Don't Betray The Trust Of Those Who Believe You; Thai Opinion

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EDITORIAL

Don't betray the trust of those who believe you

By The Nation

If ours is to be a genuine democracy, a victorious Pheu Thai Party should learn to live without Thaksin, as they have already publicly stated

One of the sayings most associated with Thailand's political trouble is that the nation has never seemed able to move beyond Thaksin Shinawatra. That's beyond doubt. The issue is why it has to be this way. Is Thailand really obsessed with him? Or is it his "I'm not going anywhere" determination that makes it impossible to shake him off? The Democrat Party stirred up this controversy again during its rally at the Ratchaprasong intersection on Thursday, prompting the rival Pheu Thai Party to cry foul. But if Pheu Thai has had the Democrats against the ropes on other issues, the opposition camp always sounds defensive on this one.

The Pheu Thai Party's big lead in the election campaign owes a lot to Thaksin's lingering popularity. However, there are other factors as well - last year's political turbulence that further galvanised the grass roots, the Democrats' declining ratings, "Yingluck fever" et cetera. The most intriguing question has to do with the "amnesty" plan. To be precise, if Pheu Thai wins, is it because voters want to absolve Thaksin and bring him home?

If the answer is "Yes", then it will warrant debate on whether a popular "mandate" can override court verdicts. But it will be more disturbing if the answer is "No". Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva might be speaking in his capacity as Pheu Thai's chief rival, but when he warned the opposition against abusing election votes and turning them into an amnesty green light, he was making a solid point that warrants national soul-searching.

First things first, an election should not be just for one person's legal trouble. Even a specific referendum on whether a person should be absolved of a crime begs the question whether this is good for the checks and balances of democracy. It's all right if Pheu Thai is to win on Thaksin's merits. It's not healthy for democracy if an election victory, even if delivered through Thaksin's good deeds, is used to whitewash him of his bad ones.

Thaksin has made it impossible to avoid this debate, to move "beyond him". At the word "Go" in the election campaign, senior Pheu Thai members threw in "blanket amnesty" as one of the party's main platforms. Yingluck Shinawatra distanced herself from it and later the whole party was reluctant to discuss it that much. They all know how sensitive this issue is, but they will not renounce it unequivocally. Why?

On Friday, Pheu Thai denied in a statement that it was planning to give Thaksin amnesty and return his money. The way the statement was written arguably leaves the question of whether it would still give him amnesty without returning his billions. Pheu Thai's ambiguity may or may not have something to do with Thaksin's own insistence about coming home. Whatever the case, this election proves again that Thailand can't move "beyond Thaksin". Again, that's old news. Whether he's dragging the country back, or it can't move beyond him, should be the point of debate.

If it wins the election, Pheu Thai should be allowed to rule without the dangerous shackles of having to amend the laws or Constitution so that he can return. All that the pro-Thaksin mission would do is smear Pheu Thai's image and destabilise its government (assuming it wins). The Samak Sundaravej government met its demise precisely because it thought it had an obligation to bring the man back.

If a Pheu Thai government that managed to "move beyond" Thaksin was still doomed because all others conspired against it, then Thailand's democracy would have a real problem. With the way things have gone, we have been unable to tell. For us to find out whether we really have a bad democracy - with groups left, right and centre always lurking to undermine the party "most loved" by the people - Thaksin must tell Pheu Thai to forget about him. And he must mean it.

A Pheu Thai victory will be considered by many a romantic political story. Thaksin certainly has played a leading part in the unfolding tale. But romance can only go so far and even its leading star must be brave enough to face reality. There has been too much tragedy after all.

-- The Nation 2011-06-25

[virtualtraveller]

Thaksin is determined to come back, of that there can be no doubt, and despite Yingluck's soft denials and their conciliatory tone lately, he's already confidently stated he'll be back by Nov. If it's November 2011 then we headed for a traumatic end of year finale to this. I just don't see how they could legally legitimise an amnesty/pardon/appeal in such a short time and 'sell' it to the public.

This editorial makes a great deal of sense, it's the truth, but sadly, Peau Thai IS Thaksin, they've sold it that way, it's his money they're spending, he calls the shots, and all their success and effort has been geared towards bringing him back, there's going to be a lot of disappointed people one way or another. The solution is to tear up the rule book, which his supporters see as realistic since it's all 'coup written' in their opinion, but they're wrong. Pardon Thaksin without proper judicial review and you will end up with a long list of generals, strongmen, etc doing the same in the future.

Perhaps it's his usual bluster, but actually he's posturing and positioning himself better to cut a compromised deal with his foes, all the same we know that he (and by extension PTP) simply cannot be trusted. Such a shame this whole election is about him, because it's not democracy. And I'm appalled that so many of the electorate convincingly support a party based on 'bringing back a crook', notwithstanding their prerogative to vote, it's a revelation about just how backward Thailand is a democracy.

It seems, the only Thai solution is to let Thaksin back, let the crowds then react, while the Army refuses to get involved, so that we have a dysfunctional government for months until Yingluck breaks down in stress and quits, or calls another snap poll which solves little other than create further division, and Thailand gets so battered and dragged through the mud that the 15 million dim wits finally see the light and realise it's fruitless to support a single man rather than the country.

