COMMENTARY
THAILAND, UNFIT FOR DEMOCRACY?
- Published: 14/06/2009 at 08:36 AM
- Online news: Opinion
There isn’t a Thai person — or anyone who lives, or has ever lived here for that matter—who doesn’t complain about corrupt politics. Most will say it’s corrupt to the core, in fact. For that matter, ask any politician and he or she will say that corruption is rife, though of course he or she is never involved. Ask every politician and they will all have the same answer. Which should mean that there’s no corrupt politician at all, shouldn’t it? Well [shrug, roll eyes] . . .
If every single Thai person complains about old-style politics and corrupt politicians, why then do we elect every four years—for reasons that you, dear readers, can probably write a dissertation on — the same old faces into office?
Whatever the reasons may be, it has been suggested to me by a few readers of this column that culturally, mentally, spiritually, metaphysically, existentially, financially and all the other -allies, perhaps Thailand just isn’t fit for democracy.
Despite the disgust an ordinary citizenmayfeel towards corrupt politicians, we would ‘‘wai’’ ever-so respectfully and smile ever-so subserviently at the very politicians we know to be corrupt. We just can’t help ourselves but to behave as expected, according to our cultural norms.
A democracy requires its citizenry to be loud (to speak out) and aggressive (to stand up). Does thatmeana culturally cowed and subservient populace just isn’t suitable for democracy? That the Thai culture of smiling, prostating and kowtowing—of not talking back, not questioning and not criticising — the very things we believe to be good and wholesome is, in fact, detrimental to democratic development?
As well, the powers that be have done an exemplary job of keeping us in our place. The few times that we rose up en masse (October 1973 and 1976, and May 1992), they literally walloped our behinds like Barcelona did to Manchester United.
The most recent incidents of the yellow and red shirts are mere puppet theatre, rather than democratic movements. Otherwise, the majority of us are either too ill-educated or too apathetic, or a combination of both — and almost every single one of us are simply too scared.
Weknow well what happen to those whoare loud (speak out) and aggressive (stand up). It’s not only that they have ‘‘inappropriate’’ manners, they are also liable to go missing, like lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit, who is believed to have been killed by security forces — and the case will never be solved. We are, simply put, too scared.
We know well ‘‘the untouchables’’ have never been and won’t likely ever be touched. The attempted assassination of Sondhi Limthongkul is still up in the air. The Tak Bai verdict was only two weeks ago. Even the Santika pub case still hasn’t gone anywhere, while the pub itself has already been demolished, bulldozed flat. As well, there will never be an independent investigation into the attack on a mosque in Narathiwat’s Cho Airong district that left 10 villagers dead and 12 others injured. These are examples of the cases that weknow will either never be solved, or will only be solved with scapegoats. As such, we are, simply put, too scared of the consequences of behaving as a productive member of a democratic society.
Are we culturally too soft for democracy? Have our rulers done a most effective job of scaring us into blindness, deafness and dumbness? Is Thailand just not suitable for democracy?
Here are two examples from the news this week that may demonstrate how Thailand may not be fit for democracy. Only from this week, mind you.
Last Tuesday, the cabinet decreed that more than 46,800 tonnes of dried lamyai (longan) will be destroyed.
They were bought in the years 2003 and 2004 during the Thaksin administration under a crop mortgage scheme at a cost of 4.8 billion baht. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the longan were so rotten that they could not even be turned into fertiliser. The scheme was rife with corruption. The cabinet approved 90 million baht for the purpose of destroying them. What’s 4.8 billion for a mistake plus 90 million for a solution? That’s a lot of money wasted.
Agriculture Minister Thira Wongsamut said he did not know who to blame or hold accountable. In the end, the crop mortgage scheme itself is blamed, not individuals. So I guess we can put the ‘‘scheme’’ on trial and lock it behind bars. Then there won’t be any more crop corruption ever again, right?
They say the truth often lays somewhere in the middle, and perhaps in this case, the various ‘‘middle men’’ involved in the scheme have waltzed off with 4.8 billion then, and other ‘‘middle men’’ will enjoy 90 million baht soon. Along the way, corrupt politicians at the local and national levels and corrupt government officials will enjoy a little ‘‘something’’ extra in their pockets.
Perhaps it might be cheaper to put the longans in containers and dump them off the coast of Sattahip. But then 10 years later, fishermen might start seeing ghosts, and rumours will spread about dead bodies of red shirts from the Songkran riots, so [shrug, roll eyes] . . .
One thing that is for certain: 48 billion? 90 million? The citizens of Thailand don’t know and don’t care. We don’t question and we don’t demand.
So the prime minister huff-ed and puff-ed, while the agricultural minister shrugged. Then the cake was divided.
Is Thailand fit for democracy? Here’s another scenario.
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Perhaps because the old dog already has a paw-full of old tricks? No matter, it seems the Election Commission is intent on proving the proverb wrong.
The Election Commission has a new course on political development. It is offered to politicians, civil servants and even those in the business community. The course started last Friday, and will end in February 2010.
The syllabus focuses on political ethics and morality, as well as good governance, due process of law, public accountability and cultivating a good political culture —along with lessons on the development of political parties, the role of elections and political leadership. The course also includes a field trip to Australia.
Seven months of intensive studying to change Thai politics for the better, courtesy of you, the taxpayer. Dear readers, are you giddy with excitement? In all fairness, the EC and all those involved may very well have the best of intentions. But the citizenry of a democracycan’t just very well go: ‘‘Chaiyo! Our leaders will become shining beaconsof political excellence and democratic integrity in seven months.’’Can we?
In a democracy, it is not merely a right, but also an honour and a duty for citizens to pose questions and express concerns, to forewarn and to criticise. But would it be rude and inappropriate for a Thai to offer such a caution?
Oneaspires to learn English because one doesn’t speak it very well, if at all. Logical, right? So does that mean a 50-something-year-old veteran politician aspiring to learn ethics and morality is aman who has accumulated very little of either, if any at all, in his 50-something years on Earth? What sort of shenanigans is this?
Is this an excuse for influential figures to gather in one place, an opportunity to make great connections and deals — a necessity in any politics — especially for new politicians?
Along the way, they might perhaps pick up new and valuable knowledge from the excellent syllabus, talk and exchange ideas for the betterment of Thailand. Dear readers, you believe that, right?
Is this simply another empty gesture by the powers that be, at the expense of taxpaying citizens, that could very well forge more connections that will lead to more corruption? What do you think? Is it rude and inappropriate to voice these concerns and criticisms? Will anyone else voice similar concerns?
Is Thailand fit for democracy? Certainly there’s more than enough evidence to make the argument that it’s not. But that’s today, and there can always be a better tomorrow. ‘‘Tomorrow never fades away’’, after all. But old dogs one day will; as new pups will one day rise.
About the author
- Writer: Voranai Vanijaka
