Amid Chaos, We Need Unity More Than Ever: Thai Opinion

[webfact]

OVERDRIVE

Amid chaos, we need unity more than ever

Thanong Khanthong

A theatre of farce is being played out for all to see.

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party yesterday presented a proposal to Parliament to create a new Constitution Drafting Assembly. The assembly would comprise 99 people and have 180 days to draw up a new constitution. Over the next 15 days, law-makers will discuss the measure, which would amount to a "constitutional coup".

The red shirts are flexing their muscles. A campaign to amend Article 112 on the lese majeste law, engineered by the Nitirat Group of academics from Thammasat University's Faculty of Law, foreshadows a wholesale rewrite of the Constitution. This endeavour unquestionably aims to redefine the monarchy and other institutions in Thai society. It also openly invites the yellow shirts to a full confrontation for a decisive outcome.

Since Pheu Thai is pushing for a constitutional coup, it is simultaneously trying to pre-empt a military coup. Jatuporn Phrompan, a red-shirt leader and Pheu Thai member, came out to cry wolf - yet again. He quoted an alleged CIA intelligence report as indicating that the Thai military is preparing for a coup in April. This has prompted sharp reaction from General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the Army chief, who denies the rumour as groundless. Defence Minister Sukamphol Suwannathat also shot down Jatuporn's remark. He dubbed Jatuporn as "dek chai Pla Bu" - a deceased boy in Ang-Thong whose father caused a national stir late last year by saying that his son had predicted the destruction of the Bhumibol Dam.

Yesterday morning a car bomb went off in front of a public health office in Pattani province, killing at least one person and wounding another 15. The bomb, hidden in a pickup truck, also damaged buildings, cars and motorcycles. The attack is the latest in the southern region, which has been riven by a complex eight-year insurgency, apparently waged without clearly stated aims.

Thailand's unity is about to be broken through Machiavellian politics and manipulation. The dialectical conflicts are being played out in a series of shock-and-awe events, meticulously timed and executed. "Red-shirt villages" are sprouting up nationwide as if they want to secede as an independent state. The three southern provinces continue to be plagued by daily violence as if the insurgents aspire for independence. Most important, the monarchy, which is the symbolic institution of Thai unity, is under threat of being abolished altogether in the pseudo-name of democracy.

These conflicts in Thailand are happening at a time when the world is going through a most dangerous time. Europe is suffering financial turmoil that could break up the euro zone. Greece is struggling with its reform and indebtedness. Failure to contain the Greek fallout, which began in March last year, could cause a bank run or financial ruin in other weak states such as Ireland and Portugal. The founder of Trends Research Institute, Gerald Celente, has predicted a European financial collapse this year. Mathematically speaking, it is impossible to save Europe. Some US$7.3 trillion in debt is due this year and will need to be rolled over. The European debt domino could topple other dominoes to cause a global depression.

"If you live in Greece, you're in a depression; if you live in Spain, you're in a depression; if you live in Portugal or Ireland, you're in a depression," Celente said. "If you live in Lithuania, you're running to the bank to get your money out as the bank runs go on. In Hungary, there's a depression, and in much of Eastern Europe - Romania, Bulgaria."

The United States will not hesitate to print more money through a third "quantitative easing" programme (QE3). The Federal Reserve could buy up more mortgage-backed securities if US economic weakness persists. Monetary inflation is lurking.

The tension in the Middle East is growing. Syria has become a battleground for both domestic forces and international pressure. Russia and China would not follow the US lead in pushing Syria's regime into the corner. Syria could thus be another Egypt or Libya.

Iran is confronting Israel and the US and other allies, by extension. Tehran has successfully launched a satellite for military intelligence gathering. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has toughened his stance, voicing defiance against Western sanctions and pledging open retaliation if they are instituted. Last week US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta expressed concern that, if matters continue, Israel could attempt an air-strike on Iranian nuclear facilities within a month.

If clashes were to flare with Iran, we could see the oil price rise to US$200 a barrel. Thailand is not well prepared to cope with global conflict and possible war, as it continues to be dogged by domestic polarisation. It is time to adopt prudence and refrain from any back-stabbing politics that will in the end do nobody any good.

-- The Nation 2012-02-10

[Bakseedaa]

Thai People only care about themselves and how much moneys they can make / steal / borrow / and amass... Money is God in Thailand as elsewhere... Thais wanna be rich WITHOUT working for it... its why

[CalgaryII]

Over the next 15 days, law-makers will discuss the measure, which would amount to a "constitutional coup".

Constitutional reform as proposed does not amount to this kind of alarmism, and what follows in the article.

I understand why the Opposition would be against changing a constitution they carefull crafted for their own purposes, but that is why we have elections.

To correct those matters.

The red shirts are flexing their muscles

Elections facilitate victors enabling their election promises.

So perhaps this would be more accurately stated as "flexing electoral muscles".

The next election about three years from now, will render judgment on these initiatives.

[CalgaryII]

Amid chaos, we need unity more than ever

The title of this Opinion piece is presumptive on its' own, never mind the drift of his opinion.

