BURNING ISSUE
Stage seems set for return to vicious cycle of political conflict
Attayuth Bootsripoom
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- As the new parliamentary session approaches, the political situation is becoming intense. Detractors and rivals of the government are taking to the streets after having waited for two years, since the ruling coalition came to power.

The government has been accused repeatedly of corruption, favouritism, unfair treatment, double standards and acting for the benefit of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. The apparent goal is to undermine the government's legitimacy in running the country.

To the government's detractors, the last straw is its plan to push for an amnesty law for protesters. A bill proposed by a group of MPs from the ruling Pheu Thai Party has been tabled for House deliberation next Wednesday.

Government critics and the opposition say the main beneficiaries from the proposed law would be red-shirt protesters who committed severe criminal offences during the 2010 unrest, such as rioting, theft, arson and murder. Ordinary protesters who violated the state of emergency law and the Internal Security Act invoked during the unrest have all completed their jail terms.

The opposition Democrat Party has made it clear that they will vote against the amnesty bill. They also have vowed to campaign against such a law both inside and outside Parliament.

For those committing criminal offences, red-shirt leaders and Pheu Thai have argued that their violations stemmed from their political ideology, so they deserve amnesty. Red shirts, who are Pheu Thai supporters, also have vowed to gather outside Parliament to protect the government.

A group of militant anti-government protesters have been trained by former Army captain Songklod Chuenchuphol, in the same way as the late red-shirt strategist Maj-General Khattiya Sawatdiphol did, ahead of the red shirts' major rallies in 2010.

With confrontation looming between both sides, the political situation again has become volatile.

The government appears to be more skilful than its predecessors in dealing with protesters. The efficient police crackdown on Pitak Siam protesters in November last year was proof.

This government has insisted that its intelligence units provide actual estimates and assessments of protesters and their numbers. As a result, it has good knowledge about its enemies. Moreover, the government has command over a large number of supporters.

The authorities appear to have taken a hard stance against the anti-government demonstrators who plan to protest against the amnesty bill next week. Crowd-control police used live teargas bombs during their recent exercise at Government House. That seems to be intended as a warning to protesters that they will be handled in the same way as the Pitak Siam crowd last year.

Such a stance against anti-government protesters may lead to a negative perception of the Pheu Thai-led administration. The police appear to tolerate street demonstrations and aggressive acts by the red shirts against anti-government protesters. Government figures spoke in support of their acts, describing them as "expression of democratic viewpoints". This has led to the feeling of unfair treatment and double standards.

This standpoint by law enforcers and ruling politicians and the belligerent stance of the government's enemies threaten to take the country back to a vicious cycle of political conflict. They are like adding fuel to the fire. With more and more of this, a new disaster looks inevitable.


-- The Nation 2013-08-01

Thaksin and the red shirts are determined to whitewash their crimes by using their parliamentary majority.

No Thai with any conscience can stand by and let that happen.

Return to ? Political viciousness has never gone away

"This government has insisted that its intelligence units provide actual estimates and assessments of protesters and their numbers. As a result, it has good knowledge about its enemies."

This reminds me of G.W.Bushe's 'you are either with us or against us' speech after 9/11 and sums up all that is wrong with this situation.

The protesters are not the enemies of the government. They are Thai citizens whom the government represents irrespective of perceived bias or political affiliation. When Thai people call other Thai people their enemy it is clear that Yinglucks promise to bring reconciliation in her election manifesto is dead. The wound is still open and there has been no healing, this amnesty bill is the equivalent of using a band aid to fix a broken leg.

Incidentally, one wonders why the youth of Thailand seem increasingly open to the idea of using violence to solve even minor problems. Well, the message seems clear from government to the people; if you are my enemy we will fight, this message has been heard loud and clear and is being acted on in social situations as a bench mark for dealing with all manner of personal and social conflicts up and down the country,

"This government has insisted that its intelligence units provide actual estimates and assessments of protesters and their numbers. As a result, it has good knowledge about its enemies."

This reminds me of G.W.Bushe's 'you are either with us or against us' speech after 9/11 and sums up all that is wrong with this situation.

The protesters are not the enemies of the government. They are Thai citizens whom the government represents irrespective of perceived bias or political affiliation. When Thai people call other Thai people their enemy it is clear that Yinglucks promise to bring reconciliation in her election manifesto is dead. The wound is still open and there has been no healing, this amnesty bill is the equivalent of using a band aid to fix a broken leg.

Incidentally, one wonders why the youth of Thailand seem increasingly open to the idea of using violence to solve even minor problems. Well, the message seems clear from government to the people; if you are my enemy we will fight, this message has been heard loud and clear and is being acted on in social situations as a bench mark for dealing with all manner of personal and social conflicts up and down the country,

The "enemies" comment stuck out like dogs balls.

Agreed with your post fully.

More bloodshed is coming.

It seems thaksinism is to be the new religion of Thailand, with the legal right to kill, maim and burn in the name of their little tin god.

For those committing criminal offences, red-shirt leaders and Pheu Thai have argued that their violations stemmed from their political ideology, so they deserve amnesty.

Am off to rob a bank, then burn it down, then commit various other criminal offences . . . cos my political ideology says I can do this and therefore I'll get amnesty. Seems fair, right? Bunch of clowns.

"The government appears to be more skilful than its predecessors in dealing with protesters. The efficient police crackdown on Pitak Siam protesters in November last year was proof."

"This government has insisted that its intelligence units provide actual estimates and assessments of protesters and their numbers. As a result, it has good knowledge about its enemies. Moreover, the government has command over a large number of supporters."

efficient police crackdown? Rather like using napalm to wipe out an ants nest.

government------------intelligence???

