Sophon

Ponganand

Surichai

Tortrakul

Chol

Thanom

Suchittra

Prida

Anchalee Kongrut

Civic groups, senators, and academics vow to push for people's participation in the city's administration, saying it is the key to a better Bangkok.

Casting ballots in the Bangkok governor election is definitely not enough to solve city problems, they said during a round-table discussion organised last week by the Bangkok Post, iTV, GG-News and the Bangkok Forum, a non-governmental organisation advocating public participation in urban development.

On the contrary, they said, city residents should have a say in city projects and, more importantly, keep an eye on the way the City Administration spends money.

``People should not leave the city to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration [BMA]. Instead, they should do more to work with the BMA,'' said Bangkok senator Sophon Suphaphong.

Ponganand Chuangdhamma, an activist with the Four Regional Slum Network, a civic group advocating housing security, said the city administration attaches little importance to public participation, a fundamental principle endorsed by the Thai constitution.

The administration's effort to promote participation is next to lip service as it does not heed the public view, he said.

``It is just like a show. The administration would invite community leaders to a monthly meeting. But we could hardly get things done as the administration would always say it has to follow city regulations. All it wants is our presence,'' he said.

Surichai Wankaew, Chulalongkorn University's Political Science lecturer, said public participation is not in the nature of Thai people who are taught to obey authority.

``We are dealing with a cultural problem. Thais are passive and tend to wait for help from people in power. Worse, consumerism has transformed people into `observers' or consumers who just wait to be served,'' said Mr Surichai.

Senator Sophon urged universities and state research agencies, such as the Thailand Research Fund, to conduct more research into the importance of civil society and local administration in Bangkok.

``Bangkok residents need to be educated that problems in Bangkok are the result of an egregious state policy such as free trade agreements that destroy the economy. When the rural sector collapses, poor people have no choice but to head to Bangkok,'' Mr Sophon said, adding Bangkok's problems cannot be fixed alone by a smart governor.

The problems would disappear only if farmers and other rural people have sustainable lifestyles and stop needing to move to Bangkok, he said.

Tortrakul Yomnak, president of the Engineering Institute of Thailand and former engineering lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said the city should stop financing infrastructure construction and use the money to improve public facilities that encourage learning.

Chol Bunnag, a Thammasat University student, said universities should do more to stimulate students to participate in community development projects.

``Most students have lost touch with communities and society. They are occupied with personal matters, course work and recreational activities like music, arts, and sports,'' said Mr Chol, a member of the Economics Student Network of Thailand.

Thanom Onketpol, of the popular Ruam Duay Chuay Kan radio programme on 100 FM, said Bangkok needs more links between the public and city decision-makers.

Ruam Duay Chua Kan receives almost 2,000 calls a day from members who call to offer help or information about the community, Mr Thanom said.

But the BMA fails to make use of this, Mr Thanom said. Ruam Duay Chuay Kan once teamed with the BMA to launch a community radio programme, he said, but the partnership wilted after the city turned it into a music programme.

Sujitra Wutthithamrong, vice-president of administration at Family Creations Co, a private agency running the Children's Discovery Museum, urged the city to provide public space where people can pursue learning activities together.

She said the city administration spent a huge budget on public welfare and learning facilities which are not of good quality.

``That is why city libraries, sport stadiums and parks are under-used,'' she said, adding the city should allow non-profit organisations to run its learning facilities.

Ms Sujitra said the city needs help from experienced organisers to lure people to use these services or ``kids will pay hundreds of baht to hang out with friends at Siam Square''.

Prida Tiasuwan, chairman of Pranda Jewelry Plc and head of the Social Venture Network, a group of socially engaged businessmen, said a practical way to stimulate public participation is to make the state and the public realise it will improve productivity.

From his experience, public participation in a business's management helps increase profit.

``If I were a governor, I would run the city as I run Pranda Jewelry. I don't give orders. My staff feel they are part of the company. They are energetic, creative and willing to work extra hours without claiming overtime,'' said Mr Prida.