People Forum Called for Wide-Ranging Rights and Protections

Photo: NDM / Facebook

BANGKOK — One hundred and nine groups consisting of NGOs, civic groups, grassroots organizations, labor groups, students and anti-junta organizations met for two days over the weekend and came out with demands ranging from restoration of political rights, better education, welfare state and rights to local determination.

The declaration issued called to “restore the right of the people to participate in charting the future of the country.”
It said “people must be allowed to take part in the decision makings, the design and the protest against any initiatives by the government which inflict suffering on them.”

Additionally it spoke about the social welfare system: “All sectors shall jointly establish systems such as universal health scheme, guaranteed pension, just loan and interest system for education, guaranteed basic income, just wage system, and just employment and fair worker protection. These schemes shall aim to reduce inequality.”