Thailand has achieved an exceptional record of economic development over the last 30 years, as witnessed by the rapid expansion of the national economy at an average rate of 7.8 percent annum. The Kingdom's average per capita income reached 68,000 baht in 1995, compared with only 2,100 baht in 1961. The drop in the number of people living in absolute poverty has surpassed all expectations, falling to only 13.7 percent of the population in 1992, far outstripping the Seventh Plan's target of 20 percent by the end of 1996.
Thailand's sound economic position is internationally recognized. In addition, sustained public investment in economic and social infrastructure has made a significant contribution to an overall rise in incomes, living conditions and quality of life.
However, despite the impressive rate of economic growth, most of Thailand's economic activity and prosperity has remained concentrated in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces. The average per capita income inside the Bangkok Metropolitan Region is still much higher than elsewhere and almost 12 times higher than in the country's poorest region, the Northeast. The gap between rich and poor in the Kingdom has also widened over the last 30 years. In the four years from 1988 to 1992 alone, the top 20 percent of households increased their share of gross domestic product (GDP), while the combined income of the bottom 20 percent of households - the country's poorest - dropped from 4.6 to 3.9 percent of GDP. This growing disparity means that an increasing number of Thais are being excluded from general improvements in the quality of life and this is proving to be a major obstacle to national development.
Development efforts have provided wider access to both economic and basic social services. By 1994, around 97.7 percent of villages had electrification, and many also had clean drinking water (75 percent of urban settlements outside Bangkok and 32 percent of rural villages). The road network connecting provinces, districts and tambons now totals 210,025 kilometres. Thailand's rural population now has greater access to education than ever before, with 97.7 percent of school-age children nation-wide completing at least six years of basic education. In addition, improvements in public health provision have resulted in a significant increase in average life expectancy, from 63 years in 1990 to 67.6 years in 1994.
However, fiercer competition for income and wealth in Thailand has brought with it greater materialism. This, in turn, has had a negative impact on people's behaviour, bringing about a lack of discipline, declining ethical and moral standards and the rise of practices which centre around self-interest and the exploitation of others. These unfavourable trends are threatening the traditional Thai values and ways of life and they have contributed to the collapse of families, communities and local cultures. In addition, the social stresses that accompany economic prosperity have started to alter patterns of sickness and mortality, bringing with them the diseases of modern life, such as: cancer; heart disease; and high blood-pressure. The number of reported tragedies and deaths resulting from accidents and natural disasters has likewise increased.
Accelerated rates of economic growth have also resulted in the rapid depletion of natural resources and deteriorating environmental conditions. During the first two years of the Seventh Plan, no less than one million rai of forest was destroyed through commercial exploitation. The problems of soil erosion and falling water quality have become increasingly significant. The poor air quality, high volume of dust, and noise pollution have become major concerns in Bangkok and other regional urban centres and bear witness to the general worsening of environmental conditions. Environmental degradation has had a discernible negative impact on the quality of life.
Accordingly, it has become generally accepted that a process of development which disregards natural resources, human values and local customs and lore, is far from sustainable national development.
Thai society is proud of its identity. The country is open and has been able to harmoniously integrate external cultures into its own way of life and its own unique environment. It is generally a peaceful and caring society where violent conflicts are noticeably absent. The Thai people adhere to religious principles based on nationality and moderation. The monarchy has for centuries been the centre of hope and confidence among all Thai people.
Thailand is a Constitutional Monarchy and this democratic system of government divides administrative power into three branches: the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. Article 3 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (1991) states: Sovereign power emanates form the Thai people. The King, who is Head of State, shall exercise such power through the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers and the Courts, in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
The National Assembly (the legislature) consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is also the President of the National Assembly. The President of the Senate is concurrently the Vice-President of the National Assembly.
Member of the House are elected by the Thai people. A Member must have a minimum age of 25 years on election day. The total number of members of the House is 360. Each province has at least one member. Some provinces with large populations, have more than one. The term of the House is 4 years from the date of the election.
