Page 143 - Dignity and justice for all of us our voices are heard in Thailand

Article 29

“Power must be devolved from the centre and distributed
as widely as possible so that there can be collaborative

management, joint planning and joint action for one’s

own community”

Commentary Ms. Somsook Boonyabancha

Commenting on the above voice, Ms. Ms. Boonyabancha, who supports the
Somsook Boonyabancha, Director of the strengthening of community development,
Community Organizations Development said that the Assembly of Community
Institute, states that nowadays, there are very Organizations Act (2008) is a positive step that
few remote communities that know nothing reflects the need for community participation
about the outside world. Communities can in the country’s local development. Prior to
access the media, know about policies and this Act, decentralized power from the central
understand rights, allowing people to level to the local level was limited to
participate in changing and solving the administrative power. This Act provides
problems of their own communities. This has legitimate status to the development
brought about the establishment of platform of communities at the local level,
widespread networks. The situation has giving them opportunities to link together
completely changed compared to 20–30 and to participate in overseeing their natural
years ago. resources, education, their economic
development, culture, traditions and so forth.
“Participation is a growing trend in the world.
Therefore, people must be given the chance Ms. Boonyabancha thinks that at present,
to express themselves and take action as even though people are more aware of their
much as possible. Power must be devolved situation and have more scope to conduct
from the centre and distributed as widely as activities for their communities, leading to
possible so that there can be collaborative development and change in their own
management, joint planning and joint action communities, they still lack sufficient power to
for one’s own community.”

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