Move Forward's views
(Editorial credit: Can Sangtong / Shutterstock.com)
The progressive Move Forward Party (hereinafter: MFP), known in Thai as พรรคก้าวไกล(phák kâaw clay), emerged as the big winner. What are the positions of this new party? Rob V. read the party program and quoted a number of points that stood out to him.
In short, MFP wants structural progressive changes that strengthen democracy and reduce inequality. For example, this party argues for decentralization: more influence to the periphery through elections for the governors of the provinces. They argue for de-monopolization: counteracting the many monopolies in Thailand, in order to give small and medium-sized businesses more space. They are also in favor of 'demilitarization': abolishing conscription, limiting the defense budget and tackling military connections in civilian matters.
In order to really embark on a new political path, MFP believes that the constitution that the junta had drawn up in 2017 will be replaced by a constitution composed by the people themselves. MFP wants to put the question whether the constitution should indeed be rewritten to the Thai population in the first 100 days through a referendum.
To make the vision of MFP more concrete, I quote below some important or striking points from the much more extensive party program.
Write a new constitution
The supreme law of the country is the problematic constitution of 2017. This is not democratic, but designed in favor of the Prayuth regime. This constitution was written by a few people appointed by the NCPO (junta), thus increasing the power of institutions that are not accountable to the people. In addition, the constitution was put to a referendum for approval, in which opponents were not allowed to campaign as proponents could. The junta also warned that if rejected, they would remain in power and not call new elections.
That is why we at MFP want a new constitution that is less easy to tear up, increases the rights of the people to oppose a coup and makes it the duty of officials not to obey orders from a junta. Prohibit amnesty for coup plotters and prosecute them for treason. The Senate appointed by the NCPO should be abolished. Review the Constitutional Court to be an independent and neutral organization bound by a public inspection system. We will abolish the 20-year National Strategic Plan.
The new constitution to be drawn up must belong to the people. That is, the constitution must be drafted by a committee of 100% elected members (Constitution Drafting Assembly, ส.ส.ร.) and have the power to amend all articles of the constitution as agreed and desired by everyone in the country.
Democracy and governance:
- Decentralization of governance.
- Reduce the gap between government and citizens: Organize a citizens' council locally every 3 months where people can ask questions, submit complaints or advise managers about local work.
- Give the option of petitions to be able to fire administrators or city council members.
- Letting citizens make proposals about how they want to spend local budgets.
- Transparency: insight into government budgets and purchases.
- Can vote in local elections even if you reside in another region or outside Thailand.
- Can vote in the district where you actually live.
- Not only in Bangkok, but in all provinces let the population choose their governor.
Military reforms (reduce the defense budget):
- Remove the military from politics.
- Place the armed forces entirely under the civilian government, abolish the special Military Council that is above the Minister of Defense.
- Appoint an inspector on behalf of parliament to investigate abuses of power, monitor the spending of the budget and investigate human rights violations by the army.
- Abolish the military court in times when the country is not at war, follow the normal course of justice.
- Reduce the size of the army by 30 to 40 percent. Reduce the number of generals to 400, reduce the number of active troops, reduce duplication of different departments, transfer non-military tasks, and transfer budgets such as road construction or water sources to civilian authorities.
- Eliminate unfair military privileges against civilians, such as financial assistance or access to important positions (e.g. on a board of state-owned companies).
- Abolish conscription, motivate people to enter the military through good career opportunities, put an end to violence during training.
- Transfer military-owned companies to civilian government.
- Dissolution of ISOC (Internal Security Operations Command).
- Revoke martial law for the southern provinces.
- Change the special security laws to be more in line with international standards, such as rules for declaring martial law and emergency decrees.
Human rights:
- Signing and ratifying international human rights law such as the Convention on Protection against Enforced Disappearance or the Convention on Migration of Workers and Their Families.
- Amendment of Article 112 (Lèse-majesté law). Reduce the risk of abuse of the law, no longer allow everyone to file a report, but only the Bureau Royal Household. Reduce the maximum sentence to imprisonment of up to 1 year, 300.00 baht fine or both. Make it clear that expressions of criticism in good faith or stating facts in the interest of the public are not punishable.