The Senate is composed of members appointed by the King from qualified persons possessing knowledge and experience in various branches of learning or affairs which will be useful to the administration of the State. They must be of Thai nationality by birth, not less than 35 years of age and not hold any position in a political party. The Senate consists of 270 senators and membership of the Senate is for four years from the date of appointment.
The direct power and duties of the legislature is to enact new laws, approve Emergency Decrees and amend or repeal existing laws. The legislature also has the power to control the administration of state affairs through interrogation and initiating a general debate on a no-confidence vote against ministers. This process of control is carefully balanced in the Thai Parliamentary system, because the Executive also has the power to dissolve the House.
Any member of the Senate or the House of Representatives has the right to interrogate a Minister on any matter within the scope of his authority. The member so doing must submit a written question in advance to the President or the Speaker of the associated chamber. Such a question may address matters of fact or policy. The answer shall be given in the Government Gazette or at a sitting of each chamber. Questions are only answered if they come from the Leader of the Opposition or the President or Speaker deem that they concern an urgent matter of public interest or are useful for State administration.
A group of members of the House of Representatives, of no fewer than one-fifth of the total number of existing members of the House, has the right to propose a motion in writing to the Speaker requesting a general debate on a no-confidence vote against an individual minister or the entire Council of Ministers. If the time allotted for such general debate expires by any means, except where a resolution extends the agenda of such a motion, the House of Representatives shall pass a vote of confidence or no confidence. Such vote must be taken during the next day after the day the general debate finished. The vote of no confidence must be passed by more than one-half of the total number of existing members of the House of Representatives. Where a vote of no-confidence fails, the members of the House who submit that motion no longer have the right to submit such a motion again throughout the session.
Aside from questions and the initiation of a general debate on a no-confidence vote against Ministers, the National Assembly has standing committees to perform any act as may be assigned by the House. These committees may demand documents from any person or summon any person to give a statement of fact or opinion on the consideration of a bill or act.
The Constitution has also given the National Assembly the power and duty to give approval to some other important issues of the country, such as the approval of international conventions. It also has to give approval to the appointment of members of the Counter Corruption Commission, the Petition Committee, and the Auditor General.
There are two ways in which a bill may be introduced to the House: by the Council of Ministers and by members of the House. In the case of a bill proposed by a House member, no fewer than 20 Members of the House from the member's party must endorse the bill and the member's political party must pass a resolution supporting the proposed legislation.
There are two types of bills: money bills and other types of bills. A money bill means a bill dealing with one or all of the following matters:
1. the imposition, repeal, reduction, alteration, modification, remission, or regulation of taxes or duties;
2. the allocation, receipt, custody, or payment of state funds or transfer of expenditure estimates of the State;
3. the establishment of an agency which causes state appropriations to increase;
4. raising of loans or guarantees or redemption of loans; and
5. currency.
The Speaker of the House shall make a decision as to whether a particular bill is a money bill or not. All the bills forwarded to the Parliament shall be considered by the House of Representatives and the senate respectively prior to presentation to the King. A bill shall be considered in three readings:
First reading The House shall consider and resolve whether or not to accept the principle of the bill. In the case of acceptance, the House shall give the bill its second reading.
Second reading The bill shall be considered by a committee appointed by the House or a committee of the whole House. If any member of the House considers it expedient to amend the bill, he shall submit an amendment to the chairman of the committee. When the committee finishes the consideration of the bill, the committee shall submit the bill to the House for further consideration.
The House shall consider the bill in the order of its articles. The house shall debate any amendment made by the committee, or any reservation or opinion about the bill (or a proposed amendment) expressed by a member of the committee.
Third reading The House shall resolve, without debate, whether to approve the bill, or not. In the case of approval, the House shall submit the bill to the senate.
The Constitution also has a provision that, if the Speaker is of the opinion that any member's bill is amended in the second reading and changed to a money bill, the Speaker must order the consideration of the bill to halt while the bill is referred to the Prime Minister for endorsement. If the Prime Minister doesn't endorse the change to a money bill, the House must amend the bill so that it is no longer a money bill.
