Stop chaos in its tracks
I have been following the situation in our country with concern after Prawit Wongsuwon, deputy prime minister in charge of national security, announced a partial relaxation of the ban on political activities. As anticipated, the peaceful environment that we have enjoyed during the past four years has started to erode.
Some politicians-in-waiting have begun discrediting the government and finding fault in its administration. Perhaps they figure that our people have forgotten what its predecessors did to the country and the trillion baht of tax money they stole from us.
Vivid memories of the chaos before Gen Prayut took control began to haunt me once more. Might Bangkok burn again? Streets barricaded? Airport closed? People maimed and killed?
To calm my fears, army chief Apirat Kongsompong came out to warn the politicians not to cause trouble. He made it clear that the army would uphold the monarchy and protect the constitution.
I will make no attempt to change the attitude of those who oppose Gen Prayut and his government. All I ask is that, as free-thinking adults, they pause to think about those waiting in the wings of the current theatre; young politicians professing to be new blood, wishing to take control of the country, saying they will lead it toward "full democracy" and prosperity.
They make it clear that the 2017 constitution, passed by the majority of the people, would be replaced by a new one; additionally that they would abolish Section 44 and the special powers therein. Many Thais might therefore be misled into thinking that "full democracy" will lead to a Thai utopia. However, managing a country with a population 70 million people takes a lot more than these kids think they have. But more importantly, do any of these young politicians have a proven record of loyal service to their country, coupled with dedication, honesty and integrity? Did their wealth result from hard work, or from the benevolent hands of parents and family? And what might be their real motivation and agenda?
I call all Thais to think carefully before casting their vote. Lee Kuan Yew did not lay the building blocks for today's model Singapore with weak laws and loose personal "freedoms". Still today, convicted drug smugglers, rapists, child molesters, and even graffiti artists, face the prospect of severe corporal punishment.
At this critical stage, a return to conflict between self-interested political parties would spell disaster. Gen Prayut may not be a magician, and he is certainly not without his faults, but during the past four years, he has done many things for the benefit of the nation.
Dusit Thammaraks
