Without a settlement, no peace after elections

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

Without a settlement, no peace after elections

Published: 20/04/2011 at 04:54 AM
Newspaper section: News

Very soon the people of our country will be going to the polls bitterly divided. I think it is safe to predict that unless some form of compromise settlement is reached between the present ruling establishment and the Puea Thai Party either before, during, or soon after the elections, we can expect very strong political turbulence and street violence in the coming months - no matter who wins the elections.

Several thousand red shirt demonstrators gathered at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok on March 12 this year for a raucous but peaceful rally, where leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship lambasted the government.

The whole problem revolves around the issue of ''fairness''. It is very clear that both the constitution and ''the system'' are stacked against Puea Thai's chances of winning the election and Thaksin Shinawatra's opportunity to make a comeback. Even in the unlikely event of Puea Thai winning the election and being able to form a government, I'm pretty sure that either judicial or extra-judicial means would soon be exerted to remove that government.

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About the author

: Writer: Jon Ungphakorn; Position: A human rights and social activist, winner of the

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ricefield
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Discussion 42 : 20/04/2011 at 10:56 PM42
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Disc 40 & 41 - I agree with you both. You don't have to be educated to be bright and you aren't always bright even though you are well educated. There are three basics for survival - food, water and shelter. If I needed all three I'd rasther be sitting with an uneducated man than someone with an economics PHD. You can be the lowest man on the ladder and still know if you can feed your family more today than yestertday, or not. People vote for what they percieve is a benefit to them - the rich, the poor and the betweens. It's always been that way.
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abbub
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Discussion 41 : 20/04/2011 at 09:15 PM41
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I really get tired about hearing how the uneducated cannot really vote and therefore democracy cannot function in Thailand.

First of all, remember after the military coup of 2006 the budgets for health care and education were pilfered so the military could double its own budget.

The poor are forced to work at early ages in order to the family survive and now matter how "free" education is, that is worthless if you, as a child have to spend your days tilling the fields or in sweatshops.

And the idea that democracy os only for the educated is an old, aristocratic idea from the 1900's, also out of fear the poor would have to ch to say.

If the poor vote out of need, and the rich out of greed, which of the two is more acceptable?
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rpt777
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Discussion 40 : 20/04/2011 at 09:04 PM40
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Smiles: you stated "There are still too many political illiterate people who believe the rhetoric and false promises"
That reflects the situation exactly in the West as well....look at the UK, USA, Europe...they are all just like that.
You can use the term "politically illiterate" to define anyone who does not agree with you.
And you can define vote buying in many forms...direct or indirect.
The problem is not who is elected, but the transparency and adherence to law that takes place after, and that is where Thailand has very serious problems on all sides of the political spectrum Thailand has the third hand (or Hands) to contend with as well which really exasperates the situation and makes transparency difficult.
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mitrapaap
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Discussion 39 : 20/04/2011 at 07:55 PM39
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Jon's article is interesting and sounds good - if applied to a mature society. The article itself is also contradicting: it says that obstacles to democracy need to be removed including restrictions to freedom of expression while in the next paragraph it is asking for some form of legal control to prevent incitement to violence and hatred in public speeches and all forms of media. So where does freedom (of speech) have to end for democracy to start and/or survive?
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hawaiiman
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Discussion 38 : 20/04/2011 at 04:13 PM38
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Regardless of what cosmetic changes (including a new constitution), democracy will never function in Thailand or anywhere else without the following conditions: 1.an informed electorate founded on freedom of the press and expression, 2. an end to the willingness of the electorate to sell their vote, ever, 3. acceptance of whatever the outcome of each election by all parties.
Democracy is a participatory process. Respect for that process as well as participation in it are required for it to function. It isn't a wish fulfilling gem the value of which is judged by whether everyone gets what they want from it.
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tomo
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Discussion 37 : 20/04/2011 at 03:58 PM37
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Im saddened to see this paper with so much hatred towards one good man,namely Taxsin , i look forward to going back to my peaceful island where we dont have this sick commotion everyday,no wonder Thai people are now so serious.Jon you put together a great assement of Thailand and the present regime in charge and backed very strongly by the army and other hidden powers,therefore i strongly believe there cannot and will not have peace in this country.This country and take note has already got a very bad name amongst the international community,and it looks like its about to get worse.Its a very bleak outlook but its fact.I work for a very big travel agent who doesnt go out its way to promote Thailand as a holiday destination at the moment because it has a terrible record for many reasons and also its massive drug problems,terrible gun crimes and unbelieveable corruption,frankly it scares people,there are many more safe countries to travel too.Thailand better change its ways very quickly because its not far behind burma.
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subcoman
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Discussion 36 : 20/04/2011 at 03:47 PM36
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No Dao. The all mess started because Thaksin was ousted by the military through a coup and not through a judiciary process as it has to be in democracy. If he has been ousted through judiciary process that includes accusation, defences and debates. As he was ousted through an anti democratic process with no tranparency, a majority of people who voted for him on last general election have the feeling that their votes have been stolen.
If the coup didn't happen and Thaksin ousted trough legal process because he was guilty, the situation would never arrived to this point.
Judiciary system with defense and accusation is democracy, military coup has another name.
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anoldman
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Discussion 35 : 20/04/2011 at 03:33 PM35
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I have not been able to identify any political ideolgy of any of Thailand's political parties.
They are just groups who want to be in power, mostly for the money to be made from corruption.

As far as I can see the only thing that separates the Democrats and Puea Thai parties is that the PT and their Red Shirt 'activists' are controlled by Thaksin and their only ideolgy is to have their "Dear Leader' running and robbing Thailand again.

If P.T. would abandon Thaksin they could probably negotiate to from a coalition with the Democrats.
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sundayjam
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Discussion 34 : 20/04/2011 at 02:46 PM34
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Lest we forget history's lessons: Hitler was also elected by popular vote.
Don't kid yourself, the PTP are proxies for Thaksin and his family. Also, the crimes committed by the reds against Thailand are really unforgivable. They burned down the city!!!!
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dao
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Discussion 33 : 20/04/2011 at 02:12 PM33
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No Canadian ricefield field radio . It started with Thaksin not declaring his assets on day one and continued with his telecom concessions and change of government policy for his own benefit until finally when he sold his companies and decided he was above paying any tax .I can play this game all day .
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