Populist policies just lies

Today's Top Stories

By Anucha Charoenpo

Where's the money coming from, grassroots ask.

Grassroots networks in this province are not excited by the bolder than expected populist policies being presented by some political parties as they believe that the policies are impractical and cannot be translated into action. The parties are campaigning without realising that voters also want to know from where they would get the money to run all those dream schemes.

''Even though we have received little education, we can't be fooled that most of the populist policies of political parties are just a bunch of lies to lure people's votes,'' said Srisak Khunkhen, chairman of the civic group in Ban Noen Sung in Kabin Buri district.

Even Chumphon Somjai, chairman of the Prachin Buri Chamber of Commerce, was under the same notion, saying businessmen in the province also do not believe them.

If there is no sincerity, no problems can be solved, he said.

Mr Srisak and other local leaders in the village are spending a lot of time each day with voters, trying to convince them that they should only vote for the candidates and the parties they believe are offering practical policies.

''We don't think that policies like free schooling for all children until they graduate from university and to increase the price of rice from 6,000 to 12,000 baht per kwian make any sense. From where will the parties seek such a large budget to implement the two policies?'' he said.

Similar forums are being undertaken in other villages in the province by grassroots activists.

Chamroon Suaydee, an adviser to the Community Organisation Network in the province, said the network, which comprised people from all walks of life, feels that the next parliamentary elections should not be taken too seriously.

Politicians and their parties are not going to tackle the people's problems seriously once the elections are over, as has happened in the past. People will have to solve their problems, he said.

''The villagers are suffering from poverty because they do not have their own land for farming.

''Encountering mismanagement of national resources at the national level has put them at a disadvantage for years,'' he said of the problems in Prachin Buri.

Political parties have never proposed any meaningful ways to eradicate poverty at the grassroots level.

''They only focus on economic problems and complicated solutions that voters in the farming sector don't understand,'' he said.

''The people forums that we have been holding almost every day in the last few weeks in the province aim to encourage the people to carefully decide which way they want to go.

''They don't care much about the politicians who come and go,'' he said.

Amnuay Pokaeo, a community radio operator in tambon Bupram in Nadee district, who has worked closely with the grassroots network for years, said the network will go ahead with its plan to support bills on the setting up of the community forest, the community organisation councils and the village welfare fund.

Mr Amnuay said the three bills, if passed into law, would help promote people's rights more aggressively.

''As a media person I'm trying to push for people politics in the province to encourage them to exchange information and discuss problems for better understanding.

''I believe that is the true foundation of democracy,'' he said.

By : Bangkok Post