Real fight is yet to come

EDITORIAL

Published: 28 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The Pitak Siam group appears to have imploded on its own failures. This is almost entirely the best outcome for this mistimed, misconceived and miscalculated political group. While there is always room for provocative ideas and speech, Pitak Siam wasn't it. Leader Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit did the right thing to call off last Saturday's rally, and "kill" the movement, which had no worthy goals and no expectation of achieving anything of note.

Gen Boonlert's decision to halt his protest has not _ and should not _ let the government off the hook. Within a month, by its own timetable, it intends to restart efforts to pass two bills in parliament. The reconciliation law and the proposed rewrite of the constitution are ticking political time-bombs. There will be consequences if the government fails again to explain these bills to the country in a rational and convincing manner.

The government, specifically Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, has cited the 2011 election results as a mandate to pass these two items through a compliant parliament.

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sunshine51
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Discussion 11 : 28 Nov 2012 at 18.1811
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bew disc 8, the reds are progressive????? I think you better check your facts, people like Jatupon, Thida, Weng etc. etc... are very very very far from being progressive!!!
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lungstib
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Discussion 10 : 28 Nov 2012 at 15.2010
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"no expectation of achieving anything of note". If this becomes a criteria for killing things off there wont be much left working in political circus, sorry, circles.
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SawGeorge
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Discussion 9 : 28 Nov 2012 at 12.479
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It's going to be more than ten folds they will have to face and this time it will be more than 2010 riots, with many lives lost and chaos and the country's reputation will become the lowest in ASEAN. The rice pledging scheme only has done quite damaged to the country so these things should be kept aside for a number of years in future...that power of force they had used to quell Pitak Siam is a just a victorious retreat and should not regarded as a defeat to the protesters.
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bew
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Discussion 8 : 28 Nov 2012 at 12.358
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Even the real fight comes. It doesn't mean the political struggles between the conservative (mostly yellow) and progressive force (mostly red) will come to an end. Even Thaksin comes back or disappears as many yellows wish. This struggles will not come to an end, either. As long as the change is not sweeping, Thailand will face neverending conflict between the conservative and the progressive.
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Modin
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Discussion 7 : 28 Nov 2012 at 12.207
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you cannot make a law forcing reconciliation. It is something that comes about when goodwill is shown when both sides show they want to kiss and make up. Without some compromises it will likely never come. As for the premise of the article, it was wildly off base. The govt rice scheme is potentially going to drive the country into even higher rates of debt. When the interest rates begin to spike next year the debt will become an actual burden on the govts. ability to do almost anything. Corruption must be addressed and people need to feel that their opinions are respected, even if they arent in the govt.
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Asian Hand
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Discussion 6 : 28 Nov 2012 at 10.206
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BP, why are you still covering this PS action. It was a farce to begin with and doesn't justify any further attention.
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shopwow
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Discussion 5 : 28 Nov 2012 at 10.175
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I have made some facts known on many platforms, here they are. Somehow the idea of good has always been, to remain quite, not demonstrate, not oppose even what is not right. The idea of bad is for the world to see, closely knit terrorist gangs, terrorist organizations across the world banding together, funding flowing from one terrorist group to the other. A terrorist loss in one part of the world draws severe threats from terrorist groups in a totally unconnected (geographically) part of the world. Basically the bad men stick together, the good men just look for twitter and facebook to vent their feelings at something that is wrong or unjust
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OldThaiHand
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Discussion 4 : 28 Nov 2012 at 10.104
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The difference with the Blairs and the Clintons is they are both involved in charitable works.

Thaksin's charity begins and stays firmly at home.
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Ian
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Discussion 3 : 28 Nov 2012 at 08.573
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My personal feeling is that Thaksin's only reason for wanting to return is a typical Thai emotional, face saving reason.I think he would make a token return and then return to his present lifestyle. Thailand is too small for his ambitions, look at the Blairs and Clintons, both have become international figures with their fingers in many pies. Running Thailand is hard work, much more fun rubbing shoulders with the global elite.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 2 : 28 Nov 2012 at 07.252
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It's difficult to get a protest turnout when people are weary of a leader inciting a coup and the prospect of violence, but with Thaksin back in the land it will be a cinch, and the prospect of the reds showing up 'in moral support', might be deadly. Govt won round 1, same as the Red shirts did at Kok Wua, round 2 is likely to be far more interesting and of the govt's making. Thaksin is likely emboldened by the recent put down to hastily get PT to push through these two controversial laws and they are going to be the tipping point, whether you agree with them or not. Some of PT's election promises are 'unpromisable'.
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Real fight is yet to come | Bangkok Post: opinion