Violence-Induced Blame Game Now The Political Norm: Thai Editorial

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EDITORIAL
Violence-induced blame game now the political norm
The Nation

Exploited by rivals on both sides, the 2010 bloodshed has aggravated the problem of regionalism in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Over the weekend two leading politicians confirmed what everybody already knows - Thailand is a country politically wrecked by regionalism. Meeting his party's supporters, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva all but conceded that he was at his wit's end when it comes to how to win over the Northeast. Chuwit Kamolvisit, meanwhile, pointed out that the Pheu Thai Party lost the Bangkok gubernatorial election for the same reason that prevented the Democrats from planting even one solid foothold in the Northeastern region.

What Abhisit and Chuwit did not say, though, is that, were our politics more peaceful, the regionalism would not necessarily be so bad. In many democracies, regional monopolies held by certain political parties are common. In some cases they even contribute to constructive competition. All the adversaries have to do is avoid crossing the line between fair and dirty.

Politics is about winning trust. Positive regionalism sees rivals attempting to maintain trust or "steal" it within the rules of the game. Negative regionalism sees rivals throw all the rules out of the window. In Thailand, instead of undermining people's trust in your opponent, the seeds of hatred are planted. And this kind of tactic feeds on itself.

Abhisit told his supporters the Democrat Party had been suffering from a smear campaign, which made it extremely difficult to establish a strong political base in the Northeast. Chuwit, writing on Facebook, said that, while Pheu Thai did well despite losing the Bangkok race, it was always bound to be defeated.

"The truth is, fear of Pheu Thai absolute domination still prevails in Bangkok," Chuwit said. He was of the opinion that even though Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen received more than 1 million votes, any Democrat candidate would have beaten him.

Even the Pheu Thai Party has accepted that the "fear factor" led Sukhumbhand Paribatra to comfortable victory in the gubernatorial election. Pheu Thai's analysis of the election outcome was sincere in its admission that Bangkok still doesn't trust Thailand's most popular political camp. But the party still blamed the Democrats for the widespread distrust that seemingly gripped the city just days before the election.

Opportunism was obviously at play before the Bangkok poll, as it had been when a Democrat campaign accusing Chamlong Srimuang of "leading people to their deaths" earned Abhisit's party a big election triumph in the capital after the May 1992 crisis. But opportunism can't materialise from nothing. It needs something to take advantage of.

The Pheu Thai Party was simply at the wrong end of regionalism on March 3, just as the Democrats were in the Northeast in the last general election. The political bloodshed in 2010 has been perceived differently in Bangkok and the Northeast. Regionalism that had always existed before 2010 was cemented by the political violence. When rivals blame each other for the bloody turmoil, constituents in the Northeast will never believe what the Democrats have to say, and vice versa for Pheu Thai and Bangkok's populace.

Regionalism based on a violence-induced blame game is an unhealthy situation. As some analysts always say, it can get a lot worse in Thailand before it can get better. For one reason, the blame game has become an effective tool in election campaigns. Attacking a rival's budgetary or education policies may not yield results as well or as quickly as to shout, "Murderers!" or "City burners!" Sadly, Chuwit was right when he said that those who cast ballots on March 3 do not care about new skytrain routes, efficient water-resource management, city parks or garbage collection.

It will take many years to dilute the hatred, fear and mistrust that are feeding on themselves at the moment. It's a pity because it used to be a relatively "normal" kind of regionalism, in which voters based their choices on anything but extreme hatred or a burning desire for vengeance.


-- The Nation 2013-03-13

[Robby nz]

It will take many years to dilute the hatred, fear and mistrust that are feeding on themselves at the moment. It's a pity because it used to be a relatively "normal" kind of regionalism, in which voters based their choices on anything but extreme hatred or a burning desire for vengeance.

We have to ask of course what brought this on?

PT supporters will say 'the coup' but you have to remember that there was a period of calm after the coup when 2 Thaksin proxy party were in power.

These 2 both had problems with cheating and so the Dems came to power.

Then the trouble started which in reality is what is causing the hatred, fear and mistrust today.

Had the misdeeds of that time not occurred then there would in reality be very little reason for either side stir their supporters.

The history of it all is still fresh in the minds of those of us who were here at the time but unfortunately history can be changed by repeatedly distorting the facts.

Now I fear all the efforts at reconciliation can achieve little because of different versions of the "truth".

[chainarong]

Robby NZ I think the trouble started when the Thaksin one skipped bail and started mouthing off from afar, encouraging ,egging on the faithful, then denying this was ever done, ( I;m Misunderstood) even though he was giving television and radio link encouragement to he's supporters from secret places around the world.

[nevets]

There is corruption in every country, the problem with Thailand is when court out nothing is done about, it there is no deterrent in fact it is expected because it starts in the school room and never stopped.

[Pimay1]

It will take many years to dilute the hatred, fear and mistrust that are feeding on themselves at the moment. It's a pity because it used to be a relatively "normal" kind of regionalism, in which voters based their choices on anything but extreme hatred or a burning desire for vengeance.

We have to ask of course what brought this on?

PT supporters will say 'the coup' but you have to remember that there was a period of calm after the coup when 2 Thaksin proxy party were in power.

These 2 both had problems with cheating and so the Dems came to power.

Then the trouble started which in reality is what is causing the hatred, fear and mistrust today.

Had the misdeeds of that time not occurred then there would in reality be very little reason for either side stir their supporters.

The history of it all is still fresh in the minds of those of us who were here at the time but unfortunately history can be changed by repeatedly distorting the facts.

Now I fear all the efforts at reconciliation can achieve little because of different versions of the "truth".

What brought on the 2010 burn Bangkok and Northeast city halls campaign was the seizure of Thaksins 46 billion Baht.

[muttley]

Then again one could look at the gutter standards of political journalism specificially written to "keep the flames of hate alive". Pieces such as this and soundbites from the PAD, Dr.Tul et cetera whose very raison d'etre depends on their "hate" or unwillingness to to accept reconciliation. Didn't Abhisit himself set up a Trust and Reconciliation Committee? And what of that?

Politics is about winning trust. Positive regionalism sees rivals attempting to maintain trust or "steal" it within the rules of the game. Negative regionalism sees rivals throw all the rules out of the window. In Thailand, instead of undermining people's trust in your opponent, the seeds of hatred are planted. And this kind of tactic feeds on itself.

Abhisit told his supporters the Democrat Party had been suffering from a smear campaign, which made it extremely difficult to establish a strong political base in the Northeast - so why doesn't he come up with something to counter this so called "smear campaign"?

And now he has declared that he has dedicated himself to ousting Thaksin from Politics! I mean this is the man so many of you hold up as the most intelligent politician in Thailand, the only hope, and that is his response?