Thai editorial: Old soldiers never die

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Old soldiers never die
The Nation

The leaders of the anti-government yellow-shirt movement have announced their "retirement" from the political stage, but a comeback cannot be ruled out

BANGKOK: -- Since the day it was born, the People's Alliance for Democracy has been breathing irony. Set up by a man once regarded as Thaksin Shinawatra's frontline cheerleader, the PAD was one of the main reasons why the former premier was overthrown and forced to leave Thailand, becoming a fugitive who still wields a divisive influence over the country. The word "democracy" in the group's name has been ridiculed here and abroad. When the PAD's leaders announced last week that they were putting their activism on hold, sceptics said Thaksin's money might have had something to do with it.

The PAD leaders are leaving centre stage, or so it seems, with a parting shot at the Democrats. The movement is putting itself into semi-retirement after making another controversial call - this time for the Democrats to resign en masse from Parliament and join forces with it in a full-scale street campaign against the ruling party. That call was mild considering the previous invasion and occupation of Government House, the seizure of the international airport and attempts to scuttle an election with a "no" vote and a depiction of Parliament as a menagerie that housed savage beasts.

A simple analysis of the PAD's latest move is that the uneasy alliance with the Democrats could only go so far. Their previous estrangement contributed more or less to the Pheu Thai Party's sweeping election victory in 2011, but it's too soon to say how much damage the current break-up will cause the opposition party.

Over the years, the PAD has become embittered. When the Democrats were in power, the movement believed it didn't get what a good friend deserved. When the Democrats were in the opposition, the movement viewed them as anything but courageous.

A peaceful Democrat-led rally against the Pheu Thai Party's amnesty bill ended too soon for the PAD's liking. Contempt was obvious among the yellow shirts after pro-Democrat PAD protesters who walked with their politicians to Parliament were told to go home once they reached there. The anticlimax amplified the differences between the allies. PAD protesters would have been far more aggressive, while the Democrats are trapped by charismatic ex-leader Chuan Leekpai's famous statement that the party is a loyal servant of the "parliamentary system".

The PAD's leaders have been vague about the movement's future. Sondhi Limthongkul still sounded critical of Thaksin, but that didn't stop speculation that he might be making a drastic turnaround when it comes to the ex-prime minister. The PAD leader's "readiness" to join the red shirts and fight for "real reform" if they can "overcome" the Thaksin issue was ambiguous at best and meaningless at worst. To begin with, Thaksin and the red-shirt leaders can't live without each other at the moment.

The PAD's foes might welcome its move more than its allies do, though. For the public, it comes down to whether serious national problems can be sorted out the way they're supposed to be - in Parliament. The Pheu Thai Party ruling unchallenged is a "democratic" possibility, but Thailand has learned lessons on how things can go wrong if a mandate is misinterpreted. The country has also learned that many wrongs still cannot make a right, since the extremism advocated by the PAD opened the way for military opportunism and gave the red shirts an excuse for their own aggravation.

To the PAD's critics, the bad news is that the retirement declaration is full of hints of a future return. As for its supporters, they might already be counting down the days to a comeback.


-- The Nation 2013-08-31

[bigbamboo]

Perhaps the article should have read 'Old soldiers never die but like so many Thai political parties and Thai women they just change their name'.

[NongKhaiKid]

Old soldiers in Thailand never die but they do get into politics, get seats on company boards like Thai Airways or get comfortable, well paying sinecures where their name as a consultant or whatever is enough, no need to actually do anything.

[billd766]

Old soldiers like Chavalit Yongchaiyudh (whio actually was a soldier), Banharn Silpa Archa spring to my mind.

Both over 80 and are still sort of active in Thai politics long after their best before date.

They should retire and grow roses or whatever but definitely NOT stay in politics.