Page 108 - Dignity and justice for all of us our voices are heard in Thailand

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Voice

Ms. Siriporn Panyasen, Chairperson of the Pichai Tambon (sub-district) Administrative
Organization, Lampang province, shares her voice and experience on how she became
personally involved in politics and how important it is for community members, especially
Ms. Siriporn Panyasen
Chairperson, Pichai Tambon Administrative women, to become involved in local politics. She feels that working for democracy and taking
Organization part in the government of one’s country does not just involve desk work and discussions; it is
Lampang province
also an individual right that must be worked towards. She claims that everyone must have the
opportunity to access public services, whether they are women, men, the elderly, youth,
housewives or businessmen.

“Measures must Ms. Panyasen explains that she became involved in politics at a young age. Her family was very
poor and her parents had many children. When her father became ill, instead of going to
be taken by the school, she started working to help her family. She says she was lucky to receive an education,
authorities to even if it was an informal one. At the age of 18, she joined the local Village Committee and
worked to fight against a local criminal gang that had lured parents into selling their daughters
promote women’s to work as sex workers. At the age of 21, she became assistant to the village chief, and in 1996,
participation in she was elected as the first Chairperson of Pichai Tambon Administrative Organization.

politics” “When decision-making powers are not with the representatives of the people, then people’s

rights are violated,” she says. “And this is a real problem. It is important to cultivate people’s
interests in political participation. If we forget to build roads and bridges this year, we will still
be able to build them next year without many negative consequences; however, if we forget to
‘build’ people this year, we may regret it for the rest of our days,” she says.

96 Dignity and Justice for All of Us