Experiences of Hope: Reaching for the 21st Century. 9748900169

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Experiences of Hope Reaching for the 21st Century

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

People’s Plan for the 21st Century Thailand 1992

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Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century Editor : Vitoon Panyakul

ISBN 974-89001-6-9 Fist published 1992 , Thailand

Published by People’s Plan for the 21st Century NGO-Coordinating Committee on Rural Development

Editor: Vitoon Panyakul Cover photo: Isan Development Press Designer: Saeng-rawee Typesetter and production: Green Frog Publishing

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Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

Dedicated to the People Who Make the History, But Never Write the History.

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Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

PP 21 Collective Co-conveners Asia Alliance of YMCAs Asia Monitor Resource Center (AMRC) Asia-Pacific People’s Forum on Peace and Development Asia-Pacific Workers Solidarity Links (APWSL) Asian Center for the Progress of People (ACPP) Asian Coalition of Housing Rights (ACHR) Asian Community Health Action Networks (ACHAN) Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD) Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Asian Indigenous People Pacts (AIPP) Asian Migrant Workers Center Asian-Pacific Bureau of Adult Education (ASPBAE) Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives (ARENA) Asian Regional Fellowship (ARF) Asian Students Association (ASA) Asian Women Association (AWA) Child Workers in Asia Christian Conference of Asia -Urban and Rural Mission (CCA-URM) Christian Conference of Asia -International Affairs Christian Conference of Asia -Youth (CCA-Youth) Documentation for Action Groups in Asia (DAGA) Ecumenical Coalition for Third World Tourism (ECTWT) INODEP-Asia International Center for Law and Development (ICLP) International Organization of Consumers’ Unions (IOCU) International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS-Asia) International Young Christian Students (IYCS) International Young Christian Workers (lYCW/Asia-Pacific) Nuclear Free Independence Pacific (NFIP) Pacific Asia Resources Center (PARC) Pacific Concerns Resources Center (PCRC) Promocion Del Desarrollo Popular (Latin America) Solidarity Network Action Asia and Minamata (SNAM) Southeast Asia Forum for Development Alternative (SEAFDA) Third World Network (TWN) World Council of Churches (WCC/CCPD) World Student Christian Federation (WSCF)

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Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

Introduction

From the 1991 Peoples’ Forum to the People’s Plan for the 21st Century “ ... These problems will become more complicated in the future and it will be impossible for any one party to solve them alone. Solving problems should involve participation on the widest scale. The people themselves must be the foundation and centre for all development agencies. Decentralization of power over resource management is essential, together with an acceptance of the value of local wisdom and culture as well as that of modern technologies. Community organizations should hold the status of juristic entities. The government and international organizations should listen more carefully to the voice of the people. Distribution of power and more peoples’ forums are the answer to the increasingly complicated and heterogeneous problems of this day and age, and will lead the country towards a progressive and sustainable development.” Extracted from the Declaration the 1991 Thai People’s Forum People-Centered Development, October 10, 1991

6

Experiences of Hope ; Reaching for the 21st Century)

The above declaration for people in

the cause of human suffering, exploitation

Thailand and overseas is a manifesto to reaf-

and tragedy of millions of people in the Third

firm the call for peoples’ participation in the

World countries.

economic, political and social development,

Moreover, the event of PP21 will coin-

so that the development process will be more

cide with the period marked by transition

balanced, just and sustainable.

both in Thailand and in the international

Although the curtain has come down

arena: -The collapse of the Berlin Wall does not

on the ‘1991 Peoples’ Forum’ , the peoples’ forums have continued to be the activities of

constitute only the reunification of the

local people in Bangkok, Thailand, in the Third

German p e o p l e previously divided by

World as well as in many other countries all

political differences, but also represents the

over the world. This will continue as long as

triumph of the ‘free trade’ system that has

the people are left out from determining the

penetrated the once central-planned coun-

development

tries;

process.

The People’s Plan for the 21st Century

- The United Nations’ Conference

on

(PP21) is a another attempt to facilitate social

Environment and Development

interaction between people within and with-

de Janeiro was an important effort to raise

out the country. Making people visible is to

global awareness

recognize that the 2,000th year

held in Rio

on the fragility of humans

of human

existence which hangs upon the thread of

history. Our future is made up of local

global ecological balance . Yet such balance is

peoples’ contributions. Promoting alterna-

under threat by human themselves who

tive development is to share alternative de-

dreams of being ‘the Man (sic)over Nature’.

velopment

However, instead of the Conference,

approaches, which is economi-

cally self-reliant, politically just, and environ-

concluded

mentally sustainable. Peoples’ control is to

commitment

to maintain and improve this

enhance peoples’ control of the development

live-saving

thread, the Conference ended

direction and their natural resources as the

with bitterness, further dividing the industri-

agenda for the approaching

alized countries and the Third World on the

century.

While the 1991 Peoples’ Forum was organized parallel to the World Bank/IMF

in a consensus expressing global

inequality of inter-country politico-economic relation.

It also uncovers

the continuous

Annual Meeting, the PP21 activities will take

unwillingness of the North to share resources

place at a historical period. Not only it is the

with poorer neighbours (even though such

60th anniversary of the Thai democracy, but

resources initially too originated from Third

also the 500 Years of colonialism which was

World countries).

7

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

- In Thailand too, many people are not convinced

that the 1992 May massacre of

peaceful pro-democracy

demonstrators and

the following general elections signified the end of the long-established authoritarian

context in which these experiences occurred are different from those in other time and locality. The struggle of Thai people and people in all Third World countries are paid with

regimes in Thailand. They believe that the

blood, flesh and tears. Failures and losses

road towards

of

are part of the peoples’ struggle that no one

the people’ is yet long to realize, perhaps as

wants to see, but most often it is inevitable.

‘participatory democracy

long as the peoples’ basic problems are not

How many peoples’ leaders have to sacrifice

tackled. These include the rights to natural

before justice is done?

resource management, the rights to housing

Phor Lerd Taecha-in is a peoples’ mar-

of slum dwellers, the equal rights for women,

tyr. The peoples’ history will remember Phor

the rights to Thai citizenship by mountain-

Lerd, a leader from tombal Kor of Tung

people, etc.

Huacharn sub-district, Lumpoon province.

