Abhisit backs moves for reform
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Abhisit backs moves for reform

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has backed the People's Democratic Reform Committee's (PDRC) move to reform the country.

Mr Abhisit said he supported moves by all groups pushing to reform Thailand and that the party has been working with the Future Innovative Thailand Institute to devise a blueprint for the reforms.

His party is willing to support any groups that want to use the party's reform blueprint. He also had no objection if the government would like to use it. Under the reform blueprint, the Democrat Party has emphasised seven topics on which work is almost complete, Mr Abhisit said.

The seven-topic blueprint will be brought up for discussion at the party's general assembly on March 28-29. Eradicating corruption and restructuring the police and media are some of the topics included, said the Democrat Party leader.

When asked about the vested interests of political parties taking part in the reform, Mr Abhisit said each party was different. He insisted his party was careful when working towards reform. The Democrats avoid touching on issues that might reveal conflicts of interest, he said.

He said any reform plan would not be sustainable if there was no support from politicians and political parties. The Democrat Party was willing to support any reform moves, he added.

''National reform cannot move ahead while the government blocks the way. Together we must work out a way to push ahead with the reforms.

"We will discover that reforming the country and a general election will have to be carried out at the same time. It's impossible that all topics can be reformed before an election because several reform tasks are time-consuming. On top of this, there will be a problem over who will have the legislative power to push for the country's reform.

''If the [Feb 2] election is declared void, there should be a neutral person not affiliated with any political party who can run the country during the transition period,'' Mr Abhisit said.

Meanwhile, the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) kicked off the first of six debates on reforming Thailand at its main protest site in Lumpini Park yesterday.

PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said the six forums would focus on six topics: ending poverty and inequality; tackling corruption; decentralisation; restructuring the police and justice systems; reform of the electoral process and political parties; and civil service reform. He said that reform of Thailand will be carried out right away after a people's government is formed.

The people's government will play a fundamental role in reforming the country. After completing the reforms, the people's government will then hand over the job to a government voted in by a fair and transparent election, Mr Suthep said.

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