NGOs have key role to play ensuring inclusiveness

NGOs can play a vital role in preventing this from happening by reaching out to all sectors and ensuring that all legitimate views are considered while reforms are being formulated and implemented.

As Thomas Jefferson noted, “That government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part”, and “I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education”.

Thus, to get a strong, sustainable government, we should engage all major voter groups so that they feel that their needs have been given a fair hearing. Through extensive discussion, seeking opinions other than their own, voters can become better informed and support whatever reforms result. As politicians are not a part of the National Legislative Assembly, the NLA can reach out to key constituencies thorough civil society, eg, the associations for rural doctors, lawyers, and farmers.

Universities can play a key role in these public hearings, as in the Hong Kong protests, where a mutually trusted university president moderates between the government and students. A university that’s especially strong in, say, agriculture, can conduct nationwide hearings on matters related to farmers to present to the NLA.

Activate NGOs to help bridge and close the great divide between us, and give us a government that is effective, efficient, and sustainable.

Burin Kantabutra