Bangkok Post : Korbsak: 'Lucky we didn't have a coup'

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Korbsak: 'Lucky we didn't have a coup'

Published: 3/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business

Thailand was very lucky to have avoided a coup after the Songkran riots but political uncertainties will not go away under the current coalition government, Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu says.

Addressing the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT), Mr Korbsak said politics had calmed but "difficult and challenging" conditions remained partly due to continuing agitation by red-shirted anti-government protesters.

"We were able to restore peace after the Songkran incidents without a coup. [But] don't expect anything better than that," he said.

Yellow-shirted protesters under the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who helped oust exiled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have established a new party to enter parliamentary politics.

Meanwhile, reports of two committees set up to investigate the Songkran riots and find solutions for political reform are due at the end of the month.

Mr Korbsak said the economic challenges included surging oil prices, low liquidity and a continuing fall in exports.

"The [Bank of Thailand] has cut rates four times from 3.45% to 1.25%. I wish they would do more," he said.

Steve Buckley, director of Trade and Investment at the British Embassy in Bangkok, recommended that the Thai government put more effort into promoting the agricultural sector, which he sees as the country's key strength.

Last year marked the first time that bilateral trade between Thailand and Britain reached 3 billion, helped by Thai cooked chicken exports, he said.

He also said Thailand should maintain its competitiveness by looking at how other countries in the region attract foreign investors. "During ... a global economic slump, you need to offer more than others," he said.

In another development, the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand repeated its call for local customs procedures to meet international standards. President David Carden said complicated and unfriendly customs procedures were a key obstacle for foreign investment.

Relate Search: Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu, British Chamber of Commerce Thailand, People's Alliance for Democracy

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Writer: NAREERAT WIRIYAPONG and CHATRUDEE THEPARAT

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peter

Discussion 8 : 06/07/2009 at 05:12 PM8
let's anti coup. Those coup leader must be sent for justice
Neutral

Discussion 7 : 03/07/2009 at 12:01 PM7
A real embrassment for Korbsak to use the military like the bogie man. Why is it lucky that we avoid another coup. The military should not and never be involved in politics; period. Why must be always have to look behind our backs when things go wrong that the military will intervene. Let democracy run its own course without military interference.
Bubba

Discussion 6 : 03/07/2009 at 11:46 AM6
Suggesting the country should feel itself lucky to have avoided yet another coup is pure propaganda since, as discussion #1 suggests the government came into power via the military, and is in fact a military backed and controlled government.

So why would there have been a coup?

The military is far too powerful in Thailand for democracy ever to work. Every time it looks like those who will be or have been elected might not tow the line, the military can either step in or, threaten to step in if any government does not play ball according to the rules written by the military and its powerful backers.

I am not at all trying to suggest the military are evil, on the contrary, they believe they are doing what is right and what is best for the country.

But the whole point of democracy, or at least one of its essential points is NOT to allow a minority to control power but, at least to have a majority decided who does and, if that political ground does badly to be able to vote them put again after a few years.

But NOT throw governments out via military force.

The power situation in Thailand though is such that people can only speak about it by tip-toeing around the facts. And most people are either blind to how the power groups work (or who they are) and believe the military to be a group detached from any other group or individuals in Thai society.

Of curse that is not the case. The military would never risk armed interventions in politics if it were not absolutely certain to be able to get away with it without being chastised or condemned for their anti-democratic stances.

This problem with military power is impossible to solve in Thailand because everything remains on the surface only and digging deeper to find the root causes and analyzing the facts is disallowed and dangerous.

Power is firmly in the hands of a few who control the military, who control the machinery that runs government, who control the media, who control the people.

Less freedom is the only probable way of dealing with a people that has recently started becoming a bit more informed about the world and what is possible. The old ways will refuse to go away, and the people need to be silenced.

Democracy on a one-man-one-vote basis is the last thing those in power want and, using the military (or allowing it a free hand) is the easiest way to assure things will not lead to true democracy.

I hope I am wrong and that somehow, freedom and democracy will win but, that seems like a slim chance in a country that is unable to let go of its feudal roots.
RicefieldRadio

Discussion 5 : 03/07/2009 at 10:58 AM5
Sunthorn - it is your choice to vote as your heart says. It was also the choice of the majority of the electorate to vote for the TRT and PPP. If you think that an unlawful overthrow of the elected government and the scrapping of the constitution numerous times is the way forward for Thailand, we have to thank the Buddha you are in the minority.
boon

Discussion 4 : 03/07/2009 at 08:20 AM4
It is not the foundation of the Constitution. In Thailand it can be thrown to the waste paper basket anytime. Not even worth to use as toilet paper - this is not just my words, but also of many Countries.
Sunthorn

Discussion 3 : 03/07/2009 at 07:58 AM3
This is in response to Discussion1: Here we go again! You blame the constitution, how many constitution have we gone through? The problem has something to do with the foundation of the constitution itself. To fix the problem, you need to fix the foundation first. We are getting to that point. I think the B.E. 2550 constitution is better than the 2540 one. I voted for it and have no regret.
R E Blackman

Discussion 2 : 03/07/2009 at 07:34 AM2
When is a riot not a riot ?
when it's nice nice people in nice nice yellow shirts screwing the country on behalf of the army

It's a riot when nasty Isan in nasty red shirts protest for the right to be represented in government and the army jumps to attention to suppress them with gunfire
RicefieldRadio

Discussion 1 : 03/07/2009 at 05:51 AM1
We did have a coup, a silent one when the military brokered the coalition. With the Democrats firmly in the Army's pocket why would their be coup?

If the Democrats really thought about their name they would roll back the Constitution to the 97 one, arrest and try all the military officers that overthrew the elected government and call an election. Fat chance of that, the 97 constitution favors the election of their rivals, the military would turf them out and put someone else in, and they can't win a majority in an election.