ASEAN women play more political roles

BANGKOK, June 13 (TNA) - Sodsri Satayathum, the only female member of the Election Commission of Thailand (EC), says that women in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have more but still not enough political awareness, but Yingluck Shinawatra, the first Thai female Prime Minister, has good leadership potential. Speaking at a seminar in Bangkok Wednesday morning on the readiness of female leaders on the ASEAN stage, marking the 14th anniversary of the EC, Sodsri acknowledged that women in almost all ASEAN member countries have played more political roles and she expects more women in the regional Parliaments in the future. Sodsri conceded that it would take times to convince the society to welcome the political participation of women, saying, however, that women’s associations have helped women play more political roles and calling on members of the parliament (MPs) to ensure that women have their say in legislation to promote equality. The election commissioner revealed that it had been proposed during the drafting of Thailand's 2007 Constitution that women form half the House of Representatives but the proposal was dropped, noting that she wants the Constitution to require all laws to promote women’s roles. Sodsri also opined that Prime Minister Yingluck has potential to be a good leader and she has made no flaws for any criticism so far, proposing, however, that Yingluck pay more roles in ASEAN forums. Meanwhile, Arunee Chamnanya, chair of the Thai House committee on social development and affairs for children, the youth, women, the elderly, the disabled and the underprivileged, said although there were fewer women than men in the Thai Parliament, female representatives appear to have played more political roles than male colleagues, as female representatives have now participated in 80 per cent of field activities of MPs, proposing that women be educated on their political roles but admitting that family care has limited women’s participation in politics. (TNA)