No need for new protests

EDITORIAL

Published: 31 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

It is a basic right of Thais to gather, petition their government and speak their mind on politics and most other subjects. Sunday's gathering at the Royal Turf Club was a peaceful demonstration of this core right. The crowd that filled many of the 20,000 seats at the horse-racing track was sometimes raucous, but never threatening. Yet the participants should ask if the country really needs another round of divisive politics _ and decide that the answer is "no".

The publicity-hungry leader of the latest anti-Thaksin Shinawatra, anti-government group is retired Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit. The general has infamously called for a military coup to overthrow the Yingluck Shinawatra government. "I'd love to see a coup," he told this newspaper just a little more than a week ago.

Thailand has no real need of more large-scale political protests for now. But it especially has no need of a military coup _ ever. It was encouraging to hear the army commander put down this mad proposal. Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha noted the government was elected, and then added: "Any government of this country is a legal entity." That is the correct answer, and the only legitimate one.

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loong
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Discussion 10 : 01 Nov 2012 at 01.4510
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I am for free speech peaceful expression gathering! That is the first step to tell the government who is in charge that the majority of people disagree with the current YS+TS's populist policy. There is nothing wrong with that, instead the YS+TS government should be thankful to the retired General and look at themselves at the mirror and find way to correct it. That is democracy working in progress! Get rid of grafts and corruptions soonest the better, 20% is not acceptable as defense minister revealed it last week himself!
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onlyasking
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Discussion 9 : 31 Oct 2012 at 14.459
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D 3 I have not seen any poll supporting your claim about the middle class. I have seen a poll that says YS have the support of 70% of the people to serve out her term. So if I read between the lines you are saying that the 30% not agreeing with YS must overthrow the democratically elected government. Part of the problem in Thailand is that the elite and more educated people look down at the poor and less educated people and your comments reaffirm this view.
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bluebottle
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Discussion 8 : 31 Oct 2012 at 12.378
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If there was nothing to protest about then the public would have no need to protest to vent there dissatisfaction and unease.It is not The Thai way to complain,they are normally of passive nature.Just because some old walrus living in the past has mentioned a coup some people have a knee jerk reaction and go in to hysteria.People need to calm down continue protesting,it is there right,and keep protesting until the bad apples are thrown out of government.I do not believe all in power are tarred with the same brush and that some are genuinely trying to sort things out.
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peterl
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Discussion 7 : 31 Oct 2012 at 11.557
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Surely by openly advocating another coup, retired General Boonlert is treading on extremely thin ice. Have his legal advisers, if he has any, advised him as to whether such advocacy is constitutional ie in breach of the constitution and subject to indictment by the courts?
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felixqui
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Discussion 6 : 31 Oct 2012 at 09.376
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What Thailand desperately needs is free, open discussion of matters that matter ever more gravely.
And this seems to be the one that every colour is resolutely opposed to: the very possibility of well-informed opinion, balanced, and supported by sound critical thinking.

The Yellow mobs are probably more terrified of the necessary free speech than the Reds, but all lust to suppress truth telling and the free speech that is always necessary condition for knowledge on any topics. Why the desperate need for Thai tradition to legally enforce ignorance on so many matters of public concern?
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commonman
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Discussion 5 : 31 Oct 2012 at 08.575
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Disc. 3 - Where are the good men? Lookin, looking, looking .......
One side meets at the Royal Turf Club, the name says it all. The other side meets in Korat. And never the twain shall meet.
Calling out the army for a coup isn't generally acceptable anymore ..... and, finally. So what can the amart do? Compromise? I don't think so.
Waiting, waiting, waiting ...............
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Eric
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Discussion 4 : 31 Oct 2012 at 08.564
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I applaud Bangkok Post for the article. Being a major mass media, BP has the power to influence public sentiment. I hope other mass media will be equally strong in denouncing any military attempt to intervene in politics and continue to promote people's mandate as the only safeguard for a better government. The opposition parties especially the largest opposition like the DP should come out with strong statement to denounce coup. Coup promote anarchy and has never solved any political issues; in fact aggravate the political divide.
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nui
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Discussion 3 : 31 Oct 2012 at 07.453
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It is common agreement within the middle class citizen that this government must be stopped. The question is how. Votes and people are being bought. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. We need good men to do something to stop this evil development. Peoples Power seems to me the only way and coups are not only made by the military. The politicians and government officials in charge must be held accountable for their actions and conspiracy before a new election takes place.
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domdunnn
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Discussion 2 : 31 Oct 2012 at 03.132
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bangmodker D1

Read the first sentence of this editorial, it says that Sunday's rally was an example of people exercising a core democratic right, it adds that the country has 'no real need' for large scale protests but does not say anti-government forces should "give up", in fact it lists ways that they can scrutinise the government, through the parliament, the media, the internet and more public meetings. What it rightly condemns is any call by fascist reactionaries for the illegal and anti-constitutional act of mounting a coup.
Newspaper editorials are not signed because they represent the views of the newspaper not the author.
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bangmodken
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Discussion 1 : 31 Oct 2012 at 02.231
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So because some people don't think there's a "need" to protests against the most corrupt government since TRT and because a radical red shirt leader threaten to attack the Pitak Siam group,honest peaceful tax-paying protesters should just give up?

No wonder no one signed this editorial.
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No need for new protests | Bangkok Post: opinion