Land reform and questions over natural resources will be the first issues examined by the National Reform Committee headed by former prime minister Anand Panyarachun.
He said those problems had resulted in disputes between the state and the public, between individuals and the public and the business sector. "These problems need to be solved immediately under the NRC framework," he said.
Key problems were specifically cases of excessive or unfair ownership and acquisition, which Anand said led to "social inequality among Thai people."
After 12 meetings, the NRC yesterday had reached three prime objectives, which would pursue "lives with equal dignity as human beings among Thai people; lives with peaceful cultural diversity, free of violation of each other's rights; and lives with guarantees on welfare and social protection."
The objectives could be achieved through fairness to all Thai people in economic and social aspects, fairness in land ownership and acquisition of natural resources, fairness in opportunity and rights, and fairness in negotiating and bargaining power.
The second most important issue to be resolved under the NRC framework was public debt, he said, but did not give a timeframe for it to be addressed.
"It's not that the NRC will help repay the Bt300,000 in debts Thai people owe on average, but we will work out solutions that are feasible, through effective management, legal execution and taxation," he said.
The NRC will hold its first public hearing session on October 17, at Thammasat University's small auditorium.
Anand expressed concern over how seriously the Abhisit government would take the NRC framework when its task was complete and handed over to the administration. He said his similar role in dealing with human rights issues during the Thaksin government was ignored almost completely, and heeded by the Chuan government only partially.