Move Over Red-shirts

[johncitizen]

The following is an excerpt from the Nation online.

URL: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/04/02...cs_30099464.php

Back to the future as Thailand gets a socialist party

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Published on April 2, 2009

A move to create a new socialist party by a group of Thai politi-cians and academics has prompt-ed questions as to whether the plan is realistic or relevant in the modern era.

Last week, former socialist politician Insorn Buakiew, plus Chula-longkorn University historian Suthachai Yimprasert, former communist insurgent Surachai Danwattananusorn took over a political party named Phue Cheevit Thidekwa (For a Better Life) and renamed it the Socialist Party of Thailand.

Watwarith Tanpirom retained the position of party leader but Eak Mongkol, an adviser to former minister attached to PM's Office Jakrapob Penkair, was named as the party's secretary general.

Suthachai, who is an adviser to the party, said it would seek to apply a European socialist model in the political scene dedicated to establishing a welfare state in Thailand.

The Socialist Party of Thailand would be an alternative for the country, which, he said, had been dominated by conservative parties for a long time.

"As capitalism is in crisis now, why don't we explore the other way to offer equality of economic right to the people?" Suthachai said.

"Don't fear socialism. It is not an evil, but merely an economic plat-form for equality of wealth. It can also be applied in the Kingdom, and is not necessarily reserved only for a republic," he said, refer-ring to fears that socialists might seek to turn Thailand into a republic.

Socialist ideology is not strange in Thai political history but it has been painted as alien by conserva-tive forces in the country. The first socialist party, named Sahachiv (United Lives), was set up in 1945.

The party won 33 seats, mostly in the Northeast, in the Lower House after an election in 1946.

The socialists played some crucial roles in the politics until a coup d'etat in 1947 by Pin Choonhavan, Pao Sriyanont and Sarit Thanarat, which brought the conservative Democrat Party's Kuang Apaiwong to power.

The conservative government then arrested and killed many socialist politicians. The socialists were eliminated but the move-ment re-emerged on and off in 1960s and '70s.

Socialism ideology peaked after the student uprising in 1973 when Thailand enjoyed its most democratic atmosphere, and shortly after the communists won the war in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Well-known socialists in 1970s including Somkid Srisangkom, Bounyen Wothong, Khaisaeng Suksai and Bounsanong Bounyothayan formed the Socialist Party of Thailand to champion such a society.

And there were two other socialist parties - Plang Mai (New Force) and the Socialist Front -in the 1975 election. They won some 37 seats between them out of 270 in the parliament in that poll.

But the socialists' involvement in electoral politics came to an end after the October 1976 crackdown on students at Thammasat University.

The military regime then launched a campaign against communists and forced all socialists and progressive movements to join the communist insurgency in the jungle, in Isaan.

The Communist Party of Thailand was defeated in the early 1980s and all kind of fighters under the party's umbrella returned home and began new modes of fighting.

Some joined the Democrat Party while some joined Thaksin Shinawatra's now defunct Thai Rak Thai Party. Some are in the yellow-shirt movement (PAD) while some are in the red-shirt group and are fighting each other.

"Of course, politically we are similar to the red-shirts, as we champion for real democracy and the poor, unlike the yellow shirted group who fight for elitism and aristocracy," Suthachai said.

"We have no connection with Thaksin. He is a capitalist, while we are socialist. He has his own Phue Thai party," he said.

The newly formed Socialist Party of Thailand does not expect the old socialists from the '70s who have already turned to other ide-ologies to return to the fold. Suthichai said the party wanted to see the younger generation work for a new society.

But he had no idea if socialist ideology would be welcomed again these days at a time when Thailand appears relatively con-servative.

Edited April 2, 2009 by johncitizen

[johncitizen]

And all I can say is: about bl00dy time.

This is going to do wonders for the labour movement, and the advancement of social justice, equality and the environment in Thailand. For far too long has it been the stomping ground of two conservative forces butting heads with each other at the expense of the rest of the country. I for one am going to give these guys all the support I can muster. Who's with me?

jc

[johna]

Yes let’s get back to a social democracy with high taxation to pay for the infrastructure that society needs, schools, hospitals and decent housing,

The financial crisis we are now facing is the result of sheer greed, and the talk of high taxation discouraging investment is self serving claptrap.

