making procedures in local levels, he added.

The new structure is another attempt by the government to put reform policies into practice. The NCPO’s strategic reform committee has been dissolved, while the government’s committee would change its role to help coordinate between the six, as well as the Five Rivers, which would also work together via its coordinating committee.

The now-defunct National Reform Council (NRC) has come up with at least 69 reform proposals that would be translated into around 13 reform action plans, expected to be forwarded to the new structure for implementation as well.

The NRSA spokesperson team yesterday updated the assembly’s progress in working on reform plans, including guidelines given by the NRSA president Captain Tinnapan Nakata.

According to spokeperson Kam-noon Sidhisamarn, Tinnapan said the subcommittees had to prioritise reform issues considering their urgency and importance as stated in the 2014 interim charter. 

The panels also had to make clear the three-step timeline on reforms in accordance with the premier’s order, Tinnapan said. It was expected to submit the plans within 30 days.

If more funds were required to complete responsible reform issues, the subcommittees needed to clarify their sources of budget to related agencies, Tinnapan added. The subcommittees also had to inform the NRSA of other agencies working on the reform issues.

The NRSA is up to the second phase of the 1+1+18 reform scheme, with its subcommittee now preparing reform plans to be proposed to the Assembly by December 9, Kamnoon added.

Meanwhile, another spokesperson, Pornthip Rojanasunand, revealed that the NRSA had set up its 21-member panel on anti-corruption and misbehaving, led by Panthep Klanarongran. The panel would focus on preventing and suppressing corruptive acts, as well as raising awareness about the issue, Pornthip added.