EDITORIAL
There is no denying the political turmoil has created divisions within Thai society that are very serious. The violence at parliament last Tuesday was unforgivable, displaying a lamentable lack of leadership. But there are worse things than a division of opinion and a nationwide argument about political differences. A call to destroy the accomplishments of the past 35 years is worse. Yet there are influential people who want to throw up their hands, throw away the advances toward democracy and accountable government. The claim that civil peace can be achieved through a combination of military force and a government of well-meaning people is not credible.
Last week, in what surely must be his political swan song, ex-prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh resigned his unusual post as deputy premier to show his "partial responsibility" for the police assault on the protesters at parliament. A day later, in an interview given to this newspaper's security correspondent Wassana Nanuam, Gen Chavalit called for a military coup. He described it as the only way out of the political division which has gripped the country. But that sounds a lot like his reported recommendation last Tuesday morning that the only way the government could make a policy speech was to attack the human blockade of protesters. Of course it is not "the only way".
Gen Chavalit has been accused of talking in riddles, and even his straightforward call for a putsch - his word - left readers gasping, and then puzzled. He called on Army Commander-in-Chief Anupong Paojinda to overthrow the government, and then immediately order that government, the opposition, his old friends in the People's Alliance for Democracy and assorted civil groups and respected citizens to form, yes, a government - every party, as he said.
Gen Chavalit's plan, if that is the correct word, deserves attention because it sums up and finally illustrates what other concerned officials and ordinary citizens have recently concluded. A dozen or more similar plans have been heard on TV, printed on newspaper opinion pages and spoken from platforms. They share the basics of Gen Chavalit's call: benign military force will oust the current government and once again annul the constitution. A coalition of people to be named later will govern the country efficiently while inscribing a completely new system which will cut across all politics, regions and economic needs to bridge the current divide.
Gen Anupong has been more realistic. He retains the primary lesson of the Sept 19, 2006 coup. That ill-fated adventure resulted in international condemnation, an aimless government of non-achievement, and an entirely unsatisfactory constitution. The army chief has vowed there will be no coup for two excellent reasons. He knows there will be more resentment against the army. But he properly believes that the political crisis must be solved by long, hard, political discussion.
The unremarkable administration of Gen Surayud Chulanont proved that respected and well-meaning citizens are not enough to govern well or solve even ordinary problems. Even if the currently warring cabinet, opposition and PAD could agree on a unity government, who can be confident they would compromise on policy? Day to day governance would more likely suffer than thrive.
Thai politics are at a crossroads, but the way out is a new constitution and national debate, discussion and democracy. A coup will cause far more problems than it can solve.
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