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Reform of Thai society: A national agenda THAILAND'S SOCIAL CRISIS All entities - be they life forms or social organisations, including cultures - face constant changes. Sometimes, the changes are drastic and escalate into crises. The only tool to survive the crises is self-adaptation or reform. At present, Thai society is confronting the most drastic social changes ever from within and from its interconnectedness with the complex and rapid changing outside world. For thousands of years, Thai society had been based on the system of relationships and codes of conducts of small village communities. Nearly overnight, it has radically changed into a complex society with a modern economic system, information technology and know-how. This new society is colossal, inter-related within its own internal system and with the outside world. Information and currencies move across national borders at lightning speed. Combined with the currency trade, speculations and the tidal waves of modern culture and technology, they all add up into severe attacks on Thai society. Meanwhile, Thais have yet to set up and effectively regulate a system in which people can live and cope with changes in the dynamic new society. In addition, social institutions - be they political, bureaucratic, educational, religious, judicial or media systems - have failed to adapt themselves to cope with the formidable social changes. The result is organisational weaknesses, confusion, conflicts and sufferings which might erupt into violence. Social reform is an Herculean mission. No single individual or organisation can do it alone. Success depends on civil society, or krabuan karn prachakhom in Thai. All segments in society must come together to think and take action. Individuals and different sectors in the bureaucracy, politics, business, academics, religion, non-governmental organisations and the mass media must all take part in the process. This requires Thais to change their old mentality from a none-of-my-business attitude to civil-mindedness, that is, empathy for others' problems and teaming up to solve problems together. These civil movements must be a continuing and dynamic process. No matter how the politics and officialdom have changed, the civil movements must continually inter-connect with the ebbs and flows of those sectors. This continuity is important for Thai society both in its learning process and in its actions. Since the current crisis is extremely critical, social reform as a remedy should not take too long to be effective. Say, within five to ten years. OBJECTIVES OF SOCIAL REFORM Social reform aims at strengthening all sectors of society so that they are just and conscientious. So that there is good governance. Values and social awareness for peaceful co-existence in a modern society. Civil society and self-sufficient economy. A fair macro-economic system. A fair state administration system. An education system which arms the populace with intellectual powers. Mass media reform for the public good. Legal reform for a just society. All these combined equal good governance. Good governance strengthens all sectors of Thai society. Be they in social values, vision, politics, culture or ethics. The economic system will also be transparent and supportive of mutual empathy and co-operation. This serves as a strong basis for society to grow further. The 8th National Plan is actually a blueprint for social reform. It is people-and society-centred. It also relies on community co-operation and on the civil society movements as a tool to achieve its objectives. We then should study the philosophy, objectives, principles and guidelines of the 8th National Plan. My proposal for social reform is actually within the framework of the 8th National Plan. WHAT TO REFORM Towards social reform, there are seven main things which need to be done. 1. Build new values and social awareness. 2. Build a self-sufficient economy and civil society. 3. Reform the macro-economic and financial sectors. 4. Reform the state administration system, both the bureaucracy and politics. 5. Reform the education system. 6. Reform the mass media for the public good. 7. Reform the legal system. These seven areas are inter-connected with a new set of
