Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are preparing to launch a #StopAPEC2022 campaign to undermine Prayut Chan O-Cha’s efforts to greenwash his government and boost its legitimacy on the global stage.
A file photo of the APEC 2022 event launch.(Source: Thaigov.go.th)
On November 10 2022, a “Ratsadon #StopAPEC2022” campaign will begin with a press conference and public discussion, “APEC 2022: Greenwashing Giant Corporates, Rebranding State Monopoly to Capture Natural Resources.” The discussion will be staged at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) from 18.30 – 21.00.
It is anticipated that representatives from more than 50 civil society movements in Thailand will declare their opposition to the Thai government’s proposed Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model, a plan the government hopes to showcase at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2022 from 16 -18 November 2022. There are underlying concerns that the proposal will have a negative impact on livelihoods by granting corporations a monopoly hold on the policy process and the exploitation of natural resources. Many are also questioning the government’s legitimacy to represent Thailand.
Somboon Khamhang, Chairperson of NGO Coordinating Committee on Development (NGO-COD) notes that APEC is a platform initiated by states and corporations to seek economic profit from negotiations. He adds that while Thailand proclaims that it is the state’s duty to guarantee social prosperity, the government completely ignores civil society’s participation in the process.
APEC only facilitates policy space for leading conglomerates in Thailand. Its 50-50 representative model is divided between corporates and bureaucrats in national committees. The same holds true of the executive committee for the development of BCG Economy Model, Thailand’s key proposal for APEC 2022.
“We have no doubt that economic profits will be the primary concern of the negotiation and it will leave ordinary people out of the equation. When we explore the negotiation’s details, we could foresee potential impacts to the people on the ground, namely the flood of agricultural products from other big economies such as China that has widely affected small-scale agriculture in Thailand in recent years.”
Somboon also questions the legitimacy of the government, led by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan O-Cha. He said that the Cabinet seems to be confident that General Prayut will chair APEC this year. He adds that they have wasted public money on PR spend, hoping to whitewash the government’s reputation on the global stage.
“General Prayut seeks every effort for himself and his cabinet to maintain power, without any respect for the rule of law and democratic principle. [This can be seen from his decision to ignore] the 8-year term limit as a prime minister, prescribed under the Constitution of Thailand. General Prayut may have survived the court’s ruling, but he can not elegantly and legitimately represent Thailand on an international stage like APEC,” Somboon comments.
According to Soomboon, the public is not sufficiently aware that there have been ongoing preparations and meetings to about the BCG Economy Model which will be proposed in APEC 2022. He calls on the public to monitor the APEC negotiation process. Civil society organisations will host a parallel space to unveil the other side of BCG economy model and development discourse on 16 -18 November 2022. Details will be announced at the press conference on November 10, 2022, at FCCT.
Note: An edited version has been replaced at 17.30 of 10 November 2022.
