Thai Establishment Fears A More Open And Democratic Society

[webfact]

GUEST COLUMN

Thai establishment fears a more open and democratic society

By Pavin Chachavalpongpun

Five years ago, on September 19, 2006, the military staged a coup that overthrew the elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra.

Tanks rolled onto the streets of Bangkok. Some Thais were seen offering flowers to the so-called patriotic soldiers. They accused Thaksin of triggering the worst crisis in the country's history. But little did they know that the coup that was supposed to kill the "Thaksin disease" was indeed another kind of disease that severely undermined Thai democracy.

They thought that they were successful in deracinating Thaksin's political influence by launching an unlawful coup. Five years on, in 2011, Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, has assumeed power through a legitimate electoral process. Not only did the coup-makers fail to eliminate Thaksin, the military and the old establishment together have further intensified the crisis. Violent confrontations have become normal events in Thailand.

The military and the establishment collaborated with the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to create a state of ungovernability for the Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat regimes. They employed the hand of the courts to remove these two pro-Thaksin prime ministers. At the same time, they defended their illegal behaviour as a way to save democracy from the Thaksin cronies, when in fact what they really defended were their own power interests.

No matter how immoral or corrupt Thaksin might have become, toppling him in a coup was wrong and deplorable. If Thaksin has to be responsible for the protracted crisis in the post-coup period, then his enemies in high places must also be blamed for prolonging such crisis.

Throughout the past five years, the political stalemate that has shaken the nation - playing with the Thai people's emotions and deeply polarising our society - has unveiled so many dark secrets in politics. For one thing, it has revealed the anxiety on the part of the old establishment about a more open society. This has now clearly emerged as a threat to their power position. From this view, Thaksin is not really a menace to the Thai elite - an open political space is.

Thus, it is crucial to look back over the past five years and examine the changes in the Thai political landscape since the coup of 2006.

I am organising a one-day conference entitled, "Five Years After the Coup: Thailand's Political Developments Since Thaksin's Downfall", at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, on September 19. The primary aim of the conference is to discuss the lessons learnt (or not learnt) from the coup, to explore the role of the key players, and to investigate issues that generated the legitimacy crises in Thailand.

I have brought together leading experts on Thai politics to provide an in-depth examination of Thailand's unending political and social crisis. The first session will deal with the impact of the coup in the political domain. Federico Ferrara, an assistant professor from the City University of Hong Kong, will kick off the conference with his talk on "Unfinished Business: The Contagion of Conflict Over a Century of Thai Political Development." This talk will be followed by one from Pitch Pongsawat from Chualongkorn University entitled, "Four Forms of Democracy in Thailand's Current Democratisation."

The second session will focus on the theme, "Defending the Old Political Consensus: The Military and the Monarchy." James Ockeys of Canterbury University will elaborate on the role of the military in the political turmoil. His paper is entitled, "Broken Power: The Thai Military in the Aftermath of the 2006 Coup."

The next two speakers will touch upon a sensitive subject: the monarchy. Thongchai Winichakul of the University of Wisconsin-Madison will present his thought-provoking paper, "The Monarchy and Anti-Monarchy: Two Elephants in the Room." Meanwhile, David Streckfuss, an independent scholar, will deliver his speech on "Freedom and Silencing Under the Neo-Absolutist Monarch Regime in Thailand, 2001-2006."

In the third session, the discussion will concentrate on new political discourses and players. Michael Nelson from Thammasat University will speak on, "Vote No! The PAD's Decline from Powerful Movement to Political Sect?" Nick Nostitz, a journalist who has followed the red-shirt movement closely since its inception, will give a talk entitled, "The Red Shirts: From Anti-Coup Protesters to Social Mass Movement." Andrew Walker of the Australian National University, also a founder of the New Mandala website, will present a discussion entitled "Is Peasant Politics in Thailand Civil?"

For the final session, the attention will move over to the legitimacy crises since the 2006 coup. Marc Askew from Melbourne University will speak on the crisis in the South, "Shooting Themselves In the Foot: The Army and the South After the Coup." I will close the conference with a talk on the Thai-Cambodian conflict, "From Marketplace Back to Battlefield: Thai-Cambodian Relations in the Age of Militarised Politics."

