Present policy of the
Communist Party of Thailand
A BRIEF HISTORY THE COMMUNIST Party of Thailand (CT) is a revolutionary working-class party adhering to a Marxist-Leninist ideology. Since it was founded in 1942, the CPT has been fighting for the interests of the Thai people and for the international revolution. Its activities have mainly been illegal.
At present, the CPT has members and activists conducting mass work all over the country, both in the cities and in the countryside. The People's Liberation Army of Thailand (PLAT), established in 1969, is fighting with the reactionary forces of the state, protecting the interests of the people in some 40 of Thailand's 73 provinces.
The immediate goal of the CPT is to establish a democratic government of the people and gradually proceed to socialism and eventually communism as the final goal. PRESENT POLICY All patriotic and democratic people/ forces should strive for unity in their struggle for a truly independent, democratic and just Thailand. The CPT welcomes cooperation with political parties and groups, and people of various walks of life on the basis of independence, equality and mutual respect, to fight the enemy and solve the problems of the people and the country. POLITICAL POLICY 1. To cooperate with people of all classes, every national group, with political parties/groups and organizations, as well as patriotic and democratic individuals who desire justice, in order to overthrow the reactionary government, eradicate American imperialist influence which dominates Thailand; and to found a democratic government of the people, consisting of representatives of various patriotic and democratic forces, thus creating a New Thailand, truly independent, democratic and prosperous.
2. To abrogate laws, proclamations, announcements, enforcements, etc. which limit freedom and infringe on the rights of the people; to free patriots, democrats or innocent people who have been imprisoned; to guarantee - for the benefit of the guarantee - for the benefit of the 18 people - the right to speak, write and publish, to assemble, demonstrate and strike, to found political parties, trade unions, professional associations and ther mass organizations.
3. To draw up a democratic constitution, in cooperation with representatives of patriotic and democratic forces; to hold early elections to set up a government in a democratic manner.
The members of the assembly of people's representatives must be elected. Those having reached the age of 18 will have the right to elect and be elected.
4. To reform the administration, eradicating corruption, oppression and harassment of the people, to create an efficient administrative apparatus, truly serving the people.
5. Civil servants and state officials, policemen, military personnel of the reactionary government who support, or at least do not oppose, the patriotic, democratic and just struggle of the people, will be honoured by the democratic government and allowed to carry on their duties as appropriate. ECONOMIC POLICY 6. To do away with the monopoly of comprador bureaucrat capitalism and imperialism; to reform and develop state industry; to oversee industry, trade, agriculture, communications, transport, etc. of the national capitalists; to help the small producers and retailers, who contribute to the people and the national economy.
To protect and employ natural resources in a suitable manner.
7. To put an end to the feudal style of exploitation, and eradicate local mafias; to give land ownership to the farmers; to solve the problem of land-swindling and unjust landgrabbing; to solve the market problems and establish a definite plan of agricultural production; to guarantee prices which are just both to the farmers and consumers; to establish a system of credit; to increase irrigation, promote agricultural cooperatives and develop agricultural production; to raise the living standard of the farmers.
8. To adjust the low wages of the workers and employees, as well as the salaries of low-grade civil servants to a level appropriate to the cost of living. Work of the same kind, having the same output, should receive the same wage without distinction of sex, age and race; forced slave-like labour must be forbidden; there must be protection of child and female labour; to protect the rights of Thai workers abroad; to promote the development of labour skills and raise the educational level of the workers.
9. Science and technology must be developed to promote the national economy and to raise the living standards of the people. FOREIGN POLICY 10. To implement an independent foreign policy, and abrogate unjust treaties and agreements which imperialism has made with Thailand; to establish and promote friendly relations with various countries on a basis of mutual benefit, equality, respecting the sovereignty and inviolability of territory; to protect the just rights and interests of foreigners in Thailand.
11. To oppose imperialism, especially American imperialism; to oppose colonialism, both old and new; to oppose oppression, threats, control and interference by foreign countries, including racism and colour prejudice; to support the just struggle of oppressed peoples and nations throughout the world; to join hands with all justice-loving individuals, groups organizations and political parties in other countries. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL POLICY 12. Individuals will have freedom to study and practice religion, as long as this does not affect national security, public order or morality. All religions will have equal status before the law and will be protected against disparagement and contempt.
13. To guarantee elementary education for all youth, especially in the countryside; to promote vocational training appropriate to local conditions and development of the national economy; to support students, intellectuals, scientists and those gifted in various ways, so that they can fully Premier Prem Tinsulanond (DR)
use their abilities in the building of the nation.
14. Women shall have the same economic, political and social rights as men, including equal rights to education and employment. Oppression and prejudice against women will be opposed.
15. In accordance with the development of production, a social security system will be introduced in stages, so as to guarantee the welfare of mother and child as well as the aged; solve the problem of accommodation for slum dwellers and the urban poor, establish programmes to solve the problem of unemployment, guarantee the working safety of labourers; raise the living standards and welfare of workers.
16. To improve public health and hospital care throughout the country, especially in the countryside, in the factories and among the urban poor; to protect them from and to eliminate pollution.
17. To aid aged and disabled soldiers and revolutionaries; to aid the families of those who have sacrificed their lives for the revolution, the families of revolutionary soldiers, as well as the families of those doing revolutionary work.
18. To promote the well-being of the people and an appropriate social order; to solve the problem of crime; to eradicate the oppression and persecution of the people; to put an end to the deception of and trade with women and children, prostitution and drug-trafficking.
19. To cultivate a harmonious national culture; to promote art and culture, as well as a patriotic, democratic and scientific education; to preserve and restore the historic sites, art objects and antiquities of the nation; to accept the suitable aspects of foreign cultures, while eradicating the degenerate aspects of imperialist and feudal culture. NATIONAL MINORITY POLICY 20. The various nationalities in Thailand will be given equal rights, and will be encouraged to respect and support each other. Each nationality has the right to use its own language, script and religion, and to preserve its valuable customs and traditions; to oppose oppression or prejudice I among nationalities. National minorities who are located together have the right to govern themselves, while remaining in the large family of Thailand. To educate personnel in various fields in order to develop the economy, culture, education and public health in the national minority areas.
Communist Party of Thailand IVth Congress, 1982