Govt 'must get moving'
Thaksin urges all-out effort on reconciliation
- Published: 11/07/2011 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Thaksin Shinawatra has used his influence on the new Pheu Thai-led government to stress the importance of it leading the way in much-touted reconciliation efforts.
While the former prime minister holds no official position in the party and is in exile, Pheu Thai is his party in all but name and he classes himself as an ''adviser''.
With his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, the likely new prime minister, Thaksin has outlined to her how he thinks the country's social and political divides can be healed - and that it is crucial the new government take the first step.
- Interview excerpts: Thaksin's vision for a new Thailand
- Thaksin: Ubergeek with eight mobiles
''The government needs to state its clear position that reconciliation must happen,'' Thaksin said in an interview in Brunei with Post Today editor NHA-KRAN LOAHAVILAI utopiaand senior reporter WISSANU NUNTONG.
''[The government] needs support from all stakeholders, and it can't allow those parties with differences to stage a confrontation.
''The disputes of the past five years can't be solved overnight, but there has to be a starting point.
''The government has to serve as a leader for the reconciliation effort and fully support the work of the national reconciliation committee.''
Thaksin said he viewed Dec 5 - the 84th birthday of His Majesty the King - as key to the reconciliation effort.
''Everyone needs to lower their pride and join together,'' he said. ''All colours, all sides, should come together and offer our blessings [to His Majesty].
''A good beginning [to reconciliation] is important. The government has to start this process well, to give the public confidence.''
Thaksin said he has advised Ms Yingluck to consider his own mistakes.
''Civil society is important and time needs to be given to their concerns,'' he said. ''Before, we worked a lot. We didn't look down [on civil society], we just were immersed in our work. It was a mistake.''
Economic measures also are a priority for the new government to help address the rising cost of living and pressure on the poor, as well as rebuilding relations with the global community and the country's neighbours.
Thaksin insisted that he was only an adviser to Pheu Thai, with no formal role in the formation of the new cabinet.
But he said the formation of a strong coalition government and cabinet hinged on two factors _ political stability in parliament and choosing qualified people to execute policy.
The closely watched economics portfolios, including the Finance, Commerce, Industry and Energy ministries, are all expected to be tightly held by Pheu Thai insiders.
But Thaksin said the party was also looking to outsiders to play key roles in the new cabinet, although he declined to offer specifics.
Ms Yingluck, who looks set to become Thailand's first female prime minister, was Pheu Thai's figurehead as it romped to a dominant victory in the July 3 elections and has announced plans to form a six-party coalition holding more than 300 seats in the new government.
Thaksin has not set foot in Thailand since 2008 when he fled the country after being charged with corruption. He was later found guilty in absentia and sentenced to two years in prison, and in 2010 the Supreme Court ordered the confiscation of 46 billion baht of his assets on the grounds of policy corruption during his time as premier from 2001 to 2006.
In the election campaign, the then-ruling Democrat Party and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva argued that a Pheu Thai victory would lead to Tha ksin's conviction being quashed and efforts being launched to bring about an amnesty bill that would allow Thaksin to return to Thailand without facing jail.
But Pheu Thai's emphatic victory clearly shows popular support for the 61-year-old billionaire remains strong.
Thaksin played down the imminence and importance of the amnesty.
''An amnesty bill isn't the priority,'' he said. ''Reconciliation is.
''Once that is accomplished, if [an amnesty] is needed, then OK. If it's not, then it's not.
''I've always said that I don't want to be part of the problem _ I want to be part of the solution, or part of the process in helping solve the problems.
''I return and it helps things improve, then great, but if it makes things worse, then I won't return. I can continue to pursue my interests abroad.''
Thaksin insisted he holds no personal grudges against anyone, even political enemies such as Newin Chidchob, the de facto leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, or Suthep Thaugsuban, the former secretary-general of the Democrat Party.
''I forgive everyone. There aren't any ill feelings,'' he said.
''Now, this doesn't mean that we will have to work together. There are a lot of things involved in working together. But that doesn't have anything to do with ill feelings.
''For anyone afraid I will seek retribution, they can come and see me and I'll gladly treat them to a meal in Dubai.''
He continued that the election results should be accepted by all in the name of reconciliation and out of respect for the democratic system.
''[The election] was in line with the rules,'' said Thaksin. ''If you win, you win. If you lose, you lose, and prepare for next time.
''Regardless, every party is working for the country, so let's help each other.
''The rules are clear: it's the public that chooses. Whoever they choose, they then go and perform their duty. The losing party goes and performs a different duty.''
Thaksin added: ''It's like a football match _ we might cheer for one team. They've played well, but lose on penalties. You have to respect the results.
''The loser simply goes back and practises, and tries to do better next time.
''You don't lose and quit, and you aren't always going to be the champ. Things move in seasons.''
