Visions from PMs to be

 Q. What is the highight of your party policy that is not found in other parties?

 Suvit Khunkiti, leader of Motherland Party (Phuea Paendin)

"It's the policy that will return peace to society and put an end to [political] division. Also, skytrain linking suburbia with [inner city].

Gen Chetta Thanajaro, leader of Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party

We'll develop the economy, politics and society at the same time.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of Democratic Party

The highlight of the Democratic Party is the so-called 'people's agenda' which we by listening to people over the past year. We will lower the living cost and pay importance to social welfare and bringing about peace in the deep south.

Prachai Liewphairatana, leader of Matchimatippatai Party

It's 12 prongs policies such as free health care, assistance to the unemployed, supports to indistries, crackdown on corruption, raise officials' salary, solve sothern problem, reduce oil price, stop privatisation of state enterprises and supports to grocery stores.

Chingchai Mongkoltham, leader of New Aspiration Party

All problems [cited by other party leaders] are but a result of political problem. We mistaken having a constitution for democracy. It's like putting the wrong botton on and trying to solve it by unbotton those that follows.

Q. What are your policies that would strengthen Thai politics and economy?

Chetta:  We fail when in comes to executing [policies]. The problem of human resources is another importance issue that must be solved. We must look at the root causes of all problems.

Prachai:  Social welfare policy witll have the greatest impact and make people happy and bring about justice. Those running the countries must be moral and observe the five Buddhist precepts. We also need to develop alternative enery.

Chingchai:  Develop democratic economic system and stop populist policies which only promises what will be handed out.

Abhisit:  Our children must comes first. We'll look after mother and their babies in the wombs and care for them until they finish highschool. We must put an end to the situation where in university graduautes have no work while factories couldn't find workers.

Suvit: The heart is people's participation because those who know the problem well are the peole. Village fund will help foster people's participation. The government must supports people to have a chance [in life].

Q. What's your position on legalising two to three digits lottery?

Prachai: We must listen to people and see if they want it continued or not. If they do then we will save half [the income government receives] for their welfare.

Abhisit:  The key principle is they state must not promote [even if we legalise it] it but we must put an order to it... There should be no advertisment nor promotion.

Chetta:  We must listen to the people again. If they play it in moderation it can be regard as relaxation.

Suvit: It's better to legalise it but its management must be transparent.

Chingchai:  No.

Q. How will you solve the problem stemmed from the Thai-China FTA in terms of falling agricultural produce prices in the North?

Chingchai:  If the country is not ready while went ahead with FTA then surely damages will incur. And people will suffer from it.

Prachai:  Actually FTA is good but the negotiators need to be conscious that they're Thai. We can re-negotiate the terms.

Abhisit:  It reflects how negotiation that didn't put people's interest at heart resulted in. We should re-negotiate.

Chetta: The key is we need to be sincere in negotiation. If we're sincere, [the Chinese] will also be sincere and there will be no looser.

Suvit:  First, renegotiation. Second, develop local potential [to face impact from [FTA].

Q. Where will you get the money to fund all the policies who promise?

Abhisit:  We must borrow and issue bonds. But for double-rail track and electric train devepment, there're many methods.

Prachai:  We must re-develop the fiscal system, issue 30-year bond.

Chingchai: Our economy is too dependent on foreigners... Our main problem is our way of thinking.

Chetta: Public debt hasn't reached 40 per cent yet and wer can borrow more. It's entirely feasible.

Suvit: Direct and indirect taxes. Mega projects will distribute growths to all regions.

Q. How will you do what VAT and the baht exchange rate?

Prachai: No VAT increase and freely allow baht to float.

Abhisit: It's not in line with the current economic situation to increase VAT. As for the exhange rate, the best system is a system that reflects reality. We shouldn't set it too strong or weak.

Suvit:  It's to lazy to hike VAT. We must bring about political stability and end political feud if not, foreign investors won't invest.

Chetta:  The exchange rate need to be stable while the time to increase VAT is not ripe yet.

Chingchai:  I won't remove VAT but it's part of [economic] injustice.

Q. What to do with proposed nuclear powe plant?

Chingchai:  Why do we need it?

Prachai: We must look into the safety issue first. If it is safe then we can go ahead.

Abhisit: There's no reason to commit the country to it... there should likely be new technology which is safer [in the future].

Chetta: Careful studies is needed. The Chernobyle disaster taught us to be careful. But if it's needed then it must be develeop.

Suvit:  There's nothing wrong with developing nuclear plant. Safety issue can be solved.

Q. What do you think is the cause of on-going violence in the deep south and how did you come about the coclusion?

Chetta: I may not know it 100 per cent for sure but it's been brewing for a long time and is related to many issues such as ethnicity, history, economy. It didn't just occur three or four years ago. We must solve violence by gaining reliable intelligence and resort to military solution first.

 Abhisit: We talked with people in the area and first, we must boost morale of officials. Second, we must have a unified policy. Third, many rebels are youths so the education system must be corected. Fourth, we should enable local people to be proud on themselves as part of Thai society.

 Suvit: Resorting to force won't end violence. First, our communication is problematic. Second, there's no justice. Justice is crucial.

 Prachai:  We must learn about the problem as to where it stemn from or who causes it. Two hundread miles of coastal sea area in the south contain natural gas and if the land is partitioned we won't have our own gas resources.

People [in the area] are also unhappy that they have no justice. Those responsible for killing 2,000 people must be brought to justice.  A surviellance bollon is also needed.

Chingchai: It stemn from unresolved political conflicts and if we can't solve it, it will grow into separatist war. The military approach must follow political lead.

Q. How will you solve slum problems and real estate stagnation?

Chingchai: Convert empied or unfinished housings and building and allow landless people to inhabit.

Prachai:  Build partments for the poor in the suburb and construct rail links to downtown so they can commute to work downtown within half an hour. Do the same in the provinces and build high-speed train.

Do not worry about foreign ownerships of condominium because their property merely floats on air.

Abhisit:  The government must help [slum dwellers] by offering low-interest loan at a fixed rate for 15 to 20 years period. As for foreign ownership of property, they need to feel secure and know [the regulations].

 Chetta:  The government must sacrifice some of the land. With land already there, the construction won't be difficult and low interest loan should be offered. As for foreigners, they should be allowed to lease for 80 to 90 years.

 Suvit: The government should provide areas where people can make a living. As for foreign ownership, long lease is the way to go.

 Q. What will you do as party leader if some of your party member buy vote?

 Suvit:  One single party leader can't possibly look after all party members. But we will try.

 Chetta: The important thing is whethere we're honest or not. We can make an oath [not to engage in fraud] but perhaps it's too late [for this election].

 Abhisit: I did announced that [party members] should not engage in illegal act. And I didn't just say. If we have some leads we will set up investigative committee and if the person is found guilty, he or she will be purged.

 Prachai:  It depends on each MP whether they're moral and ethical or not. The control should be in the hands of the Election Commission who already have measures.

 Chingchai: There will be no end to lawsuit after election. Others can solve vote buying and politics need dhamma.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation