Hard ball hovers

COMMENTARY

Published: 12/02/2012 at 03:58 AM
Newspaper section: News

There's democracy and then there's Thai-style democracy. The former involves, at least in theory, human rights, freedom, equality and the rule of law. The latter means we like all that wonderful stuff well enough, but there are more important matters that define who we are.

Here's an example: In a democracy, the government and the military swear an oath to first and foremost uphold and defend the constitution. In Thai-style democracy, priorities are a bit different. The constitution can be rewritten again and again and again (17 times since 1932 and still counting) to serve the political agenda of whoever is in charge at the time.

Democracy is a term often misused and ill-defined. So if an observer wonders at how both the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) could use the term in their names, my answer would be that they just forgot to add ''Thai-style'' in front.

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About the author

: Writer: Voranai Vanijaka; Position: Political and Social Commentator

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dao
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Discussion 49 : 15/02/2012 at 10:34 PM49
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Thaksin broke the law johninbkk .Every other argument after that is irrelevant .
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spiceman
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Discussion 48 : 14/02/2012 at 06:30 AM48
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Khun JohninBKK #46, impeachment (of a President) is associated with a Constitutional Republic like the US, not a Parliamentary Democracy (Mob Rule) like Thailand. A PM can only be removed from office through a majority vote of no confidence. Trying to incorporate impeachment into a Democracy is an awkward idea at best. So, it's either the Rules of Law (impeachment) or Mob Rule (vote of no confidence) but not both.
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howell
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Discussion 47 : 14/02/2012 at 06:30 AM47
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@johninbkk. In case you had not noticed Thailand is a not a western, mature democracy. Thaksin has bought and brainwashed a sizable slice of the voters who would vote for him no matter what he did or promised, no matter how big the lie.

It seems they like the idea of having a 'big boss', it fits well into their near feudal, hierarchical mentality.

Having got rid of would be dictator 'big boss' Thaksin the military handed power back to the electorate. Had they been dictators they would not have.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 46 : 14/02/2012 at 12:37 AM46
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howell D38 - "They protected the country from would be dictator Thaksin."
In a democracy, impeachment and national elections are the processes of removing a leader from his/her position. In a dictatorship, a coup is the process of installing your own unelected government. Followers of dictators are brainwashed into thinking coups and unelected governments are processes of good governance, discounting impeachments and elections as highly flawed.
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Victor
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Discussion 45 : 13/02/2012 at 03:42 PM45
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And if they really want to do it may I suggest that they do it on the first day of April?
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spiceman
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Discussion 44 : 13/02/2012 at 10:53 AM44
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Khun Tommylee #40, the US is all about the "individual," and not about "class," OK? I first came to the US from Thailand 25 years ago, knowing very little English, but was full hope & dream. A few years later, after 2 college degrees, I was able to turn those hope and dream into reality. And contrary to what you said, many bankers got wiped out too. One of them is my (American) aviation buddy. The US is by no means a perfect country, but if you is willing to work hard, and play by the rule, this "Land of Opportunity" is the PLACE to be.
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Victor
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Discussion 43 : 13/02/2012 at 10:02 AM43
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This is no laughing matter, but I can't stop laughing.....
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nns
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Discussion 42 : 13/02/2012 at 07:11 AM42
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@tommylee #40, as badly as you paint the picture of the U.S. for its general populace, it is listed as the most admired and most desirable country to immigrate to in the international poll, many years running. You can look that up yourself.
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Aussie John
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Discussion 41 : 13/02/2012 at 04:19 AM41
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Thai style democracy = a hybrid form of Thai feudalism with an archaic patron/client system fueled by rampant ultra nationalist and xenophobic attitudes that keeps the whole bizarre Thai style democracy continuing the way it does. It benefits those who continue to promote it this way as they certainly know there are alternatives but that would mean having to share what is not rightly theirs.
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tommylee
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Discussion 40 : 13/02/2012 at 12:34 AM40
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Khun Spiceman: the US is “a land of opportunity” for the banksters, nothing less, nothing more. The American populace (working class, middle class) is … (guess which four letter word might apply).
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