social values and awareness at the centre (see graphic). NEW SOCIAL VALUES AND AWARENESS Values and social awareness are the core or the spirit of a society. Human beings, institutions or societies without values and conscientiousness are meaningless and lacking in creative powers. Values and conscientiousness makes development efforts work. Likewise, development efforts must aim at strengthening values and awareness. Creating new values does not mean throwing away all traditions. Keep the good and strengthen it. But we must create a new set of social values and awareness that fits a new way of living together in a big society which is complex, fluctuating and prone to crises from an action of just one individual, domestically or internationally. We need to create an understanding and awareness of humanity - ours and other people's. Of human rights. A new social system of living together. The ultimate aim of all this is to develop our own spirituality to a higher plane. The result is a balance of all living and non-living things. SELF-SUFFICIENT ECONOMY AND CIVIL SOCIETY A self-sufficient economy and civil society are the basis of peaceful and moral co-existence. A self-sufficient economy interconnects body, mind, family, community, the environment and morality. It provides sufficiently for every member. It strengthens ties within families and communities. It conserves the environment and enriches cultures. It fortifies the foundation of society, thus saving it from rapid fluctuations, crises and chaos. Civil society is social reform through egalitarian inter-relationships based on camaraderie and partnership. A departure from old relationships based on power, civil society opens up human potential to be compassionate. To see the open skies simultaneously together. To learn together from collaboration. The society will therefore be stronger from mutual caring, knowledge and better management. A civil society fosters a good economy, good politics and morality. This is why a self-sufficient economy and a civil society are the heart of social reform. REFORM OF MACRO-ECONOMIC AND FISCAL SYSTEMS It is dangerous for our macro-economic and financial systems to solely depend on international systems. The result is the crumbling of our own systems which affects other parts of society. This could lead to violent chaos. We need to create a new economic and financial system through legal measures so that the new set of rules and regulations lead to new behaviours in line with new social values and awareness. Economic and financial reform is closely connected with legal reform. We need to study laws from around the world and learn from other countries' experiences. For example, what they have suffered, how they solved the problems, and how effective the solutions are. This must be done urgently. Otherwise it is difficult for the economy to pick up. REFORM OF STATE ADMINISTRATION State administration consists of political and bureaucratic systems. If state administration is unfair, the whole society is in deep trouble. No matter how often the monks preach, morality cannot come about if the system is corrupt. With the new constitution, our political system has begun to reform itself. But there is a long way yet to go. Meanwhile, the inefficient and ineffective bureaucracy needs to reform its role from being policy implementors to being policy planners and facilitators. This can be done through decentralisation of power, reinforcement of fair regulations, evaluation and a fair system of natural resources management. Only then will the bureaucracy become dynamic, socially conscious, efficient, transparent and socially accountable. EDUCATION REFORM Our education system is still very far from fully tapping human potential. It is still far from serving the public good. And it has not yet mobilised existing resources in society to participate in the management of education system and learning processes. Our education system does not create people who think independently, innovate, or who uphold morality, as it should. Mass education needs thorough reform. The society must have the right to take part in education management to effect a learning process which enables people to solve problems in real life. This is an intellectual overhaul of Thai society. In a step towards education reform, the National Education
Commission has drafted a new national education bill. Whether the parliament approves
it or not, the movement for education reform must continue. MEDIA REFORM The mass media - particularly radio, television and the computer network - can quickly and significantly expand the intellect and social awareness of the public if the mass media reforms itself to better serve the society. Article 40 in the 1997 constitution stipulates that radio
and television frequencies must be public assets. It also requires the setting up
of an independent body to oversee the use and distribution of these frequencies so
as to ensure the best benefits for the public. We must explore ways and means towards
