Bangkok: The Democrat Party has announced the revival of its "Blue House" initiative, a center designed to receive complaints, provide legal advice, and report corruption and public grievances. The initiative aims to leverage technology and maintain the anonymity of informants, encouraging government officials to provide information about corrupt agencies.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, along with Mr. Korn Chatikavanij and Ms. Kardee Leowpairoj, both deputy leaders, held a press conference to launch the Blue House Project. This project will serve as a center for receiving complaints, addressing legal issues, and gathering tips on corruption from the public. The initiative is designed to follow up, resolve, and develop policy proposals for the party.
Mr. Abhisit stated that the Blue House project is an evolution of the party's previous complaint center. He emphasized the importance of political parties in addressing the problems of the people, whether they are victims of rights violations or experiencing inconvenience caused by government services. A significant development of the project is the integration of technology, which coincides with the Democrat Party's 80th anniversary, demonstrating their readiness to embrace the future.
The project will link with other ongoing party initiatives, such as the volunteer lawyer project launched recently. This will establish lawyer centers in the Andaman coastal provinces, with plans to expand to more regions. The aim is for the party's lawyers to assist the public in resolving legal issues. If citizens are not in Bangkok, the party will connect them with the volunteer lawyer project in expanding areas. Other platforms being developed include "Songrat," to monitor government budget spending, and "Jangda," which allows citizens to provide information on prices of goods and services.
The Blue House project marks a new chapter for the Democrat Party in its 81st year, introducing tools and services that enhance their effectiveness as a political party. Mr. Jirawat Changwat, Deputy Spokesperson of the Democrat Party, was introduced as the Director of the Center, with Mr. Rapeepatt Sumethochotimetha and Ms. Sirikwan Nilkarn serving as Deputy Directors.
Mr. Jirawat stated that while the Blue House initiative existed before, it is now more digitally focused, distributing services to each area. The project aims to transform public grievances into policies that reflect the true needs of the people. The primary issues addressed include legal difficulties, corruption, and public hardships.
The initiative will tackle three main areas: legal issues, corruption, and public hardships. Legal advice and guidance will be provided, while corruption cases, including irregular procurement and abuse of power, will be investigated. Other issues like public utilities, security, and education will also be addressed.
An example of a past case involved a savings cooperative dispute following a civil servant's death, which led to a lawsuit against the heirs. The project will offer contact channels including a hotline and online reporting, ensuring anonymity for government officials reporting corruption, preventing intimidation and harassment. Names will only be revealed when cases reach the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Anti-Corruption Court.