Published on January 13, 2006

It is misleading for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to state that the government is “well-prepared” for the ongoing US-Thai Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) talks and to dismiss criticism by simply saying it is negotiating with our “national interests” in mind.

Regardless of whether the government really is prepared, and whether senior Thai negotiator Nitya Pibulsonggram is qualified for his job, the fact is that the process, at least on the Thai side, has been marked by secrecy and a lack of including the public in whatever it is that’s going on in the talks.

It is always problematic when a politician blandly characterises his or her actions as being in line with our “national interests”. When it comes to the wide range of issues being discussed in the talks for this FTA, there are many complex details which need to be talked about in the open, and which involve the interests of the nation.

What’s more, there are various competing interests within the nation. The task is to reconcile these various interests and concerns.

Instead of offering the vague and almost meaningless cliche that they are looking out for our “national interests”, politicians should accept the reality that one of their tasks as representatives of the people is to reconcile and respond to differing and at times competing demands of various groups in society in the fairest manner possible.

More expensive medicine may be good for producers and distributors but not necessarily for consumers. Cheaper onions, potatoes and qualify beef from the US may be good news for Thai consumers but not necessarily for local farmers and cattle raisers.

And what about the telecommunications industry? Why is it not being taken up in the talks as one more area that could be liberalised under a US-Thai FTA?

Is it a mere coincidence that the family of PM Thaksin owns Shin Corp, the country’s largest telecom conglomerate?

The US team may claim that some US$17 billion (Bt676 billion) worth of Thai goods will have access to the US market if Thailand opens its market to some $5 billion worth of American goods.

Judging from this simple figure, Thailand may appear like a winner in any future deal. But this statistic does not reveal that various sectors of the Thai economy may very well be wiped out under an FTA.

So what exactly are Thailand’s greatest national interests?

There may be no quick answer to that question. So the least politicians should do is stop simplistically attempting to explain away their actions, whatever they may be, by repeating ad nauseam that they have our “national interests” in mind.

It’s not too late for the government to make its representation of the country in the trade talks, from now on, as transparent and inclusive as possible.

The public – not just Parliament – must be regularly informed and have access to documents relevant to their future livelihoods. Constitutionally speaking, Parliament may even have to approve any FTA before it goes into effect.

Some may feel that the hard line taken by anti-FTA protesters in Chiang Mai a few days ago was excessive and that their demands for the talks to be scrapped altogether are irrational.

However, many poor people suffering from HIV/Aids who are dependent on anti-retroviral drugs and, like most of us, do not know what is going on in the negotiations, are basing their disruptive actions on the fact that they have been led to believe that an FTA would lead to the shortening of their lives since the medicine they need would suddenly become more expensive.

Because the government has handled its negotiating with a woeful disregard for transparency and public participation, the most that most members of the public can do now is just ponder how trustworthy they believe the government to be.

Protesters say they don’t trust Nitya, because his wife has close ties with America.

One observer says that while Nitya is trustworthy and decent, he will probably just do whatever Thaksin orders him to. This observer is among the growing number of people who no longer trust Thaksin.

It’s not too late for the prime minister to ensure that the negotiations are handled properly.

Unfortunately, given Thaksin’s arrogant nature, chances of seeing such improvement are not high.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

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