A bill approved by the House is submitted to the Senate. Here it also receives three readings:
First reading The Senate shall consider and resolve whether or not to approve the principle of the bill.
Second reading The bill shall be considered by a committee appointed by the Senate or a committee of the whole Senate. The procedure of consideration and amendment are the same as the House's.
Third reading The Senate shall resolve, without debate, whether to agree with the House or not. If the bill is amended at the second reading, the Senate shall resolve whether or not to amend the bill.
If the Senate agrees with the House without any amendment, such a bill is then considered as approved by the National Assembly. The Prime Minister, then presents it to the King within 30 day for his signature. When published in the Government Gazette, the bill becomes law.
If the Senate disagrees with the House, the bill is withheld and returned to the house. The bill may be reconsidered by the House only after lapse of 180 days from the date the bill is returned to the House unless the bill withheld is a money bill, in which case the House may immediately reconsider it. If the House reaffirms the bill by a vote of more than one-half of the total number of the existing members of the House, the bill shall be deemed to be approved by the National Assembly. The Prime Minister, then, shall present it to the King within 30 days for signature. After publication in the Government Gazette, the bill becomes law.
If the Senate amends the House's bill, such a bill shall be returned to the House. If the House considers the amendment to be minor and agrees with the amendment, then the Prime Minister presents the bill to the King within 30 days for His signature and, after publication in the Government Gazette, the bill becomes law.
If the House considers the amendment to be a major one, each chamber shall appoint members to constitute a joint committee for consideration of the bill. The joint committee's bill shall be submitted to both chambers. If accepted, the bill is passed. The Prime Minister then presents the bill to the King within 30 days for His signature and, after publication in the Government Gazette, the bill becomes law.
If the bill is rejected by either chamber after the joint committee's consideration, the House can reconsider the bill after the lapse of 180 days as from the date either chamber disapproves the bill or immediately if the bill is a money bill. If the House reaffirms the bill, either in its original form or as amended by joint committee, with a vote of more than half of all existing members of the House, the bill shall be deemed to have been approved by the National Assembly. The Prime Minister presents the bill to the King within 30 days for signature and, when published in the Government Gazette, the bill becomes law.
If the King either refuses his assent to a bill and returns it to the National Assembly or does not return it within 90 days, the National Assembly must reconsider the bill. If the National Assembly reaffirms the bill with the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of the existing members of both chambers, the Prime Minister shall present the bill to the King for his signature once again. If the King does not return the bill signed within 30 days, the Prime Minister then publishes the bill in the Government Gazette and it becomes law, as if signed by the King.
Presently, There are ten political Parties in Thailand, namely: Chartthai Party; Democrat Party; Liberal Democratic Party; Mass Party; National Development Party; New Aspiration Party; Plang Dharma Party; Social Action Party; Solidarity Party and Thai Citizen Party.
In Thailand, the benefits of forest can be classified into two categories:
Direct benefits. The people can derive direct benefits from the forest in the following ways:
· timber - wood products, used for housing construction, agricultural equipment, fishery equipment, sports, equipment etc;
· woodfuel - the most important woodfuel from forest is fuelwood and charcoal. In rural areas, villages prefer to use fuelwood and charcoal rather than electricity for cooking. Even in Bangkok, mobile shops selling north-eastern food like papaya salad (which includes roasted meat and chicken) use charcoal for cooking because of the better smell of the foods;
· food - people can collect edible food from the forest such as mushrooms, bamboo shoots, flowers of Sesbania grandiflora, leaves from Cassia sismea and the neem tree etc;
· clothes - clothes can be woven from wood fibres; and
· medicines - many kinds of medicines can be extracted from the forest, e.g. insecticides from the neem tree, medicine for curing cardiac disease from Strychnos nux-vomica and medicine for treating leprosy from the oil of Hydnocarpus calripetalus fruit.
Indirect benefits. These benefits can be summarized as follows:
· prevention of soil erosion;
· prevention of floods;
· wildlife habitats;
· recreational areas; and
· wind break/shelter belts.
