Covid plus lack of democracy ‘spells disaster’ for Thailand

[rooster59]

Covid plus lack of democracy ‘spells disaster’ for Thailand

By The Nation

 

 

Serious financial difficulties caused by the Covid-19 crisis threatens to fuel further political conflict and instability in Thailand, an expert said today (May 22).

 

 

Speaking on the anniversary of the 2014 coup, Assist Prof Anusorn Tamajai, director of the Economic and Business Research Centre at the Institute of Economics, Rangsit University, said there had been no concrete evidence of reforms in the country over the past six years.

 

The 2014 coup-makers led by then-Army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha vowed to implement changes that would halt corruption and heal the political divide.

 

Prof Anusorn, who is also a pro-democracy campaigner, said the government should use the current crisis to reform the nation and restore harmony as the 2017 Constitution has no clear context or mechanism to shape Thailand into a developed democratic country.

 

He said the Constitution is meant to be an institution that brings harmony, fraternity and peace to society.

 

The Covid-19 crisis had laid bare the huge social gap that exists in Thailand, he added. The lockdown has revealed deep problems with household debts, lack of savings and social insecurity, which the semi-democratic system spawned by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) had done nothing to solve.

 

Weaknesses in the economy were being gradually revealed by the Finance Ministry, said Prof Anusorn, while the loss of 8-10 million jobs in the virus crisis was creating more risks.

 

After the state of emergency was lifted, the government would likely face political pressure from both the coalition parties and the opposition as there would not be enough budget to solve all the problems.

 

The government should give more weight to the decisions made in Parliament since the House of Representatives was elected by the people to represent their interests, he said.

 

Tension between coalition parties over a rumoured upcoming Cabinet reshuffle during the crisis could see ministers grab big chunks of the national budget, meaning the government must be on guard against corruption.

 

Anusorn said that despite strong management of the virus crisis thanks to public cooperation and the well-planned public health structure, economic hardship could drive society into another phase of instability.

 

The spirit of generosity in the “society of service” created by the public and the private sectors would not be enough to cope with massive level of unemployment, he said, adding the government must instead institute a welfare state.

 

To solve the crisis, all sides – government and opposition, progressives and conservatives, authoritarian and pro-democracy – must put the people’s suffering first and stop using their hardship as a tool to gain political power, said Anusorn.

 

The stability Thailand needs cannot be delivered by government, but only by full cooperation across the political spectrum, so that the emergency decree is used to curb the contagion rather than basic rights.

 

The government also needs to study the consequences of lockdown measures in other countries to find a compromise with citizens, he added, and employ people who are knowledgeable, capable, honest and diligent to govern.

 

Governance should also be more open to opinions from opposition voices on resolving the economic crisis, while authorities should not seek to centralise power via a coup or other means as this would add a political crisis to the list of national difficulties and lead to national catastrophe.

 

Anusorn also urged the government to launch reforms guided by the participatory and democratic spirit of the 1997 “People’s Constitution”.

 

The election law in the 2017 Constitution of 2017 must be amended so that the National Assembly can formulate a Constitution for national reformation and a Constitution Drafting Assembly can be established, he said.

 

Then the House of Representatives should be dissolved and a new election held so that the Constitution Drafting Assembly can write a new charter and put it to a public a referendum in the same period, so as to save on national budget.

 

The new Constitution would represent the mutual interest of all citizens, enabling Thailand to develop into a democratic developed nation where quality of life and the rule of law could grow strong, he said.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30388340

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-05-23

 

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[smedly]

great piece and hits the nail right bang center on the head 

[Tarteso]

Since 1932 Thailand has had 25 generals election, 20 constitutions, 19 coups d’etat,  

the last one in 2014. Maths speaks for itself...

[johng]

Thailand, coup and constitution hub.

[colinneil]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

The government should give more weight to the decisions made in Parliament since the House of Representatives was elected by the people to represent their interests, he said.

