Page 110 - Dignity and justice for all of us our voices are heard in Thailand
P. 110
Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 21
Commentary
Mr. Varin Tiamjaras, Member of Parliament, years to instil such a culture of participation in
Vice President of the Parliamentary communities, he believes.
Committee on Participation, and Secretary of
the Central Foundation for Democracy, views Mr. Tiamjaras views the problems in Thailand
this issue in light of his own experience. He as not linked solely to the right to participate
Mr. Varin Tiamjaras feels that politics for the people is different in government as presented in the
from politics for political parties. This is Declaration, but also to the format and
because politics is not only dependent upon content of their participation. People in Thai
funding, but also on ethics, knowledge, society need to understand the philosophy
experience and continuous self-dedication of behind the Declaration. He says, “We should
“We should begin by the people. begin by understanding and being aware of
understanding and Today, people can participate in the political our own human rights, believing in political
rights, and that sovereign power belongs to
being aware of our system more than before, particularly on us. We should treasure this power. People’s
own human rights, issues relating to natural resources and the participation is not limited to joining the
electoral process. We must also recognize the
environment as well as basic community
believing in political rights. However, there is a budget limitation importance of community rights and
rights, and that and lack of ‘ethical volunteerism’ in the new community participation in administering
public work.”
generation, including the problem of
sovereign power corruption in local administrative
belongs to us” organizations in several localities and Mr. Tiamjaras proposes that, on the occasion
competing ideas in public work. Mr. Tiamjaras of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal
believes that networking means creating a Declaration of Human Rights, international
common conscience. This should come from organizations such as the United Nations
the sharing of common experiences and should give importance to community issues
continuity and further development of what at the local level and do more to create a
we have succeeded in doing. There is a need culture of participation in communities. The
to create a public mindedness in the government should give importance to the
population and to bring people together objectives of the law rather than focusing on
through networking. It will take at least three its format and content.
98 Dignity and Justice for All of Us
