One final word. Many of you will be aware that Thailand’s Interim Government has adopted His Majesty the King’s “Sufficiency Economy” philosophy as a fundamental principle of national development.
What this means is that we will focus on stable growth, sound macro-economic discipline and the equitable sharing of economic benefits as we compete in the globalised world. Growth with quality means greater concerns for good governance and management of risk.
But such concerns do not impact on the market mechanism, nor do they influence the openness of the Thai economy. In fact, the “sufficiency economy philosophy” is a Thai model for sustainability, the importance of which is only now becoming recognized around the world.
As an early adopter of a sustainable approach to development, Thailand should, I believe, be praised for it is a path down which every country will have to travel sooner rather than later.
- Extracted from a speech by Thailand’s junta-installed Prime Minister, Surayud Chulanont, to the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo: “A New Era of Intensified and Sustainable Partnership”, The Nation, 3 April 2007.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Srithanonchai // Apr 3, 2007 at 9:12 pm
“What this means is that we will focus on stable growth, sound macro-economic discipline and the equitable sharing of economic benefits as we compete in the globalised world. Growth with quality means greater concerns for good governance and management of risk.”
As with previous statements on this topic, this new installment is destined to puzzle citizens of the European Union, because they will think that they have been pursuing just this, and for decades. Maybe, people in the Europe section of Surayud’s ministry of foreign affairs can tell him that Thailand is not an “early adopter.” Or, perhaps, he means an early adopter amongst developing nations, or Asia, or SEA?
In this context, when Surayud goes shopping with his wife, does he still let the cashier put his groceries in a number of plastic bags, or do they bring their own cloth shopping bag? What about the ministers in his cabinet? Just a small start…
2 observer // Apr 3, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Suayud’s asset declaration has several watches by Piaget and Patek Phillip (sp?). How did he pull those off on a general’s salary and how does he justify them under sustainability principals?
Why would anyone care what a hapless general who seems to be stuck in a series of economic and political blunders thinks about Thailand as an economic model for the rest of the world. Does he really think anyone has been watching Thailand over the last six months and thinking “How could we do that in our country”?
I imagine their was a bit of mufffled laughter during his remarks.
3 Tosakan // Apr 3, 2007 at 11:00 pm
I agree with the comments above.
The notion that Thailand is a leader in sustainable development is ridiculous.
Indeed, it is probably the world leader in unsustainable development, ranging from its energy and environmental policies to its education and rural development policies.
I can’t think of one policy this Surayud government has passed that has anything to do with wisdom, dhamma, sustainable economic growth, environmental protection, or an investment in human resources.
The Crown Property Bureau, the investment arm of the monarchy, certainly hasn’t led by example in the area of sufficiency economics.
4 Srithanonchai // Apr 4, 2007 at 1:26 am
CNS also follows the sufficiency principle! I am really glad for these poor chaps, who have sacrificed so much and worked so hard. Thus, the amnesty and the pay raise are well deserved and fully sufficient.
Pay rise for CNS staff
The Cabinet agreed Tuesday to a pay rise for military officials who work for the Council for National Security (CNS) on “special assignment” with little leave.
Assistant government spokesman Natthawat Suthiyodhin said Cabinet approved the proposal from the CNS secretary-general, who sought a 30 per cent pay rise for 423 military and security officials.
The officials included eight CNS leaders, who staged the coup, 60 officials who work for the junta, and 335 officials who work for the special operations centre in the CNS office.
The CNS said previously these personnel deserved the new pay rate as they had worked hard and had not a break, even on public holidays.
The Nation, April 3, 2007
5 Taxi Driver // Apr 4, 2007 at 8:32 am
Its all hot air, and reflects a completely clueless administration when it comes to economic management. What the hell do a bunch of third rate generals know about economics?
They should instead try to apply “sufficiency principles” to area where it might actually help the people. For example, why not use sufficiency principles as a campaign to reduce the country’s horrible annual road death toll (>13,000 deaths per annum officially, and estimated at >20,000 unofficially)? e.g. stable growth = reduce speed, sound macro-economic discipline = obey road rules; risk management = don’t overtake on double lines, etc etc.
Oh I forgot…the road toll is a barn-norg problem. Most of the deaths are dumb pick-up drivers & their back-tray passengers, and motocyclists. Got nothing to do with the elites in Rattanakosin. Silly me.
6 Historicus // Apr 6, 2007 at 6:38 am
What about this for sufficiency (from Nation, 5 April 2007):
STREET WISE: Linkage and money power
“Money’s not everything, it’s the only thing.” This adage is as universal as ever, particularly when we observe what’s going on in Thai society. In Thai, there is a saying that money can pave the way for anything. Sigve Brekke, CEO of Total Access Communication (DTAC), has been in Thailand long enough to know that. He might not have intended to use the power of money, but money has worked its way in his favour.
Everybody knows that DTAC and TOT have been in a legal row over the access charge for old and new phone numbers. But that is about to change following DTAC’s donation on Monday of SIM cards and phone cards worth a total of Bt14 million to the Council for National Security. Probably due to the huge value of the donations to support CNS’s operations in the South, Brekke – a former deputy defence minister of Norway – finally made his way to personally meet CNS secretary-general General Sonthi Banyaratglin and his deputy General Saprang Kalayanamitr – who happens to be TOT chairman.
On Tuesday evening, Brekke approached the TOT board for a meeting. At the meeting yesterday, he proposed to drop the access-charge lawsuit against TOT and the board reciprocated by saying that TOT would let the court decide on another petition filed by TOT. After the meeting, the board’s spokesman said that what’s done is done and TOT would be ready to talk business with DTAC in the future. Given that Brekke was quoted as saying “If TOT is not strong, private companies like mine cannot be strong,” it is not surprising that the board was so pleased with Brekke. If all other companies would act like DTAC, that would be nice, a board member said.
But for the presence of Saprang in both organisations, the donation to the CNS and the talk with TOT would have been two completely different issues – not linked to show the power of money.
7 Bystander // Apr 6, 2007 at 12:41 pm
The junta has a cunning plan. If the economy stay on this trajectory long enough, Thailand would have no choice but to adopt sufficiency economy!
Leave a Comment
Please note: New Mandala encourages vigorous debate. However, for the moment we will only be publishing high-quality comments that make original contributions to discussion. There will, of course, still be space for pithy, humorous, eccentric and cheeky input. Short and sweet will usually trump long and involved. Repetitive ranting, unimaginative point-scoring and idle abuse will not be entertained. Comments which carry a real name are also more likely to be approved. Thank you for your ongoing interest and contributions.