NRC members unveil 'reform institute'

NRC members unveil 'reform institute'

A group of National Reform Council (NRC) members led by Sangsidh Piriyarangsan on Sunday launched a civic group called “Thailand Reform Institute” at Rangsit University.

Sangsidh Piriyarangsan

The group was founded to act as a coordinating centre for movements of civic groups working in the areas of national reform and development as well as helping to build a democratic society, Mr Sangsidh, the president, told a news conference 

Mr Sangsidh, dean of the College of Social Innovation at the university, said the institute would disseminate information about Thai politics and national administration and gather people’s opinions in parallel with the NRC but may have different views. 

It would also monitor the government’s use of power.

Suriyasai Katasila, a lecturer at the College of Social Innovation and the Green Group leader, was appointed the director of the newly formed group. The committee includes NRC members Rosana Tositrakul and Anek Laothammathat, Niran Pitakwatchara of the National Human Rights Commission, Sirichai Mai-Ngam, chairman of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) labour union, former PAD leader Pipob Thongchai and academics from various disciplines. 

The institute called on the NRC and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to put reform on the national agenda and formulate a long-term plan to move it forward, ensure opinions from all groups of people are taken into consideration and separate reform activities from movements of anti-government groups.

Mr Suriyasai said some committee members were also on the NRC because talks to establish the institute had taken place before the selection of NRC members. But this would not be a problem in terms of work, he said.

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