The third classification is the co-operation method (formal as well as informal) with governmental institutes. It is so called the consensual strategy. Those organisations are often supported from public funds. They do not interfere with the political system and limit their work within the range of government policy. Their main tasks are health and public welfare. The legal identity also gives them a stronger legitimacy in public. (THAILAND-Rundschau 3/2001: 89)
In 1989 there was set up a “Mobile Cabinet” where NGO’s could enter the platform of the political sphere, confronting politicians and the government with their demands and give a proof of their seriousness as force to be reckoned with. „BANGKOK, 26 June 2012 – Deputy Government Spokesman Anusorn Iamsaard has revealed that the next mobile cabinet meeting will be held in Surin province in July. In line with the Cabinet’s resolution to organize a mobile meeting once a month in a different part of Thailand, Mr. Anusorn announced that the July meeting will take place in the north-eastern province of Surin.“ (THAIFINANCIALPOST 2012) Another method to reach the public was the “meet the press” idea, set up in the mid80s of the 20th century where journalists were brought to the poor communities by NGO’s. Also a TV channel (11) was set up to report NGO’s work. (RÜLAND 1993: 73)
Empowerment stands at the core of NGO’s work and means to integrate the Poor into the decision-making process. Underprivileged groups will be made to actors. The mass mobilization plays an important role, and some organisations are just engaged with bringing people at the right time to the right place. To support residents of rural areas for e.g. bus transfers were implemented to the demonstration sites in cities. (THAILAND Rundschau 3/2001: 84)
SOCIAL MOVEMENTR
TR IGHT BASED MOVEMENT
GOVERNMENT
NGO
Government Institutions
informal cooperation, support from public funds consensual strategy / cooperation NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SOCIAL WELFARE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
NGO
NGO The solutions lie in the villages
critical of government policy
COMMUNITY FOREST PROJECT VILLAGE FOUNDATION
ASSEMBLY OF THE POOR CAMPAIGN FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY
FIG 009
NEGOTIATION PROCESSES / GAINING POWER Strategies of NGO’s to control corruptions and legitimate the voice of many individuals can only be successfully implement in Thailand by forming alliances and networks to share resources and increase the political weight. One of the first ones was AOP Assembly of the Poor, a right-based movement that mainly deal with land tenure. With the help and the pressure of the civil society they could prepare reforms and development plans which were set in motion during and after the Asian crisis in 1997. The greatest successes were the formation of an anti-corruption tribunal, an independent electoral commission and the transparency of MP’s salaries.Other important ones are the NGO-CORD, the PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ALLIANCE and PNEX, while the last one is a non re
gistered civil organisation for city development set up to strengthen local economy, slum and housing issues. Despite the many advantages to form networks, also remains a slight risk to lose the own focus and to subject to domination by others. Also it is described that cooperation between different organisations are more within vertical structures instead of horizontal. CONNECTION TO MUNICIPALITIES Small organisations with seldom more than ten employees and in addition with a high staff turnover rate facing enormous problems reaching the national negotiation level to submit their claims. Therefore NGO’s work, besides the alliances and networks, is usually closer connected to local governments, which then in turn must campaign for their regions with the national government.
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