The Thai Election Is A Chance To Let Go Of The Hatred

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

The election is a chance to let go of the hatred

By The Nation

Thais may vote as they wish at the next poll, but they should do so in a spirit of optimism and national interest, not biterness or revenge

The "rallying cries" are coming thick and fast. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has been the latest public figure to come out and tell Thais how they should vote in the general election. "For your own future" was his message - a thinly veiled swipe at Thaksin Shinawatra. The poll, he implied, should solve people's problems, not certain politicians' problems.

A couple of days earlier, Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha called on the "silent majority" to rise up and change Thailand for the better. If 30 million voters or more exercise their rights, we can have some hope, he said. It was an emotional plea made in the middle of the general's outburst against red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan, whom he has accused of lese majeste conduct.

Before Prayuth, it was Thaksin Shinawatra and his usual double-demand speeches via phone-in. The vote will be for democracy and a return of justice, he said at one point. And then, at another point, "Please bring me home."

Before Thaksin, yellow-shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul begged the public to "Vote No". Mark an abstention on your ballot paper to show your disapproval of the current political system that is serving nobody but "animals from hell", he said. If enough people vote this way, he suggested, a new overhaul of politics could be made easier.

Only in politics can self-interest be served by denouncing self-interest. Abhisit wants to win; Thaksin wants to win and come home; Prayuth doesn't want certain groups to win; and Sondhi doesn't want anyone to win under the current circumstances.

Who is thinking about the best for the country? It must be up to us to make our own individual judgements.

The rallying cries have not changed much from the ones that brought the country to its present misery. Over the past decade, most of Thailand's political players have done nothing but turn Thais against one another. Opponents have been demonised, own faults have been whitewashed, and extreme hatred instilled and inflamed.

How should we vote then? Perhaps the best way is to ignore all those calls and search our souls. Our nation's crisis, complex as it seems, has come down to this: Thais are being made to hate each other for no good reason.

It did not begin this way, but it's the crux of the matter now. Politicians hating each other is one thing. They can, and do, make up in the blink of an eye, and they can start going for each other's throats again overnight. That should be the least of our concerns. But the infighting and trouble has shifted from them and is now revolving around us, the people on the street.

That problem won't be solved if we believe the political players and put our hatred or anger in the ballot box. The election - or its cancellation, as suggested by Sondhi - is just part of a bigger scheme that is threatened by deep national division. If we vote "Hatred", whether in favour of the Democrats, or Pheu Thai, or the Army, or Sondhi, the country will never be able to get back on its feet.

Vote for the Democrats if you like. Or Pheu Thai if you will. Or vote "None of the above" if you think it's best for Thailand. We just have to let go of the hatred, or never allow hatred to consume us. Otherwise the loss of lives and all the other suffering over the past few years will all be for nothing.

In an ideal world, we would rather live without politics. Now that we can't, the only way for us to "guide" politics - not the other way round - is to shun what it is attempting to do. And what politics has been trying to do is so obvious. We all know what can happen if it has its way.

-- The Nation 2011-04-15

[whybother]

Thailand is amazing!

In what other country would politicians come out and say "Vote for me!"

[jombom]

What vote and when???

Sorry, I must be living too much in the ''here and now''. Seem to have missed the news that the election has been announced.

[KKvampire]

O the Nation editorial,such hope without any hope if it coming true. In the west we voted and no matter what the result we accept it, complain , moan do whatever but dont resort to murdering , arson bringing the country to its knees and other violent actions.

Fact is "Thailand Democracy" is something which needs to have its own definition in the dictionary.

Edited April 15, 2011 by KKvampire

[animatic]

Politicians hating each other is one thing. They can, and do, make up in the blink of an eye, and they can start going for each other's throats again overnight. That should be the least of our concerns.

Quote of the week for me.

If you are hating others at the behest of a politician,

you must be prepared to switch sides as fast as they do.

But why should YOU, if you are getting nothing for your troubles,

like government services and education and a a good work environment?

They ARE, and their cronies, getting their undue share of the tax redistributions, snouts to the trough; if their side wins, and you as a citizen are not getting squat...

so why listen to them at all?

Edited April 15, 2011 by animatic

[scorecard]

O the Nation editorial,such hope without any hope if it coming true. In the west we voted and no matter what the result we accept it, complain , moan do whatever but dont resort to murdering , arson bringing the country to its knees and other violent actions.

Fact is "Thailand Democracy" is something which needs to have its own definition in the dictionary.

Headline: "The election is a chance to let go of the hatred">

Does anybody really believe that the red shirts / PT will accept the result if they lose?

If they lose, you can bet your life that they will continue with their thug tactics, no policies, divide and disrupt society etc etc., because the paymaster will ensure that they do so. Guaranteed!

[zzaa09]

Thailand is amazing!

In what other country would politicians come out and say "Vote for me!"

