ID :
177743
Mon, 04/25/2011 - 14:10
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http://m.oananews.org//node/177743
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Thai Academics back decentralization as mean to solve southern conflict
SONGKHLA, April 25 (TNA) - Thai academics back decentralization as a mean to solve unrest in the country’s deep South.
Prince of Songkhla University’s Center for Conflict Studies and Cultural Diversity (CSCD) and Mahidol University’s Research Center for Peace Building announced the result of their research on the public administration model in southern Thai border provinces.
The research study was conducted, using the “Citizens Jury” model to consider the most appropriate public administration model in the Thai South, part of 8 which had been proposed to the citizens of the southern Thai border provinces.
Assistant Professor Dr. Srisompob Jitpiromsri, CSCD Director, said the “Citizens Jury” model is a democratic mechanism which endorses deliberative democracy developed by Jefferson Center in the US. The research process consists of 2 parts. The initial part concerns the formulation of the overall structure of the research, under close supervision of the advisory committee and the random selection of citizen juries or public representation to consider the most appropriate administration model.
The second part concerns the deliberative procedure. A Citizens Jury will hear witnesses’ opinions on different public administration models before a free-intensive discussion will be conducted to find the public consensus on the most appropriate public administration in the southern Thai border provinces.
The deliberation result points out that justice is the most valuable factor which will lead to regional peace, economic prosperity, social development, and better quality of lives. It also shows that the current public administrative structure has several loopholes and is ineffective, which further enhances injustice in the region. The current public administration, with its time-consuming process, fails to render the need of the citizens and instead favors the needs of the central authority.
Furthermore, the result suggests decentralization as a mean to solve the conflict in the Thai south, demolishing the current regional public administrative structure with exceptions of militarized, foreign-affairs, and financial institutions. Accordingly, regional civil servants shall serve directly to local administrative organizations with regional executives coming from local election.
Srisompob said the “Citizens Jury Model” is a new decision making model. It places importance on public participation in decision making concerning politics and the making of public policy. Rational people are provided with essential information to help them make their own decision in solving local problems and political conflicts. He said the model will further enhance our current representative democracy, noting that it does not aim to replace the old system but rather to provide an alternative decision making model for citizens.
Srisompob also said deliberative democracy and direct democracy place importance on public participation in the making of public policy. When applied in the context of public policy making, and the selection of an administrative model in the southern Thai border provinces, the Citizens Juries needs to be established to hear public opinion before finding a public consensus. He added that good governance is key to solving the southern Thai conflict and the decision of the locals must be well respected. (TNA)
Prince of Songkhla University’s Center for Conflict Studies and Cultural Diversity (CSCD) and Mahidol University’s Research Center for Peace Building announced the result of their research on the public administration model in southern Thai border provinces.
The research study was conducted, using the “Citizens Jury” model to consider the most appropriate public administration model in the Thai South, part of 8 which had been proposed to the citizens of the southern Thai border provinces.
Assistant Professor Dr. Srisompob Jitpiromsri, CSCD Director, said the “Citizens Jury” model is a democratic mechanism which endorses deliberative democracy developed by Jefferson Center in the US. The research process consists of 2 parts. The initial part concerns the formulation of the overall structure of the research, under close supervision of the advisory committee and the random selection of citizen juries or public representation to consider the most appropriate administration model.
The second part concerns the deliberative procedure. A Citizens Jury will hear witnesses’ opinions on different public administration models before a free-intensive discussion will be conducted to find the public consensus on the most appropriate public administration in the southern Thai border provinces.
The deliberation result points out that justice is the most valuable factor which will lead to regional peace, economic prosperity, social development, and better quality of lives. It also shows that the current public administrative structure has several loopholes and is ineffective, which further enhances injustice in the region. The current public administration, with its time-consuming process, fails to render the need of the citizens and instead favors the needs of the central authority.
Furthermore, the result suggests decentralization as a mean to solve the conflict in the Thai south, demolishing the current regional public administrative structure with exceptions of militarized, foreign-affairs, and financial institutions. Accordingly, regional civil servants shall serve directly to local administrative organizations with regional executives coming from local election.
Srisompob said the “Citizens Jury Model” is a new decision making model. It places importance on public participation in decision making concerning politics and the making of public policy. Rational people are provided with essential information to help them make their own decision in solving local problems and political conflicts. He said the model will further enhance our current representative democracy, noting that it does not aim to replace the old system but rather to provide an alternative decision making model for citizens.
Srisompob also said deliberative democracy and direct democracy place importance on public participation in the making of public policy. When applied in the context of public policy making, and the selection of an administrative model in the southern Thai border provinces, the Citizens Juries needs to be established to hear public opinion before finding a public consensus. He added that good governance is key to solving the southern Thai conflict and the decision of the locals must be well respected. (TNA)