???????????? What a great way to start the day, funniest thing i have read in a while.

[Pilotman]

If you want an example of democratic power gone off the rails, just look at the UK.  That place is a mad house of over bearing Police, incompetent Central Bankers, Civil Servants  and politicians, with too much time on their hands, not a clue what is going on and with too much power to abuse.  In comparison, Thailand is a beacon of stability and common sense. I am just glad I was here in LOS during this social media driven, monumentally economically damaging fiasco

[KarenBravo]

For democracy to work properly, it needs an educated and informed electorate.

Uneducated people are easily manipulated by populist politicians.

Whether Thailand is ready for a democracy that functions as intended, I'll leave up to you.

[soihok]

I enjoyed reading that, so true it made me feel sad.
Shame for the country in general (pun intended).

[Hayduke]

“....and now...I am pleased to announce that we have a winner in the Doctor Evil Look-alike Contest”.

 

 

 

[lovinglife]

If only Professor Anusorn were PM. Wise words. 

[herfiehandbag]

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

After the state of emergency was lifted, the government would likely face political pressure from both the coalition parties and the opposition as there would not be enough budget to solve all the problems.

The solution, obviously, and no doubt the one which will be pursued, is not to lift the state of emergency.

[sscc]

Did Thailand General ELECTION 2019 ever happen  ?

Nowhere in this whole article did I notice Thailand General ELECTION 2019.  

Intentionally BIASED piece  ??? 

[BritManToo]

COVID has shown 'lack of democracy' in almost every country.

Why pick on Thailand?

[johnnybangkok]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

COVID has shown 'lack of democracy' in almost every country.

Why pick on Thailand?

Errr because this is a Thai forum?

 

[johng]

Just now, sscc said:

Did Thailand ELECTION 2018 ever happen  ?

Nowhere in this whole article did I notice Thailand ELECTION 2018.  

Intentionally BIASED piece  ??? 

Did you not observe the  banning of parties/members,  not allowing  certain parties to air their policies, the promises of an election time and again then the long time to announce the results,refusal to allow international observers  followed by  again banning of  a major party...the 2018 ELECTION might as well have never happened ( as it was Intentionally BIASED )

[finnsk]

Wise words. I am affraid that was the last words from that professor. 

[19DL86]

Don't hold your breath!!  You only have to look at the Middle East - power has to be seized from these despots and tyrannical leaders.  There are far too many piggies getting fat from the trough, which is forever replenished.  These people won't give up their grasp on power without a fight, blood must be spilt and many lives lost.

 

Sadly I am afraid the Thai people don't have a stomach or mind for this, too deeply indoctrinated by their religion and a fantastical love for the power in the big house. (Or Germany 555). 

 

Those that could or might make a difference are waiting for the crumbs off the table, and far too obsessed with being HiSo to care.  Social elevation at any cost!!!

So business as usual then is it?

[BobbyL]

2 hours ago, Tarteso said:

Since 1932 Thailand has had 25 generals election, 20 constitutions, 19 coups d’etat,  

the last one in 2014. Maths speaks for itself...

Absolutely. Thailand has never been a democracy. Most of us know which establishment is solely to blame for that, and it seems more and more Thais are coming around to that idea too. 

[Denim]

 

The country would not be in quite this mess if the idiots who supported Suthep and his coup making ' shutdown Bangkok ' protest had been a bit more intelligent . Unfortunately lots of people supported the coup and naively thought that the military would be as good as their word and be only a temporary interruption to democracy..  ( God knows why they believed this since the military have no history of being honest brokers )

 

And yet , a lot of those same idiots ,  have now completely changed their opinion of the military and publish articles criticizing the de facto military government when they were the ones who originally acquiesce to the destruction of the democracy they now wish they had back again.

 

Those who back the wrong horse should not complain when they lose their bet.

 

 

[DaveE13]

That photo is like a line up of new exhibits at the natural history museum !

