National unity goal ‘draws near’
Govt prepares to mark three years in power
The military regime boasts it is making progress towards the goal of achieving national reconciliation as the regime prepares to mark three years in power next Monday.
Maj Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich, spokesman of the military-led panel on national unity, said the panel held forums in all four regions of the country between April 28 and May 8 so the public and stakeholders could review the opinions they had given previously. Later, a unity agreement will be drafted.
The forums were meant to ensure their views will not be neglected, Maj Gen Kongcheep said, adding people from all sectors were eager to take part and give full cooperation.
From Feb 14 to April 5, politicians, the business community and people’s sector representatives including media organisations met the committee, headed by defence permanent secretary Gen Chaicharn Changmongkol, to air their views on national reconciliation.
Maj Gen Kongcheep said the views cover a wide range of issues including concerns about the behaviour of politicians, social disparities, land ownership, water management, and crop prices.
Other issues involve access to services, education, public health and the justice system, political conflict, corruption, the media, law enforcement and distribution of wealth to rural areas among others, Maj Gen Kongcheep said.
The views gathered will be processed by another committee chaired by army head Chalermchai Sitthisat and turned into a draft unity agreement which is likely to be unveiled next month to solicit public comments, Maj Gen Kongcheep said.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam yesterday said the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will mark three years in power on May 22 while the government will mark its three years in office in September.
Mr Wissanu said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed all ministries to come up with a performance assessment, and that the NCPO and the government are ready to listen to criticism.
Former energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan, of the Pheu Thai Party, yesterday criticised the government for its failure to tackle problems in the economy during the past three years, saying Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who is in charge of economic affairs, must take responsibility.
He also blamed the Commerce Ministry for a failure to solve the export slump while saying the Energy Ministry had made no progress in finding new energy sources.
Former deputy premier and finance minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, also from the Pheu Thai Party, said the economy has been slow due to sluggish consumer spending.
He suggested the government devise measures to inject more cash into the economy to help low-income earners and arrest the economic slowdown.
Former Democrat Party MP Thawil Praison said that after almost three years in power, the regime and the government have centralised power in the hands of the bureaucratic system while restricting the power of the people.
During the past three years, the government has given state officials the power to solve problems while leaving the people on the sidelines, Mr Thawil said, adding the major flaw of the regime and the government is they are not subject to scrutiny.
As long as the public are not given power to scrutinise their power, corruption will remain unsolved, he said.
As he prepares to celebrate his 85th birthday today, former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh yesterday voiced his belief the government under Gen Prayut would be successful in its reconciliation efforts and would lead the country to a general election.
The former prime minister yesterday opened his residence in Nonthaburi province for close associates to visit and give him their birthday wishes.
Those who attended the gathering included Suchart Thadathamrongvej, a former education minister; Udomdej Rattanasathien, a former Pheu Thai MP; Gen Nathapan Wattanawiboon, a former armed forces chief-of-staff; and his former close aides Gen Wichit Yathip and Maj Gen Sornchai Montriwat.
Gen Chavalit, who appeared with a walking stick, told the well-wishers about a fall which put him in hospital for more than six months for treatment.
He said the accident affected his memory and prevented him from monitoring the situation in the country closely. He declined to comment on the government’s record. However, he said he believed the government would lead the country to an election, return the power to the people and care for the people’s happiness.