[LooseCannon]

If successful would be a good thing for Thai democracy. It will provide a nice counter balance to the conservative/right forces that dominate Thai politics. If they can campaign in a mature & transparent manner, contest elections honestly & with coherent policies I am sure that they will be successful. Maybe after a number of elections the more disadvantaged voters will reward them with their vote after they begin to realise that the only thing that they are currently getting is a 500 Baht payment every election & a snouts in the trough feeding frenzy by their so-called 'elected' MP's.

The big test will be when they are invited to help form a coalition government & how much they will have to compromise their values & resist the enevitable forces of corruption.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Good news. And I honestly hope that we'll see more initiatives like this, including perhaps a true liberal party. This means that everyone currently wearing a red shirt can stop worrying about Thaksin and actually choose a cause to support, rather than a person.

[popshirt]

The financial crisis we are now facing is the result of sheer greed, and the talk of high taxation discouraging investment is self serving claptrap.

I absolutely agree. And I come from a country where socialism is a dirty word, largely because of ignorance.

[johncitizen]

Unfortunately I think that could be said of most countries around the world...

The current crises we face in both the economy and the environment are immense challenges, but also golden opportunities to reform our societies along more responsible and humane lines. I hope we don't squander this opportunity, and keep the "race to the bottom" going so we can end up in a worse crisis 20 years down the track.

jc

[eldar1]

I hope this party gains some momentum. EU style socialism could do wonders for this country, maybe even tackle some of the more deep seeded problem this country faces, like it's corruption and perhaps even begin to heal the rift between the deep south and the rest of the country.

[Mosha]

I hope this party gains some momentum. EU style socialism could do wonders for this country, maybe even tackle some of the more deep seeded problem this country faces, like it's corruption and perhaps even begin to heal the rift between the deep south and the rest of the country.

Yes lets have another nanny state. Instead of Thai style corruption we could have Italian style corruption. Jeesus Carist

[DaleBlue]

Giles will make a good leader for a Socialist party.

[BigSnake]

oh my Goodness

[KhaoNiaw]

I've met Thai workers who are very articulate in their expression of socialist values and the struggle of the working class. In one company, I was there when the union representative was drumming up support for the Labour Party candidate in a forthcoming election. A lot of people agreed with him but nobody was going to vote for the Labour man (including the union rep, who also thought his union were pretty useless) because he didn't have a hope of winning.

If a socialist party had a genuine place in the political system they could find some support. Organizing in the major industrial areas would be a start. As they recognize in the article they shouldn't be counting on former communists for support - they are all over the political spectrum these days.

[Pierrot]

What's wrong with socialism ?

Socialism rules most of Europe. I don't believe Europe to be a fascist place , do you ?

Capitalism just ruined America and Red China is saving the world ...

Edited April 2, 2009 by Pierrot

[Travel2003]

you are a commie, that's all I can say. do you actually live in thailand???

McCarthy?

Is that you senator??

[johncitizen]

I hope this party gains some momentum. EU style socialism could do wonders for this country, maybe even tackle some of the more deep seeded problem this country faces, like it's corruption and perhaps even begin to heal the rift between the deep south and the rest of the country.

Yes lets have another nanny state. Instead of Thai style corruption we could have Italian style corruption. Jeesus Carist

Err... I think that you'll find that Berlusconni's Italian government is one of the most right wing governments around.

And I'm sure that Ji had a hand in this somehow, but I doubt he'll be putting his face or name on it until the LM thing is cleared up.

@ Khamala/McCarthy: the Reds aren't under the bed... they're in your mum's bed!

Edited April 2, 2009 by johncitizen

[londonthai]

democratic socialism is against all politicians, including those claming to be socialist, as representatives of the different factions of the ruling class, hence

this new formed party is not socialist.

it's just yet another socialdemocratic party (like many those in europe, on which it's modelling itself), with aim of reforming the present socio-economic system (capitalism) through welfare state, rather than annihilitating production for profit and the whole mashinery of state with army and police.

[johncitizen]

There are more than one road to socialism in my books, and you don't have to take the one that reads "Revolution."

I'm more of an advocate of education and gradual change reinforced by long-term vision, myself.

jc