.

[Thaiwrath]

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The 2014 coup-makers led by then-Army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha vowed to implement changes that would halt corruption and heal the political divide.

A massive fail, and a cause for many of the problems.

Corruption starts at the very, very top, unless you stop it there, it will continue forever. 

[scubascuba3]

3 hours ago, lovinglife said:

If only Professor Anusorn were PM. Wise words. 

but would he be corrupted, seems very hard for them to resist

[bodga]

4 hours ago, Tarteso said:

Since 1932 Thailand has had 25 generals election, 20 constitutions, 19 coups d’etat,  

the last one in 2014. Maths speaks for itself...

Thais  will need the calculator  though!

[Baerboxer]

4 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

For democracy to work properly, it needs an educated and informed electorate.

Uneducated people are easily manipulated by populist politicians.

Whether Thailand is ready for a democracy that functions as intended, I'll leave up to you.

 

Given recent elections results in the US, UK, France and other European countries, including Russia it speaks volumes for the education standards in those countries!

 

You need a free press, well educated and informed electorate, impartial fair judicial system, and strong checks and balances.

 

Democracy is a difficult flower to cultivate, nourish and sustain. 

[Baerboxer]

55 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

A massive fail, and a cause for many of the problems.

Corruption starts at the very, very top, unless you stop it there, it will continue forever. 

 

Yingluck vowed to halt corruption. Was photographed with large anti corruption signs and repeatedly stated no corruption in her government.

 

Same same but different.

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, Denim said:

 

The country would not be in quite this mess if the idiots who supported Suthep and his coup making ' shutdown Bangkok ' protest had been a bit more intelligent . Unfortunately lots of people supported the coup and naively thought that the military would be as good as their word and be only a temporary interruption to democracy..  ( God knows why they believed this since the military have no history of being honest brokers )

 

And yet , a lot of those same idiots ,  have now completely changed their opinion of the military and publish articles criticizing the de facto military government when they were the ones who originally acquiesce to the destruction of the democracy they now wish they had back again.

 

Those who back the wrong horse should not complain when they lose their bet.

 

 

 

And if those "idiots", in your opinion, had not protested against the plan to grant Thaksin total absolution, past, present and future, the Shins would still be in power, with the big boss back at the helm, a crippling 2.2 trillion baht "loan" which the Shins wanted to spend at their discretion.

 

The Shin clan would be well on the way to creating the sort of "democracy" Cambodia enjoys under the ruthless autocrat Hun Sen.

 

Lesser of two evils - very debatable!

[RichardColeman]

5 hours ago, smedly said:

great piece and hits the nail right bang center on the head 

Yes, I dare say the author has been arrested by now

[Stocky]

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

...and employ people who are knowledgeable, capable, honest and diligent to govern

Sadly precious little of that anywhere in the world.

[ponder]

5 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

For democracy to work properly, it needs an educated and informed electorate.

Uneducated people are easily manipulated by populist politicians.

Whether Thailand is ready for a democracy that functions as intended, I'll leave up to you.

Winston Churchill is reputed to have once said, “The best argument against Democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” He was not referring to Thailand (at least, not specifically).

[billd766]

3 hours ago, sscc said:

Did Thailand General ELECTION 2019 ever happen  ?

Nowhere in this whole article did I notice Thailand General ELECTION 2019.  

Intentionally BIASED piece  ??? 

Did you read the title of the thread? Did you understand that the article was all about Thailand and written by a Thai? 

 

Did you understand that back in 2019 that there was an election and that the results were fudged by the EC so that the current government could be elected (even though the PM wasn't)? Did you understand that the EC banned a political opposition party and that since the election they have been deliberately targeting the former leader of the FFP with any offence that they can make up and fly?

 

Do you understand that under previous civilian governments the senate was an elected body but under this one there was no election, no transparency and no accountability?

 

And you talk of bias.