Dialogue the only way forward on reform path

Our members come from 166 countries, with often very different political systems. Yet they share the belief that dialogue – especially between parties with different perspectives – is necessary.

Indeed, it is the only way to move forward.Thailand is at a critical juncture. We have witnessed alternating periods of political stability and instability in your country. Since the creation of a constitutional monarchy, more than 15 constitutions have been drafted and adopted, each aiming to build an environment where all citizens can live together in peace and harmony. All countries strive to reach that objective. The question is how?

Reform is indeed crucial. It means learning from past experience, taking a critical look at failures and identifying and building on good practices. It also means having the courage to implement strong new measures to address errors of the past and prevent them from recurring in the future.

The reality of the situation is that reform is difficult and about more than just changing institutions and laws. It is also about changing mentalities and ways of working and living together, in mutual respect. Reform will only be positive if it takes place in a climate in which all people can speak their minds and be heard, without fear of reprisal. Only then will reform respond to the aspirations of all segments of society and provide sustainable answers. 

The road map adopted in Thailand is an encouraging first step. But the hardest part is still ahead of you – laying the foundations of truly democratic governance.

The parliament of Thailand was present at the Inter-Parliamentary Conference in 1997 that adopted the historic Universal Declaration on Democracy. The starting point of the Universal Declaration, and indeed of democracy itself, is that the authority of government can only derive from the will of the people as expressed in genuine, free and fair elections.

Democracy is about respecting the rules of the game, which must be based on respect for human rights, be clear and implemented impartially. Democracy is therefore about accepting alternation of power, listening to different opinions and interests and exercising power for the good of society as a whole.

Parliament is perhaps the institution par excellence in this regard. It is at the heart of democratic governance and lasting peace. The place of parliament in the new constitutional architecture should be a central part of the reform process in Thailand.

A strong parliament is one that embodies key democratic values in its work. These key values are to be: representative of social and political diversity, to be open and transparent in its working methods, to be accessible to the people and accountable to them, and to be effective in its legislative and oversight roles.

These values provide a compass that clearly indicates the direction in which you should be seeking to travel.

The IPU has developed a toolkit to allow parliaments to evaluate their performance against these key values. The toolkit is being translated into Thai for use by the National Reform Council.

Ultimately, perhaps, the key factor in the development of strong institutions is the political will to do so. The Thai people are counting on your leadership in this regard. 

One important function of state institutions is to promote a system of checks and balances which prevents any single institution from exercising excessive power. Public accountability has to apply to all those who hold public authority, whether elected or not, and to all public bodies without exception.

Overseeing the government and holding it to account on behalf of the people is one of the key functions of parliament.

Democracy is based on the fundamental rights of the individual. Freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, including the right to organise political activities, are part and parcel of this set of fundamental rights. One of the greatest challenges to democracy today is the gap between citizens and their representatives. In all regions of the world, levels of trust are low, and participation in elections is falling, especially among young people. An active civil society is an essential component of democracy. New efforts need to be deployed to engage citizens in the political process at the local and national levels. I believe that the reform process underway in Thailand has to give people opportunities to have a say in how their country is run, and give them hope that sustainable solutions can be found.

Democracy also presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of society. 

I note that only 6 per cent of the members of the National Legislative Assembly are women. I put it to you that one of the most important questions that you will have to address is how you will ensure greater equality between men and women in politics, as a step towards gender equality in society as a whole.

I would like to refer to what is one of the most significant markers of democracy: the level of tolerance in society, where the existence of different political views is accepted as a normal expression of citizens’ diverse opinions. Government and politicians have a key responsibility to display political tolerance towards their opponents. Political tolerance creates the conditions in which dialogue can take place. It also sends a powerful message to citizens that politics based on hatred or rejection of the other cannot provide solutions, whereas politics based on openness, dialogue and compromise is most likely to serve the interests of the whole of society. This culture of democracy needs to be nurtured, starting with young people, for example through an extensive programme of civic education in schools.

One certainty is that the solutions to the challenges facing Thailand can only come from the Thai people themselves. The path to long-term stability can only be the result of an inclusive process that takes into account the needs and aspirations of all citizens. It is your great responsibility to guide this process to a successful conclusion. 

I wish you success in this critical endeavour.

 

Martin Chungong is secretary general of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. This article is based on his speech to National Legislative Assembly members at the Bangkok seminar “On the Path to Reform” on Wednesday.