BURNING ISSUE
It's time for everyone to just sit down and talk
Samudcha Hunsara
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- On Monday morning, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced the dissolution of the House of Representatives just as thousands of protesters and their supporters were preparing to march to Government House. They were marching to press for the setting up of a "People's Council" that could help reform the country's politics.

The dissolution of the House came as expected. A key government figure had expected Yingluck to dissolve the House soon after His Majesty's birthday on December 5, due mainly to the increased pressure and some "extreme demands" from the protest leaders.

The Yingluck government, which came to power on August 2011, has undergone much pressure and criticism. Belief that it was massively influenced by Yingluck's brother - former PM Thaksin Shinawatra - and that he was behind the government-backed blanket amnesty bill led to widespread public outrage against the so-called "Thaksin regime".

In addition to the controversial bill, this administration has also been slammed for its moves to amend the Constitution and introducing questionable projects, such as the loss-making rice-pledging scheme, the Bt350-billion water-management and flood-prevention plan and the Bt2-trillion loan to fund transport infrastructure projects.

Obviously, the government and the ruling Pheu Thai Party only have themselves to blame for what has happened. For starters, they let Thaksin have too much influence in the administration, reviving the fear of a "Thaksin regime" and giving his enemies a chance to use this "ghost" to mobilise public support against the government.

Yingluck has tried to ease the political pressure by offering to have a dialogue with the protest leaders and the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), and by agreeing to the growing calls for political reform.

Meanwhile, key figures in the ruling Pheu Thai Party continue to be confident of strong support from the red-shirt movement, despite the mounting pressure. The ruling coalition is also relying on the backing it is getting from several groups and academics calling for the future to take a "democratic course" and for the elections to be held on February 2 as scheduled.

At the moment, nobody really knows what this ongoing confrontation will lead to. Suthep Thaugsuban and his PDRC want Yingluck and her Cabinet to resign en masse so a neutral interim government can be put in place and a People's Council set up. Yingluck and her government have turned down this demand and are instead suggesting that a forum with all those involved be held in order to find a solution for the country. She is also insisting that the elections be held on February 2 as planned. The PDRC, however, is ignoring her proposals.

Hence, it appears as if both sides are standing firm on their original stance and a dialogue seems to be quite out of question for now.

Let's hope that both ruling politicians and protest leaders will finally step back and listen to each other. However, it is time they realised that it is in Thailand's best interest if they all sat down and started talking to each other.

Of course, a mediator would be needed to keep things calm.

Like an ancient treatise on the Art of War says, the best way to fight is not to fight at all.


-- The Nation 2013-12-13

Obviously, the government and the ruling Pheu Thai Party only have themselves to blame for what has happened. For starters, they let Thaksin have too much influence in the administration, reviving the fear of a "Thaksin regime" and giving his enemies a chance to use this "ghost" to mobilise public support against the government.

Can't argue with that statement, but some of Sutheps demands are ridiculous. I don't think Thais will agree with deporting the entire family, or an unelected PM. Some kind of panel, comprised of academics, business people and lawyers might work, i hope so. If the current divide continues, the country will be torn in two.

Thailand has been talking, puffing and blustering at each other for decades and decades. It's time to stop the talk, bluster and puffing and start executing some action. The whole world knows that Thailand is full of hot air on all these broken promises and constant agenda posturing. Name some clean people's reps in all the northern and southern provinces with equal representation. Clear out all the old guard in Bangkok. Tax property, parking, and capital gains and get serious about funding a revamped education system. Get rid of all the old Thai hacks.

Thailand has been talking, puffing and blustering at each other for decades and decades. It's time to stop the talk, bluster and puffing and start executing some action. The whole world knows that Thailand is full of hot air on all these broken promises and constant agenda posturing. Name some clean people's reps in all the northern and southern provinces with equal representation. Clear out all the old guard in Bangkok. Tax property, parking, and capital gains and get serious about funding a revamped education system. Get rid of all the old Thai hacks.

Hooray. Finally sense.

It's time to start locking up people.. Yellow,,red, democrat,ptp who have broken the law. Suthep can share with sondhi.

All of them

I await korn, abhisit and a greenie trying to make a parliament.

Thailand has been talking, puffing and blustering at each other for decades and decades. It's time to stop the talk, bluster and puffing and start executing some action. The whole world knows that Thailand is full of hot air on all these broken promises and constant agenda posturing. Name some clean people's reps in all the northern and southern provinces with equal representation. Clear out all the old guard in Bangkok. Tax property, parking, and capital gains and get serious about funding a revamped education system. Get rid of all the old Thai hacks.

Hooray. Finally sense.

It's time to start locking up people.. Yellow,,red, democrat,ptp who have broken the law. Suthep can share with sondhi.

All of them

I await korn, abhisit and a greenie trying to make a parliament.

It's time for the Thai press to stand up and start writing news and doing investigative journalism truthfully. Eliminate all the nonsensical duplicitous stories pandering to corrupt people, companies, and institutions. The Thai press needs to take responsibility for leading the charge and calling them out relentlessly.

Who are the politicians and government officials north, east, and south of Bangkok? We never get news and information on any breaking news reports on discovery and/or follow up on criminal activity and corruption -Who is going to jail for human trafficking, elephant ivory, endangered animal trafficking? Who is being hauled out in handcuffs for running counterfeit property trade and currency laundering?

When the Thai press shows up, then we will know that Thailand is on the move for positive change. Until then it appears that the Thai press is complicit in all these corrupt coverups.

I'm not sure how a minority opinion has been able to whip up so much hatred for Thaksin. From what I have researched, he did so much for Thailand infrastructure wise and moved towards creative thinking for the future from a business man's perspective. Built an incredible airport, sky train system, socialized medicine policy and arrested the Mayor of Pattaya, a known Mafia kingpin among many others. Was it because he refused to play ball with "regulars" who were making all the corruption money. Seems like these people lost their corruption money and want blood.

I would rather have someone that takes advantage of the loopholes in the system for personal gain than someone who down right steals and bribes to gain wealth. The loopholes can then be closed democratically. The only one who deserves to be Prime Minister is the one voted in by the people of Thailand. Any other trying to take power outside of the democratic process is a totalitarian dictator.

By definition: Totalitarianism - a system of highly centralized government in which one political party or group takes control and grants neither recognition nor tolerance to other political groups.

I'm not sure how a minority opinion has been able to whip up so much hatred for Thaksin. From what I have researched, he did so much for Thailand infrastructure wise and moved towards creative thinking for the future from a business man's perspective. Built an incredible airport, sky train system, socialized medicine policy and arrested the Mayor of Pattaya, a known Mafia kingpin among many others. Was it because he refused to play ball with "regulars" who were making all the corruption money. Seems like these people lost their corruption money and want blood.

I would rather have someone that takes advantage of the loopholes in the system for personal gain than someone who down right steals and bribes to gain wealth. The loopholes can then be closed democratically. The only one who deserves to be Prime Minister is the one voted in by the people of Thailand. Any other trying to take power outside of the democratic process is a totalitarian dictator.

By definition: Totalitarianism - a system of highly centralized government in which one political party or group takes control and grants neither recognition nor tolerance to other political groups.

You seriously need to read more, this is like the total opposite of the truth, was this intended as sarcasm ? It isn't really clear...

You need to clarify the "truth". I base my statements on research, not opinion.