The country's economy under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is good only for big companies while causing difficulties for small and medium-sized businesses and the people, a Pheu Thai economic team told a seminar on the NCPO's track record Sunday.
Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala, who served as a finance minister in the Yingluck Shinawatra government, said the government's projects such as the Eastern Economic Corridor development push give advantages to big companies.
"The framework of joining the hands of capitalists, soldiers and elites and setting down a national strategy for the next 20 years might help the NCPO prolong power. This will affect the people," he said.
"If the NCPO stays on this path, Thailand will never get out of its old trap of 'Thailand 0.4', but if it does it right, the people will support it by themselves without the military having to set up political party," he said, speaking sarcastically of the government's Thailand 4.0 policy, which stresses the march to technology.
Former Pheu Thai energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan said the country lacked new investments as investors lacked confidence in the government.
Adul Khieuboribun, chairman of the 1992 May Heroes Relatives Committee, said high interest rates of 4.5-5.5% are holding back small and medium-sized enterprises.
He was carrying messages from the former chief of Thailand trade representative, Kiat Sittheeamorn, a Democrat.
Meanwhile, Mr Kiat also wanted the government to revise its policy of moving on street vendors in Bangkok which had affected over 500,000 households by harming their livelihoods.
Mr Kiat also suggested the government provide markets for farmers or at least find a way to set them up.
This measure would work better than giving welfare cards to the poor, Mr Adul said.
Mr Adul also said many people had asked him to propose that rich people and those who run monopoly businesses in Thailand should contribute more to helping the poor and people in trouble, such as funding loans at low interest or no interest.
The seminar was held at the Thai Journalists Association headquarters.
Police and military officers attended but did not attempt to thwart debate.
