EDITORIAL
The expected confrontation this afternoon between anti-government protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy and the police has left many people in dismay. Concern over possible violence has sent the stock market nosediving these past few days. The PAD and the government are lodged so firmly and far apart in their conflict that a compromise seems unlikely.
The PAD announced on Tuesday that it is going for a make-or-break strategy by moving its protest to Government House to bring down Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet. The prime minister has responded by ordering more police reinforcements at the government headquarters. The policemen have been specifically told not to let demonstrators march past security barricades set up around Government House. Chances are growing stronger that violence could erupt when the PAD-led demonstrators try to push through the police cordon at Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge at 1pm today in their bid to lay siege to Government House.
As has been apparent these past 27 days, both the government and PAD are taking their conflict to a dead-end. Neither side holds common ground which can be negotiated. The PAD's street protest has succeeded in bringing the Government's attempt to amend the Constitution to a temporary halt. The alliance has since then elevated its campaign to push for the resignation of the People Power party-led coalition. The prime minister has retaliated by threatening to use force to end the protest while accusing leaders of the demonstration of being undemocratic and having a vested interest in attempting to overthrow his administration. Adding fuel to the fire, Interior Minister Chalerm Yubamrung claimed on Tuesday that protesters were stocking up on arms and preparing to stir up unrest.
All calls for a peaceful solution to the conflict through negotiations have fallen on deaf ears. As both sides appear set for a showdown, one last question appears necessary: Do they really want to lead the country towards bloodshed?
While government and PAD leaders have assured the public that no force will be used today, one can only picture a single possible scenario when the mass of determined demonstrators tries to push through the police lines around Government House. The ensuing results could be nasty, indeed.
It is still not too late for the PAD and the government to review their positions to save the country from unnecessary damage. While room for compromise appears to have evaporated, both sides can still avert this crisis if they take the public interest to heart. Both the government and PAD have claimed they are acting in the public interest. If so, now is the time to show they are honouring this pledge. The only way to do this is for both of them to step back and allow the judicial process to take its course unimpeded.
Steps are already being taken in Parliament by lawmakers to study the controversial, post-coup charter for broad-based input geared towards possible amendment. The Assets Scrutiny Committee has also concluded its corruption probe of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his administration.
Prime Minister Samak will need to stop directly and indirectly interfering with the judicial process while the judiciary works to establish the truth. Also, the PAD must call off its street protest while these parliamentary and judiciary processes are under way.
For now, let us hope common sense prevails. Resorting to violence cannot be the way out of this impasse.
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