That's not an easy feat, given that public-policy researchers are usually commissioned by state agencies to work on particular projects whose results may or may not be used by politicians in power.

"In fact, I hit the first jackpot soon after joining the TDRI in 1996. The research paper on the state of the Internet in Thailand back then, which I co-authored with Dr Duanden Nikomboriruk, turned out to be very useful in terms of helping to liberalise Internet services in this country.

"Back then, the cost of Internet access here was several times more expensive than today's price - due to a state-controlled monopoly and the setting of a minimum charge.

"Internet-service providers also gave the state free equity shares, resulting in the passing of such extra costs to the users. Overall, an exorbitant Internet access charge hindered the country's economic development.

"Soon after, the research - which exposed these factors - was published and became highly visible in the mass media. There was an impact on public policy.

"The minimum charge, as set by the then-Communications Authority of Thailand, was later abolished, resulting in much cheaper net access for everyone," says Somkiat, 41, who holds a PhD in computer science from Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Next, Somkiat was part of a TDRI research team proposing, in 2000, a change in the country's telecom concession fees from percentage terms to a lump-sum basis. This was a bid to further boost competition in the telecom sector. "We thought the concession fees in the form of a lump sum would be a better incentive in spurring competition. In fact, the government was attempting to adopt this change, but its move was unsuccessful."

Then came the first Thaksin government in 2001. In 2003, the former telecom tycoon managed to convert all mobile-phone concession fees into an excise tax - a move that would hinder competition and make new entries into the market more difficult.

However, existing concessionaires (including AIS, previously owned by the ousted premier's family) would gain from better profits and higher stock prices. The telecom industry could also be manipulated more easily by politicians in power if the excise-tax rate were to replace concession fees.

"The Assets Examination Committee is now preparing a malfeasance charge against the ex-premier. The facts are quite clear, but there remain some technical issues in Section 157 of the Criminal Code that makes it difficult to take legal action," says Somkiat.

Overall, Somkiat estimates that the ousted premier's family made Bt73 billion in undue benefits during a period of over five years in public office.

On the excise-tax issue, the Information and Communications Technology Ministry has already reduced the rate on telecom firms to zero, while the Finance Ministry is in the process of ending the tax.

In 2003, Somkiat also got involved with a research project on the country's mass-media reform, resulting in the establishment of a media-monitor mechanism and a proposal for the government to turn the former iTV into the country's first-ever public service television service, similar to the BBC in the UK.

The government is preparing legislation to implement the policy for consideration by the National Legislative Assembly.

"Overall, the mass media have been very helpful in disseminating the knowledge we have gained from doing policy research [over the past decade].

"In other words, the media have helped create widespread public awareness of key national issues, resulting in changes in a number of public policies for the better," he says.

Nophakhun Limsamarnphun

nop1122@yahoo.com