Constitution Court Acquits Thai Democrat

[hammered]

While we all sit around arguing and analsing the specifics of this rule/law over that as does everuyone else up to and including the players involved. we maybe miss that if a clear set of rules that the majoirty and a big majority at that agree on cannot be found, that it doesnt matter how many elections, court cases or riots you have, it just isnt going to get any better and people arent going to agree.

The minor problem is that nobody seems to be trying to find a set of rules that all or almost all will play by, so what next.

[jdinasia]

While we all sit around arguing and analsing the specifics of this rule/law over that as does everuyone else up to and including the players involved. we maybe miss that if a clear set of rules that the majoirty and a big majority at that agree on cannot be found, that it doesnt matter how many elections, court cases or riots you have, it just isnt going to get any better and people arent going to agree.

The minor problem is that nobody seems to be trying to find a set of rules that all or almost all will play by, so what next.

Find a way to get the regional power-blocs/ political machines dismantled and start an education system that teaches the fundamental rights and RESPONSIBILITIES of citizenship in a democracy? It'll only take about 40 years!

[SergeiY]

I'd say that the EC's response shows how flimsy the court ruling was and how sadly insubstantial all the democratic institutions in Thailand are.

firstly we are witness to perpetual legal challenges to any government in office - what kind of democratic opposition is that? just a symptom of those who think they can take power without a vote?THen we have the courts making a decision that is no more than a brown-nosing exercise for the benefit of the incumbent govt.

THe situation that repeatedly allows this sort of thing to happen can only indicate that Thailand is not functioning as a democracy - or even a stable nation.

Couple this with a propensity for coups instead of elections and one's conclusion can only be reinforced.

It is certain that the country is headed for a major constitutional crisis within the next few years and it looks like the various factions of the ruling elite are jostling for position - and what say will the rank and file of Thailand have?NONE WHATSOEVER!

The country just cleared a major constitutional crisis in 2006, when Thaksin's extra-constitutional, non-elected government was overthrown in a bloodless coup.

The EC's response doesn't reflect on the courts so much as a CYA (it wasn't our fault) attempt. The court decision was based on the law. You can deride them for a "brown-nosing exercise for the benefit of the incumbent government." Others will call it having "rule of law".

The people have the vote. They elected MP's in 2007. They will elect MP's again in 2011.

Is there a deep power struggle going on? Yes. I can only assume by 'ruling elite' you are including Thaksin and his cronies.

new election were supposed to be hold later that year but definitely canceled with and after that coup.

the coup was wrong. That has nothing to do with democracy and those who don't get this part are not in the position to holding lectures about democracy. simply like that it is.

Edited December 4, 2010 by SergeiY

[jdinasia]

I'd say that the EC's response shows how flimsy the court ruling was and how sadly insubstantial all the democratic institutions in Thailand are.

firstly we are witness to perpetual legal challenges to any government in office - what kind of democratic opposition is that? just a symptom of those who think they can take power without a vote?THen we have the courts making a decision that is no more than a brown-nosing exercise for the benefit of the incumbent govt.

THe situation that repeatedly allows this sort of thing to happen can only indicate that Thailand is not functioning as a democracy - or even a stable nation.

Couple this with a propensity for coups instead of elections and one's conclusion can only be reinforced.

It is certain that the country is headed for a major constitutional crisis within the next few years and it looks like the various factions of the ruling elite are jostling for position - and what say will the rank and file of Thailand have?NONE WHATSOEVER!

The country just cleared a major constitutional crisis in 2006, when Thaksin's extra-constitutional, non-elected government was overthrown in a bloodless coup.

The EC's response doesn't reflect on the courts so much as a CYA (it wasn't our fault) attempt. The court decision was based on the law. You can deride them for a "brown-nosing exercise for the benefit of the incumbent government." Others will call it having "rule of law".

The people have the vote. They elected MP's in 2007. They will elect MP's again in 2011.

Is there a deep power struggle going on? Yes. I can only assume by 'ruling elite' you are including Thaksin and his cronies.

new election were supposed to be hold later that year but definitely canceled with and after that coup.

the coup was wrong. That has nothing to do with democracy and those who don't get this part are not in the position to holding lectures about democracy. simply like that it is.

New elections? By a party that had been charged (and later found guilty) with election fraud? New elections put together by a government that itself was not constitutional? New elections that reflected not the will 0f the people, but the willingness of TRT to spend money? There was no constitutionally legitimate government at the time and things were breaking down more and more towards untold violence. IMHO -- (and yes I don't care how much you disagree) --- the coup was the lesser of several evils. That Thai people were welcoming it, that it was bloodless, that it didn't draw massive criticism from the West --- ALL should be something that guides you in how you think about it.

Take a look at the 2007 election results ..... and then explain to the class how the system still isn't severely flawed

Thankfully "the perfect storm" of Thaksin, his money, the greed of the regional political machines etc can't be repeated again.