- Amendment of Article 116 (Computer Crime Act). Delete the ambiguous content and make the scope of the law explicit so that people who exercise their constitutional freedoms or criticize in good faith will not be prosecuted.
- Make an anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Partication) law. (explanation by Rob V: “SLAPP” is a form of legal harassment by piling up charges in order to unnecessarily lose a lot of money and time to those involved and make life difficult for someone).
- Protect the right to peaceful demonstrations, including peaceful demonstrations that have not been announced in advance.
- Close loopholes so that suspects can get bail in all cases as long as there is no danger of escape.
- Make fines for minor offenses income-related so that the inequality between rich and poor offenders is reduced.
- Improve the standard of prisons to meet international standards.
- Increased oversight and transparency of the court's exercise of jurisdiction and budgets. In some cases, enable citizens to initiate impeachment proceedings against a judge.
- Grant amnesty to anyone who has been prosecuted for expressing political views since the coup of May 20, 2014.
- Allow couples of any gender to marry.
- Allow to officially change gender.
Social security, work and welfare:
- A national increase in the minimum wage to 450 baht per day.
- A maximum regular working week of 40 hours, whoever works more than that is entitled to overtime (OT) compensation.
- All categories of workers must be able to form a trade union.
- Introduction of a universal social security system including income compensation of 200 baht per day for sick leave and 100 baht per day for a doctor's visit.
- Introduction of an elderly allowance of 3000 baht per month.
- Introduction of a child allowance of 1200 baht per month.
- Provide more daycare centers.
- Construction of 350.000 social rental homes.
And further
With over 300 points, the complete party program is even longer and I cannot quote them all here. Think of education reform, better health care, improving the position of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), various tax changes, various debt and cost reductions, better protection for nature and the environment, improvement of (access to) public transport and infrastructure, and so on and so forth.
foreign policy
As far as foreign countries are concerned, Thailand wants to pursue a less withdrawn policy. Think of trying to improve the situation in neighboring Myanmar, where a civil war is now going on, and to cooperate more with many countries. For example, party leader Pita spoke on election night about ending the invisible “bamboo strategy” (in which Thailand keeps a low profile internationally) and instead adopting an “à la carte style” in terms of foreign policy with regard to China and the United States, for example. ” policy that benefits both Thailand and abroad.
In Summary
The MFP wants structural change in society, which in short means that citizens must have a greater say, things must be more democratic and transparent. Citizen inequality must be reduced on all fronts.
With regard to the party's objectives, a half-hour interview on Thai PBS of April 19 is also worthwhile, see:
Sources:
That's quite a mouthful.
Wonderfully ambitious program.
I think that if only 20 percent is realized you could already speak of a considerable success.
In any case, the picket posts have been hammered
I wish them the best of luck moving forward
Watched the video with great interest, thanks for the link.
The party is considered radical by others. So whether they will succeed in achieving the goals?
Time will tell. I'm curious.
The embedded video came from a series of interviews on Thai PBS (my favorite Thai channel), which can be viewed in its entirety at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyYmi8e3sLM&list=PLVNTQDY6CJutRleUFdzgPExmvN73oLfqx
Episode 10: Kavi Chongkittavorn (Eminent journalist, works at the Bangkok Post)
Episode 9: Dr. Jade Donavanik (legal expert, former constitution drafting committee adviser)
Episode 8: Akanat Promphan (Politician, Roewam Thai Saang Chaat Party, former Democrat)
Episode 7: Parit Wacharasindu (Politician, Move Forward Party)
Episode 6: Dr. Pokin Polakul (politician/advisor, Thai Saang Thai party, former Phua Thai)
Episode 5: Uttama Savanayana (Politician, Phalang Pracharaat Party)
Episode 4: Panitan Wattanayagorn (Political Scientist, Advisor on the Security Advisory Committee)
Episode 3: Varawut Silpa-archa (Politician, Chaat Thai Pattana Party)
Episode 2: Kiat Sittheeamorn (Politician/Consultant, Democratic Party)
Episode 1: Korn Chatikavanij (Politician, Chaat Pattana Klaa Party)
For a more personal conversation with Pita (MFP), see a 1-hour conversation with him on Today's Aim Hour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9_3coBdp94
One hour with Oeng Ing (Phua Thai):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuQzw9RHg7c
Featuring Korn Chartpattanakla (Chaat Pattana Klaa):
https://youtu.be/zq_4EzhIdbI
With Varawut Silpa-archa (Chaat Thai Pattana):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxue8yKNu2E
With Anutin (PhoemJaiThai)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOV7wMqLo1g
Great program, nothing wrong with it, let's get to work, I'd say. I'm not going to say anything about it because I have nothing to say about it. There is still much to do. In recent days, the news has lingered a bit on 313 seats, where 376 is needed. But, it is said within Pita's circles, the required extra 63 seats will be fine. It also seems that about 15 senators have crossed the dam. There are now 8 parties united. (The Democrat Party of former Prime Minister Abhisit has still not fully joined the new coalition to be formed. Doesn't look like it.) The intention is to issue a “Memorandum of Understanding” on May 22, the day that the Coup of Prayuth is celebrated. The “lese majeste law” is subject to further discussion. Meanwhile, working groups are preparing for a possible government transfer, and he is prepared to file complaints about a package of shares in a former medium company (iTV). That package now rests with his mother. It would be about two thousand pieces of five baht each.
