User:Samewat2013/sandbox

On December 10th, 1995 there was a conference held at Thammasat University of Bangkok entitled "Assembly of the Poor: The consequences of Large-Scale Development Projects". Many AOP activists along with villagers and scholars brought speeches and participated in panels to shine light on the negative effects large-scale development has on Thailand's social and ecological factors. After days of discussion, the "Mun River Declaration" was formed. This signified the refusal of the Thai society to remain passive subjects of change in their own country. The Thai people wanted a say in what was going on in their land. Many days after the declaration was formed, hundreds of AOP activists and members marched through Bangkok to submit their declaration and list of demands to the Thai government.

How the AOP came about in Thailand: During the 1950's Thialand's Development Agenda was at the forefront of the goverment and was backed by the World Bank. The rapid industrialization around the world was the driving force behind it all. The World Bank decided to back Thailand becuase of the goverments substantial economic investment in urban infastructure, strong market orientation, and leading role in private sector and private investment. Starting in the 1950's and acclerating in the late 20th century, Thailand was becoming an "exempler for the rest of the developing world", according to the World Bank, IMF, and other mainstream economists. In the 20th century the foregin capital was contribuing so much to Thailand's growth that manufactoring was increasing, but in contrast the agriculture sector was rapidly declining. Due to the decline in the agriculture sector small-scale farmers and peasants were living in poverty. This made a large population of Thailand's people vulnerable to exploitation to the big cities such as Bangkok. It also exluded the rural farmers from rapid changes in the countries large cities as well. This began to irrate the Thai rural farmers and peasants creating a need for a vast social and enviormental transformation. Community leaders and NGO (non-govermental organizations) saw an urgent need to organize a fight for community rights at a National Level. (Palgrem. 2010)

According to the Bangkok Post the recent issuses in Thailand have alot to do with the political divisions trying to undermine the AOP. The lack of unity among the poor pose a major obstacle in the battle to a more democratic society. In the 21st century, political divisions in Thailand have weakened the movements of the Assembly of the Poor. In order for the NGO to stay in a postive direction the Bangkok Post states they must focused on;

• natural resources
  • protection of local people's rights to manage those resources

They also to need to move certain issues to the forefront of their political voice.

• community rights
  • an agressive tax rate on land holdings
    • establishment of a land development fund
      • fair land distribution

The rural farmers and peasants need to form a foundation of community rights that is the constitution of how they country should run. They need to do this to enhance the future of Thailand and it rank in the global economy and that of a developing nation.