Thailand deserves better democracy
Termsak Chalermpalanupap
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: --The anti-government protesters want better democracy, not less democracy. Hence they are calling for an overhaul of the political system that will put an end to widespread corruption. Failure to force reforms will leave the country in the grip of its vicious cycle of money politics, abuse of power by elected representatives, and corruption in high government. Meanwhile, the next election will only see a bigger flood of money used to retain political control.

The importance of elections in a democracy is not doubted. But can we say that Thai elections are free of intimidation, vote-buying, fair to all candidates and "clean"?

More important to democracy is legitimacy. The outcome of an election must be accepted by the general public, so that those chosen to form a new government achieve widespread recognition and respect. Election winners are entrusted with the privilege of exercising the sovereign power of the people for the people and the country. This does not mean they can do whatever they want with that power.

Winning an election is just the start of the democratic process. How elected representatives then use their position determines their legitimacy to rule. If they abuse their power through corrupt practices to enrich themselves or to advance the narrow interests of their financiers, then they lose legitimacy.

In Vietnam and China, elections are a matter of formality within their respective ruling communist parties. Can we say then that the Vietnamese and Chinese governments lack legitimacy? Certainly not. For each of them is still seen by its populace as good enough in promoting public and national interests, without any blatant abuse of power.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the Yingluck Shinawatra administration and her ruling Pheu Thai Party. Pheu Thai's abuse of its majority in the lower House in recent weeks has been widely reported. Its amnesty bill with hidden provisions to whitewash corruption charges against party financiers, including Yingluck's fugitive brother Thaksin Shinawatra, was halted in the Senate amid growing whistle-blowing protests. Next, the bill for an all-elected Senate was passed by both Houses, before being struck down by the Constitutional Court as an illegal bid to change the political system. Altogether 383 Pheu Thai MPs, including Yingluck and Pheu Thai leader and Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, plus pro-Thaksin senators now face an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). If found guilty, these lawmakers will be banned from politics for five years and prosecuted for abusing their power.

Pheu Thai's leadership vehemently criticised the Constitutional Court and openly denounced its decision. Such defiance was yet another serious violation of the charter, Article 216 of which states: "The decision of the Constitutional Court shall be deemed final and binding on the National Assembly [Parliament], Council of Ministers [Cabinet], Courts and other State organs."

Yingluck initially claimed she had nothing to do with the legislative work of her party. That may be true. But she cannot deny political responsibility, since she was nominated by Pheu Thai, and many party members serve in her Cabinet. This is why protesters are now demanding that Yingluck relinquish her current role as caretaker premier. If she calls it quits, or if the NACC finds her guilty, she will also have to stand down, leaving a "political vacuum". Then, Article 7 and Article 3 of the Constitution are applicable.

Article 7 says that for a situation not covered by any provisions in the Constitution, consideration of a solution shall be based on the convention of government in which the monarch is head of state. Article 3 states that sovereign power belongs to the Thai people. The monarch as head of state shall exercise such power through the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers and the Courts in accordance with charter provisions.

In other words, in a "political vacuum", the King can appoint a replacement caretaker premier. This is what the protesters are hoping to see. And they hope that such an interim leader will initiate major political reforms before the new general election - perhaps through a "people's assembly".

This is a practical solution to a political crisis that is uniquely Thai.

At stake is the future of the country. For evidence, just see Thailand's ranking in Transparency International's corruption perceptions index, which this year plummeted to 102nd among 177 countries, a sharp fall from 88th last year. A bill to enable the government to borrow Bt2 trillion (about US$61 billion) for infrastructure investments until 2020 was rammed through Parliament and is now being contested in the Constitutional Court. More big-ticket government spending involves borrowing Bt350 billion for flood prevention and water management.