Representative democracy,

however good it is (for instance there is no

He had been struggling against injustice

vote-buying in the election and an elected

imposed

Prime Minister in power), can be nothing but

the Yan-hee Dam over 30 years ago. Until the

a lip-service democracy.

last minute of his life, Phor Lerd continued to

upon him by the construction of

involve in the campaign to raise issues of

Experiences of Hope: Reaching for the 21st Century

people evicted by the dam. Phor Lerd was shot dead a few months after he returned from participating in the 1991 Peoples’ Forum

Articles which appear in this book are the stories of the leaders of peoples’ organiza-

in Bangkok. The editor wish to express his sincere

tions, relayed to us from brief interviews.

thanks to all peoples’ leaders for their time

This is but a small chapter in the historical

and patience share their experiences.

book on which the just page of the 21st

thank all contributors, colleges, and friends,

century is about to appear.

who gave a helping hand to make this book

I also

Experiences echoing in words and

possible, especially the English editorial

‘between the lines’ of these articles are just a

team; Victor P. Karunan, Beena Sorab, M.S.

small drop in the ocean of the life long strug-

Shivakumar and Robert Reid.

gle of peoples’ leaders. This limitation does not mean that these experiences evant

are irrel-

Vitoon Panyakul

or they are inapplicable, but the

November 1992

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Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

Contents Introduction

5

The Minamata Declaration

11

Mountain People : Forest Protectors Hill Tribe People : Development and Impact

20

H’mong Leader From Khun Klanf Valley : Pholuang Chongrak Thoetthai

26

Briging the Differences : Pholuang Jomi Odochao

32

Women Peace, Equality and Creativity ‘New Image’ of Thai Women in the People’s Movement

41

A Model Housewife for the Country : Tongdee Pothiyong

49

Northeastern Housewife and Handicrafts : Somparn Chandaeng

57

Children : The Future of Society From the International Declaration of the Rights of the Child to the Forgotten Children in Thai Society Hopes of Child Labour : Somchit and Den

68 74

Famer ; Food Producers Peasant Movement : Hands that Produce Food for the World

81

From Farmer to Integrated Farming : Niyom Chittradit

86

The Great Teacher of Isan Integrated Farming : Kua Wongboon

98

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

9

Contents

The Urban Poor and housing Rights The Slum Peoples’ Power and Struggle for Shelter

104

From Isan Girl to Slum People leader : Roi Sihaphong

112

Woman Leader from the Bangkok-Thonburi Community Cooperative : Phanthip Buttad

122

Workers : Building the World The Role of Thai Labour In the Social Movement

134

The Corner-Stone of the Public Enterprise Unions : Wafthana lambamrung

138

Iron Woman of the Thai Labour Movement : Aruni Srito

143

Students and Youth : The New Force Dual Challenges of the Thai Students Movement

154

Man of May : Prinya Thewanarumitkul

159

Natural Resource Managment by Communities Environmental Situation and Peoples’ Organization in the Southern Region

168

Tourism : Who Win , Who Lose Challenging the Economic Miracle of the Tourism Industry Development in Thailand

177

Human Rights Right to Democratization and Genuine Peace

185

10

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

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Experiences

of Hope : Reaching

11

for the 21st Century

The Minamata Declaration

The slogan at the beginning of the 20th

■x .* V ; r . 1 *

■

..

century was progress.

The cry at the end of

the 20th century is survival. The call for the next century is hope. Impelled by that hope for the future and with a keen sense of urgency, we began our con- eluding gathering of the People’s Plan for the 21st Century in Minamata. It is significant that we met in Minamata, a place which symbolizes to all of us development at its most murderous. As it did to the people of Bhopal and Chernobyl, a giant organization with advanced science, technology and production techniques condemned the people of Minamata to fear, sickness and death, and their beautiful bay to irreparable damage. These three disasters - Minamata, Bhopal, and Chernobyl - can be taken as benchmarks of our time. At Minamata, the

-

y >:

"

industry of a capitalist country poisoned

its

own citizens. At Bhopal, a US multinational corporation poisoned people of the South. At Chernobyl, a socialist government spilled radiation out over its land and people and beyond its borders to the whole world. There is no need here to repeat the long and mounting list of eco-catastrophes. These three tell the story: there is no place to hide. But these are not the only symbols of the

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

12

For the

centralization of power. The more the word

indigenous peoples, disaster came with

‘democracy’ has been used, the less has been

confiscation and exploitation

its practice. For indigenous people and for

disaster

that ‘progress’ has been.

of their lands

and resources, and destruction and disrup-

minorities, democracy has meant the rule of

tion of their way of life.

the powerful, a very small elite. Both

For women, development disempowerment

has meant

of all kinds . They have been

development

and democracy

dirty words for the oppressed

have become because,

in

marginalized and subordinated by male

reality, they have come to mean impoverish-

religions, male science and knowledge,

ment and disempowerment.

and

male maldevelopment. The billion dollar pornography

and sex industry has reduced

Decisions are made by fewer and fewer. Economic decisions are made by big con-

them to mere commodities. At the same time,

glomerates, political decisions by the power-

they continue to be subordinated within their

ful in our national capitals, or in the capitals

own homes.

of the big powers; the film and television

For the poor of the Third World, development has meant less and less control over

industry decide what entertainment is and who our heroes are. Governments decide

their own resources and lives. Their struggle

how many children we will have. Some

to survive has become

more difficult, their

governments force us to have abortions,

existence has become precarious.There has

while other forbid it. Some even decide our

indeed been progress and development, but

religion.

only for the few, The rest are paying for this

Human beings become less powerful,

development by sacrificing their lives,

less autonomous, less creative, less human.

cultures, values.

Small communities and even small and poor

Development disastrous

and progress have been

because they are based on an

obsession with materialistic acquisition.

nations become less autonomous. They are subordinated by world markets, World Bank policies, the power games of world powers.

Profit and power have emerged as the gods

The gap between rich and poor, North

of this development. The assumption behind

and South, has been increasing. In the last two

this development has been that man is

decades, more wealth and resources

supreme, that he can use and misuse Nature

been extracted from the Third World than in

have

as he wishes. Development has been a

the entire previous century. The coming dec-

project to conquer nature, rather than to live

ades are likely to witness more rapid accumu-

in harmony with it.

lation, concentration and centralization of

Development has meant increasing

power in the North. Debt payments, profits,

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

royalties,

capital flight, deterioration

of the

terms of trade are among the mechanisms

of

imperialist exploitation. This unjust, vulgar and ugly development

has also created a

13

(we want Janakashaba) was sung. The Minamata Gathering has shown that global conditions

us

today have placed the

people of the world on a common

ground

South in the North, with the terrible living

with a common

conditions of indigenous people, racial

tory. If we want to survive, live together in

minorities, migrant workers, and the unem-

dignity and in mutual respect of our diversity

ployed.

without violating each other’s

The 20th century has brought us more, and more murderous wars than at any other time in history. The technology advanced beyond any previous

of killing has

the wildest imaginations

fate for the first time in his-

autonomy

and right to self-determination, we need Janakashaba wherever

we are.

