ID :
128598
Fri, 06/18/2010 - 18:02
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http://m.oananews.org//node/128598
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Former PM Anand, social critic Prawes agree to chair national reform panels
BANGKOK, June 18 (TNA) - Former Thai prime minister Anand Panyarachun and respected scholar Prawes Wasi on Friday accepted Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s invitation to chair the national reform panels, assuring the work will be free of government interference.
Speaking after meeting with the prime minister on Friday, Mr Anand said he and Dr Prawes agreed to join the national reform task as requested by the prime minister as it is civil society work for the whole people.
The process and mechanism to be set up will give the panels independence from government intervention.
Mr Anand said he told the prime minister that the process will lack credibility, if it is influenced by the government and the prime minister agreed on that. The former prime minister also said he would meet Dr Prawes to discuss the initial framework next week.
Mr Anand said the national reform was different from the reconciliation road map and next week the Prime Minister’s Office will issue regulations to appoint and empower him to select 15-20 committee members. However, a specific timeframe cannot be set as any organisational reform must evolve continuously.
Even though the government’s term will end, reform must continue, he added.
“Within the next six months, there will be short term measures that the government can put into immediate effect with special budget allocation without the need for the approval of Parliament, otherwise it would take about two to three years.
“The work will mainly focus on future problems rather than conflicts between the Reds and the elites,” Mr Anand said, while Dr Prawes said national reform was needed to resolve social disparities and gaps, which would take time. "All sides should truly participate in it. It’s not the government's work but it’s about society, people and technical matter," Dr Prawes said..
Two panels will be established, the first to regulate reform and to look into reform strategies--to be chaired by Mr Anand and the other, the reform assembly will be chaired by himself, Dr Prawes said.
All social sectors will participate in the reform assembly which will work in a concerted effort to accomplish the common objective, he added.
Prime Minister Abhisit also reassured the public the government’s move to bring in Mr Anand and Dr Prawes to work for the national reform was not its ploy to hold on to power, but to lead the country forward. It would take time but all sides should fully participate.
He pledged the government will support them and believed that with the good intentions of both Mr Anand and Dr Prawes as well as other working mechanisms, the efforts to reform the country will not be in vain, the prime minister said. (TNA)
Speaking after meeting with the prime minister on Friday, Mr Anand said he and Dr Prawes agreed to join the national reform task as requested by the prime minister as it is civil society work for the whole people.
The process and mechanism to be set up will give the panels independence from government intervention.
Mr Anand said he told the prime minister that the process will lack credibility, if it is influenced by the government and the prime minister agreed on that. The former prime minister also said he would meet Dr Prawes to discuss the initial framework next week.
Mr Anand said the national reform was different from the reconciliation road map and next week the Prime Minister’s Office will issue regulations to appoint and empower him to select 15-20 committee members. However, a specific timeframe cannot be set as any organisational reform must evolve continuously.
Even though the government’s term will end, reform must continue, he added.
“Within the next six months, there will be short term measures that the government can put into immediate effect with special budget allocation without the need for the approval of Parliament, otherwise it would take about two to three years.
“The work will mainly focus on future problems rather than conflicts between the Reds and the elites,” Mr Anand said, while Dr Prawes said national reform was needed to resolve social disparities and gaps, which would take time. "All sides should truly participate in it. It’s not the government's work but it’s about society, people and technical matter," Dr Prawes said..
Two panels will be established, the first to regulate reform and to look into reform strategies--to be chaired by Mr Anand and the other, the reform assembly will be chaired by himself, Dr Prawes said.
All social sectors will participate in the reform assembly which will work in a concerted effort to accomplish the common objective, he added.
Prime Minister Abhisit also reassured the public the government’s move to bring in Mr Anand and Dr Prawes to work for the national reform was not its ploy to hold on to power, but to lead the country forward. It would take time but all sides should fully participate.
He pledged the government will support them and believed that with the good intentions of both Mr Anand and Dr Prawes as well as other working mechanisms, the efforts to reform the country will not be in vain, the prime minister said. (TNA)