If money politics continue as usual, then elected politicians can easily cash in on these massive government projects. If they are modest and just skim off 10 per cent off the infrastructure projects, they will be $6.3 billion richer. In fact the going rate for kickbacks in Thai public projects is reputed to be much higher, at between 20 and 40 per cent. The stark consequences of such massive corruption in Thailand are easy to find. Just take a look at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which was shabbily built during the Thaksin administrations (2001-2006), and compare it with Singapore's plush Changi.

But now a significant segment of the otherwise passive silent majority of Thais has woken up and is taking a stand. Enough is enough. No more money politics. Thailand deserves better democracy.

Dr Termsak Chalermpalanupap is a visiting research fellow at the Asean Studies Centre of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. Views stated are his personal opinions.


-- The Nation 2013-12-25

They're in the grip these Thais.

Yin Luck is a great PM her party has been elected by the people. Ahbasit is a murderer as is the secret elite that own the generals and judiciary. Power is what this is about, power the Reds want democracy the Yellows the status quo of elitism, corruption, murder of protest, bullying on the streets, poverty in the country side, poor education, retarded thinking.

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Democracy? Do you mean Democracy?

Why does nobody in international and local media name the child by its name? As long as millions and millions of votes are bought you might have - at best - a feudalism interpretation of Democracy. What this country needs is a strong ruler with honest intent leading Thailand out of this medieval mess. The present players are obviously not able, not capable or otherwise incapacitated.
I - for one - don't get it. The whole, i.e. WHOLE, country suffers; tourism (despite those lies by those creeps at TAT), export (the TAT brothers over at the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Stupid Statistics), currency (well here the Bank of Thailand cannot lie here) - you name it.

Most SMEs (like me in hospitality) haemorrhage from one high season to the next one. We had high season goodies such as closed airports, four out of ten weekends elections without booze also for all those alien non-Thai non-voters, demonstrations, stalingrad-like hostage taking of Bangkok's downtown area, supply shortages down to soda water and eggs due to logistic challenges because of floods (which never never never ever will happen again according to some statements made in Japan) etc. etc.

Thailand - Quo Vadis?

How to build an ethical democratic government in an amoral society, without freedom of press and little to no knowledge of world history or political science?

This is the question.

democracy run by the military + ultra nationalists and monarchists? not my type of democracy, thank you.

let people access to proper education, uncensored information http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com , allow open political debate without the sanction of defamation laws and article 112 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A8se-majest%C3%A9#Thailand , let them vote

democracy run by the military + ultra nationalists and monarchists? not my type of democracy, thank you.

let people access to proper education, uncensored information http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com , allow open political debate without the sanction of defamation laws and article 112, let them vote

this

Another academic writes the correct thing to say but it isn't going to happen because the country, establishment and the people aren't set up for it. In my time here I haven't met many Thais who are in the least bit interested in politics and, unfortunately perhaps, are prepared to accept how things are.

If as the author claims Thais are now interested in democracy etc. I would ask the question " in the campaigns leading up to 02 Feb how many Thais will decline money offered by voter buyers and say No because they want a clean election ? "

It's not good enough to say " I took the money but voted as I wanted anyway. " I say this because I have experience of being told this personally so the vote wasn't actually bought !

The anti-government protesters want better democracy, not less democracy

Thats why they are blockading registration and voting stations, refusing to take part in elections, and saying that farmers are too uneducated to know who is the correct person to vote for.

democracy run by the military + ultra nationalists and monarchists? not my type of democracy, thank you.

let people access to proper education, uncensored information http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com , allow open political debate without the sanction of defamation laws and article 112 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A8se-majest%C3%A9#Thailand , let them vote

Agree with you a 100%

But sadly when it comes to education, Thailand is in a catch 22 situation. Who is going to educate the educators? They are all products of the same failed system.

Feudal system and social contract= no democracy!

Simple as that!

The anti-government protesters want better democracy, not less democracy

Thats why they are blockading registration and voting stations, refusing to take part in elections, and saying that farmers are too uneducated to know who is the correct person to vote for.

