No threat to democracy?

Postbag

Published: 25 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

I am not an expert in Thai law, but I am familiar with laws in developed countries. So I am confused as to why the court ruled that the Pitak Siam rally posed no threat to democracy and to the democratically elected government. If I recall correctly, this newspaper and other media quoted the Pitak Siam leader, retired general Boonlert Kaewprasit, as stating that he wants a military coup and the closing of the country with suspension of democracy for five years.

In most countries, that is known as sedition, which is defined as ''incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority''. Again, in most countries, this is a serious crime punishable by imprisonment.

Why is it deemed acceptable behaviour in Thailand? Who in their right mind would want democracy suspended for five years? Unless, perhaps, they expected to profit from it.

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dao
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Discussion 14 : 25 Nov 2012 at 11.1314
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Because democracy is still a work in progress we have to put up with leaders who think they can break the law and get away with it .Unfortunately the poor will support such a person as long as they are rewarded with taxpayer money .
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jcwilcox
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Discussion 13 : 25 Nov 2012 at 11.0413
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Lobzig -- Israel is fighting not only for its very existence but for democracy against a totalitarian regime with which it is surrounded. Israel is fighting for the free world. Geographically, it stands alone.
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jcwilcox
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Discussion 12 : 25 Nov 2012 at 10.5112
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Pete - there is no intention of confrontating but simply demonstrating the need for true democracy not corruption at all levels. All countries are becoming increasingly interdependent. Thailand cannot exist alone, it desperately needs the West, although it will not admit it.

commonman - It is not the aristocracy who are in power anymore but the newly rich. You sound like a member of the UDD as you follow their proaganda.
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jcwilcox
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Discussion 11 : 25 Nov 2012 at 10.4011
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David Brown -- thank you for your history lesson. In the current world, democracy is not in its infancy and its principles are well understood. Knowing democracy is not the problem. The problem is the abuse of democracy as we see in Thailand. They discourage education, give the people the vote and then claim they are democratic. Democracy is a numbers game and therein lies the danger. This government were voted in by people who do not understand democracy so they do as they please, not what is in the interests of the people or the country but what in their own interests.
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jcwilcox
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Discussion 10 : 25 Nov 2012 at 10.3010
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It is strange that even people who have been raised in democratic countries seem to think that democracy is simply about having the right to vote. There is a little more to it than that, so look it up.

Don Mueng - You obviously don't realise that Thailand is NOT a democracy, therefore democracy cannot be threatened. Democracy means the police and the milary together with the judiciary and other institutions must remain apolitical. This is not the case here. The General tried to force the government to understand this. This country is heading for a one family-controlled state like N. Korea. The police, government and UDD are all one item.
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jcwilcox
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Discussion 9 : 25 Nov 2012 at 10.209
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Not one of these letters referring to me or to the demonstration on Saturday at Royal Plaza shows any understanding or thought about the current situation.
There is no democracy in Thailand and for those who think there is, they should wake up.
Many of us have families here for whom we are responsible and we have to look after their interests by helping them to achieve their desired democratic governance.
To compare a peaceful demonstration with the destructive anarchy of two years ago is foolish. A peaceful deonstration is one thing, to incite arson is another.The latter is a crime, the former is not.
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kena
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Discussion 8 : 25 Nov 2012 at 09.448
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Thailand has had 80 years to learn about democracy. Is is still a fledgling? Thais can learn to not pay/accept money for votes, to insist their votes are private. Candidates shouldn't be afraid to debate (though the constant threat of defamation suits is a stickler).
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nighthawk
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Discussion 7 : 25 Nov 2012 at 08.587
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Don Muang....

This country is strange. It's OK to say you want to overthrow an elected government and have no election for 5 years. But if you say Thailand should turn republic or socialist, they haul your behind to jail before you finish talking.
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robingrant
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Discussion 6 : 25 Nov 2012 at 08.496
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Thai Ridgeback: Sound advice. Furthermore, J.C. Wilcox claims to support democracy, but proposed to attend a rally organised by a man who advocates the overthrow of a democratically elected government by a military coup. Very odd.
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ron1947
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Discussion 5 : 25 Nov 2012 at 07.365
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Thai Ridgeback, I think the readers of this column would be most interested in any factual information to support your assertions that many Westerners who live here and who took part in the red shirt rally in Bangkok in 2010 are here no longer due to their involvement in the rally, and many tourists who participated ''for fun'' were also escorted to the airport prior to the end of their holidays.
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No threat to democracy? | Bangkok Post: opinion