ONtheRECORD
Thaksin outlines his vision for a new Thailand
- Published: 11/07/2011 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
While former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra may well be one of the most polarising politicians in Thai history, there is little doubting his business acumen, having amassed a fortune worth billions of dollars from his ventures in telecommunications, satellites, property and even Premier League football.
He spoke recently with NHA-KRAN LOAHAVILAI , editor of our sister newspaper Post Today , and senior reporter WISSANU NUNTONG in Brunei to discuss his thoughts on the Thai economy and his advice to the Pheu Thai Party.
What is Pheu Thai's focus right now as it sets about forming a government?
Yingluck [Shinawatra, his sister and the presumptive prime minister] holds meetings every day. They are moving quickly to address the short-term problems, namely the high cost of living. They will enact measures to help reduce the cost of living.
Medium-term, the people's income and the country's economic fundamentals need to be strengthened.
Long-term, megaprojects need to be implemented to help support economic growth over the next, say, 10 years.
These projects including the new city to be built from the ocean dam project, water resources development, new Bangkok mass transit routes and the nationwide high-speed rail programme. They are considering the issues, including finding experts to help set up a plan with the civil service.
How will these policies be enacted? Say the plan to raise minimum wages to 300 baht a day, or starting salaries for new graduates to 15,000 baht a month?
Tax breaks will be offered to help pay for the wage increases. It might be done in two steps, starting with the civil service. Wage hikes in the civil service will in turn force the market to adjust.
Right now, people only look at the numbers _ economic growth figures, consumption figures, profitability growth. Our weakness is to look only at the figures, rather than the underlying factors, or changes in the market.
Anyone who believes they can evade [the wage hike policy] by hiring vocational students rather than university graduates is only focusing on the numbers, rather than the changes that are happening in the world.
What about small and medium-sized companies?
We have a financing scheme in mind. As money is injected into the market, purchasing power will increase. Anyone who says that government spending will be wasted is only thinking in one-dimensional terms. You have to think that these funds will return in the form of value-added tax.
It's like water. Some might think that the government should open its reservoirs only during times of drought. But why not consider the entire water cycle? Think long-term. The reservoir might not be full today, but we will have created a new model.
If the public has more money, the government can collect more tax.
What about the minimum wage plan?
The 300 baht a day minimum wage, or plans to pay new graduates 15,000 baht a month, will both be based on tax cuts.
Whoever fears they will be the only one to pay has to change their thinking.
The 300-baht minimum wage will only apply to Bangkok. In other areas, minimum wages will be lower.
Can you explain the new city project?
In the Gulf of Thailand, the water level is relatively shallow for some 15 kilometres from the shore. We will build a dam 10 kilometres out. Beyond the dam, land will be reclaimed to another five kilometres out to help deepen the water, which will in turn help clean the ocean.
Behind the dam, land will be reclaimed to create 200,000 rai, or 300 square kilometres of new land. This will form the base of a new city.
Whatever Bangkok lacks now, we can build there. For instance, we can build a modern Asian financial centre, or a global software development centre, or a film development centre similar to India's Bollywood. We can build new ports. Power will come from new wind farms. It will be a modern, green city.
The investment cost will be small, say 12,500 baht per square wah. If we reclaim 300,000 rai, 200,000 will be for public use and the remainder sold. Assuming a profit of 20 million baht per rai, that's 2 trillion baht in revenue.
These profits in turn will help finance other projects, such as water management.
What about the other megaprojects?
We want high-speed trains on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangkok-Hua Hin routes.
Another new route will run from China, through Nong Khai province, and on down to the Malaysian border.
New double-gauge tracks also need to be laid down, since our existing rail is outdated and has only a limited carrying capacity.
In terms of water management, we need to develop our assets to accept more water. Flood control systems have to be improved, and rivers will be linked to improve waterflow.
It might take seven years to complete this project.
How about financing?
For the mass transit projects, we can pay with earnings from our agricultural goods _ rubber, rice, sugar or tapioca. These are all products which are needed on the international market.
So those who want to sell their goods to us will in turn also become our customers.
We also need to develop the land around mass transit routes into little communities that can help generate revenue to help offset the investment costs.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/246420/
The techno geek who packs eight mobiles
- Published: 11/07/2011 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
It should come as no great surprise, but Thaksin Shinawatra likes his mobile phones. All eight of them.
The former prime minister started one recent interview by switching from one phone he had been talking on to another. Among his collection were several Blackberrys, at least two Apple iPhones and what appeared to be a Samsung Galaxy touch-screen model, among others.
"Some periods are busier than others [in using the phones]," shrugged Thaksin as he ran through a message list on one Blackberry.
A genuine technophile, Thaksin built his fortune by founding Thailand's largest mobile phone operator and sole satellite operator. Later, as prime minister, he initiated policies to raise computer literacy, broaden online public services and expand information technology.
No comments:
Post a Comment