We are reforming, not

With considerable amusement, PPT read a Bangkok Post report thatquoted the head of the government-appointed National Reform Committee, Anand Panyarachun.

Anand apparently came up with a list of things his committee is not doing. Not included are: political and military reform – “… politics and the military would be left to change by themselves since this would mainly require changes in the attitudes of those involved”; no constitutional reform and no attention to corruption. No focus on decentralization.

Despite all these negatives, Anand has 21 committee members and believes he needs more than 3 years to complete his commission’s work. But what is it?  Anand says: “We are trying to provide an environment for fair play in society.” His panel is to “provide political space for people to have their voices heard, to be able to bargain and stand up without being sidelined or belittled by local and national politicians.”

Let’s get this right. Anand’s committee is going to try to control politicains by creating a space for a civil counterweight. Isn’t that what he tried to do during the drafting of the 1997 Constitution? And why are politicians the problem and not corrupt officials, military leaders, police and their huge weight of power?

The committee is to hold its very first public hearing on 17 October at Thammasat University but not on these issues but on “how problems of inequality and injustice in society could be resolved.” None of the inequality and injustice has to do with corrupt officials, military leaders, police and a self-centered ruling class?

The committee might also “gather views on socio-economic issues, land rights and resource distribution, opportunities, people’s rights and bargaining power…” which can’t involve corrupt officials, military leaders, police and the ruling class.

Is this even worth the effort? Anand is no dumbie, so PPT assumes that there is something going on that remains behind a screen, but, really, what a waste. Or was it always just Abhisit’s window-dressing?

“We have been talking about reform in various dimensions, the process of which is owned by the people in society and is timeless. So it might take longer than three years,” Mr Anand said.