Policy Announcement*
Mr.
President,
Distinguished Members,
Persuant
to His Majesty the King's gracious appointment of myself as Prime Minister, per
Royal Command dated 7 March 1969, and the subsequent appointment of the Council
of Ministers, per Royal Command dated 11 March 1969. At this auspicious moment,
the Council of Ministers has formulated the formal policies, according to the
policies of the Thai Union Party, with the focus on the essence of the policies,
stated in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, national security, public
rights and liberties, economic prosperity, and social equality, as to the Parliament,
as via The government appropriate in Code 141 of the Constitution of the Kingdom
of Thailand of 1968, as follows:
| 1.
| The government believes, whole-heartedly, the democratic administration, with King as Head of State, according to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand of 1968, is the most appropriate form of government for Thailand, thus, shall implement efficient measures, as to foster the democratic regime, according to the current political situation, respect the king, protect the royal throne, and encourage the public participation in politics and state administration. In this respect, the government shall encourage the public awareness in the exercise of political rights and liberties, as the responsibility of Thai citizens, which shall, in turn, support the national democratic developments. |
| 2.
| The government believes the national security is indispensable for the economic stability, development, and social justice, thus, shall implement efficient measures, as to maintain the national security, especially through the royal army, according to the national economic situation. In addition, the government shall enhance the military morale, discipline, and welfare, as well as, prevent and suppress the communism, which has been threating the national security. |
| 3.
| The government shall establish close relations with other sovereign nations, respect the legitimacy of international laws, run the free policy, as to protect the national benefits, preserve the national rights, follow the international obligations, upon equality basis, befriend the friendly nations, respect the United Nations' Charters, collaborate with the United Nations, in order to establish the world security and peace, and cooperate with sovereign nations, as for the sake of mutual security and prosperity. |
| 4.
| The government believes the national security and safety are important responsibilities, thus, shall protect the national profession, suppress the national fear, enhance the efficiency of the police, administrative officers, kamnans, village headmen, and local officers, who shall incorporate their strength, will, and commitment, as to provide effective investigations and preventions of crimes and delinquences, in accordance with the national situation, as well as, encourage the public participation in the preservation of the national security and safety. Concerning the provision of the national well-being, the government shall encourage and support the rural development projects, as for the sake of the people upcountry, establish self-sustainable communities, support the distribution of land and property ownership, according to the efficiency, cherish the national profession, in accordance with the skill and knowledge, suppress accommodation problems for the low-income, through state housing projects and long-term house leases, support the social welfare, public and private alike, support and protect the income and safety of laborers, as seen appropriate, improve the provincial infrastructure networks, especially electricity and water, establish the intercity links, as to uplift the provincial developments, which shall, in turn, enhance the national standard of living, and promote the local administration, according to the local administration system. |
| 5.
| The government shall implement the national developments, in accordance with the National Economic and Social Plans, focused on essential operations, as to meet the national needs and situation. The government shall emphasize on the irrigation, highways construction and maintenance, electricity, as to meet the public and industrial requirements, and multi-purpose cooperative projects. In addition, the government shall increase the national productivity and income, as to raise the standard of living, per capita, and benefits, enhance the human resource, through all-level professional and laboral developments, support the national research, as for the developments of science and applied science. As for natural resources, the government shall implement the national surveys, in order to develop and harness the national resources. |
| 6.
| The government shall enhance the national health care system, with the focus on the prevention and suppression, especially for smallpox, bubonic plague, leprosy, and malaria, and cure off the endemic outbreak. As for the health treatment, the government shall recruit new doctors and medical officers, as for the greater regional accessibility, upgrade hospitals and health centers, especially for locales, tools, and personnel, support the medical researches, and control the manufacturing and distribution of medicine and medical supplies. |
| 7.
| The government believes the financial stability is indispensable for the national security and economic prosperity, hence, shall implement efficient measures, as to preserve the stability of the national currency, improve and revise the budget system, as to meet the national developments, and control the national expenditure, as for the sake of the national benefits and well-beings. As for the tax collection, the government shall implement efficient measures on the prevention of the tax evasion, revise the taxation system, in accordance with the national developments. In this respect, the government shall revise the tax collection and control systems, as for the greater efficiency. |
| 8.
| The government shall support the agriculture, which is the profession of the majority of Thai citizens, as for the greater manufacturing efficiency, in terms of quantity and quality, research for petroleum reserves, promote the utilization of the irrigation system, amongst agriculturists, as for optimal benefits, provide the academic assistance to agriculturists, establish more markets, as to facilitate the vending of agricultural products, support reasonable remunerations for agricultural products, prevent the price restraints, and increase the capital of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, as for the operational expansion. Concerning the national forests, the government shall preserve the forest, land, and water, in the areas near the water sources, as for the ecological balance, prevent the water shortage, and encourage the reforestation, as to meet the national requirements of wood and forest products. As for protected forests, the government shall consider the revision of the demarcation, in accordance with the current situation, as for the national benefits. |
| 9.
| The government believes the industry is indispensable for the national economic prosperity, profession, and academic technics, hence, shall support the national industries, in particular, those involved with the national products, existing markets, trade and international balance, and career investment. In addition, the government shall support the industrial investment. |
| 10.
| The government
believes the transportation and communication are supportive factors for the national
developments, hence, shall repair and upgrade the national and international transportation
network, especially roads, railroads, water, air transportation, and port administration, as to meet the national requirement and economic growth. As for the communication networks, i.e., post, telegraphs, telephone, radio, and telecommunication system, the government shall enhance the service, as to facilitate the national contacts. |
| 11.
| The government believes the trade is the keyword of the success in the economic development and national well-being, hence, shall implement efficient measures, as to promote the national and international trade. In this respect, the government shall resolve transportation hindrances, as to facilitate the product transportation, from manufacturers to consumers, maintain the price of essential consuming goods. As for international trade, the government shall expand and maintain the foreign market shares, and amend the outstanding balance with some countries. |
| 12.
| The government is aware that the national education is the keyword to the national developments, hence, shall provide the formal education, according to the National Economic and Social Plans, improve, and promote the formal, vocational, and universitarial education. In this respect, the government shall expand the compulsory education network, improve all types of schools, especially vocational, as for the enhanced efficiency, excel the quality of existing universities, and support the teacher welfare, as to guarantee the professional security and dedicate more time to the students. In addition, the government shall encourage the private participation in the national education, be it primary, secondary, or tertiary education, and support academic researches, in accordance with the national requirements. Meanwhile, the government shall promote and support the national tradition, cherish Buddhism, and grant the full assistance to other religions, national arts, and culture. |
| 13.
| The government is aware of the importance of the justice in the national stability and security, hence, shall implement efficient measures, as to preserve the legal legitimacy, respect the freedom of the royal courts and facilitate the court procedures. |
| 14.
| The government believes the national well-being is the objective of the state administration, hence, shall maintain the national security and resolve national problems. In this respect, the government shall follow the suggestions of the Parliament, should they be of the national benefits. |
| 15.
| The government believes the national unity is indispensable for the national developments, hence, shall eradicate the national separatism. Meanwhile, the government shall implement efficient measures, as to establish and strengthen the national unity. |
In
accordance with the aforementioned policies, the government aspires to meet the
public requirements, establish the national prosperity and security. Therefore,
the government hopes the Parliament shall support the formal policies, in order
that we shall smoothly run the state administration, establish the national prosperity
and well-being. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to ask me
and the Council of Ministers, willing to give respectful answers.
Thank
you.
*Parliament Assembly Report of 25 March 1969, Pages 7-15.
Unofficial Translation