I am also very curious about the programs of PTP, plus those of Bhumjaithai, United Thai Nation and Palang Pracharath. @RobV: Will those also be discussed?
One more thing: if Mr. If Pita Limjaroenrat proves able to maneuver around the 112 issue and the military-dominant presence to such an extent that he can muster more than enough support to form a government under his leadership, he deserves all the credit that Thailand can muster.
As I understand it, Pita's shares are as follows: they belonged to his father and upon his death those shares were transferred to a "family trust" (Separate Private Assets, APV) of which Pita is the manager. The shares still exist because a lawsuit is still pending regarding iTV. iTV itself ceased operations in 2007. So the shares have been dormant for more than a decade and Pita indicates that he has always informed the various authorities (NACC and others) about this fact.
I actually had no intention of covering the other programs as well. I did have a quick look through the programs of a few parties, although that is sometimes hardly worth the name “program” with less than A4 or even just a few lines of text. Of the parties that do write more, I find it difficult to estimate to what extent they really stand for this or whether it is more election bait, or how easily they would drop it. See the ping pong between politicians from “Thaksin parties” (Phua Thai) to “Prayuth / Prawit parties” (Phalang Pracharaat). I don't want to write off those other parties as insincere, but I feel that as a party as a whole they have less passion and drive (barring individual politicians) than MFP and predecessor Future Foward. That makes me less enthusiastic to type an overview of which we will soon hear little in the battle to set out a government program.
The above was mainly based on the idea that a lot of negotiation will have to be done and that various accusations are also being made against MFP (“they want to abolish 112!” , “they are an extension of foreign powers”, “they are practically communists” etc.). I hope that the reader will get a broad picture of what MFP believes to be on course and what their vision is.
But maybe I'll change my mind today or tomorrow. Just a bit about PT as almost equally large number 2?
Soi I watched the programs of BJT, Phalangpracharat and UTN. They are quite short, and can be summarized as "We are going to reduce the costs for care and farmers and so on so that you don't drown". Subsidy here, Subsidy there. So much benefit for this or that. Better health for the (older) Thai, cheaper public transport. Not really a vision.
In a few words, more of what you already saw from our conservative cabinet in recent years, we are going to help you with your financial worries.
Not really worth translating in my eyes unless readers like to see sums with X baht for this and Y baht for that listed as ZzZZzzz. Wake me up if there is interest in those programs.
Hi RobV,
Thanks for the overview.
We must realize that the government statement is in the making and that the Pheu Thai, which has become almost as big as MFP (we would almost forget that) will also recognize itself in that MOU.
That means, as is normal in democratic coalition talks, that water in the wine (or water in the Leo) will have to be done on certain points: compromises, moving things forward (some things are not in a hurry), free issues (art112) maybe.
Looks good.
I do think that taxes need to be raised a bit to achieve this.
In my opinion a great program, unfortunately they will have to compromise a lot, the other parties will want something in return for their support.
I would advise not to go too fast, introduce changes gradually and maybe in 4 years time things will look better for rigorous changes.
This man has a lot of courage, and I wish him the best of luck, but I fear that his many program points are too ambitious.