Nobody is blocking registrations now, and nobody is saying that the farmers are too uneducated to know who to vote for.... they are saying that the farmers are too uneducated to 'CARE' who they vote for. Or are you attempting to tell us that the farmers are extremely sophisticated people who only care about what is good for the country as a whole?

On a separate note...

'Winning an election is just the start of the democratic process. How elected representatives then use their position determines their legitimacy to rule. If they abuse their power through corrupt practices to enrich themselves or to advance the narrow interests of their financiers, then they lose legitimacy.'

Just for those who support Thaksin and constantly harp on about how YL and PTP were democratically elected, and how Suthep and the protesters are being 'undemocratic' in protesting against its legitimacy. I won't even mention the populist policies used to grab votes at the expense of other (just as needy) infrastructural projects.

over 500 billion lost that could have been spent on other things to improve Thailand, and it isn't coming back.

How can anyone support that?

It's not good enough to say " I took the money but voted as I wanted anyway. " I say this because I have experience of being told this personally so the vote wasn't actually bought !

I've been told this also. People take the money and vote the way they want, but what a choice!!!

Is this a choice?

In the old/ home country they say we get the politicians we deserve and that is a truism.

If you pair away the b/s, and all the expectations we would like to have realised, the Thai people have a premier leading

a party the people have voted for, and accepted. They have however put that party on notice they cannot do exactly what

they like, especially concerning notable criminals.

If you forget the mongrels capitalising on the situation like Suthep, there is progress being made. The country has to expose the

criminals in government and all the deals they're slathering in.

Investigative journalism anyone?

Or are you attempting to tell us that the farmers are extremely sophisticated people who only care about what is good for the country as a whole

As much as any other citizen, yes. Sophistication is a truly relative dynamic. You can be sophisticated at surviving in harsh conditions. As for the "what is good for the country" I don't think any citizen has a monopoly on morals, and also to bracket citizens into moral groups is the breeding ground of division and tyranny.

The other points in the OP, re; post-election is the important part, this is of course what I have always believed. They need to de-nature the office of ruling party, and to introduce "progress policy watchdogs" which are checking all policies and the debate-system around those policies, with "benefits to the nation as a whole" being the prime requisite. This can all be done, with the correct people making the correct stands. However, Suthep is suggesting something entirely different.

It's not good enough to say " I took the money but voted as I wanted anyway. " I say this because I have experience of being told this personally so the vote wasn't actually bought !

I've been told this also. People take the money and vote the way they want, but what a choice!!!

Is this a choice?

In the old/ home country they say we get the politicians we deserve and that is a truism.

If you pair away the b/s, and all the expectations we would like to have realised, the Thai people have a premier leading

a party the people have voted for, and accepted. They have however put that party on notice they cannot do exactly what

they like, especially concerning notable criminals.

If you forget the mongrels capitalising on the situation like Suthep, there is progress being made. The country has to expose the

criminals in government and all the deals they're slathering in.

Investigative journalism anyone?

No chance of real investigative journalism because of the defamation laws and a very suspect legal system.

15 years for picking mushrooms !

Yin Luck is a great PM her party has been elected by the people. Ahbasit is a murderer as is the secret elite that own the generals and judiciary. Power is what this is about, power the Reds want democracy the Yellows the status quo of elitism, corruption, murder of protest, bullying on the streets, poverty in the country side, poor education, retarded thinking. Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I have a good idea who is retarded and who isn't.

Reds had democracy but Yingluck and her party decided corruption was better. If poverty in the country side then she has to pay the farmers money they owe them, poor education--she has had 2 and a half years to do something about it. Reds showed their power in 2010.

It's Xmas have a few more drinks, or cut the drinks out it is affecting your memory.

Democracy? Do you mean Democracy?

Why does nobody in international and local media name the child by its name? As long as millions and millions of votes are bought you might have - at best - a feudalism interpretation of Democracy. What this country needs is a strong ruler with honest intent leading Thailand out of this medieval mess. The present players are obviously not able, not capable or otherwise incapacitated.

