1. The biggest obstacle. Modern society is complex, has many facets and is changing rapidly, but the majority of Thai people have a problem seeing and understand things as they now are. This inability to realise the dimensions of a problem explains why the country is suffering from social illness these days. The prime minister is one among only a few Thais who understand the complexity of the system.

2. The fourth crisis of the Rattanakosin Era. The first crisis was the Burmese invasion during the reign of King Rama I. The second was the hunt for colonies by Western powers. The third was internal wars which erupted from differences in political ideologies.

The fourth crisis is what we are facing today: a combination of social, economic, environmental and cultural disasters.

This crisis is more difficult to tackle than the three others because it is more complicated and because we don't know who the enemies are. But we will never know if we are our own enemies and that can eventually lead to self-destruction.

3. The country's power in weathering the crisis. Problems that make us weak include:

a) A lack of the desire to know. Thai people do not have a culture of reading and that is why we lack the power of wisdom.

b) Power building for personal gain.

c) A small conscience. Thailand has just changed from a small to big society, so people still cannot think more of the public interest than themselves and their cronies.

d) A conservative stand. People think and act the same in new situations.

e) Foreign influence. The superpowers use weapons and money to manipulate other countries and also control global communications to dictate thoughts, perception and understanding of others.

4. Suggestions. It is easy for the government to amend and create laws because it commands the House majority. The Prime Minister himself has vision and determination to pull the country out of the crisis. The question is: How can we overcome those problems? My suggestions include:

4.1 Have the right attitude. The Prime Minister said he has followed Buddhadasa Bhikkhu's teachings about purity, wisdom, loving kindness and tolerance. That was the right thing to do. He and his team must not match insult with insult. Politicians who like to make damaging spats would only suffer erosion of public faith. Politicians should have vaji sujarit-speak only the truth, speak only things that are useful to listeners and speak with compassion.

4.2 Use strategies of wisdom.

a) Let the intellectuals do the talking. In ancient times, the ruler had "the scholar of the land" as adviser. The Prime Minister should search for a person who "knows all" and who has indepth knowledge to communicate with society and to fight using wisdom against foreign media which do not use vaji sujarit in their reporting.

b) Help the media develop fully. A "complete" media system helps spread the right messages essential in revitalising the country.

c) Promote reading. There must be mechanisms that encourage Thai people to read more so they can understand difficult matters and think of solutions.

d) Search for management innovations. Workshops are good. However, state officials and even politicians still cannot figure out how resolutions can be materialised. Because management makes the impossible possible, it is necessary that the government invent new techniques that will improve efficiency of the bureaucratic system.

4.3 Establish the Forces of the Land Fund. Social, cultural, moral, organisational and intellectual powers, when combined, give this land the forces it needs to tackle any problem. The Forces of the Land Fund, with an annual operating budget of 2-3 billion baht should be set up and installed with mechanisms that give the government and the people the strength and power to drive any project to success.

4.4 The "flight from the basket" strategy: a cure for economic ills. Phra Dhamma Pitaka once said: "Thais are like chickens in a basket about to be slaughtered, yet still battle with one another." Thais should stop quarreling and jointly find ways out of the crisis. The government should lead campaigns to push for consumption of Thai products and produce as many necessary items as possible for our own use. The set target is to reduced imports by 300-500 billion baht a year and use that money to stimulate local manufacturing, marketing, consumption, employment and research and education.

4.5 Foreign relations. Although a small country, Thailand needs to set a right stance in the global stage. This country must not be dependent, subservient or childish, or we will become a football which is kicked around the global pitch. Thailand must establish relations with other countries with pride, wisdom and maturity.

The Prime Minister is right in saying that Thailand will rely on itself. His idea about the Asian way is also right. The foreign media attacked him because they know he is right but just do not want anyone to stray out of the course they have already charted. Some suggestions on foreign relations:

a) Use diplomatic means with wisdom. Thailand needs to show other countries that it is "mature". It is not a follower. It has wisdom. Thailand understands that globalisation is inevitable but it must be civilised globalisation, and that competition is good if it is meant to increase the strength of mankind.

b) The Asian bloc: The world should have many blocs to make competition for strength possible. An Asian bloc formed by China, India, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and others can be strong and have high bargaining power.

Thailand's good relations with China, India and Japan, its open culture and its respected Monarchy give this country a strong role as co-ordinator for the formation of the Asian bloc.

c) The role in creating world peace. Thailand possesses many strong points. It does not have religious conflicts. It has never been colonised by Western powers. It is good at ending internal fighting caused by conflicts over political ideologies. Theses special qualities of the Thai people should be promoted for the benefit of world peace. The government may set up the Thailand International Peace Foundation to lead a movement to bring peace to the world.

d) Establish connections with constructive societies. Thais should be encouraged not to look at the "ugly" side of a country only. Every country has its own "beauty"-people who care for others and believe in equality. Relations with these constructive societies will help Thai society develop its own spirit.

5. May Thailand prosper. I do not side with either Mr Thaksin or Mr Chuan (Leekpai, the previous PM). I love all Thai people and am with them. I urge Thais to "fly out of the basket" so we can solve the crisis. We need unity and solidarity. We should transform our diversity into forces that will lead Thailand out of the crisis and into peace, happiness and honour.

Prawase Wasi