At this gathering, we talked about our

of

aspirations for Janakashaba. Our hope is not

era. The state, which was

an empty one. It is not a mirage. It is born in

supposed to be our great protector, has

the midst of injustices, vices and corruption

turned out to be the greatest killer, killing not

which make us cry and at times make us

only foreigners

despair. We discussed

in wars, but also killing its

own citizens in unprecedented numbers. The

the hope which in-

spires us to fight injustices as well as social,

20th century has perpetuated and intensified

human and ecological

the practices of genocide,

selves whether there is a basis for such hope.

ethnocide, ecocide

and femicide. These practices have occurred in the name of what we have called ‘progress’ and ‘development’. All these

decay. We asked our-

Life and nature itself is being

defiled,

not only human beings. Now, the sky, oceans, mountains, rivers, forests, plants, animals and

force us to ask, is here not

something profoundly wrong with our understanding of historical

progress?

all other living beings are in crisis, their very existence

threatened.

Is there

We clearly hear the voices of those clos-

not something profoundly wrong with our

est to nature. We have realized that we must

picture of what to fight for? Is there not some-

fight not only to restore the sanctity of human

thing profoundly wrong with our image of

life, but of all life.

where to place our hopes? ‘Janakashaba’ a word in the Minamata dialect, became

familiar to all PP21 partici-

pants. Janakashaba means 'a world standing

We were born into a world divided into hostile groups. If we want to survive collectively, then these

divisions

must be over-

come. We have met in Minamata and found

not like this’. It is a beautiful word. AtMinamata

in each other the will to overcome the struc-

rallies a new song, Janakashaba ba hosikayo’

tures that divide us.

14

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

Here, then is our assertion:

the 21st

sisters in the socialist countries for overcom-

Century must not be built by these forces of

ing the East-West division and for working to

degraded development,

establish genuine democratic power world-

but by the forces

resisting it. Only then is there hope, not otherwise.

wide. In these big countries and in smaller

This is precisely what is being acted out

ones, in every region, town, and village, the

before our eyes today by millions of people

people are on the move. And they are aware

in the Asia-Pacific region. They do not accept

of each other as never before, looking after

what has been foisted on them as their fate,

each other, communicating, joining in un-

they are ready to take the leap, and they are

precedented

ways. All of this is new. It is the

taking it. We witness wave after wave of

main force defining our situation and the

peopleus

main reason for this gathering.Janakashaba is

movements, emerging, spreading,

defying state boundaries, complementing one

the spirit of the people in our time. This is why

another, and sharing an increased sense of

we do not hesitate, despite everything this

urgency fostered by n e w networks of

century has brought us, to declare that the

communication. The major struggles of the

21st century will be the century of hope.

Korean, Philippine, and Bumiese people have

There is another reason for hope. The

shown explosive power. Recently, we have

present system has begun to undermine itself

witnessed the rise of a new democratization

by creating its own contradictions: growth

movement of the Chinese people. The recent experience

against nature, militarism against the need

of glasnost has

for collective security, uniformity against

reaffirmed t h e c o n t i n u i n g universal

cultural diversity, alienation against human

relevance of participatory democracy, under-

dignity, mindless consumerism against

mined the basis for traditional anti-commu-

humankind aspiring to regain lost values,

nism and delegitimised

meaning and spirituality.

the ideology of the

Cold War, thus creating new conditions con-

The economy has pushed itself to such

ducive to people’s struggles. However,

absurd limits that more and more people are

perestroika

feeling alienated and lost. All over the world,

may well prioritize economic of support

simultaneously, more and more people are

for people’s struggles for justice a n d

competitiveness

at the expense

searching for different ways of living in har-

democracy.

mony with one another and nature.

Be that as it may, the changes in th

These contradictions are pushing for-

socialist countries provide the opportunity

ward new historical subjects from amongst

for new alliances with our brothers and

the victims of the global catastrophe, i.e.

15

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

indigenous peoples, women, the unemployed

out of these local, national, regional popular

and the self-employed in the so- called infor-

struggles confronting common enemies.

mal sector. Alienated youth without much

These new movements are growing up

future and the concerned intelligentsia are

within the context of a peculiar contradiction

also joining the historical struggles of the

involving the role of the state. Our region is

masses - peasants, workers, the urban poor.

being organized by transnational capital,

The mushrooming of people’s movements is

which is bringing together far-flung«and het-

giving rise to the hope that we can create a

erogeneous

society where everyone can live with dignity.

grated, hierarchical division of labor, in which

New conditions support these aspirations. We have the knowledge

areas and peoples into an inte-

peasants, workers, indigenous

peoples and

and the tech-

women are subordinated. States are vigor-

nology. We also have the grassroots organiza-

ously promoting this, as the agencies which

tions, people’s spirituality and values, reaf-

mediate the entry of transnational capital

firmed, rediscovered and newly created in the

within their national boundaries. At the same

struggle for survival in the face of the collec-

time, transnationalization of the economy

tive suicide imposed by the present pattern

undermines the basis of the state. This places

of development.

its claim to sovereignty and its pretense as

The simultaneous emergence of this global

phenomenon

commonalties:

common

has

its

own

interests, common

protector into question, thus weakening its legitimacy, and creating new opportunities for the people to intervene. The state seeks to

values and common threats organically

protect itself through intensification

linking all oppressed

pression and violence, as we see today in

people and exploited

of re-

groups in the world. A new logic is emerging

many countries, or, as in the case of Japan,

against the . logic of growth, transnational

intensification of the attempt to implant statist

companies and elites power. This is the true

ideology into the minds of the people.

'logic of the majority’. The ‘majority’ here does

In this same process, the engine of de-

not mean the majority as measured in polls

velopment has overheated

and elections, but the global majority, the

running wildly out of control, producing a

most oppressed. It means that they must have

saturation economy. Japanese work

in Japan and is in-

the prerogative, and this requires a new set

tensely in heavily managed situations in

of priorities based on human values and in

which they are virtually powerless.

harmony with nature, culture, gender,

Japanese economy

indigenous people and other ethnic groups. A new internationalism is being born

does not empower

The its

citizens, but rather seeks to make them powerless and fragmented. And it has also repro-

16

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

duced within its boundaries a ‘North’ and a

fundamental freedoms of indigenous peo-

‘South’. The ‘South’ includes millions of poorly

ples and other minorities.

paid women

part-timers, contract workers,

At the same time, democracy can no

day laborers, and increasingly guestworkers

longer be achieved within the limits of the

from South and -Southeast Asia as well as

state. Today,

farmers who are rapidly being marginalized.

are being controlled, shattered, deformed and

One of the words which has been stolen

destroyed

the lives of millions of people

by decisions

made outside their

from the people and corrupted is the word

communities, even outside their countries.

‘democracy’. Originally, democracy

These decisions

meant the

autonomy, the self-determination, the empowerment

of the people.

