PM talks about reform, the election and hesitant MPs

11 กุมภาพันธ์ 2558

Bangkok Post editor Pichai Chuensuksawadi had an interesting conversation partner on the high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train) in Japan yesterday: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha himself. Find out what the PM had to say.

Bangkok Post editor Pichai Chuensuksawadi had an interesting conversation partner on the high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train) in Japan yesterday: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha himself. Find out what the PM had to say.

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Bangkok Post editor Pichai Chuensuksawadi talks with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during an exclusive interview on the high-speed Shinkansen (bullet train) as they head from Tokyo for Osaka, in Japan yesterday.

Lock reform in place, urges PM

Prayut urges charter writers to compel next government to overhaul police, bureaucracy

Pichai Chuensuksawadi
Editor-in-Chief & Bangkok Post Editor

The new charter should stipulate a mechanism or committee empowered to drive reforms to ensure the next government presses ahead with change, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told the Bangkok Post yesterday in an exclusive interview.

Gen Prayut said it is obvious the 11 areas of reform currently being debated by the National Reform Council (NRC) cannot be completed before elections, expected at the end of this year or in early 2016.

Fundamental reform such as overhauling the police force, the bureaucracy and other key areas will be the responsibility of a new government, he said.

However, the prime minister is keen to ensure the reform push continues beyond the polls, and is urging charter drafters to build in a mechanism compelling the next government to keep up the momentum.

“Why not stipulate reforms in the new charter? You have to write into the charter a mechanism that would ensure reform. Can you accept this?” Gen Prayut asked.

This mechanism could be a body or committee in the Senate or House. “Write it into the charter. The terms of such a body could be for only one or two governments. If you don’t write this in, let me ask you, will the new government initiate reforms? No way. Find the mechanism and make sure the law protects these people. Give them the authority.

"Maybe they will need to have the authority to propose laws related to reforms and not just wait for MPs to draft reform laws. They [MPs] won’t do it,” he said.

Gen Prayut said the section could be written in a way that ensures reform laws involve parliament and have the government’s backing. “If you don’t have this mechanism, the government and MPs will not carry it out.”

Gen Prayut did not mince his words when he spoke about how people discuss issues related to reform and reconciliation, saying they often point the finger in his direction.

“People say there are problems and blame me. If there are problems with reconciliation, they blame me. If there are problems with reform, they blame me. If there are political divisions, they blame me. The various parties should look at themselves,” he said.

During his official visit to Japan, Gen Prayut assured the Japanese government and businessmen that elections would be held at the end of this year or early next year. Japan had asked about progress in the regime’s roadmap back to democracy.

However, questions remain as to whether Thailand can overcome its political divisions and instability after the polls. “I am not worried about the elections. I am more worried about what happens before them,” he said.

The charter is supposed to be ready by September, but Gen Prayut said whether the drafters hit their deadline is not up to him. “You’ll have to ask them,” he said. Once the charter is ready, organic laws need to be passed and Gen Prayut admitted he was concerned about delays if the drafters try to pass all the laws at once.

“Whether the draft is ready in time is not up to me. I reaffirm that I want elections by early next year. But if they [charter drafters] keep arguing and cannot agree, will the draft be ready in September?

“All political groups have to find the charter acceptable. If by September it’s done, we need to draft the organic laws. I say get the laws, which are really necessary to allow elections to be held, done first. Not all the organic laws have to be passed,” he said.

“But after the elections, if one side wins, will their opponents accept the results? We don’t know. This is Thailand,” Gen Prayut added.

Asked whether he found it challenging changing from his army chief role to that of prime minister, Gen Prayut said: “Why is it difficult? I don’t have to do everything myself. I have to read. I use my head and decide what to do first, what to do next. I prioritise in my head.”

“I don’t think it’s difficult [being prime minister]. You have to think carefully. If you get too involved you will start thinking what will I gain? What will I lose?

“People say I am wrong to have staged the coup. Yes, I was wrong but now I have done it. I am ready to sacrifice myself to get what is right and just. I think of it as turning a crisis into an opportunity. We can’t resolve all the issues because they have been mounting up for a long time,” he said.

Gen Prayut arrived back in Bangkok last night.