Details of all the events can be found at http://www.iseas.edu.sg.

I recommend that the traditional elite and the military send their representatives to the conference, I order to understand that the outside world has changed so much and that the idea of a military coup is obsolete.

Paving Chachavalpongpun is a fellow at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Follow Pavin at www.facebook.com/pavinchachavalpongpun.

-- The Nation 2011-09-14

[looping]

Lots of opinion presented as fact.

IMO, if Thailand fears democracy it's because of the nature of democracy in Thailand. Thailand has much to fear at this stage, but not from true democracy, quite the opposite.

[REM]

Lots of opinion presented as fact.

IMO, if Thailand fears democracy it's because of the nature of democracy in Thailand. Thailand has much to fear at this stage, but not from true democracy, quite the opposite.

Very well said. Either they will become a true democracy, or become the next Cambodia.

[siampolee]

The definition of the establishment is ?

We have the old establishment ,then we have the new establishment.

Both of these groups are intent on securing power and thus their future rather than the future of the Thai people and the Nation.

Talk is cheap especially from trendy 2 baht "we know what is best for you intellectuals" who have no real insight into the thought process nor I doubt contact with the average Thai citizen.

As usual all the pontification will be coming from those who can afford their principles.

[DP25]

Sounds like a great conference, all of Thaksin's useful idiots gathered together for a circle jerk

[mjnaus]

blah blah blah

[Thai at Heart]

Might be quite enlightening. I watched the Singapore news on the Thai election night, and I think the person organising it was on the show along with a couple of other contributors. It was very interesting to see that they talked quite openly about the monarchy, although from a very factual standpoint.

I wonder whether the person with the "two elephants in the room" paper will survive without a lese majeste accusation.

[whybother]

Five years ago, on September 19, 2006, the military staged a coup that overthrew the elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra.

Objection, your honour.

Sustained.

[OzMick]

I could suggest a few more topics; "Dealing with Aspiring Dictators," "How Much Nepotism is Too Much?" and "Why the Red Shirts Held an Anti-coup Protest 3 Governments Too Late."

Probably the wrong seminar though.

[longway]

The military and the establishment collaborated with the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to create a state of ungovernability for the Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat regimes. They employed the hand of the courts to remove these two pro-Thaksin prime ministers. At the same time, they defended their illegal behaviour as a way to save democracy from the Thaksin cronies, when in fact what they really defended were their own power interests.

Thaksin is not really a menace to the Thai elite - an open political space is.

Fail.

He doesnt even remember what he wrote in his previous paragraph. Closing down open discussion and so on doesnt require coups and airport closures, they already have more than enough laws to keep people quiet, though its harder and harder to do in a modern society.

Its not as if Thaksin is a fan of open discussion himself, he prfers media manipulation and bullying as much as his opponents, and is probably even better at it than them.

[JurgenG]

A couple of sentences in this column really hit the mark "

"... the military and the old establishment together have further intensified the crisis. Violent confrontations have become normal events in Thailand."

" Throughout the past five years, the political stalemate that has shaken the nation - playing with the Thai people's emotions and deeply polarising our society - has unveiled so many dark secrets in politics. For one thing, it has revealed the anxiety on the part of the old establishment about a more open society. This has now clearly emerged as a threat to their power position. From this view, Thaksin is not really a menace to the Thai elite - an open political space is. "

What people really want today is put these five years behind them. If you read Thai forums, what real Thai people talk about in the social forums, you will realize they have moved on.

It's true that for the past five years, violent confrontation was becoming an "acceptable" way of solving political dispute. But Thai people realized they didn't solve anything and they were left footing the bill. Now, all they want is peace and reconciliation.

One more time, a couple of TV posters show they are out of touch with the realities of the country. It's not good for foreigners in Thailand. How long before the government realizes that a couple of foreigners still call for civil war and some even for murder and makes us all pay the price ? As guests in a democratic country we are of course entitled to express freely our opinion but it should be done in a moderate and balanced way.

