Your Excellency President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to begin by congratulating the Republic of Indonesia on the 5th Anniversary of the Bali Democracy Forum -- an initiative that has raised awareness and support for democracy worldwide. The elevation of the Forum to Summit level reflects the success of this initiative.
I am proud to be here in Bali, as the first Thai Head of Government attending the Democracy Forum. I am also humbled by the wealth of experience on democratic leadership at this Meeting. Democracy is a learning process, so as I share Thailand’s perspectives on democracy, I will also try to learn from all of you. I believe our shared experiences will help strengthen democracy as the principle to ensure liberty for all.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, we are witnessing the dominance of democracy as the main form of government around the world. Changes, whether through sudden uprising or gradual evolution, come from the same aspiration -- people want their voices heard, their rights protected and positive changes brought to their lives.
Such is the universal truth of humanity. Even though in each country or community there may be cultural, economic or political differences, common principles exist. People demand freedom because they prosper in it. They want their rights protected and dignity respected. But with freedom comes responsibility: the need for the rule of law, a guarantee of human rights, and equal opportunity to aspire and achieve one’s dream.
Rule of law is fundamental to democracy, political and economic stability, and social order. Transparent and effective rule of law protects the rights and liberties of individuals. Equality under the law allows people to trust in due process and encourages peaceful settlement of disagreements.
Rule of law also provides political space for dialogue, participation and for conflicts to be resolved within boundaries of civil society. This allows for political choices to be made freely and for a peaceful political transition from one elected government to another. Rule of law also dictates how political leaders must respond to people’s needs and protect individuals’ rights and liberties.
Another vital issue is that rule of law guarantees inclusiveness which is important for democracy. The diverse voices of a nation, of groups or individuals, the majority or minority, in urban or rural areas, must be heard, as this will bring diversity into social harmony.
This leads to my next point, which is the need to protect the rights of the people. If a democratic government is to be truly, as Abraham Lincoln said, “of the people, by the people, for the people”, then all citizens’ rights must be promoted and protected by the government. History teaches us that freedom is often abused and suppressed. Thailand has experienced many coup d’états against the will of the people. So once a government rises from democratic means, it must be made sustainable.
The best way to preserve democracy is to empower the people to value and participate in the process of democracy which has made it possible for an election to occur. When people participate they feel that they own democracy and cherish the values. And when democracy is overthrown or abused, people will rise up to defend. This is what happened in Thailand in 2010.
But this came with a cost. Families lost their loved ones, and there was suffering for the injured. I was just in a session with mothers and daughters of the people who participated in the 2010 and lost their lives. I was saddened and I am determined to make sure that this will not happen again. That is why we are pursuing national reconciliation and firmly follow the framework of human rights. I will continue to pursue this until true democracy is realized in Thailand.
And although my party holds the majority in parliament, I intend to listen to all stakeholders. I understand fully that for a democracy to be resilient, freedom of speech and respect for diversity of opinions must exist. Mutual respect and understanding amongst peoples in society help prevent disagreements and conflict. Non-discrimination helps all people feel that they are part of the whole society, regardless of race, religion, or income.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
This leads me to my third observation and that is government should be committed to promoting equal opportunity.
Creating opportunities for people on an equal basis ensures that we all can take part in the country’s economic progress and development. This is critical for democracy as economic prosperity and the empowerment of people put them in a better position to be more responsible when exercising their rights. This also creates an environment that facilitates greater investment and other economic activities.
Therefore, we need to make sure that the benefits of growth and stability are enjoyed by all. This means that all people should have access to basic needs that promote human security, education, health care and other welfare support.
That is why the Thai Government has launched a wide range of people-centered policies. These include raising the minimum wage to expanding the coverage of Universal Health Care, establishing the Women Development Fund to supporting SMEs. Our education policies including the “One Tablet Per Child” ensure that our children can obtain the skills and knowledge that will make them well informed adults that are the backbone of any democracy.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me now turn to the international front. We agree with the Indonesian President that global governance draws strength from the fact that all countries have a voice and can participate on an equal footing in international frameworks on wide ranging issues. So there needs to be fairness, accountability and indeed democracy in the global setting.
As we move to develop the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals, we need an effective and democratic multilateral process that will give all States, large and small, the opportunity to have their priorities incorporated into the post 2015 agenda.
We need to address inequalities in the global landscape as well, such as development gaps, and promote people-centered initiatives. Democracy at the global level provides an environment to cooperate effectively in addressing today’s challenges, while inspiring greater efforts to promote democracy at home.
Most importantly, we all need to cooperate to ensure that democracy survives when threatened. For this reason, we appreciate many of our friends’ stance against the overthrowing of a democratic government of Thailand in 2006 and help support us in our path towards a true democracy. It is up to all of us to keep democracy alive and prevent future challenges against it.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Only through democracy can stability be achieved. Political stability help reduce the risks of violent conflicts. Only in such atmosphere can continuous economic progress occur. The bottom line is the well being of all citizens, in our countries and in the global community.
Thank you.
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