Civic groups oppose plan to shift Thai PBS, three other bodies to state budget

Civic groups representing labourers, older people and children submitted a protest letter to a Senate panel today, demanding that the ruling Bhumjaithai Party withdraw four bills from parliament that would change the funding sources of four organisations, including Thai PBS, from earmarked tobacco and alcohol taxes to the central government budget.

The protest letter was received by Norasate Prachyakorn, chairman of the Senate Committee on Political Development, Public Participation, Human Rights, Liberties and Consumer Protection.

Sunee Chairos, a lecturer at Rangsit University and a leader of the civic groups, said the four laws governing Thai PBS, the Older Persons Fund, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Sports Authority of Thailand had originally been enacted in the public interest. They support public-service media, healthcare and well-being for older people, and public health and sports development, she said.

Any amendments to the four laws should take into account the views of all stakeholders, Sunee said. She added that more than 70% of respondents to parliamentary polls on the proposed changes had opposed them, and called on the ruling Bhumjaithai Party to withdraw all four bills.

“This is a warning from the people. The party should do the right thing and should not resist the people’s will,” Sunee said.

Norasate said that although the law did not explicitly require the government to take public opinion into account when amending legislation, many people had voiced opposition to the proposed changes to the four laws.

The civic groups also submitted their protest letter to the opposition People’s Party.

Meanwhile, a network of slum dwellers said it would submit a letter to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul today, opposing changes to funding arrangements that it said could affect vulnerable groups.

Chamnong Nuphan, a leader of the network, threatened to stage a rally in front of Government House on Monday if the government failed to respond to the group’s demands.