To many people

in the Third World, however,

it has come to

be the l a b e l for a facade of ‘civilian government’, disguising pression

state terror and re-

in a ploy to claim legitimacy for the

are made by foreign govern-

ments, by transnational corporations, by agencies

such as the IMF, the World Bank

and big power summits. Hence, we declare that all people, especially the oppressed

people, have a natural

and universal right to criticize, oppose

or

state to serve the interests of the powerful.

prevent the implementation of decisions

For indigenous

affecting their lives, no matter where those

peoples

and other minorities,

democracy has been the ideology of

decisions are made. We declare that this

‘majority rule’ that has been defined them as

right, as a people’s right, is more fundamental

‘minorities’ who could b e legitimately

than any artificial law or institution estab-

ignored.

lished by the state. We declare that this right

On the other hand, democracy is something millions

of people in the Asia-Pacific

means the right of the people borders,

to cross all

national and social, to carry their

region are fighting and dying for. We need to

struggle to the exact sources of power seek-

retrieve it to serve the people’s

ing to dominate or destroy them.

struggle. We

must begin with the premise that the state,

We need

to make clear that this right

and the institutions that it pretends constitute

must never be interpreted as justifying the

‘democracy’,

actions of the powerful crossing

cannot be relied upon to bring

borders to

us peace, justice, a secure and dignified life,

oppress, exploit and dispossess

or an end to ecological

On the contrary, we are asserting that the

people’s

movements

destruction. Only the themselves,

independ-

ent and autonomous, can do this. And here

the people.

people have a right to counter these interventions which are going on all the time.

we emphasize that we are talking about a

We recognize that the struggles of

democracy that honors the human rights and

subjugated peoples for self- determination,

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

17

independence, and to establish their own

do this for ourselves. This we must reject and

governments, or of people to change or

overcome. Transborder political action,

improve their governments,

support and solidarity campaigns across

are crucial. At

the same time, we believe that, in the long-

borders will gradually develop a new

term, it is the transborder political actions of

‘people’, that transcends existing divisions,

the people, marginalizing states and countering the power of international capital, that

especially between people living in the

will produce the 21st century that we hope for.

North and South. This is not utopian: the actions we describe are actually going on all over the

We have no illusion about the present condition of the peoples of the Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific region, and all over the world. What we assert is that these transborder

region. The ruling powers maintain them-

actions are not merely the proper responses

selves by dividing the people and encourag-

of the people to desperate situations. Taken

ing hostility among them. The rulers not

together, they amount to people collectively

only seek to rule us, but also to manage our

making their own 21st century.

mutual relations, depriving us of our right to

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18

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

19

Mountain People : Forest Protectors

20

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

Hill Tribe People : Development and Impact

According to a 1988 estimate, the popu-

hill tribes has formed the main justification for

lation of the hilltribes was 551,444 people,

the Thai governmentus intervention in hill

equivalent to 1% Thailand’s total popula-

tribe communities in the name of develop-

tion. Most of the hilltribe people live in the

ment. In the early period, the state develop-

northern

ment programme was more concerned with

region of Thailand, in particular

Maehongson,

resettlement scheme whereby previously

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai

provinces.

scattered hill tribe communities were brought together and relocated in certain camps. This

Hill tribes in Thailand can be divided into 3 main categories, according to language

may have facilitated the administration of

groups: Sino-Tichlan, Austro-Thai and Austro-

the stateus development efforts, but was

siatic. These three categories can be further

detrimental to the livelihood of these hill tribe

divided into three small groups, for instance

communities.

the Austro-siatic group consists of the Wa,

However, the resettlement camps were

Tin, Lua Kanuig and Ma Phrae. The diver-

soon proven to be a failure. Two reasons

gence of language, livelihood and culture of

underpinned the scheme was firstly, lack of

Thai hilltribes reflects the way in which the

preparation on the part of the state in finding

various local communities

fertile land for the resettlement, and secondly,

have adapted to

the different environments where they are

the lack of understanding of the diversity in

located.

the livelihood of the different hill tribes. The

The differences between the various Thai

policy reform of the next period saw the

* Summarized by Vitoon Panyakul from “Hill Tribe People: Development and Impacts” by Sombat Boonkamrueng and Somneg Benjavitayatham ** Reprinted from “People Centered Development: Vitoon Panyakul (editor), Local Development

The People Forum 1991”, 1992,

Institute, Bangkok.

21

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

setting up of the Hill Tribes Assistance and

Public Affairs Department was the main

Development

agency involved in developmental activities

Center in the areas where hill

tribe communities had previously settled, and

in hill tribe areas. However, underlying the

a mobile unit was sent into the communities

state’s development efforts during this period

rather than moving the different communi-

was the unstated aim of integrating hill tribe

ties into one centralized location. In addition,

communities into the larger Thai society,

the Ministry of the Interior began a survey and

rather than raising their living standards. An-

study of the social and economic aspects of

other stumbling block in the success of state

hill tribe communities, beginning with the 6

development efforts of this period was that

main groups of Maew, Yao, Lisaw, Museu,

the public agencies involved in hill tribe de-

Ego, An, and Geleaeng.

velopment programs appeared to lack over-

Around 1968, at the height of political conflicts between

the government and the

all planning. Each organization carried out development work only relating to their own

Communist Party of Thailand, policies of hill

realms of responsibility without co-ordinating

tribe development were re-formulated within

with other departments. For instance, the

the framework of the National Security Policy.

National Security Council was only concerned

This National Security Policy was aimed at

with security issues, while the Forestry

blocking the spreading of the Communist

Department was only concerned with the

Party of Thailand, at that time waging an

prevention of deforestation.

armed struggle in the area of the hill tribe

Only after 1982 that the government

communities. Hill tribe development policies

began to realize its mistake. It then attempted

of this period stressed public relations with

to correct the lack of co-ordination and the

local communities, and improving their eco-

consequent duplication of work that had

nomic situation.

characterized the previous development

In 1973, international organizations, like

period, by establishing a Steering .Committee

the United Nations, became interested in the

on Drug and Security Problems among Hill

drug problems in Thailand. It then persuaded

Tribes. The Steering Committee had three

the Thai government to take the issue up

objectives, as follows:

seriously.