[GazR]

From the heading on down it's clear just how simplistic Pavin's own analysis is on this topic.

In fact, the main issue for the Establishment here in Thailand (as elsewhere) is not about reform per se, but the pace of reform and the actual incentives and disincentives to move society forward instead of the stagnation and decay much of it has been mired in for much too long .

Let's hope some of the other contributors to his proposed fatcat shindig are capable of providing more useful contributions to that effort than the organizer seems to be.

Edited September 14, 2011 by GazR

[Insight]

I reckon all Nation journalists will soon be reporting from Singapore. It should help prevent their bank accounts being investigated the next time they write a negative article about Thaksin Co., Ltd. Land.

[siampolee]

Jurgen As guests in a democratic country we are of course entitled to express freely our opinion but it should be done in a moderate and balanced way.

Perhaps you should check your unique rhetoric prior to your posting your comments based upon that which you claim you read in Thai Forums.

Sometimes the meaning is lost in translation you know, or perhaps ones partner manipulates ones mind..

[OzMick]

A couple of sentences in this column really hit the mark "

"... the military and the old establishment together have further intensified the crisis. Violent confrontations have become normal events in Thailand."

" Throughout the past five years, the political stalemate that has shaken the nation - playing with the Thai people's emotions and deeply polarising our society - has unveiled so many dark secrets in politics. For one thing, it has revealed the anxiety on the part of the old establishment about a more open society. This has now clearly emerged as a threat to their power position. From this view, Thaksin is not really a menace to the Thai elite - an open political space is. "

What people really want today is put these five years behind them. If you read Thai forums, what real Thai people talk about in the social forums, you will realize they have moved on.

It's true that for the past five years, violent confrontation was becoming an "acceptable" way of solving political dispute. But Thai people realized they didn't solve anything and they were left footing the bill. Now, all they want is peace and reconciliation.

One more time, a couple of TV posters show they are out of touch with the realities of the country. It's not good for foreigners in Thailand. How long before the government realizes that a couple of foreigners still call for civil war and some even for murder and makes us all pay the price ? As guests in a democratic country we are of course entitled to express freely our opinion but it should be done in a moderate and balanced way.

Are you saying that now PTP is in power, we should forget how they achieved it?

[jonclark]

How long before the government realizes that a couple of foreigners still call for civil war and some even for murder and makes us all pay the price ?

Isn't that what the Macedonian passport holder has been doing for some time now??

[samran]

This 'comment' from K.Pavin strikes me as a 'hail to the new masters' comment to get him onside with the new administration.

A bit like that episode of the Simpsons where newsreader Kent Brockman started hailing the new ant overlords coming to take over the earth

"Ladies and gentlemen, uh, we've just lost the picture, but what we've seen speaks for itself. The Corvair spacecraft has apparently been taken over- 'conquered' if you will- by a master race of giant space ants. It's difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will consume the captive Earthman or merely enslave them. One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords. I'd like to remind them as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves." -- Kent Brockman

http://youtu.be/Xs74VYDNDXE

[Bakseedaa]

A couple of sentences in this column really hit the mark "

"... the military and the old establishment together have further intensified the crisis. Violent confrontations have become normal events in Thailand."

" Throughout the past five years, the political stalemate that has shaken the nation - playing with the Thai people's emotions and deeply polarising our society - has unveiled so many dark secrets in politics. For one thing, it has revealed the anxiety on the part of the old establishment about a more open society. This has now clearly emerged as a threat to their power position. From this view, Thaksin is not really a menace to the Thai elite - an open political space is. "

What people really want today is put these five years behind them. If you read Thai forums, what real Thai people talk about in the social forums, you will realize they have moved on.

It's true that for the past five years, violent confrontation was becoming an "acceptable" way of solving political dispute. But Thai people realized they didn't solve anything and they were left footing the bill. Now, all they want is peace and reconciliation.

One more time, a couple of TV posters show they are out of touch with the realities of the country. It's not good for foreigners in Thailand. How long before the government realizes that a couple of foreigners still call for civil war and some even for murder and makes us all pay the price ? As guests in a democratic country we are of course entitled to express freely our opinion but it should be done in a moderate and balanced way.