The extensive power of the military in all kinds of sectors can most likely not be limited, let alone nullified. There is too much money and power involved in this and the elite are not going to give that up just like that.
Hopefully it will remain quiet in this beautiful country with its friendly inhabitants.
Jozef
In our small northern Thai village, the following points program circulated on mobile phones and flyers from the villagers. Sender were local MFP candidates.
Policy for the future
1. Immediately increase wages by 450 and above every year 1.
2. The elderly allowance 3000 baht for everyone. 2.เบี้ยคนแก่ได้เท่ากันหมด3000บาททุกคน
3. Child benefit 1200 baht/month from 0 to 6 years
4. Free tuition, free school meals until the end of graduate school
5. Free Sanitary Napkins for School Kids 5.
6. Education System Change
7. Free School Shuttle 7.มีรถรับส่งนักเรียนฟรี
8. 10000 baht per funeral
9. Bedridden patients a monthly allowance of 10000 baht 9. อนละ10000
ยกเลิก
Abolish
1. Art. 112 abolish criminal law 1.ยกเลิกม.112
2. Abolish military service 2.ยกเลิกเกณทหาร
3. Disband ??? 3.ยุบกอรมน.
4. abolish the village chief 4.ยุบกำนันผู้ใหญ่บ้าน
5. Dissolve the MCO 5.ยุบอสม.
6. Choose the Governor 6.เลือกตั้งผู้ว่า
7. Abolish Crown Council (Chairman Gen. Apirat !!!) 7.ยกเลิกองคมนตรี
8. Abolish the “Royal Initiative”
9. Move military barracks out of Bangkok
10. Seize part of His Majesty's wealth
11. 50% fewer military personnel 11.ลดทหารลง50%
12. convert military land into agricultural land 12.
The Thai text is a literal copy of the text message that circulated in Line. The translation technique played tricks on me on a few points. As far as I understand correctly from the villagers, point 3 is going to abolish under the heading about a military intelligence service.
In such a small farming village there is still chatting in the street in the evening. I still don't understand everything, for that I have to do my best as a Thai language student. I understand from the evening chatter that:
1. the royalist critical points of MFP were received with skepticism by a number of, mainly older and female villagers.
2. Most of the villagers indicated that they would divide their votes between MFP and PTP. List vote for MFP, PTP vote for a local candidate. A compromise that also says a lot about the desired coalition of the villagers, read Red Shirt base.
There is still a broad and active club life and that is strongly intertwined with the “Red Shirt movement”.
Abolish No. 3, กอ. รมน, concerns ISOC, Internal Operation Security Command.
All well and good, but… who will pay for that, Sweet Dear Gerritje?
Chris, you probably missed points 10,11 and 12.
No, not overlooked
But that's just a drop in the ocean.
10: seems to me legally completely unfeasible: taking away personal property is not easy….(Would it also have been a proposal under the previous head of state?)
11: yields too little structurally. On paper (and in the budget), soldiers don't earn that much at all.
12: converting nice, but apparently no one pays for it and it's only a one-off. I also wonder what those farmers have to do on Vibhavadi Rangsit road and in the city center of Bangkok. That will be rice with a golden edge.
I think affordability is the least problem. Removing part of his possessions and halving the army and abolishing conscription so that young people perform more meaningful tasks will more than suffice.
The great danger lies in the feasibility. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who bought his position in the civil service with a huge investment (tons of Baht), how are you supposed to recoup that investment other than corrupt practices? If those opportunities are taken away from you then you have a huge problem. Similar to the release of taxi licenses in Amsterdam a few years ago. A lot of resistance will come from that group of people, including from business people who are now enjoying their monopoly positions.
That's a lot to do away with! And that hope will remain. The military leadership will never agree to that. Typically a case of going too far in the package of wishes. Not real, this package. That way you don't cultivate goodwill with uniforms who like to play the boss….
Yes, politics is something that one still has to learn.
Populism is a favourite, reality is often hard to find, compromises are almost impossible.
But it tastes good.
And as far as the army is concerned: the problem partly solves itself but still needs a little hand:
– retirement age at 60 years; then a ban on using your military rank and no more use of other benefits;
– sales of barracks and other businesses owned by the military (hotels, golf courses, restaurants, boxing stadium)
– no more new general appointments.