quick mass media reform. LEGAL REFORM With the advent of democracy movements, new communications technologies and rapid currency transactions, the society has progressed speedily. Old and outdated laws, however, pull society backwards. Both the old laws and the new society have tremendous energy pulling in different directions. The result is an intense social strain which may lead to the tearing of the social fabric. Legal reform is long overdue. But the legal reform movement lacks steam. To mobilise the necessary energy, there must be collaboration between legal experts, political scientists, social scientists as well as legal practitioners to review their knowledge and to come up with solutions through reform of mandatory laws without which change will not come about. The six areas of reform listed above - namely, values and social awareness, economy and civil society, macro-economic and fiscal systems, state administration, education and media - all need legal measures to effect change. That is why the seventh area, legal reform, is indispensable for Thailand's comprehensive social reform. If these seven key areas are reformed in an interconnected
and continuous manner in the near future, Thai society will have a strong foundation
on which to grow as well as being able to move through the current crisis towards
sustainable development. SOCIAL REFORM PRINCIPLES Reform of those seven areas is indeed a huge and difficult mission. To be able to move such a colossal task forward, we must have the following principles: 1. Research for true knowledge in each area. 2. Social movements with popular participation. 3. Continuity of wisdom. Research must go in hand with social movements. Unless it is based on truthful knowledge, a particular social movement cannot go very far. Research in search of truthful knowledge and public dissemination of such knowledge in easily digestible form is part of social empowerment. This is because when we're dealing with such a formidable task, no individuals or institutions can succeed alone. What is needed is social energy for change. Research, accompanied by social movements, will provide such energy which will guide both individuals and organisations toward righteousness. This happened with the drafting and passing of the new constitution which is part of a political reform process. Research without social action is powerless and it ends up collecting dust on the shelves. No one will use it or put it into action because the research has not involved participation from end-users right from the start. Moreover, research of this type tends to be irrelevant to reality. To achieve anything at all, it is necessary to have a continuity of knowledge and intellect. But our political and bureaucratic systems lack this continuity of wisdom due to frequent changes and disruptions. This is why the task of social reform should not be conducted under the bureaucratic or political systems. It must be an independent mission which can continue consistently but inter-connectedly with the bureaucratic and political systems regardless of their fluctuations. As a result, there will be one movement which is continuing and connected to other unstable systems. It acts as a constant variable and its continuity enables the weak systems to share its continuity of intellect. Therefore, social reform should be done through continuing civil society movements or the teaming up of all segments in society, ranging from local communities, government, mass media and academics to businesses. CIVIL SOCIETY FOR SOCIAL REFORM No one owns the civic movement for social reform. It is a conjunction of diverse groups. To be effective, however, they should share a common national agenda - the one which sees the inter-connectedness of various key factors that need reform. The ability to see the big picture is empowering. It is also encouraging since each and every person knows how his or her activities are linked to a bigger movement towards reform. In this article, I offer a national agenda as common property for society to think about. Anyone can adapt it or add to it to fit what they are doing. For example, the National Research Council may want to adopt it as a framework for their research programme while each individual research project may be carried out by other organisations. The Office of National Education Commission can conduct research on education reform. The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) on macro-economic and fiscal reform. The Office of National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) together with the Government Savings Bank on a self-sufficient economy. The Creative Media Foundation can co-ordinate research for mass media reform, while the Thailand Research Fund and universities can also take care of many other areas of research. In the same vein, Mr Anand Panyarachun and Mr Teerayuth Boonmi can campaign on good governance independently. But what they are doing is progressing toward the same goal of social reform. The Pattana Thai Foundation, led by Dr Sumet Tantivejjakul, and NESDB may co-ordinate with various independent organisations to connect them together. This can be done with co-operation of other non-government and government agencies. The following is a list of names and organisations, just to give an idea of existing groups which can initiate change. In reality, there are many other diverse groups and individuals out there who are in the civil society