Democracy best form of govt to protect people – Thai PM
Democracy is the best form of the government to protect the rights
and liberty of people and advance social interests, Thai Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra said. “Democracy is not an internal affair of one
country alone. Democracies around the world must join to protect the
people. Our two countries with our experiences and lessons can
contribute greatly to the advancement of democratic forces,” she told
Parliament yesterday.
Shinawatra said she was in Sri Lanka with the intention of building a
closer partnership between the two nations and to seek Sri Lanka’s
support in building a bridge of multi-dimensional cooperation throughout
Asia.
“Ayubowan, Wanakkam, I am excited to speak for the first time in this
Parliament after 10 years my brother, the second Prime Minister of
Thailand. It is a great pleasure for me to be in Sri Lanka, a beautiful
island nation at the opposite end of the Bay of Bengal,” she said.
“Although we are separated by an ocean our two countries share common
religious faith, and close cultural and political beliefs. I feel
privileged to speak to the elected representatives of the people of Sri
Lanka.
The Sri Lankan people have always shown great courage in protecting
their nation and the value of their democracy. On a personal level I am
deeply honoured to be addressing the same Parliament where the world’s
first female Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike once led the
government,” she said.
“I am here in Sri Lanka with the intention to build a closer
partnership between our two nations, and to seek Sri Lanka’s support in
building a bridge of multi-dimensional cooperation throughout Asia. In
the religious dimension, the reference of Thai word ‘Lanka wong’ carries
a noble meaning for Thais,” the Thai Prime Minister said.
“It showed the establishment of Buddhism from Sri Lanka to Thailand
some eight centuries ago, and 260 years ago a group of monks from
Thailand gifted higher ordination to Sri Lankan monks. These eventually
led to the establishment of the Siam Maha Nikaya here in this country.
This made our Buddhist link unique and this is the reason why our people
are so firmly connected. More importantly, with rapid changes in the
world with economic capitalism, political turmoil and social disruption
these days we must work together to strength Buddhism as a religion and
a way of life. I would like to ask you all to join this quest so that,
Buddhism can be a force to bring peace not only to the individual minds
but also for human communities as a whole,” she said.
“The world is facing the common threat of climate change and natural
disasters. Our countries shared the fate of tsunami in 2004.
Thailand had to face one of the worst floods in our nation’s history
two years ago. As climate change threatens human security we need to
work to protect our people by reducing risks from natural disasters. I
call for a closer corporation and collaboration with an action plan to
coordinate a warning system and disaster relief operations,” Shinawatra
said.
“In the economic dimension, Asia is home to about 60 percent of the
world’s population and contributes heavily to the global economic
growth. Enhanced regional connectivity will strengthen the link in the
Indian Ocean.
This is a strategy being pursued by Thailand and ASEAN. We are
building better transport links in ASEAN countries and other regions
including South Asia. On Thailand’s part we are investing US$ 66 million
in infrastructure development that will link up with the region. Better
connectivity leads to more trade, investment, tourism and better links
with people.”
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