กระบวนการผลักดันร่างพระราชบัญญัติเชียงใหม่ มหานครของกลุ่มเครือข่ายบ้านชุ่มเมืองเย็น

Abstract

The study “The Process of Advocating Chiang Mai Metropolitan Bill of the Peaceful Homeland Network” aimed to 1) investigate and explain the origin, objectives, and concepts of the process of advocating Chiang Mai Metropolitan Bill of the Peaceful Homeland network, 2) explain and analyze the process of advocating Chiang Mai Metropolitan Bill of the Peaceful Homeland network, and 3) study and analyze the problems and obstacles of the process of advocating Chiang Mai Metropolitan Bill of the Peaceful Homeland network. In this qualitative research, the documentary research and in-depth interview methods were employed. There were three groups of participants: Peaceful Homeland network members, provincial and local officials, and local political leaders. The samples were chosen by convenience sampling and purposive sampling methods. Moreover, the data was analyzed by descriptive analysis and verified by triangulation analysis. The findings indicated that the Peaceful Homeland network was originated from local and national political conflicts caused by the centralized administration structure. Therefore, the Peaceful Homeland network was created to push forward the cooperation via the network, to propose the decentralized administration, and to advocate Chiang Mai Metropolitan Bill. The main points of the proposed Chiang Mai Metropolitan Bill included 1) the repeal of provincial administration and the proposal to have an election of a governor, 2) the change of a tax collection ratio between Chiang Mai Province and the Central to 70:30, and 3) the establishment of a citizen council to monitor the performances of the organizations in Chiang Mai. Moreover, the methods of advocating Chiang Mai Metropolitan Bill of the Peaceful Homeland network were symbolic expressions, and providing education and using law enforcement. In terms of problems and obstacles, it was found that the political obstacles were caused by the centralization of the political elites which affected the process of advocating Chiang Mai Metropolitan Bill. In addition, the provincial and local officials did not understand the methods and objectives of Peaceful Homeland network, and the people did not support or pay attention because they did not understand the Chiang Mai Metropolitan Bill details. Furthermore, it was found that the Peaceful Homeland network was unofficially created, there were few members, and they did not have funding. These affected the continuity of the activities and the creating of power and support from Chiang Mai people. Finally, it could be suggested that Peaceful Homeland network should rely on the participation of the people to create political supports and to change the concept of centralized administration. Also there should be a decentralization campaign in which people have more concrete roles in local administration to decrease the roles of political elites. The group should continually educate the people about the group’s objectives. Finally, the group should implement social movements focusing on academic roles, building recognition by open hearing, and participation of the people and provincial and local official in advocating Chiang Mai Metropolitan Bill.