The Opposition would like to create the impression, that without them in their rightfull role of Governance, there is "Chaos"

I don't see any chaos. I only see an elected Government taking its rightful turn at Governance.

What's the problem.

[Moruya]

Amid chaos, we need unity more than ever

The title of this Opinion piece is presumptive on its' own, never mind the drift of his opinion.

The Opposition would like to create the impression, that without them in their rightfull role of Governance, there is "Chaos"

I don't see any chaos. I only see an elected Government taking its rightful turn at Governance.

What's the problem.

Definiition of Chaos:

a state of total confusion with no order

Snow and ice have caused chaos on the roads.

Ever since our secretary walked out, the office has been in a state of total/utter chaos.

We muddled up the name labels and chaos ensued (= resulted).

Ever since the PTP Government took its seat chaos has ruled.

[teko]

Look at those two massive slongs drapped over that guys shoulders on the left.

No wonder he looks like he soiled himself.

[Reasonableman]

Look at those two massive slongs drapped over that guys shoulders on the left.

No wonder he looks like he soiled himself.

Please re-check spelling of slongs, but then again, maybe the color gives it away...

[CalgaryII]

'Ever since the PTP Government took its seat chaos has ruled."

Or so the Opposition would have you believe.

By their previous Coup, it suggests to me that they consider themselves as anointed to Govern, and anything else amounts to Chaos.

That dawg don' hunt

[Ricardo]

Over the next 15 days, law-makers will discuss the measure, which would amount to a "constitutional coup".

Constitutional reform as proposed does not amount to this kind of alarmism, and what follows in the article.

I understand why the Opposition would be against changing a constitution they carefull crafted for their own purposes, but that is why we have elections.

To correct those matters.

The red shirts are flexing their muscles

Elections facilitate victors enabling their election promises.

So perhaps this would be more accurately stated as "flexing electoral muscles".

The next election about three years from now, will render judgment on these initiatives.

"That is why we have elections"

Surely elections are about who forms the next government ? For example the 2011-election was about a whole slew of policies, from different parties, which the people then voted on. One of the PTP's policies was a commitment to unspecified changes in the Constitution.

But an election does not give a government any right to unilaterally impose a new Constitution, without asking the people, does it ?

A totally-new Constitution (as suggested in this article) ought to be validated by a national-referendum, in a democratic-country like this, even the junta-appointed military-government of former-PM Sorayud recognised this. PTP must surely want to be seen to be at-least as democratic as a military government ?

So a national-referendum is surely going to be necessary, indeed PM-Yingluck is reported (in the 25th December edition of the Nation) as saying "In general, I agree with having a national referendum. But we will have to see what we want (in the Charter) ... and what it's content is. Then we can ask the people."

It's not clear who she meant by "we", in that statement, perhaps she meant her government, or did she mean only her own party ?

But "Then we can ask the people" is a totally clear commitment to a referendum, isn't it ?

She is reported as having gone on to decline to say whether charter-change would benefit the country. One might wonder why the Prime Minister might decline to answer such a question, or might be open to any possibility of change which was against the country's benefit, what can she have been thinking of ?

Former-PM Abhisit has already made it clear that he views a complete new Constitution as requiring a Referendum. Who can disagree with him ? Not to hold such a referendum would indeed be a "Constitutional Coup", don't PTP claim to be against that sort of thing ?

[MikeOboe57]

Look at those two massive slongs drapped over that guys shoulders on the left.

No wonder he looks like he soiled himself.

Please re-check spelling of slongs, but then again, maybe the color gives it away...

I've seen similar pictures in Germany. There this event is called "Karneval" or "Fassenacht" and the main purpose of it is to get pissed and laid.

[whybother]

Over the next 15 days, law-makers will discuss the measure, which would amount to a "constitutional coup".

Constitutional reform as proposed does not amount to this kind of alarmism, and what follows in the article.

I understand why the Opposition would be against changing a constitution they carefull crafted for their own purposes, but that is why we have elections.

To correct those matters.

The red shirts are flexing their muscles

Elections facilitate victors enabling their election promises.

So perhaps this would be more accurately stated as "flexing electoral muscles".

The next election about three years from now, will render judgment on these initiatives.

I generally agree with you (which is really surprising), except, when did the Demcrats carefully craft any constitution?

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[Moruya]

Every day is chaos.

Today we have the case of Ekayuth saying he was attacked by Yingluck/Thaksin's entourage.

Chalerm saying it wasn't a member of Yingluck's team that attacked him because they don't wear jeans and they had already left the hotel

Yingluck claiming that she wasn't there at all.

Lies, damned lies and, well, you couldn'y make this stuff up coukd you?

[siampolee]

“Where in the world is a single-party government called a dictatorship? What's wrong with it when people have faith in me?” '' democracy is not our aim",

Two of Thaksin Shinawatra coments

This is or was the Thaksin solution to democracy and unity.

I'm in charge no-one else.

'Do as I say not as I do.'

The Thaksin One man Band.

Unity and its outcome are about everyone working together to achieve a common end.

Unity will not result from the actions of an ego maniacal power mad money grubber and his acolytes intent on being able to feather their own nests at the expense of the general public.

Edited February 10, 2012 by siampolee