movement for social reform. CENTRAL CO-ORDINATION Organisations: Pattana Thai Foundation, NESDB, Government Savings Bank, Thailand Research Fund, Office of the Prime Minister. Initiators: Sumet Tantivejjakul, Dhammarak Karnpisit, Prawase Wasi, Teerayuth Boonmi, Paiboon Wattanasiritham, Wijarn Panich, Sa-guan Nitayarampong. NEW SOCIAL VALUES AND AWARENESS Organisations: Phra Dhammapidok Fund, Poompanya Foundation, Office of National Culture Commission. Initiators: Phra Dhammapidok, Rapee Sakrik, Prawase Wasi, Ekawit Nathalang, Nichet Suntornpitak, Nithi Iawsriwong, Teerayuth Boonmi SELF-SUFFICIENT ECONOMY AND CIVIL SOCIETY Organisations: Pattanathai Foundation, NESDB, Social Research Fund, Population and Community Development Association, Local Development Institute, Village Foundation, various ministries, United Nations Development Programme, etc. Initiators: Sumet Tantivejjakul, Pairote Suchinda, Paiboon Wattanasiritham, Sophon Suphaphong, Mechai Viravaidya, Saneh Chamarik, Anake Nakabutr, Seri Pongpit, Prawase Wasi, etc. MACRO-ECONOMIC AND FISCAL REFORM Organisations: Thailand Development Research Institute, NESDB, Finance Ministry, Bank of Thailand. Initiators: Paichitr Euataweekul, Ammar Siamwalla, Amaret Sila-on, Vichit Suraphongchai, Chalongphob Susangkarn. POLITICAL REFORM Organisations: TDRI, Office of the Civil Service Commission. Initiators: Anand Panyarachun, Chai-anand Samutwanich, Tipawadee Meksawan, Pratchaya Wesaratch, Orapin Sopchokechai, Nisa Xuto, Apichai Pantusen. EDUCATION REFORM Organisations: National Education Commission, Education in the Era of Globalisation Project, Sodsri Foundation. Initiators: Sippanonda Ketudat, Rung Kaewdaeng, Prawase Wasi. MASS MEDIA REFORM Organisations: Creative Media Foundation, Office of the Prime Minister. Initiators: Wichit Srisa-an, Sophon Suphaphong, Mechai Viravaidya, Boonrak Boonyakhetmala, Somkiat On-wimol. LEGAL REFORM Organisations: Network of Legal Experts, Phra Pokklao Institute, Office of the Council of State. Initiators: Bowornsak Uwanno, Kittisak Prokati, Kitipong Kitayarak. SOCIAL REFORM FORUM Organisations: Creative Media Foundation, Department of Public Relations, Mass Communications Organisation of Thailand (MCOT), the mass media. Initiators: Thirayuth Boonmi, Chermsak Pinthong, Suthichai Yoon, Sophon Suphaphong. FINANCIAL SUPPORT This social reform movement which should take no longer than 5 to 10 years in continuity needs financial support. Funding should come from diverse sources such as contributions from participating organisations, Pattana Thai Foundation, Government Savings Bank, state budgets, and public contributions. The public can donate to concerned organisations or donate to the Social Research Fund at the Pattana Thai Foundation. (The Pattana Thai Foundation has been set up with cabinet approval as an independent body working toward human development according to the 8th National Plan. The word "Thai" here means independence. The setting up of the foundation is based on the belief that independence is a key factor for social reform.) STATE SUPPORT All government should support the civil society movement for social reform because it can help the country solve the complex problems which no government can tackle successfully alone. The government can give support by: -Declaring it as a state policy and allowing ministers and government officials to take part in the movement. -Allocating budgets. -Accepting social reform proposals, screening them and implementing what is within the capacity and jurisdiction of the government to do. -When the Advisory Economic and Social Board is set up in accordance with Article 89 in the new constitution, this board must work in connection with the the social reform movement. INDEPENDENCE AND SOCIAL ENERGY The Thai society has many strengths. But our society of old cannot tackle the present crisis of in the era of globalisation. It is eroding and crumbling. Thais need to liberate themselves and come together for comprehensive social reform. The old live-and-let-live culture only aggravates the crisis. We need to build a new culture of public-mindedness. Thais are being jailed in intellectual and social prisons. There is no social energy to withstand the ever more severe crisis. Thais must know who they are and liberate themselves by opening themselves up to a social space where empathy and intellectual connectedness can trigger the necessary social energy toward sustainable development and peace. When people are connected, or when their humanity is, there will emerge an immense social happiness and creative social energy which will lead us through the crisis. The key to Thai society is independence. We can liberate ourselves. We can connect each and everybody's hearts and minds. Hence, the vast social space and massive social energy. There are no sufferings the Thai people cannot overcome if we are independent and if we connect our humanity as one. |