And standing next to them, the military stating {over and again} "there will be no coup"

[whybother]

Thailand is amazing!

In what other country would politicians come out and say "Vote for me!"

And standing next to them, the military stating {over and again} "there will be no coup"

The only reason the military are stating over and over again that "there will be no coup" is because people are asking them over and over again "will there be a coup?"

But I haven't seen them standing next to any Thai politicians stating that.

[Schooner]

"In the west we voted and no matter what the result we accept it, complain , moan do whatever but dont resort to murdering , arson bringing the country to its knees and other violent actions."

Not yet. but I have to wonder how long it will be before the current economic pillaging does produce direct action.

Edited April 15, 2011 by Schooner

[ChiangMaiFun]

and so the Army General who states 'we will stay out of politics' makes a political statement - Amazing Thailand!

edit: let's hope the 'let go of the hatred' spills over to TV political threads

Edited April 15, 2011 by ChiangMaiFun

[cdnvic]

Deleted one post because it could be interpreted as calling for someone's death

[aussiebebe]

One really good way to encourage Thais to adopt a more balanced attitude towards politics would be to have foreign observers during the election process but the government has already rejected that suggestion. I'd be interested in knowing whether the whole election could, theoretically, be run by a foriegn company or organisation and at what stage this process would or could be corrupted. Probably the translators required for this far-fetched idea would be the achilles heel of the endevour.

I've seen so many elections since 2005 where my wife's family have all recieved a stipend to vote the right way (they live just outside Bangkok), and then one or more sides call foul play. What Thais need is confidence in some seemingly incorruptable electorial process where they felt their vote was annonymous, but that's never going to happen so this election offers no chance for people to start afresh.

[zzaa09]

Thailand is amazing!

In what other country would politicians come out and say "Vote for me!"

And standing next to them, the military stating {over and again} "there will be no coup"

The only reason the military are stating over and over again that "there will be no coup" is because people are asking them over and over again "will there be a coup?"

But I haven't seen them standing next to any Thai politicians stating that.

Figuratively, my friend {even metaphorically}. Aside from all the decades of surface nonsense, one doesn't have to be a scholar, or keen observer, of contemporary Thai history to really understand who has been running the show since time in memory. And the occasional coup is the benefactor that retains the well-oiled machine in order. Coups are not really political in nature, but instead are the intuitive life's blood of the society. An overwhelming percentage of the revolving door of Thai MPs have been direct or associated military - decades over decades. Why does the Thai military exist, one might ask?

[zzaa09]

One really good way to encourage Thais to adopt a more balanced attitude towards politics would be to have foreign observers during the election process but the government has already rejected that suggestion. I'd be interested in knowing whether the whole election could, theoretically, be run by a foriegn company or organisation and at what stage this process would or could be corrupted. Probably the translators required for this far-fetched idea would be the achilles heel of the endevour.

I've seen so many elections since 2005 where my wife's family have all recieved a stipend to vote the right way (they live just outside Bangkok), and then one or more sides call foul play. What Thais need is confidence in some seemingly incorruptable electorial process where they felt their vote was annonymous, but that's never going to happen so this election offers no chance for people to start afresh.

A fresh start. The system needs to be cleansed or castrated. Nothing will change until the virus is dealt with........

[zzaa09]

"In the west we voted and no matter what the result we accept it, complain , moan do whatever but dont resort to murdering , arson bringing the country to its knees and other violent actions."

But Thailand isn't the West. So your expected comparatives fall on deaf ears. Historically, the real troubles ally themselves with the fashionable ideals of attaching and emulating political and social philosophies that {historically} don't work in Asia. Allow it to be Oriental, because it will be anyway.

[jdinasia]

O the Nation editorial,such hope without any hope if it coming true. In the west we voted and no matter what the result we accept it, complain , moan do whatever but dont resort to murdering , arson bringing the country to its knees and other violent actions.

Fact is "Thailand Democracy" is something which needs to have its own definition in the dictionary.

Headline: "The election is a chance to let go of the hatred">

Does anybody really believe that the red shirts / PT will accept the result if they lose?

If they lose, you can bet your life that they will continue with their thug tactics, no policies, divide and disrupt society etc etc., because the paymaster will ensure that they do so. Guaranteed!

I 100% agree with you!

The other side of the coin is will the PAD accept a PTP win and the inevitable return of Thaksin? Personally I hope not. The short-term answer for Thailand may not be democracy and I must admit, that makes me a bit sad.

[Schooner]

When you consider what destablization has brought to Thailands neighbors and the fact that Thailand is making real progress in spite of it it's a no brainer. I believe that they are doing just fine with their own approach. The majority of Thai's are in the middle. They just want to take care of their families and see some progress. The reds and the yellows on the extreme ends are getting their message accross and the middle will choose, hopefully without further bloodshed.