I - for one - don't get it. The whole, i.e. WHOLE, country suffers; tourism (despite those lies by those creeps at TAT), export (the TAT brothers over at the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Stupid Statistics), currency (well here the Bank of Thailand cannot lie here) - you name it.

Most SMEs (like me in hospitality) haemorrhage from one high season to the next one. We had high season goodies such as closed airports, four out of ten weekends elections without booze also for all those alien non-Thai non-voters, demonstrations, stalingrad-like hostage taking of Bangkok's downtown area, supply shortages down to soda water and eggs due to logistic challenges because of floods (which never never never ever will happen again according to some statements made in Japan) etc. etc.

Thailand - Quo Vadis?

i agree thailand needs a "strong" ruler/leader but i think there is a lot of confusion about what that means...

a "strong" leader is brave enough to break free from the comfort of telling their own supporters what they want to hear about the evils of the other side

a "strong" leader is willing to admit their own mistakes and shortcomings, and make the tough decisions to fix the problems of their own party

a "strong" leader embraces democracy and puts in the hard work and effort required to win votes through honest and positive campaigning

a "strong" leader takes and holds power in a way that even those who voted for the opposition still accept the result

a "strong" leader puts the people of thailand (and their right to peace and political stability) before one's own ego and hunger for power

a "strong" leader does not force their way to power through force regardless of the destruction and death on the way

Yin Luck is a great PM her party has been elected by the people. Ahbasit is a murderer as is the secret elite that own the generals and judiciary. Power is what this is about, power the Reds want democracy the Yellows the status quo of elitism, corruption, murder of protest, bullying on the streets, poverty in the country side, poor education, retarded thinking. Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

This post is a prime example of why Thailand hasn't got the kind of democracy that it says it wants, but has the one it deserves.

Thailand deserves better democracy

No Thailand do not deserve better democracy!

After doing like this And

for centuries, they have made their own bed!!

But for the people of Thailand, I hope a working system will be in place in the near future!!

Chinese communist dictatorship is more legitimate than elected government of Thailand? Excuse me, Dr. Termsak, I think you should to China instead of Singapore and work there as a regular Chinese instructor for a couple of years, at least, or better for the rest of your life.

The anti-government protesters want better democracy, not less democracy

Thats why they are blockading registration and voting stations, refusing to take part in elections, and saying that farmers are too uneducated to know who is the correct person to vote for.

Nobody is blocking registrations now, and nobody is saying that the farmers are too uneducated to know who to vote for.... they are saying that the farmers are too uneducated to 'CARE' who they vote for. Or are you attempting to tell us that the farmers are extremely sophisticated people who only care about what is good for the country as a whole?

On a separate note...

'Winning an election is just the start of the democratic process. How elected representatives then use their position determines their legitimacy to rule. If they abuse their power through corrupt practices to enrich themselves or to advance the narrow interests of their financiers, then they lose legitimacy.'

Just for those who support Thaksin and constantly harp on about how YL and PTP were democratically elected, and how Suthep and the protesters are being 'undemocratic' in protesting against its legitimacy. I won't even mention the populist policies used to grab votes at the expense of other (just as needy) infrastructural projects.

over 500 billion lost that could have been spent on other things to improve Thailand, and it isn't coming back.

How can anyone support that?

being against suthep's planned dictatorship does not mean supporting thaksin and/or yingluck

most reasonable people can see the obvious problems with both sides

people are waiting for someone to stand up with a sensible plan for the future that will bring peace

people don't want more destruction and death

ThaiLAND certainly deserves a better democracy but most Thais certainly do not.

Not, that is, until they fully understand the meaning of democracy - warts and all.

Democracy isn't something that suddenly "appears" or can be forced upon a nation - there's a great deal of struggle, perhaps bloodshed, certainly soul searching and definitely a real change of attitude and culture needed here first - and that all takes a LOT of time...............

I take issue with the word "deserves" in the headline. Thailand does NOT deserve it; Thailand must EARN it!