The following period thus wit-

nessed the setting up of a Drug Suppression and Prevention Office in 1977 to co-ordinate the stateus efforts in the suppression of opium production. In those areas where the influence of the Communist Party was weak, the

1. to promote the feeling of citizenship among the hilltribe communities; 2. to eradicate opium production and use; and 3. economic

and social development

with an emphasis on the reduction of

n

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

population growth and raising standards of

tise shifting cultivation and swidden produc-

living.

tion, a system which is based on the rotational

The implementation of these projects

use of the land to prevent leaching of the soils

was supported by international agencies such

nutrients through over-cultivation. And the

as the World Bank and foreign governments.

subsistence

For instance, various Highland Projects have

ture, which emphasizes agricultural produc-

received the financial backing of the German,

tion to fulfil household consumption needs of

Australian and Norwegian governments. In 1989, the government took more

by the hill tribe communities is limited to a

interest in the three point policy mentioned

small area. In addition, since the livelihood of

orientation of hill tribe agricul-

the family, means that deforestation caused

above and attempted to spell out the Master

the hill tribe communities rely on the local

Plan for Highland and Community Develop-

ecological system, deforestation by hill tribe

ment, Environment and Drug Control in 1989.

communities is thus based on their aware-

A Steering Committee oversees the national

ness of the importance of regeneration, and

implementation of the Master Plan and three

therefore not unsustainable. In fact, wide-

sub-committees review finance and budget,

spread deforestation of the watershed area

fund administration and assistance programs

began to occur only when government

respectively. At the same time, in the north-

agencies initiated development programs in

ern region the military has set up a Committee

the region. Included in these development

for the Solution of Hill Tribe problems and the

projects has been the transformation of the

Eradication of Drug Plants of the Third Army.

agricultural production of hill tribes from a

This committee has been responsible for

subsistence to a commercial orientation. The

certain programs

including a survey on the

promotion of the cultivation of cash crops

hill tribe population, registration and forced

such as chilli, sesame seed, cabbage, tomato,

relocation.

strawberries and other temperate fruits have

It also needs to be mentioned that hill

in fact been responsible for large scale

tribe people are often accused of causing

deforestation. Furthermore, infrastructure

deforestation in watershed areas and of being

projects, such as public utility projects, espe-

opium producers. These two accusations

cially the construction of roads, have played

underlying the policy framework of the state’s

an important role in promoting the expan-

development programmes in the area, are in

sion of logging (both legal and illegal), also

fact an inaccurate depiction of reality, for the

responsible for the destruction of large areas

following reasons.

of forest.

Firstly, hill tribe communities still prac-

Secondly, in the social context of the hill

23

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

communities,

munities to the larger

o p i u m h a s specific,

Thai society, and in en-

social, economic and

couraging their integra-

tribe

medicinal uses. Tradi-

tion into that society.

tionally, opium has been

However, the hill tribe

a media for commodity exchange, a part of

people haven’t really

1/ j

had the same opportuni-

1

rituals, and used to cure basic illnesses. Further, the poppy plantations

I x"

1 ' f ,««4

ties as other Thai people. This could be due to the

1

differences in economic

of the hill tribe commu-

and social backgrounds

nities is but one compo-

of Thai and hill tribe

nent in the process of

people. Such differences

morphine and heroine

have meant that in the

derivation, a business which rakes in huge

process of their ‘integra-

es

tion’ into Thai society,

profits for influential

the self-reliant nature of hill tribe communities has

people on the national and international level. Opium plantations

been undermined. For example,

cannot expand unless the processing, trans-

gration’ process has been characterized by

portation and sale of the drug is occurring on

many hill tribe women becoming prostitutes.

the ‘inte-

a large scale. Therefore, to put the blame on

Educational policies of the state which

hill tribe comminutes as those responsible for

emphasize the assimilation of hill tribes into

drug problems is an inaccurate accusation,

mainstream society, and at the same time

because the hill tribes are but a single compo-

downgraded local wisdom and local culture,

nent in the process of the cultivation, process-

have caused the alienation of the new gen-

ing, transportation and sale of narcotics that

eration of hill tribe people

has been masterminded and is manipulated

Modern agricultural promotion programs,

by those influential people who benefit from

which advocate the cultivation of mono-

the existence of the drug business.

crops for export, have been responsible for

The state’s development efforts among

deforestation

from the old.

thus causing ecological imbal-

the hill tribe communities can be seen to have

ance. In addition, the change from food-crop

been successful in one aspect -that is in pre-

to cash-crop production has reduced the

senting the world view of the hill tribe com-

capacity of the hill tribe communities to

24

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

'

'

- .....

'

V

172

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

over 700 fish species. Despite the opposition

These NGOs have launched several cam-

of Pattalung fisherfolks, the Songkhla

paigns to increase marine resources in the

farmers are supporting

lagoon as well as policy

it. This local conflict

between Pattalung-Songkhla villagers can

advocacy for

banning trawler fishing in the lagoon.

Also,

turn out to be serious because the opposition

the fisherfolk have set up their own organi-

has been actively organizing

zations, i.e. The Lower Lagoon Fisherfolks’

a

‘Lagoon

Rehabilitation Club’ to prevent the dam at all

Club 1990, and the Central Lagoon Fisherfolks’

costs.

Club in 1991. So far the trawler ban campaign Fisherfolks around the lagoon are more

has

not

yet

succeed

but

the lagoon

aware of the problems of the lagoon

rehabilitation activities have begun to

resources when NGOs began their campaign

benefit several villages along the lagoon shore.

1991. Three NGOs active on these issues are the Small-Scale Fishing Community Develop-

After a few years of public campaigs by local NGOs and people’s organizations, the

ment Project in Songkhla province, The Lear

public communities in Songkhla and Haadyai

Tai (look South) Project for Appropriate

have begun to realize the plight lagoon . It

Resource Management, and the Lagoon

will be interesting to see how the general

Rehabilitation Project in Pattalung province.

public will respond to the growing deterioration of the lagoon resources.

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

(f) Forest and Farmland

173

(h) Energy and Environment

Many local communities have got into

The Kaengkrung dam project, which

trouble with the government as the Forestry

was suspended

Department proclaims more land

public opposition, is going to crop up again.

for

in the mid 1990s because

national parks.Large parts of these lands have

If that is the case and the dam project goes

been occupied

through, the Natural Resource and Environ-

by farmers. Some of these

national parks which are in conflict with local

ment Conservation Club in Surat Thani would

communities are the Khao Numkang in

face a big challenge.

Songkhla, Thalaeban in Satun, Pukhaoya in

Lignite mining could become a serious

Pattalung and Tai-Tomyen in Surat Thani.

problem to emerge

Part of the disputed lands are those which

Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand

are newly encroached

by villagers and other

parts that are occupied by communities for several generations.

The government

will

next year as the

(EGAT) has sent a survey team to the site in Sabayoi district of Songkhla province, largest deposit

the

of high quality lignite in

have to urgently tackle the problems before

Thailand. The EGAT’s estimation specifies

they begin to get out of hand.

that there is 162 million tons of lignite

Illegal logging continues in all forests, and stet exists only 20% forest land in the Southern region.

deposit in the areas, sufficient to lose for 25year . Since 1987,

EGAT has launched

public campaign to convince the

(g) Waste Water

a

commu-

nity of the necessity for the mining, despite continuous opposition and protests by

As discussed earlier, waste water has been one of the most serious problem for the

villagers who likely to be effected by the mining. It is believed that besides the need

Southern people as all fresh water resources

to resettle a large community to open the

are contaminated by

way for mining, there will also be a need to

industrial waste dis-

posal, tourist industries, urban communities,

construct another dam to provide necessary

and prawn farming. Unless there are serious

power for the project. Situated along the

efforts to implement effective rehabilitation

Sankala Kiri mountain range, the site where

and conservation programmes, all

fresh

waters and the Southern sea will be contaminated.

the mine is proposed,

is currently occupied

by Thai- muslim descendants.

