Thailand Needs New Elections

[Mentors]

Thailand Needs New Elections

 

Over the past few years, Thailand's political elites have waged a battle on the streets of the capital using mobs to throw democratically elected governments out of power.

Now it is the turn of the supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra, the deposed former prime minister, to wreak their revenge. Meanwhile the economic losses mount, and one of Asia's oldest democracies looks more and more fragile. So where did Thailand go wrong?

 

For decades, power-brokers in the military, parliament and boardroom used the government to enrich themselves. The populist Mr. Thaksin threatened their interests by obtaining a strong democratic mandate to start expensive government programs to benefit the rural poor, and also to open the door wider to the forces of globalization and competition. Last weekend's riots by the "Red Shirts," Mr. Thaksin's supporters, mimicked the tactics used by the anti-Thaksin forces, the "Yellow Shirts," in late 2008. That group also surrounded government buildings and blockaded Bangkok's airports for days, bringing the country to a virtual standstill.

 

Both protests reflect an increasingly polarized Thai society. On the Yellow side are monarchists who profess loyalty to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the army, many academics, some of the business elite, and ordinary Thais mainly from the southern provinces. On the Red side are supporters of Mr. Thaksin, including business owners who benefited under his rule, and many rural voters especially in the north and northeast of the country who also reaped the rewards of his populist "Thaksinomics."

 

The Reds have the advantage of sheer numbers, and most probably free and fair elections would return pro-Thaksin forces to leadership. The Yellows claim legitimacy because of their loyalty to the king; they also have the army and, for the most part, the police force behind them. In the middle are large numbers of ordinary Thais who want to get back to stability and prosperity.

But those goals will remain elusive unless the Red-Yellow divide can be bridged. A key obstacle is how to handle Mr. Thaksin, who fled corruption charges in August 2008 and faces a two-year prison sentence. In an interview in Dubai last month, he stressed his loyalty to the king, and said he wanted to return to Thailand to act as an "adviser" to the government. "I am a domestic dog that can be tamed any time. I'm tame already and I can be tamed again," he told me.

 

Full rehabilitation of Mr. Thaksin most probably would require a pardon, whether by the king or the parliament. Yet there are other steps that could be taken -- and that don't necessarily need to factor in Mr. Thaksin directly -- that also might pave the way for meaningful reconciliation.

 

The government could grant amnesty to the 111 members of Mr. Thaksin's now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, allowing them to re-enter the political arena. This group, including Mr. Thaksin, was banned from politics for five years by a junta-appointed panel for breaking electoral laws prior to the parliamentary elections of April 2, 2006.

 

The current Constitution of 2007 could be amended to reflect better the so-called People's Constitution of 1997. Many consider this Constitution the most democratic in the country's history, not least because it was drawn up with extensive public consultation, and for the first time called for direct elections to both the upper and lower houses of parliament. In any case, greater power needs to be returned to the elected members of parliament and removed from nonelected institutions and representatives of the state. Some of the reforms of the 1997 Constitution were rolled back in 2007.

 

More importantly, there should be fresh elections as soon as possible. By hanging on to power until the bitter end, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his coalition government risk doing more harm than good. The prime minister should recognize that the current situation is untenable.

 

In January, Mr. Abhisit told me that he would go to the people when the time was right, and that priority should be given to solving the country's economic woes. In the space of a few short months, the violence and disorder have proven him wrong. Putting the long-term issues on hold has not helped Thailand politically or economically. Instead, it is prolonging the pain and making it more difficult to heal the divisions of society and steer the country toward economic recovery.

 

Mr. Murphy is deputy editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123975933750419419.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

 

 

[Flashermac]

Who would pardon Thaksin after his blatant attempt to overthrow the country by embarrassing the country internationally and throwing the capital city into turmoil? Sod off, Murphy. What does Robocop know about Thailand anyway?

 

 

 

 

[Mentors]

yes Flashermac,

just the Thai Media and Expats knows.

[Flashermac]

FEER was long in Mr T's corner.

 

 

 

[Torneyboy]

 

More importantly, there should be fresh elections as soon as possible. By hanging on to power until the bitter end, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his coalition government risk doing more harm than good. The prime minister should recognize that the current situation is untenable.

 

Sounds good...

[Mentors]

FEER was long in Mr T's corner.

 

 

 

maybe better as to be in the regime corner.

 

[Flashermac]

What is wrong with being NEUTRAL? You know ... the way writers are supposed to be?

 

 

This "regime" happens to be a democratically elected government in keeping with international parliamentary procedures, you know ... the kind they use in the UK, Aus, NZ etc etc. The same way Gordon Brown and Kevin Rudd were elected.

 

 

 

[ALHOLK]

his "regime" happens to be a democratically elected government in keeping with international parliamentary procedures, you know ... the kind they use in the UK, Aus, NZ etc etc. The same way Gordon Brown and Kevin Rudd were elected.

 

Much as the regimes in the Soviet Union and most other eastern European countries in the old days or the puppet regime in Iraq.

 

Of course vote rigging isn't as common here as in Thailand but local media have compared the Thai elections to Florida when the Bush was elected the first time.

[shygye]

What is wrong with being NEUTRAL? You know ... the way writers are supposed to be?

 

 

This "regime" happens to be a democratically elected government in keeping with international parliamentary procedures, you know ... the kind they use in the UK, Aus, NZ etc etc. The same way Gordon Brown and Kevin Rudd were elected.

 

 

 

Not exactly. A British court has never disqualified a ruling party!

[Faustian]

?? huh??