Let the games begin!

For those committing criminal offences, red-shirt leaders and Pheu Thai have argued that their violations stemmed from their political ideology, so they deserve amnesty.

Am off to rob a bank, then burn it down, then commit various other criminal offences . . . cos my political ideology says I can do this and therefore I'll get amnesty. Seems fair, right? Bunch of clowns.

This could be ended easily by Thaksin's death. If he really wants "reunion" as he said, so he should know what he must do. Or in other way, that Al-Qaeda claim-to-be group might bring peace back to Thailand unintentionally.

Yawn.....sorry, did something happen in Thai politics lately?

For those committing criminal offences, red-shirt leaders and Pheu Thai have argued that their violations stemmed from their political ideology, so they deserve amnesty.

Am off to rob a bank, then burn it down, then commit various other criminal offences . . . cos my political ideology says I can do this and therefore I'll get amnesty. Seems fair, right? Bunch of clowns.

Tatsujin - though accurate your comment is not original.

Your list of suggested criminal activities resulted in a Dubai residence for Thailand's number one Crime Family head.

Tatsujin - though accurate your comment is not original.

Your list of suggested criminal activities resulted in a Dubai residence for Thailand's number one Crime Family head.

What's your point?

This may be a ploy to attract a better class of tourists, if you could describe anarchists that way.

Tatsujin - though accurate your comment is not original.

Your list of suggested criminal activities resulted in a Dubai residence for Thailand's number one Crime Family head.

Ah, such a shame . . . sarcasm is totally lost on some people

Tatsujin - though accurate your comment is not original.

Your list of suggested criminal activities resulted in a Dubai residence for Thailand's number one Crime Family head.

And actually, you're wrong yet again . . . the man in Dubai is in residence there because he ran away instead of facing the offences he was convicted of . . . which were basically tax/fraud/money related . . . it had nothing to do with terrorism, violence, rioting etc.

I do agree however that he is the head of the largest criminal syndicate in Thailand.

Tatsujin - though accurate your comment is not original.

Your list of suggested criminal activities resulted in a Dubai residence for Thailand's number one Crime Family head.

And actually, you're wrong yet again . . . the man in Dubai is in residence there because he ran away instead of facing the offences he was convicted of . . . which were basically tax/fraud/money related . . . it had nothing to do with terrorism, violence, rioting etc.

I do agree however that he is the head of the largest criminal syndicate in Thailand.

I thought the head of the yellow shirts was.

Thai politics are so confusing!

Tatsujin - though accurate your comment is not original.

Your list of suggested criminal activities resulted in a Dubai residence for Thailand's number one Crime Family head.

And actually, you're wrong yet again . . . the man in Dubai is in residence there because he ran away instead of facing the offences he was convicted of . . . which were basically tax/fraud/money related . . . it had nothing to do with terrorism, violence, rioting etc.

I do agree however that he is the head of the largest criminal syndicate in Thailand.

Life imitates art. And you have to feel a little sorry for the 'clean' sibling (Michael/Yingluk) dragged into the family mire after vicious attacks on the Godfather.

Interested how divided it all gets.

Both this government and the previous one promised to adopt the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee set up by the Democrat led government in 2010.

One of the recommendations was an amnesty for supporters of both sides who committed lesser crimes stemming from their political beliefs. So, why all the fuss? Better to wait until the reading and see whether it's just lesser crimes or all.

Edited August 1, 201312 yr by airconsult

Interested how divided it all gets.

Both this government and the previous one promised to adopt the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee set up by the Democrat lead government in 2010.

One of the recommendations was an amnesty for supporters of both sides who committed lesser crimes stemming from their political beliefs. So, why all the fuss? Better to wait until the reading and see whether it's just lesser crimes or all.

Is arson a "lesser crime"?

Some of us remember Thaksin's phone conversation re how this could be manipulated to include him, and that would presumably apply to the "leaders" currently avoiding prosecution due to their MP status.

Interested how divided it all gets.

Both this government and the previous one promised to adopt the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee set up by the Democrat lead government in 2010.

One of the recommendations was an amnesty for supporters of both sides who committed lesser crimes stemming from their political beliefs. So, why all the fuss? Better to wait until the reading and see whether it's just lesser crimes or all.

Is arson a "lesser crime"?

Some of us remember Thaksin's phone conversation re how this could be manipulated to include him, and that would presumably apply to the "leaders" currently avoiding prosecution due to their MP status.

I think it's fairly obvious that arson is not a "lesser crime", but people seem to be getting quite excited about shouting down the proposed amnesty before even reading what it contains.

If it just contains amnesty for breaking the ISA rules on gatherings is that ok? Or should it include trespass as well? I don't know, and we won't know until it's read in.

*removed dup submit

Edited August 1, 201312 yr by airconsult

"The government appears to be more skilful than its predecessors in dealing with protesters. The efficient police crackdown on Pitak Siam protesters in November last year was proof."

I am fearful that the new-era need for camera viewing / recording devices and other surveillance systems already in place in parts of Thailand would be used for more than what the public thinks. Most people are unaware of the actual dangers and potential of the systems and it is no wonder why the youth has an attitude of violence when their voices seem not to be heard. Frustration looms in the minds of the youth and there may not be any other solution for them than violence. The rich and powerful never came up the ranks and the term "Democracy" may only be a word to keep the masses quiet. The people want representation, honesty and a fair chance to make their lives better.

Return to ? Political viciousness has never gone away

Thai society in general is vicious ... little empathy and no time wasted on emotions...