Borwornsak Uwanno, chairman of the law reform committee, said Sunday he is "exhausted" as he looks into the government's much-hyped national reform plans which have made slow progress over the past four years.
His disappointment, which is also shared by political activists and university scholars, reflects widespread doubts over how the plans will be turned into action.
The former Constitution Drafting Committee chairman was commenting ahead of the fourth anniversary of the May 22 coup, which toppled the Pheu Thai Party-led government in 2014. The coup followed street protests across the capital city, led by former Democrat heavyweight Suthep Thaugsuban.
The demonstrators pinned hope on national reform to replace what they said was corrupt Thai politics. "I feel exhausted," Mr Borwornsak told the event. "I simply have no idea how the national reform will end."
After the coup, the military-engineered government set up the National Reform Council (NRC), which initiated 37 reform proposals concerning politics, the economy, public health and morality. The NRC was later replaced by the National Reform Steering Assembly which carried on the work until its termination last year when laws on reform took effect.
Then, a new panel, the so-called national reform committee, was appointed to make sure the reform law was well enforced. The law reform committee is part of that reform committee.
Mr Borwornsak's law reform committee also drafted a bill, with aims to terminate any laws which are still waiting to be enforced after two years. The bill also called for a penalty for officials who obstruct law reform. However, he is not confident all proposals will lead to big changes.
Uncertainty after a general election next year is another concern. Mr Borwornsak said he cannot tell which party will lead the next government. If the new prime minister is not Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, his successor will certainly change the reform plans though that would be hard as another new charter would also be needed.
Suriyasai Katasila, deputy dean of Rangsit University's Social Innovation College, said reform is bearing an unwanted impact even before the election. He said the Prayut administration is paying more heed to preparations for the election, and less on reform. "As we're moving toward the election, reform is losing more momentum," he said.
On April 6, the government announced reform plans in 11 areas, in a 2,000-page document. It is unsure who will "push those plans into practice," former NRC member Bunloet Khachayutthadet said.
In another development, Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan visited two up-country police stations on Sunday to gather information on a police reform bill he is working on, said Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, spokesman for the committee drafting the bill.
Gen Prayut, meanwhile, denied he cancelled a visit to Sa Kaeo, where he and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen were scheduled to open a new border checkpoint, because of criticism his government is trying to lure local politicians into its fold. Hun Sen is not available this Friday, the proposed date, he said.
