Whose reform process is this?

As long as the people are not allowed to voice their demands, what is the point in this country proceeding with so-called reform for a fairer society?

In the first half of November, as the National Reform Council prepared to begin its work, the military has already restricted, intervened or prevented as many as eight public forums throughout the country, according to data collected by rights group iLaw.

As the junta kicked off the reform process, a number of civil organisations began gathering to brainstorm ideas in the hope that they could participate in the formation of the national reform agenda.

Their voices represent people from all walks of life who have no representatives on the reform council. The junta exercised its power to handpick 250 persons to sit on the council. The majority come from the military, the civil service and an NGO “elite” whose knowledge of the everyday life ordinary citizens is limited. Critics charge the junta with enacting a top-down reform process that does not reflect the popular will. So far, that criticism is valid.

On November 5, the authorities sent military officers to interfere in a forum of civil networks called in the Northeast to discuss community rights and the constitution. Apparently suspicious of a political motive, the officers took down the names of all the participants. The meeting proceeded, though unevenly in an atmosphere of intimidating scrutiny.   

On November 9, the military blocked a march by farmers, academics and NGO workers campaigning for land rights for poor farmers. Many of the marchers, an academic among them, were briefly detained for resisting martial law.

The group then demanded permission to submit its reform agenda to government representatives. The military screened the group and selected four of its members for a meeting with Prime Minister’s Office Minister Panadda Diskul, on the condition that they did not wear their campaign T-shirts.

On November 15, an academic forum on democracy and transparency planned at Chulalongkorn University was scrapped after the military asked campus authorities to ban such activities. The organisers agreed to move the forum to Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom but were forced to accept the presence of plainclothes officers who monitored the discussion.

On November 16, two linked events dealing with the topic of land reform were banned by security officers. When the talk show and concert “Our Land” was cancelled by military order, the organisers called a press conference to give their account of events. The press conference was also banned. Five of the organisers were summoned by police for questioning and made to sign an agreement that they would not hold any such event in the future.

Journalism has also been targeted, with the host of a news programme seeking reform proposals from citizens forced to step down because military officers found her questions “provocative”.

Rather than allowing people of all classes, groups and walks of life to speak freely about reform, the junta this week launched its process of “people participation” to gather opinions and views from those “outside” the reform council.  

However, the claim of popular participation, made in an effort to legitimate the junta-sponsored reform, is in reality a weak one.

  The junta and its reform council are at liberty to consider only those facts, opinions and views that they want to hear. There is absolutely no guarantee that any views of ordinary citizens will reach the inner circles of decision-making then be put on the agenda for national reform.     

If the junta is really serious about reform for the benefit of the people, it must relax its grip on freedom of expression and allow a greater space for public debate of the reform agenda and plans.