174

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

(i) Scarlet Fever Scarlet fever is a symptom caused by the continuous

intake of arsenic for a long

period of time. The case was first published in the newspaper people

in November 1987 as the

in Tambol Ronpiboon,

district of Nakhon Srithammarat

Ronpiboon province

have been drinking arsenic-contaminated water, presumably originating

from tin

mining. It became a issue only after over 1 ,000 people developed

scarlet fever. There are

many people in danger of this fever as all of them have drunk water from the same source and have accumulated the arsenic in their bodies . Despite the official Offortsto tackling the problem , the numbers of patients continue to increase.

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

175

Tourism : Who Win , Who Lose

■

■

.

■

■ 7

■

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

Jig

176

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

177

Challenging the economic miracle of the tourism industry development in Thailand

International tourism industry in Thai-

4,809,508 tourists come to Thailand or an

land has been praised as the country’s eco-

increase of 13.68% over 1988. They generated

nomic panaceaforthepast lOyears. Its massive

97,000 million baht for the country and made

revenue, increased year after year, has been

tourism the highest income earner for Thai-

hailed by all concerned as Thailand’s eco-

land for yet another consecutive

nomic saviour, top foreign exchange earner,

growth rate of 1989 satisfied the level set in

growth industry, job creator, and an industry

the Tourism Development

without smoke chimneys.

year. The

Plan.

“Domestic tourism by Thais a l s o

Those involved in international tourism

brought in a significant income. Investment

industry development in Thailand, The

by the private sector in service businesses

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in par-

expanded rapidly in both Bangkok and other Domestic and foreign

ticular, always boast about its rapid growth

tourist destinations.

and continuous success in bringing in mil-

investors greatly assisted in the fast tourism

lions of tourists, resulting in increased em-

growth of the country. Such a growth in a

ployment in all sectors. Coming with these

very short time has resulted in serious

visitors is a huge income, expected to top 100

changes in the country’s economy, society,

million baht in 1991, which TAT claims will

culture, and environment of tourist destina-

be enticing. But the fact is something else.

tions."

Dharmnoon Prachuabmoh, Governor of TAT, stated in his 1989 Annual Report: “In 1989, the Thai tourism industry had a considerably high rate of growth. A total of * Story by Thai Development

Also in its 30th anniversary publication, published in 1990 to celebrate its 30 years of operation since I960, TAT’s governor said: “At present, Tourism Authority of Thai-

Support Committee Staff, reprinted from

the TDSC Newsletter No 20, 1991/92

178

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

at implementing

land counts itself successful

of 30 years ago.

objectives

the Government’s

so

numerous obstacles

It overcame

com-

pletely that all sectors readily agreed tourism a n unmistakable

industry represented

source of benefit to the nation and people. “The tourist influx to Thailand

kept get-

ting larger over the years and deposited a to be circulated

bounty of foreign exchange

and distributed to the population around the country.

The tourism

receipts

soared

annu-

ally to the satisfaction of all concerned”.

He argued that considering economic

tion and overall

could not base its economic

its total populabasis, Thailand development

on

tourism industry. It should rely instead on its capability a variety of goods,

produce

Basically,

tural and manufacturing sectors.

to consume various kinds

people need

should tender

basis for Thailand’s Whereas service

of

living Production of

goods in their everyday these goods

to

in both agricul-

a more

reliable

economic development. industry

is mainly to pro-

d u c e amenity i n s t e a d of m a k i n g any

Misleading notion

in manufacturing

advancements

production,

added Prof Krirkkiat. The

daily

Nation

newspaper

in its 11 March 1990 issue that Dr.

reported

Somchai Raftanakomut of the Faculty of Economics,

Chulalongkorn University,

the findings of research National

Institute

said

conducted by the Adminis-

of Development

He further argued that with the over 50 million population of Thailand production

, the service

of the tourism industry is unable

to create adequate employment for the majority of the population. All it can do is to stimulate the country’s economic

expansion.

tration (NIDA) indicate that of the 50 billion baht of foreign exchange derived from tour-

A source of jobs : nonsense

ism in the 1987 ‘Visit Thailand Year’, 28 billion In an article, The Challenge of Tour-

baht was spent on importing luxury goods, such as hotel furnishings and food items. As a

ism, written in 1990 by Tracy

result, 44% remained with those involved in

Sarah Sexton as part of the Ecumenical

the tourism industry.

Resource

To the notion heavily publicized by TAT that the tourism important

industry

role in Thailand’s

plays a very

economic

opment, Prof Krirkkiat Pipatsereethamknown lecturer in economics

Martin and

Kit on Third World Tourism,

the

authors challenge the notion that besides

the

dollars it makes, travel and tourism estimated

devel-

to be the largest industry in the world in terms

a well-

of employment,

and former

Rector of Thammasat University-disagreed.

worldwide. intensive

accounting

for one in 16 jobs

“ B e c a u s e it is s o l a b o u r

and growing

consistently,

tourism

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

179

is a major new source of jobs in developing

country is. naively made to believe

countries” , says the World Tourism Organiza-

of the wealth gained from tourism will natu-

tion.

rally trickle down “That’s nonsense”, contends Dr. Koson

Srisang, former General Secretary of the Ecu-

that part

even to those 10 million

poor people who are living below the poverty line, one way or another.

menical Coalition on Third World Tourism

So let us take a look at the distribution

based in Bangkok, “particularly where tour-

of tourist expenditure in 1990, tabulated by

ism is controlled by outside interests

TAT Of 100 baht (US$4) a tourist spent, 39

management positions eigners.

where

go to highly paid for-

Local people get the low-paid jobs

baht was for shopping, 23 for accommodation, 15 for food and drink, 13 for local trans-

such as chambermaids, waiters, labourers and

port and tour, and 10 for entertainment

shop clerks where they’re

others.

encouraged to

be subservient and thus reduced

to servant

Take into account the fact that at least half of the money

status.” Traditional employment

disappears,

farming in particular becoming

depressed,

goes openly

industry, infrastructure investment the government’s

completed

tax reductions

season.

even for those directly employed

and

hidden costs of import content of the tourism

which leave local people no jobs to go back to

or in off-tourist

out of the

country. Yet, there are further leakages

when the construction of tourist facilities is

But employment does not remain same

and

duty-free

costs and

exemptions

or

for tourist facilities construe-

tion projects.