Indeed Eric. Remember that Rome and Paris were not built in one day either.
You will get there step by step, especially if you do it with one of the many types of Thai "smiling faces" 🙂
This list has, however, encouraged these simple peasant people who have been strongly associated with the Red Shirt movement for the first time (partly) to cast their vote on the MFP list. That is undoubtedly unusually drastic for them. Like changing faith from Roman Catholic to Protestant in order to situate the image kingdom in a Dutch historical context.
Be that as it may Erik, the message has also arrived there, they will have to move in any case in the direction that the people want.
Intervening again with a coup d'état does not seem very sensible to me with this result.
On some of MFP's Facebook pages I saw the warning for fake news lists regarding the election programme. That list is consistent with what you quote, but several points said “Not true!” (X ไม่จริง) behind it.
Quote:
1. Abolish Article 12 (X FALSE)
2. Abolish compulsory military service
3. Abolish ISOC
4. Abolish the village chief (X FALSE)
5. Abolish OSM (Health Volunteers). (X FALSE)
6. Elected Governor
7. Abolish Privy Council. (X FALSE)
8. Cancellation of Royal Projects (X FALSE)
9. Move the military (barracks) outside of Bangkok.
11. Reduce the size of the army by 50% (X FALSE)
12. Taking military land and turning it into agricultural land (X FALSE)
With the call below that this list of partly incorrect points that was circulating via social media, should not be forwarded any further because this will only cause confusion among people.
Point 10 regarding mister 10 has been omitted, also not true according to Move Forward.
Who made the original list is the question. The leadership of the party certainly knows that this goes so far that it would be an active grenade not to throw oil on the fire. It is possible that more fanatical supporters or a local party member still shout such wild things without checking with the party organ. Could also come from people who hate this party and want to frighten them “see how radical they are!! danger!!".
In any case, the list of points of abolition is not the line the party officially says it stands for. With the exception of abolishing service lights, abolishing NCPO, letting the governor actually be elected instead of appointed and that the soldiers have no business in central Bangkok and set up their tent outside BKK.
Thanks for the info Rob V.
If MFP labeled it as fake on its FB pages, it must be.
If those FB pages are authentic from MFP right? Finding the truth has never been more difficult than in these digital times. With AI it will undoubtedly get even better (sic)
This list really went down like sweet cake with the villagers in the last few days. It certainly influenced their voting behaviour.
In many places, including this blog, the 'monarchy' and the current 'head of state' are used synonymously.
I seriously wonder whether all those outgoing measures against the monarchy would also have been put on paper under the previous head of state or whether it concerns the current head of state.
Is it about the monarchy as an institution or about a person?
Chris, difficult to answer because as a farang you can stick your head in a wasp's nest and you have to look for the Thai who want to talk about it with a light… Fifteen years on water and rice is no fun, I think.
But there is an undeniable change in travel behavior, family wealth management and then there is the medical emergency…
People used to get up in the cinema when one of the national tunes was played. I hear so left and right that the enthusiasm for it has disappeared…
Indeed, but those changes also have a reason that is never communicated. That would also turn Thai society upside down. So better keep it a secret and let the people guess. But there are Thais who do know why these changes.
Moderator: Please keep the discussion to Thai politics.
How was it possible that there was no major opposition to the Referendum of 2016, which created a senate with 250 unelected members in yet another constitution? Especially since with the many political parties this senate actually decides who will govern.
Had the professional politicians fallen asleep?
How was a “turn out” of 59% possible in that Referendum (of which 61% approved the referendum?
Professional politicians and the population were gagged at that time. Something about an NCPO (National Council for Peace and Order) of a general first class whose name escapes me at the moment… phon eek P something else. He then announced that 1) a NO campaign was prohibited, not everyone was waiting for at least a nice visit to the house of the authorities or an invitation to moan or re-educate. 2) in the event of a rejection, there would be no elections for the time being and the NCPO would remain in office for an unknown period of time. 3) some information was vague, ambiguously confusing. Factors that certainly played a role in the result of the referendum on that constitution in 2017.
That's what you call very ambitious plans.
Take the declaration of siege of the southern states, a lot goes wrong there.
