We must make sure we're travelling together and on the right track

But rather than re-doubling our efforts, it’s far more important to first ensure that we’re on the right track: does our approach lead to where we want to go?

I suggest that rather than seeking to suppress our diversity, what’s vital is to ensure that we use non-violent means of accepting, welcoming, and reconciling that diversity, seeking win-win solutions and being willing to compromise to achieve common overarching goals. This approach recognises that, as in Aesop’s fable of six blind men and the elephant, different groups have differing and legitimate needs that must be addressed if we are to reach sustainability. To its credit, this approach is being used by the Constitution Drafting Committee, in recommending, for example, what method of representation we should use. There was much strong, on-topic debate before setting on the mixed member proportional representation system.

This approach should be expanded to all sectors that we are reforming, and reach the grassroots, being sure to shed light and not heat, following former prime minister Anand Panyarachun’s 7 Pillars of Sustainable Democracy: elections, political tolerance, the rule of law, freedom of expression, accountability and transparency, decentralisation and civil society. Thus, we would welcome all views and encourage society-wide, decentralised discussions under neutral moderators, eg, universities or professional societies. Our common goal would be to achieve results that all could commit themselves to for four years.

Make sure we’re on the right track, then proceed.

Burin Kantabutra