Therefore, how much will be left in

by tourism.

Prices of land and food soar. Rural farmers

Thailand and for whom? How do the 10 mil-

and fishermen become

lion rural poor fit in this spectacular

landless

labourers

livelihood,

urban migrants or

when the source

of their

the land, the sea and the forests

are acquired for world class golf courses country

clubs, beach

resorts,

and

and mountain

retreats.

at the expense

of many million

poor people’s livelihood,

so as to attract more

foreign tourism

spending will send

Thailand’s

whose

overall tourism

receipts

high level every year. And everyone

scheme

Ask TAT, and you will

be put in the dark. But what is openly known is that the 'black when

tourists

drug dealing

All these plush facilities have been developed,

of income distribution?

also flourishes

attract prostitution, and gambling.

aries’ are children begging

economy’

pimping,

Other ‘benefici-

and teenagers

drawn to

or prostitution.

According to the ECTWT’s research, child prostitution is a direct result of tourism

in

to a sky-

Third World countries and is expanding,

in the

particularly in Southeast Asian and East Afri-

180

Experiences

of Hope : Reaching

for the 21st Century

can countries, as is sex-tourism, prostitution,

gap between the rich and the poor. In 1986,

traffic in women and mail-order-brides

of-

the average income of people in the agricul-

fering marriage by catalogue of Third

tural and non-agricultural sectors were in the

World women to First World men.

ratio of 1 : 9. This means that a farmer earned

These obvious, negative ‘spin-off occupations are often left hypocritically unmentioned

by promoters of the tourism

industry.

as average annual income

of 5,199 baht

(US$200) while a businessman earned 47,336 baht (US$l,893).Or that 55% of the country’s wealth is in the hands of the top 20% affluent people who have 5% of the total wealth to

Income distributor-no way

themselves. The ratio in 1990 became 1 : 1 2 ; that is a

Another famous claim made by promot-

farmer earned 7,137 baht (US$285) whereas a

ers of the tourism industry is that it creates

businessman

jobs and helps distribute income to all people

(US$3,413).

got his share of 85,343 baht

in the country. But the equal distribution of income does not automatically occur merely because people

Prof Kritkkiat. Instead, it depends on the employees

Foreign exchange

leakage

are employed, pointed out

bargaining power

to negotiate

Tourism balance figures do not show foreign exchange ‘leakage’ the way tourism

for their pay. Moreover, the fact that who

itself has foreign exchange costs, indicated

owns the production tools does play an im-

Robert E.Wood, a lecturer in Sociology at the

portant role in empowering or weakening the

University of Massachusetts, Boston, USA. In

employees’ position.

his published article he considers

the fact

So long as the country’s existing eco-

that foreign exchange is the basic rationale

nomic structure is still ruled by a handful of

for tourism development, it is surprising

local businessmen

how little is known about the level of foreign exchange leakage.

and multinational corpo-

rations whereas the majority of the people are powerless to determine the prices of their

Foreign exchange leakage is most evi-

products and services, unjust distribution of

dent in the hotel sector, which generally ac-

income will be here to stay. No matter how

counts for around half of tourism receipts

large the tourism receipts are.

(less in places like Hong Kong and Singapore,

Worse still is the fact that the massive income derived

each year from tourism

industry will not help bridging the widening

where almost two-thirds of tourist dollars go for ‘shopping’). All non-socialist Southeast Asian countries have opted for luxury, ‘inter-

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

181

national standard’ hotels, which attempt to

hotel business operation in Thailand, of which

replicate their counterparts in the advanced

61% was of first-class standard. Leakage took

capitalist countries.

place most among these luxury hotels.

These hotels require substantial imports,

For underdeveloped countries as

both as part of the initial capital investment

whole, the seven percent of hotel employees

a

and in their normal operation. In general, for

who are foreign nationals account for an

example, one-third of their food bill goes for

average of 23% of the hotel wage bill . Part of

imports, although this can be much higher.

these salaries constitute a form of foreign

An advertisement at a beach resort located in

exchange leakage, as stated by Robert E.Wood.

the South of Thailand says: “We’ve brought

There were 1 2 multinational hotel chains

together food and wine from around the

operating in Thailand between

world, for you to enjoy at your leisure (meals

1987,half of them were US-based. But mostly

1965 and

can be included in your vocation package

tourist accommodation

and prepaid) ...”

owned by business groups and local banks.

The foreign exchange costs of the hotel

business

is locally

According to TAT’s1989 annual report, man-

sector increase to the extent that it is foreign

power in accommodation and tour business

owned or operated, because of the repatria-

can be divided into four categories: non-

tion of interest, profits and salaries, as well as

technical, mid-technical,above the technical

central purchasing and transfer pricing. The

and administrative. At all four levels, 83-93%

multinational hotel chains have, however,

of employees are in a working category. The

increasingly been divesting themselves

remaining 7-17% are in administrative

of

hotel properties and concentrating their

capacity.

energies on securing management contracts. Ownership of the actual buildings, which

Further hidden leakage

are expensive, immobile, and which contains no particular technical secrets, can be left to

According to Wood,The World Tourism

local investors or, occasionally, the state. Lo-

Organization

cal entrepreneurs thus supply the capital for

40% of gross hotel revenue goes to pay for

estimates, that a minimum of

building the hotels, and the multinational

imports, interest and profits if the hotel is

hotel chains make their money ‘managing’

foreign-owned, and that the figure can run as

them.

high as 75% or more.

A research study done by researchers

The foreign exchange leakage of hotel

of NIDA in 1989 disclosed that in 1985 multi-

investment is further accentuated

national hotel chains accounted

government incentives

for 12% of

by such

as long-term,

low

182

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

interest l o a n s , tax exemptions o r reduction, interest rebates, duty-free import of

the country. It also should be noted that Phuket,

e q u i p m e n t a n d admission of foreign

Krabi, and Phanggna

workers.

identified for further development in a study

It should

be noted that in Thailand,

are key destinations

released by the Japan International Coopera-

hotels and resorts ranked first among the

tion Agency (JICA) in a seminar on the ‘Suit-

applications during the

ability of developing tourism in Phuket,

period of January to October 1990. The 97

Phangnga and Krabi’ held in Phuket in Sep-

Board of Investment

projects applied were said to be generating

tember 1991. The seminar was presided over

60,480 million baht (US$ 2,419 million) of

by yhe TAT governor and attended by over

investment capital and creating employment

100 public and private officials concerned

for 44,905 people.

with tourism.

Infrastructure, investments often have a

It was agreed, not surprisingly, that TAT

substantial import content. Airports have to

should push for better access to the southern

be built to accommodate

wide-bodied

liners. Roads must be constructed

jet-

to allow

resorts by sea.Existing harbours and wharfs should be upgraded to accommodate

cruises

tour buses to carry their passengers in com-

from overseas and to promote sea travelling

fort. Power has to be generated if not for local

among locals, not to mention construction

residents.These infrastructure investments are

projects of other facilities in these provinces

particularly high for resort complexes favoured

and their near by regions. The estimated cost of building a harbour

by the World Bank.

