Page 8 - สิทธิมนุษยชน : เส้นทางสู่สันติประชาธรรม

Abstract

Human Rights:A Path Towards
Santi Pracha Dhamma*

Human rights are taken as prerequisite and a process of
development towards democracy, justice, and peace - or Santi

Pracha Dhamma, a Thai phrase coined by Dr. Puey Ungphakorn

to whom this paper is dedicated for his lifelong struggle for
freedom. The study focuses particularly on the status and role of
the middle classes, historically and theoretically regarded as the

inspiring forces of liberties, democracy and progress. The rise of

Thai middle classes is brought up for examination, along with
the launching of planned industrial development in early 1960ûs
under military dictatorship patronized by the western powers.

Based upon patronage and authoritarianism, The Thai capitalism

and middle classes fell into an irreversible state of privilege and
dependency. So-called ùeconomic growthû has taken place at the
expense of rural marginalization and impoverishment, and

*The English text in this volume has received editorial assistance

from Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan
(11)