Alas, we are paying (a lot) guests in a very un-democratic society...... but there is cheap booze, cheap and young girls to play with, and soon to be many more... and lots of fun watching the locals fight and kill each other... . the food is almost as tasty as the girls are... and cheap same as... any problems , you pay the relevant authority, no problems.. Thats the only reason us Farang men are here and if anyone says different, who are they trying to kid.... look in the mirror Billy...!!

[hammered]

The role of the establishment in causing problems rarely gets mentioned in the English language media (unlike Thai language which is a lot more balanced) who fixate only the Thaksin role. This is probably not surprising considering the ownership of the English language media and that it is aimed at a higher income English speaking Thai group. Interesting to see this change to a little more balanced opinion. This conference will be interesting for anyone with an open mind and who isnt fixated on the standard memes and viewpoints. Hopefully his invite to the establishment will be taken up.

[rreddin]

A couple of sentences in this column really hit the mark "

"... the military and the old establishment together have further intensified the crisis. Violent confrontations have become normal events in Thailand."

" Throughout the past five years, the political stalemate that has shaken the nation - playing with the Thai people's emotions and deeply polarising our society - has unveiled so many dark secrets in politics. For one thing, it has revealed the anxiety on the part of the old establishment about a more open society. This has now clearly emerged as a threat to their power position. From this view, Thaksin is not really a menace to the Thai elite - an open political space is. "

What people really want today is put these five years behind them. If you read Thai forums, what real Thai people talk about in the social forums, you will realize they have moved on.

It's true that for the past five years, violent confrontation was becoming an "acceptable" way of solving political dispute. But Thai people realized they didn't solve anything and they were left footing the bill. Now, all they want is peace and reconciliation.

One more time, a couple of TV posters show they are out of touch with the realities of the country. It's not good for foreigners in Thailand. How long before the government realizes that a couple of foreigners still call for civil war and some even for murder and makes us all pay the price ? As guests in a democratic country we are of course entitled to express freely our opinion but it should be done in a moderate and balanced way.

Are you saying that now PTP is in power, we should forget how they achieved it?

They were elected by popular mandate in a general election. You have obviously forgotten this.

[garrfeild]

This sounds like an attempt to re-rehabilitate Thaksin, separating him from the establishment, Thaksin the victim? Is it really the establishment that are afraid of a more democratic open society or the corrupt politicians who are only interested in lining their own pockets. corruption is endemic throughout Thai society. However most if not all political systems are corrupt in one way or another. Its Just that in the west it is more sophisticated, with many grey areas to mask it from people, whereas here in Thailand it is very black and white.

[Thai at Heart]

And people still refuse to believe that this whole 5 year mess has been essentially a Thai-Chinese turf war.

[JurgenG]

The role of the establishment in causing problems rarely gets mentioned in the English language media (unlike Thai language which is a lot more balanced) who fixate only the Thaksin role. This is probably not surprising considering the ownership of the English language media and that it is aimed at a higher income English speaking Thai group. Interesting to see this change to a little more balanced opinion. This conference will be interesting for anyone with an open mind and who isnt fixated on the standard memes and viewpoints. Hopefully his invite to the establishment will be taken up.

An interesting point : who read the english language newspapers (I guess you're talking about the local ones). You said they aim at english speaking Thais. A lot of my Thai friends are fluent in english, none of them read the english local newspapers.

What do they try to achieve ? I really don't know. I just know if you watch the Thai TV and read the Thai newspapers (with the exception of Sondhi's hate media) , you get a completely different picture that the one you get from reading the english local press.

I have to add that I am disappointed by the position of Thai Visa, who instead of using its resources to give us a more broad view of the Thai press by translating the Thai press and Thai TV, stick by just reposting the very oriented and distorted view of the local english press and Sondhi's (TAN) media.

[OzMick]

A couple of sentences in this column really hit the mark "

"... the military and the old establishment together have further intensified the crisis. Violent confrontations have become normal events in Thailand."