A demand there was a separate state, a caliphate, with Sharia law in addition to Thai law. Just stand on it. That's sticking your head in a hornet's nest.
Another wasp's nest, you need money to realize the plans, taxes up on the rich?
As a government officer, my wife works the blubbers, lots of overtime and doesn't get paid a penny extra.
To then be at all kinds of events, commemorations on her FREE days.
It is also customary for officers to change places every 4 years, so that families are torn apart. It could be that your wife works in Satun and hubby has an officer's job in BK.
Are all the "properties" of the military organizations really in the hands of the government? Years ago during a riot this came to the surface. The military owned hotels, resorts, businesses, etc.
Everything would have been transferred to the state, but the military was the state.
Good plan to completely remove the military from the government, they have no business there.
Let's hope the new PM isn't a new Shinawatra again.
Should he be, because there are already attacks on his position again.
The situation in the south is very complex and there are various opinions about it. Radical voices that would prefer to separate themselves completely and/or merge with (part of) Malaysia, but above all the desire for more autonomy and less interference from Bangkok. A Bangkok that Muslims don't really think belongs to it, a real Thai is actually a Buddhist is the view that you can observe between the lines of the powers that be. The actions under Thaksin, which have caused much suffering in the south, have completely derailed the situation. Incidentally, the "war on drugs" was not an idea from Thaksin's sleeve, but someone else gave hints about it in speeches. The establishment was not really sorry that innocent people also fell, where minced meat is used, chips fall. Prosecuting soldiers is a bridge too far… The fact that they have checkpoints throughout the region, or even (un)manned roadblocks, is certainly not a step towards de-escalation. Who will be the first to take a step back to calm the wasp's nest? Losing face!
Personally, I think it's a good idea from MFP to want to lift martial law in the south. This paves the way to normalization of the situation. After all, seeing soldiers everywhere every day does not make most people happy.
It has been made more complex over time. If everything had been straightened out in 1715 (or 1300 , read various years), it could have been much less bad. But no, it festers until now, has gotten worse and more complex. More complex because there are many more groups and groups infiltrated by extremists. Thailand has misbehaved towards the population, pure discrimination against Muslims.
Religions should be banned, although Buddhism is not a real religion.
But religions contribute nothing else to mankind's unease
“Call it god or allah, they bring war and sorrow” borrowed from the Heideroosjes.
I can imagine it has come to this. You make promises and don't keep them as an executive. We know that from the Moluccans, which I have to agree with. Their actions were harsh. But can understand that you end up in such actions.
Not fun, costs people lives. Netherlands discriminating against the Moluccans.
Not so long ago, we had a similar situation in Spain (admittedly not a religion), it ended with a fizzle.
Should you ever read that Friesland wanted to separate from the Netherlands, perhaps the Frisian is sober enough not to do so through actions or they have resigned themselves to it?
Thailand therefore appears to be no different, despite Buddha. Should MFP be able to arrange this, I will roll out the red carpet and applaud with all my might. However, it will only be likely when Easter and Pentecost fall on 1 day. Not that I care much, am an atheist and have every day off.
.
But religions contribute nothing else to mankind's unease
This is a very unscientific claim and comes only from gut feelings.
There are numerous studies that show that religions have played a very large and positive role in the social and economic history of many countries in the world in the past. And that we partly owe our ideas to religions.
You could rather argue the opposite: the current world is so selfish and hostile because so many people are no longer religious (in the good sense of the word)
The military is not, but the police are represented in the coalition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sereepisuth_Temeeyaves
Because bizarre stories are also circulating online that MFP is on the leash of the US, here is a quote from the foreign program: “Forging cooperation with China for a peaceful and prosperous Asia. This without sacrificing Thailand's democratic values" Image caption ะเทศไทยด้านประชาธิปไตย” ).
The rest, as said, is about a stronger ASEAN and so on. Thailand that wants to rejoin the world map but will not be bossed around by a world power. The motto of the foreign section is “foreign policy with a backbone”
Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=799458795076808&set=pcb.799585948397426
Precisely. Let's not criticize China because their hunger for products and services could be Thailand's salvation.
Let's not forget that economically the Netherlands is a province of Germany. Without Germany (and their economic growth since 1950), the Dutch would now live like the Italians and Greeks.