‘If people don’t have confidence in your integrity, it will be difficult,’ says Anand
INCREASING the knowledge of the public rather than the influence of the military was necessary in shaping society for the good, said former prime minister Anand Panyarachun, adding that the country’s reform efforts will ultimately require openness to a di
He said these ideas could be implemented under the current post-coup government.
“Just because they are military does not mean they are stupid,” he said. But to achieve the goals, the “right political management” was needed to resolve political disputes peacefully and constructively, and the “present framework” was not achieving that.
Anand was speaking during a question-and-answer session following his speech on “Democratic Governance: Striving for Thailand’s New Normal”. The event was hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand at a Bangkok hotel on Wednesday night.
Anand touched on the four elements he believes constitute the Kingdom’s “new normal” – the term he used to describe how a democratic normalcy could be sustained amid dynamic changes.
The elements consist of sustainable and widespread economic development; promoting an open and inclusive society; respect for the rule of law; and the need to recalibrate the balance of power among the state, the private sector and the people.
Anand, 83, suggested that there must be “comprehensive structural reforms” to achieve the “new normalcy”, parts of which could be done through constitution drafting.
He does not regard the coups as the main cause of foreign investors’ lack of trust in the Kingdom. He said it was more about insufficient human-resource support, such as proper training.
Anand said he was not proud of what had happened through the “83 years of our so-called democracy”.
But he added: “You have to make the distinction between coups in Thailand and in Africa.”
As prime minister after the military coup in 1991, Anand, who was unelected, said it was essential that he earned people’s confidence.
“If people don’t have confidence in your integrity, it will be difficult to govern,” he said.
Anand denied he is connected with the current junta, explaining that he “only met them at social functions and never had personal talks with them”.
He refused to directly comment on the junta or the drafting of the constitution, saying he has not studied the matters enough.
Anand, a former ambassador to the United States, believes the US’ position and acts in relation to Thailand “haven’t been consistent” and “have to be more sensitive towards other people”.
But the US’ presence in and influence on Thailand are still welcome, he said.
Born in 1932, Anand also served as prime minister following the Black May crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1992.
Prior to his political career, he also served as ambassador to the United Nations, Canada and West Germany, and was Foreign Ministry permanent secretary.
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