CityNews Article Archive:
Group Wants Chiang Mai to be ‘Self-Governing’ and Free of Central Government Fetters

CityNews – On 24th June, the ‘Self-Governing Chiang Mai Association’ will campaign for the ‘Chiang Mai Self-Governing Act’ and at least 10,000 people they say will sign their name in support of the act.

Chamnan Chanrueng

Chamnan Chanrueng, a freelance scholar and a representative of the Self-Governing Chiang Mai Association, told the media that 24th June was the day that Thailand changed from being an Absolute Monarchy to a Democracy, and it is on this day that the people of Chiang Mai will show their spirit and be recognized as a force that can govern itself.

The self-governing act will take power away from the central government that has up to now been making all the final decisions concerning Chiang Mai politics, deciding on policies, and managing and allocating budgets. The central government has been a shadow over the regional government for 120 years, and due to permission being sought for various changes in society the process of change is very complicated says the group. Central government should give power back to local society they say, and make it so local society is more free to develop in life, in welfare, in education, in health and in restoring and protecting natural resources. 

CityNews contacted outspoken political critic Dr. Tanet Charoenmuang who in the past has had much to say about the centralisation policies of the government. Tanet, who is now an activist, and is a former professor at the faculty of Political Science, CMU, told us that, “The Self-Governing Chiang Mai Association’ group is funded by the ex-military government of 6 years ago… you should contact them about this issue. They have used my name for the campaign, but actually I don’t support the campaign. I have been working on this issue of self-government for 20 years without any sponsors. Now they have these big sponsors. You should see their ‘drafts’ and ‘brochures’…They are such a high standard of quality…” said the ex-professor emphasising how well the group is funded. He finished by saying: “On 24th June, I will work on Democracy Day.”  

 ? ? ?.? ? 24 ?.?.?

? ? ? ?.?.?.? ? 10,000 ? ? ? 24 ? 55 ? ?  ? 15.00 ?. ? ?

                ? ? ? ? ? ? 24 ?.?.? ? ? “?.?.?.? ?.?……” ? ? ? 25 ? ?.? ? 45 ?

                                ? ?.?.?.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 120 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

                ? ? ?.?.?.? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 4 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 2 ? ? (?) ? ? (?) ? ? ? 30 ? 70% ?