" Throughout the past five years, the political stalemate that has shaken the nation - playing with the Thai people's emotions and deeply polarising our society - has unveiled so many dark secrets in politics. For one thing, it has revealed the anxiety on the part of the old establishment about a more open society. This has now clearly emerged as a threat to their power position. From this view, Thaksin is not really a menace to the Thai elite - an open political space is. "

What people really want today is put these five years behind them. If you read Thai forums, what real Thai people talk about in the social forums, you will realize they have moved on.

It's true that for the past five years, violent confrontation was becoming an "acceptable" way of solving political dispute. But Thai people realized they didn't solve anything and they were left footing the bill. Now, all they want is peace and reconciliation.

One more time, a couple of TV posters show they are out of touch with the realities of the country. It's not good for foreigners in Thailand. How long before the government realizes that a couple of foreigners still call for civil war and some even for murder and makes us all pay the price ? As guests in a democratic country we are of course entitled to express freely our opinion but it should be done in a moderate and balanced way.

Are you saying that now PTP is in power, we should forget how they achieved it?

They were elected by popular mandate in a general election. You have obviously forgotten this.

I have not forgotten the election, nor the violence in the lead up to it - or the fact that men in red shirts were the main perpetrators.

[chaoyang]

Amazing that the Nation printed anything remotely, possibly balanced about Thaksin and the old establishment. Unusually its just more of the red are thugs stuff.

Those who decry Thaksin's cronyism and unsavory friends should remember the past 60 years other political parties' cronyism and unsavory friends. We see the condition of the "average Thai" after those 60 years.

Maybe Thaksin's brand of corruption can do better.

Certainly anyone's preferable to that buffoon Sondhi.

[Buchholz]

This 'comment' from K.Pavin strikes me as a 'hail to the new masters' comment to get him onside with the new administration.

A bit like that episode of the Simpsons where newsreader Kent Brockman started hailing the new ant overlords coming to take over the earth

"Ladies and gentlemen, uh, we've just lost the picture, but what we've seen speaks for itself. The Corvair spacecraft has apparently been taken over- 'conquered' if you will- by a master race of giant space ants. It's difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will consume the captive Earthman or merely enslave them. One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords. I'd like to remind them as a trusted TV personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves." -- Kent Brockman

http://youtu.be/Xs74VYDNDXE

Thailand's version:

[Buchholz]

Those who decry Thaksin's cronyism and unsavory friends should remember the past 60 years other political parties' cronyism and unsavory friends. We see the condition of the "average Thai" after those 60 years.

Maybe Thaksin's brand of corruption can do better.

Certainly anyone's preferable to that buffoon Sondhi.

When was Sondhi the prime minister for 7 years out of those 60?

.

[Buchholz]

I have to add that I am disappointed by the position of Thai Visa, who instead of using its resources to give us a more broad view of the Thai press by translating the Thai press and Thai TV, stick by just reposting the very oriented and distorted view of the local english press and Sondhi's (TAN) media.

Why don't you help out and improve the forum by posting translations of those Thai news stories?

[tlansford]

Lots of opinion presented as fact.

IMO, if Thailand fears democracy it's because of the nature of democracy in Thailand. Thailand has much to fear at this stage, but not from true democracy, quite the opposite.

As a guest columnist, it is an opinion piece, but none-the-less, I'm curious, please elaborate... which parts do you feel are opinion presented as fact?

Cheers,

Tom

[animatic]

Lots of opinion presented as fact.

IMO, if Thailand fears democracy it's because of the nature of democracy in Thailand. Thailand has much to fear at this stage, but not from true democracy, quite the opposite.

Very well said. Either they will become a true democracy, or become the next Cambodia.

More likely they fear a more easily manipulatable political scene,

because of the obvious abuses with in the Thai democratic system...

or lack of one in the true meaning of 'Democratic System'..

All the real players would remain perfectly confortable in the business interests, in MOST Democracies, but in this one, a win for one side typically means aggressive, directed, but slightly stealthy attack on the losers side. All of nothing zero sum politics. This is not the aim of true democracy, but a bastardization of the concept to manipulate the credulous and win power over others. Once power is won, enemies get it in the neck, back or pocketbook ASAP.