LettersThai government has heeded people’s demands for reform and made strides in recovering from Covid-19

A recent constitutional amendment has increased the share of directly elected lawmakers in the parliament, while the reopening of the country’s international borders is helping to revive the tourism industry

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A hotel staff member sits next to a Covid-19 vaccination notice on Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand on November 28. Thailand was one of the first countries to reopen its borders to international travellers. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:30am, 1 Dec 2021

I am writing in response to your article “Thai PM Prayuth’s growing unpopularity fuels talk of early election as opposition eyes face-off with royalists”, published on November 14, to share what I hope will add to a nuanced and contextualised understanding of the political situation in Thailand and the country’s international orientations.

The article’s claim that the government has “cracked down on opposition parties and pushed back against calls … to allow for more democracy” is misleading and a misrepresentation of the facts.

First, Thailand is making significant strides towards recovery from the Covid-19 Delta variant, with more than 60,000 travellers visiting Thailand under its Sandbox and “Test and Go” schemes and providing a boost to the economy.

Second, and at the same time, the government is responding to various political demands and calls for constitutional reforms through parliamentary and democratic processes. In fact, a recent constitutional amendment, increasing the number of Members of Parliament directly elected through constituencies from 350 to 400 while reducing the number of party-list MPs from 150 to 100, has already come into effect.

Third, the prime minister and five other cabinet ministers defeated a parliamentary motion of no confidence, which, however one may characterise it, is an affirmation of the current administration.

In international relations, Thailand has always adhered to the principle of good neighbourliness with an abiding faith in Asean centrality and effective multilateralism. To this end, Thailand has always engaged all state actors and relevant stakeholders, including seeking meaningful contributions from major powers, in addressing regional and global challenges.