Iimportant WSF meeting 5 May
After the expanded Thai working committee of the WSF met twice under the joint chairing of ex-Senator Jon Ungpakorn and Khun Nimit Tienudom on the 23rd and 29th April, it was decided to call a meeting f all Thai organisations on Friday 5th May at Thammasart University Ta Prajun. This meeting will decide between 2 models for the Bangkok Forum.
1. Continue to hold a S.E.Asia/E.Asia Forum as originally planned
OR
2.HOLD a Thai Social Forum in October instead and hold a S.E./E.Asia forum at some time in the future
Those who support the second proposal to hold a Thai forum have two main reasons:
a) A Thai Forum will allow for a more detailed and deeper discussion on the problems faced by Thai movements.
b) Holding a Thai Forum will give us all the chance to heal the divisions which have arisen and to build solidarity between Thai groups. An international forum can then be held in the future.
Those who support the holding of a S.E./E.Asia forum have the following reasons:
a) Holding a Thai Forum will reinforce a narrow, nationalistic point of view, alongside the ideas of single-issuism. These are weaknesses of the Thai movement. We need a wider point of view through discussion with our neigbours.
b) Yet, the proposal by ex-senator Jon, that holding a Thai Forum may lead to solidarity and a healing of rifts between Thai organisations, is a proposal that has merit. It cannot be denied that such rifts are present and are an obstacle to the holding of a WSF.
Secretariate
Secretary office of World Social Forum, Thailand
Giles Ji Ungpakorn
tel (+66) 13469481 (+66) 22187221
email: thaiwsf yahoo.com
http://www.prachatai.com/wsf/
P.O. Box 2049 Chulalongkorn, Bangkok 10332 Thailand