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Friday, October 10, 2008
Don't lose heart
When the legendary newsman Sanpasiri Viriyasiri tried to broadcast what was happening when the police and militia stormed Thammasat University during the October 6, 1976 massacre, he was immediately fired.
Thirty-two years on, we now can watch the state's crackdown right in our living rooms live, and up to the minute.
So, if you are thinking out of frustration that the Oct 7 crackdown shows that our country is still stuck in the same political vicious cycle, and that all the previous efforts to end autocracy have been wasted, don't despair.
An open society is mandatory for democracy. We might be unhappy with many things in our country, but we cannot deny that ours is now a much more open society.
So take heart.
That the Oct 7 crackdown occurred 135 days after the anti-Thaksin protest started also shows that we have come a long way.
Three decades ago, the powers-that-be would not have wasted any time. We would certainly have seen more people killed and a lot of buildings and buses burned by a "third hand" to create a sense of anarchy before the military marched in.
The Sept 19, 2006 coup has taught us not to trust the military's vow of staying out of politics. Yet, the military's current extreme caution to appear politically correct is an important change that we cannot ignore.
The rumour mills no longer can spill their poisons to instigate violence as seriously as before, thanks to the more open media environment. The media's reports on the violence from both sides also help us to see the conflict in perspective and to form our own judgement amid the political divisiveness.
For example, we can dismiss as mere lies the insistence of the police that they had used only tear gas to disperse the crowd, because we have seen what happened to the protesters on our TV screens.
The scene when police hit the peaceful crowd in front of the Metropolitan Police Bureau with a barrage of tear gas, also came across clearly as excessive use of force, which must be condemned.
Meanwhile, how can we agree with some protesters' use of guns and sharp items as weapons?
How can we condone the sabre-rattling rhetoric of the protest leaders, who keep urging their followers to end Thaksin's - and his cronies' - rule at all costs?
We should be thankful for this ambivalence because it allows the silent majority's cry for non-violence to grow louder.
You may wonder why I am talking about positive changes when our country seems to be on the brink of anarchy.
It is because staying positive and being firm in our belief in non-violent change is the only way to prevent ourselves from being engulfed by the seemingly hopeless political situation.
Remaining positive is also what we should do when faced with a problem, if we want to call ours a Buddhist country.
Buddhism teaches us that change and inter-connectedness is the universal law that prevails for all. So if we want to initiate change, we must put the required factors in place.
If we want our democracy to go beyond the ballot-box ritual, we must understand that we cannot do away with money politics if the patron-client system which thrives on structural inequality remains intact.
Political decentralisation, land reform, progressive taxation, comprehensive state welfare. These are some of the measures necessary to bridge inequality as well as the rural-urban gap.
Another mandatory factor is the rule of law. Again, short of police reform, we cannot end police corruption and abuse of power.
If we see the authoritarian culture as our biggest stumbling block to democracy, the place to begin is our heart. Democracy cannot exist where there is no basic respect for human rights and dignity.
There are so many things to do to make our soil fertile for democracy to grow. We cannot bury ourselves in hopelessness. We must think of our children. We must not lose heart.
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date : 14/10/2008 time : 01:46
date : 14/10/2008 time : 03:56
date : 17/10/2008 time : 17:09
It's also hard to find media who works according to the code of conduct. Most of the reports are always in favour with whoever the particular media takes side (because they are corrupted!)
date : 30/10/2008 time : 05:02
date : 31/10/2008 time : 13:24In late February I was involved in a motorbike/car accident. I was on the motorbike and suffered a broken shoulder. While sitting on the sidewalk waiting for the police to arrive, I'm thinking to myself that I'm the farang, my Thai language skills are not that good...I'm in trouble.
To my surprise they had an English speaking officer show up with others, and after talking to me, and the driver of the car, they determined the driver of the car was at fault, and that the driver would have to pay for the repairs to my motorbike and my hospital bill as well. To say the least, I was shocked.
Something else I've noticed is that it's a well known fact that the police set up "checkpoints" 2-3 times a week in various places and stop everyone not wearing a helmet. I've been told the person can pay a "fine" then and there, and the "fine" can depend on how much money the person happens to have on them. 90% of the time I won't ride without a helmet, but on 2 occasions I did. Both times I had to approach the "check points" where a dozen or more other riders were pulled over, but I was simply waved through with a smile. According to my wife, they do that because they (police) can't speak English, and assume I can't speak Thai, which, i have to admit, I find humorous.
My wife's cousin is married to a police officer, and I have found him to be polite, respectful, and with a sincere dedication to the law and what is right. So, please, don't paint all the police with the same brush, because some of them, and perhaps the majority of them, are not corrupt, and are to be respected.
date : 05/11/2008 time : 08:13Plus thank you Thai banking system for ruining your country paying stupid games with the UK pound. I am now cashing my Thai earnings into UK pounds and spending it there as I will never release money back to here at such a low rate! If I am doing that do they think tourists will come here to spend ? NO and do they think businesses will spend money here? Not a chance. Keep it up and you will have no buyers anywhere!
date : 23/12/2008 time : 23:12
date : 24/12/2008 time : 05:52
date : 26/12/2008 time : 00:42How do we fix this problem, first we have to decentralize the police force. Eliminate National police chief, and replace it with regional police chiefs (four of them). Provincial police chiefs (75 of them) report to regional chief. Eventually, eliminate regional police chiefs and have provincial police chief report directly to provincial governor. How is that for an idea from an old man?
date : 30/12/2008 time : 23:37spoken by a man who knew about democracy
and what it would mean to submit to dictarorship:
Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery!
Our chains are forged!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775
date : 04/01/2009 time : 03:10
date : 07/01/2009 time : 11:35"Don't Lose Heart" is a great headline for more establishment spin, Thai style.
Sanitsuda, with respect, more and more Thais can see through your cover, a cover that is day by day dividing our country. I respect your story, but can't help thinking you are representing the powerful "Bangkok Elite" from 20 years ago while the people are loosing faith in the centralised Bangkok government. What you forget is that more than half of Thailand's population live outside of Bangkok and are totally disgruntled with Thai politics hence the growing numbers of "Red shirted people." The question is will the government be as tolerant with the reds if they protest in great numbers? I doubt it.
date : 11/01/2009 time : 03:22For Dean's comment #8: That is far and few in between good cop bad cop. You are just lucky. I call them all pig including my friend who is a cop in Bangkok.
date : 12/01/2009 time : 09:32
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- Name: Sanitsuda
- Email: sanitsudae@bangkokpost.co.th
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- Entry: 107
Police in Thailand are burglar who even ask for about 20 bahts or a small lipo bottle.
It is easy to spot whether someone is Thai police or not. Their faces are not like ordinary people. They are ugly and like they feed everyone in Thailand.