Not only the World Bank favours this type of investments,

but also the Japan’s

Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) is quite interested in it. Seree Wangpaichit, TAT deputy governor, interview

ing to a JICA study presented to the seminar. In fact, OECF has already extended its requested

loan to Thailand to finance this

tourism promotion operations, which started

in The Nation

in October 1991 and will end in 1996. How

on 26 September 1991 said

much actual leakage will occur from these

which appeared

daily newspaper

in an

was 628 million baht (US$25 million) accord-

is a point neither TAT nor JICA

his agency was asking for a loan of 3,000

operations

million baht (US$ 120 million) from OECF

seems to have enough time to ponder.

to upgrade infrastructure facilities in four

Nevertheless, in 1988-89, TATconducted

major tourist destinations, including the

nine survey and research study projects. It

southern resorts of Phuket, Krabi, and

aimed to use the result of the studies

Phangnga provinces on the western coast of

guidelines for development

as

of destinations

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

and tourism services and for working

out

183

well as shortcomings, which are numerous.

marketing strategies, and as fundamental

“Be true to yourselves to admit that our policies focus merely on

data for use in tourism related development,

past development

promotion and investment.

economic growth and have failed to improve

Not surprisingly, the nine studies con-

the

quality of life of the majority of the

centrated on finding guidelines and compil-

people

who live in the rural areas. Their

ing of statistics that would paint the tourism

livelihood, which relies mainly on natural

industry with a rosy hue. For example, over

resources such as rivers and the forests, has

five million tourists spent an average of 7

been badly damaged and unjustly taken

days in the kingdom, leaving behind 110,000

away from them. The more the tourism

million baht (US$4,400 million) in 1990.

industry is promoted, the more devastating

in 1990,

the livelihood of rural poor people becomes.

Compared with tourism expenditure

which was around 21,822 million baht (US$ 872 million), there was still a large difference

“Development process, in its real sense, should rather take into account people’s

of 88,750 million baht (US$3,550 million)

dignity than just being focused on the ulti-

that has been claimed by TAT to have helped

mate aim of making easy money from such a

improve Thailand’s balance of payments for

baseless and fluid industry as tourism”,

the past decade.

Chayant pointed out.

Time to be honest TAT ’s tourism receipts figures sound too good to be true to, said Chayant Pholphoke

of Life Travel Service, a group

operating alterative tourism services to those interested. In an interview with Thai Development Newsletter, Chayant thought it was time for everybody

involved in the tourism industry

in Thailand to be honest in their use of statistics to promote tourism in this country. “It’s time both the government and economists

were honest

to say the truth

about the tourism industry, its advantages as

184

Experiences of Hope .• Reaching for the 21st Century

A

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1

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

185

Human Rights

186

Experiences of Hope : Reaching for the 21st Century

Right to Democratization and Genuine Peace

The military role in Asian society today has increased and broadened in comparison with

the 1970s.

In many countries,

military has played an influential politics.

the

role in

Aside from that, they also play an

absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy. A provisional

gated three days later and was replaced permanent one on December

important role in civilian affairs in the following

like

democratic

sectors in

Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and

a text

book system

on the containment

military in the leading role. Thai democracy

issues in

has suffered

Korea and Pakistan; in development

projects,

called, an infantile disease.

forestry

and land development in Thailand for instance.

Although Thailand

a

a long priod of, what may be During the past 59

years, there were 50 governments. Only for two periods

was proclaimed

of about 3 years each, after the

Second World War and after the students’ and

constitutional monarchy in 19'32, the military

peoples’

has been the dominant force in Thai politics

military was in public disgrace,

for the last sixty years.

based

It has shown

little

tolerance for civil society or functioning democratic institutions, and has displayed strong penchant

for coups.

a

In June 24, 1932

a group of military officers and civil servants initiated

a profound political

by Laddawan

Tantivithayapitak

change

from

of

by bureaucrats with the

Burma; in welfare and humanitarian

and Indonesia,

by a

10, 1932. Since

then, the political history of Thailand reads

areas: in business

and commercial

Constitution was promul-

uprising in 1973 during which the

governments

wise the governments

that civilian-

have emerged.

Other-

were either military-

dominated or, most of the time, led by powerful military men. There were twelve successful coups d’ etat’s including the ones of 1932 and 1976 and

Experiences

of Hope : Reaching

187

for the 21st Century

five ‘palace’ coups where no power changed

Upon imposition

hands. Another eleven attempts to overthrow

groups and human rights organizations

the government were

joined academics

and students

to protest the

time after a successful coup, the ruling power

military take-over

of power.

Many people

would

from human rights organizations, NGOs,

promulgate

unsuccessful.

Each

an interim constitution

of martial

law, pressure

and start the drafting of a ‘permanent’ one.

students, workers,

The latest constitution promulgated in De-

form an umbrella organization

called ‘Cam-

cember 1 99 1 is the fifteenth for the Thai people .

paign for Popular Democracy’

(CPD). Since

The primary significance was the evidence

of the May events

it provided

of a desire es-

pecially among the urban middle class for an

teachers, etc. decided

to

then, CPD has spearheaded the movement to raise democratic

consciousness

by cam-

paigning against martial law and other NPKC

end to military domination, and for greater

measures and also for a democratic constitu-

participation in a more accountable govern-

tion.

ment.

movement

On February 23, 1991 the military led by S u p r e m e Comma nder

Gen. Sunthorn

Later it joined forces with the student and political parties. On November

19, 1991 the biggest protest rally against the military in recent

years was held at Sanam

Kongsompong toppled the elected govern-

Luang in which over 60,000 people

partici-

ment of Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan

pated to protest the NPKC proposed

consti-

and imposed

tution. Inspite of the determined opposition

martial law, disbanded

the As-

sembly, and abolished the 1978 Constitution.

of democratic

groups, the draft constitution

Anand Panyarachun, a businessman and

was overwhelmingly

former Ambassador to the United States, was

Legislative Assembly

named interim Prime Minister.

The general election

The military

junta called itself the ‘National Peace Keeping Council’ (NPKC) initiated the drafting of a new constitution.

The object of this was to

ensure military control over parliament and to

endorsed

place on March 22, 1992. An ‘Election Monitoring Committee’ popularly

known as the Poll Watch- was

Panyarachun composed from academics

of representatives

, NGOs, lawyers and others to

election. In April 1992, the legislature ap-

monitor the elections

pointed

liament all over the country.

by the NPKC -the interim National

Legislative Assembly

- passed

a bill granting

of 3