You don't deserve something like Democracy by virtue of having nice weather and good food. You earn it by making the necessary SACRIFICES and societal changes that Democracy requires.

As long as corruption is tolerated and condoned, as long as press is muzzled with threat of defamation for telling the truth, as long as elected government have to fear army or police coup, as long as Thai people take "what's in it for me, screw everyone else" attitude, as long as they can't or won't think critically, as long as they kowtow to their "betters", things won't get better. Democracy is not a spectator sport. People get the government they deserve, and for the reasons cited above (plus others I have missed) Thailand deserves what they've got.

It's not good enough to say " I took the money but voted as I wanted anyway. " I say this because I have experience of being told this personally so the vote wasn't actually bought !

I've been told this also. People take the money and vote the way they want, but what a choice!!!

Is this a choice?

In the old/ home country they say we get the politicians we deserve and that is a truism.

If you pair away the b/s, and all the expectations we would like to have realised, the Thai people have a premier leading

a party the people have voted for, and accepted. They have however put that party on notice they cannot do exactly what

they like, especially concerning notable criminals.

If you forget the mongrels capitalising on the situation like Suthep, there is progress being made. The country has to expose the

criminals in government and all the deals they're slathering in.

Investigative journalism anyone?

No chance of real investigative journalism because of the defamation laws and a very suspect legal system.

15 years for picking mushrooms !

Yes Thailand deserves better democracy and the people get the politicians they deserve.

thinkingofhow, on 25 Dec 2013 - 07:53, said:

Yin Luck is a great PM her party has been elected by the people. Ahbasit is a murderer as is the secret elite that own the generals and judiciary. Power is what this is about, power the Reds want democracy the Yellows the status quo of elitism, corruption, murder of protest, bullying on the streets, poverty in the country side, poor education, retarded thinking. Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Thinking of how.............what?.......Commit suicide?????

Merry Christmas.

Yin Luck is a great PM her party has been elected by the people. Ahbasit is a murderer as is the secret elite that own the generals and judiciary. Power is what this is about, power the Reds want democracy the Yellows the status quo of elitism, corruption, murder of protest, bullying on the streets, poverty in the country side, poor education, retarded thinking. Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Please read the text first and learn before making silly comments.

About status qou, who doesn't want reform before the elections?

This article articulately summarizes the arguments that are the basis of the protest movement, regardless as to political affiliation or ideology. Reform is the only answer, and this government's idea of " reform " has proven to be nothing but an attempt to further solidify and consolidate its power.

This article articulately summarizes the arguments that are the basis of the protest movement, regardless as to political affiliation or ideology. Reform is the only answer, and this government's idea of " reform " has proven to be nothing but an attempt to further solidify and consolidate its power.

I think the PM thinks everyone has fallen off the back of a number nine bus.

Yin Luck is a great PM her party has been elected by the people. Ahbasit is a murderer as is the secret elite that own the generals and judiciary. Power is what this is about, power the Reds want democracy the Yellows the status quo of elitism, corruption, murder of protest, bullying on the streets, poverty in the country side, poor education, retarded thinking. Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yingluck is a great PM?? That is the most hilarious thing I have heard in years!!! She was not elected by the people - she was impositioned by her criminal murderer brother (he actually ordered the murder of over 2,500 people (a majority innocent civilians) in his catastrophic 'get drugs off the streets' massacre). Then there's Tak Bai where he again, made the serious error (admitted by him) of killing approximately the equivalent number of muslims as got themselves killed in unwittingly serving him in his amnesty mission in 2010.

Have you read the English version of 'The Simple Truth' - Abhisit is NO MURDERER!! Again, the murderer in question is Thaksin.

Suthep is not after power at all - he wants good governance with the flawed electoral system removed and replaced with a fair and democratic one that serves the people and nation. He would even accept a PTP government that ruled in a fit and proper way instead of ignoring democracy and parliamentary practices for it's own means and to enrich themselves at the people's expense.

I thnk that you can include yourself in being inflicted with the last three things you mention (assumes you live in the countryside).