[JurgenG]

Thaksin is the smartest politician Thailand has ever had for a very long time.

Can you imagine where Thailand will be if all that energy that has been wasted in internal fights has been invested in Thailand future ?

The junta had its try, Abhisit had its try. It didn't work

People want Thaksin. Stop beating around the bush. They don't want PTP, they don't want the "reds", they want Thaksin.

Supporters hold pictures of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra as they celebrate being branded as "red" in the village of Suan Mo, near Udon Thani in northeastern Thailand June 25, 2011.

http://www.chinadail..._12777595_2.htm

What is this desperate attempt to spoil the people of their choice ?

How does it make sense to write two sentences apart "a victorious Pheu Thai Party should learn to live without Thaksin" then " The Pheu Thai Party's big lead in the election campaign owes a lot to Thaksin's lingering popularity"

The democrats through their mouthpiece in The Nation are getting so desperate that it's getting painfully pathetic.

Edited June 26, 2011 by JurgenG

[whybother]

Thaksin is the smartest politician Thailand has ever had for a very long time.

Can you imagine where Thailand will be if all that energy that has been wasted in internal fights has been invested in Thailand future ?

The junta had its try, Abhisit had its try. It didn't work

People want Thaksin. Stop beating around the bush. They don't want PTP, they don't want the "reds", they want Thaksin.

What is this desperate attempt to spoil the people of their choice ?

How does it make sense to write two sentences apart "a victorious Pheu Thai Party should learn to live without Thaksin" then " The Pheu Thai Party's big lead in the election campaign owes a lot to Thaksin's lingering popularity"

The democrats through their mouthpiece in The Nation are getting so desperate that it's getting painfully pathetic.

In the last election, only 36% of people wanted Thaksin.

If PTP don't get a majority next week, that implies that a majority STILL don't want Thaksin.

[JurgenG]

In the last election, only 36% of people wanted Thaksin.

If PTP don't get a majority next week, that implies that a majority STILL don't want Thaksin.

If any other politician don't get a majority, that means a compromise has to be find.

But I don't see why a "relative" majority should be deprived of their first choice, especially knowing that nobody comes even close in term of personal popularity.

[whybother]

In the last election, only 36% of people wanted Thaksin.

If PTP don't get a majority next week, that implies that a majority STILL don't want Thaksin.

If any other politician don't get a majority, that means a compromise has to be find.

But I don't see why a "relative" majority should be deprived of their first choice, especially knowing that nobody comes even close in term of personal popularity.

Why should 30% of the population make rules that 70% of the population don't want?

[virtualtraveller]

JurgenG, Thaksin is a genius, what a pity so much of it is channelled into bamboozling the dim wit voters, enriching himself and defending the guilt charges.

If he had been a bit more ethical and had not let his ego and judgment run away with him, there would have been no coup, no massive corruption, and Thailand would be really far ahead under him.

But, you're right, the largest number of people want this crook back, and though that's democracy, he's ineligible to lead this country again, so we're stuck in a deadlock of the masses trying to get their way, when they can't. It's all truly tragic really, the piss poor judgment of the voters, and the fact that so few recognise that there's actually rules in this country.

[Siripon]

Thaksin is the smartest politician Thailand has ever had for a very long time.

Can you imagine where Thailand will be if all that energy that has been wasted in internal fights has been invested in Thailand future ?

The junta had its try, Abhisit had its try. It didn't work

People want Thaksin. Stop beating around the bush. They don't want PTP, they don't want the "reds", they want Thaksin.

Supporters hold pictures of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra as they celebrate being branded as "red" in the village of Suan Mo, near Udon Thani in northeastern Thailand June 25, 2011.

http://www.chinadail..._12777595_2.htm

What is this desperate attempt to spoil the people of their choice ?

How does it make sense to write two sentences apart "a victorious Pheu Thai Party should learn to live without Thaksin" then " The Pheu Thai Party's big lead in the election campaign owes a lot to Thaksin's lingering popularity"

The democrats through their mouthpiece in The Nation are getting so desperate that it's getting painfully pathetic.

Most voters in Issan don't know what they want, in a blind poll where voters are told the policies, but not the party, most preferred the Democrats' policies.

[jdinasia]

Thaksin is the smartest politician Thailand has ever had for a very long time.

Can you imagine where Thailand will be if all that energy that has been wasted in internal fights has been invested in Thailand future ?

The junta had its try, Abhisit had its try. It didn't work

People want Thaksin. Stop beating around the bush. They don't want PTP, they don't want the "reds", they want Thaksin.

What is this desperate attempt to spoil the people of their choice ?

How does it make sense to write two sentences apart "a victorious Pheu Thai Party should learn to live without Thaksin" then " The Pheu Thai Party's big lead in the election campaign owes a lot to Thaksin's lingering popularity"

The democrats through their mouthpiece in The Nation are getting so desperate that it's getting painfully pathetic.

In the last election, only 36% of people wanted Thaksin.

If PTP don't get a majority next week, that implies that a majority STILL don't want Thaksin.

Errr only 36% wanted PPP --- That included the friends of Newin faction.

Jurgen may have missed the points raised in the OP about Democracy......

First things first, an election should not be just for one person's legal trouble. Even a specific referendum on whether a person should be absolved of a crime begs the question whether this is good for the checks and balances of democracy