Stains on Thai image
In his Nov 26 letter, "Profane protesters", Jack Gilead makes a point worth some reflection. It must be conceded that the language used by some of the protesters is not the sort that Jack and I would use either at home or at the office.
But the students are not at home or at the office. Thai, like English and every other language, uses vocabulary and grammar not only to express ideas, but also to signal the register, and the language appropriate to and expected of a street demonstration is not that of an academic seminar. It would be as inappropriately silly to use the language of a funeral at a rousing celebration in the local pub.
But this also suggests the obvious constructive solution: get the students discussing their points in public in the national media. The students, for example, could pen an essay for publication on one (one at a time is good) of their petitions for reform, setting out the relevant facts and reasons. The following day, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha or someone in his government could respond to the points the students had raised. Responses from the public, also moderated for polite language, could help to further the debate. This would seem to be a win-win situation for all, with all opinions to be freely stated for confirmation or rebuttal. The only rule is that any and all ideas may be stated, but only in polite language. No rude comments demeaning to lizards or to the sexual behaviours of healthy women and men.
It would be highly useful, and an excellent exercise in honesty that showed his sincere willingness, for Gen Prayut to respond to international commentary criticising his government's failure or refusal to respect the good morals of democratic principles.
Indeed, given the horror that members of his government expressed a few days ago that Thailand's image was being stained because of a young citizen raising the issue of abuse of girls in Thai schools, it is hard to see how the Thai prime minister could fail to respond to the much deeper and very real stain that Thailand's image is suffering with such reports in leading global publications.
But what am I thinking? Far too much such honest, open discussion of affairs central to the Thai nation is criminalised by Thai law. It is precisely because issues of the gravest importance to the Thai people cannot be honestly discussed in classrooms, lecture theatres, cafes, newspaper columns, Thai history books, the august halls of parliament, and so on that the students have been forced to protest on the streets.
Felix Qui
