Thai editorial: Let's rouse true national conscience tomorrow

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Let's rouse true national conscience tomorrow
The Nation

Whether you are for or against the election, we all a share common duty in preventing violence

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has probably gone beyond the debate on the right to vote or not to vote. In other words, arguing about it now in the face of a looming crisis is not going to help anybody. What is of utmost importance tomorrow - when some of us are determined to try and solve national problems at the ballot box while others look on with great contempt - is that everyone must do his or her very best to prevent violence.

Sunday has yet to happen. There are a few hours left for warring parties to realise that violence will do no one any good. For all their ideological differences, all Thais should at least share one common value. And that value is that all power plays should have their limit. No matter how far they go or plan to go, no one should get killed or hurt.

Polling stations will be blocked. Confrontations will occur. Security forces will be deployed. The threats of violence are very real. Any remaining doubts about that disappeared during the advanced ballot a week ago, when chaos reigned and a protest leader was murdered in broad daylight. You don't need to be an expert to know that last Sunday was a prelude to something potentially far worse.

Constitutional and legal punishment prescribed for people who fail to cast their vote in elections means that it's each citizen's duty to go to the polls. Anti-government protesters, citing the government's own "lack of respect" for the Constitution, are boycotting this election. That's their right, but they must not obstruct people who think otherwise. They must not cause harm to people who want to cast their ballots.

And the same goes for the other side. Protests against elections are controversial, to say the least, but there are also limits to observe when dealing with them. Last week's murder of Suthin Taratin, who was campaigning against voting at Wat Sri-iam, crossed the line. Regardless of whether Suthin was breaking the law or obstructing voters' rights, what happened to him is unjustifiable.

Some would say we can't have it both ways, that we should either renounce the election or wholeheartedly support it. But the point is that renouncing the election or condemning the protesters is not going to help now. Thailand, already embroiled in a major crisis, is rolling toward even more dangerous territory. The only way to prevent the worst-case scenario is for everyone to realise how important it is to avoid violence this weekend.

It won't be over soon, violence or no violence. There are too many legal and political landmines down the road, even if the election miraculously brings about a new government. Results will be bitterly challenged or protested and there might be grounds for the poll to be nullified. But if Thailand gets through tomorrow without bloodshed, it might just be a tiny glimmer of hope. Violence, on the other hand, will trap us in a very bad situation for a very long time.

We have seen it before and we are in danger of seeing it again. Violence feeds on itself, meaning one "small" incident can lead to a bigger one, and so on. We have a few hours before tomorrow comes to wake up that national conscience which has been asleep for much too long. That conscience is called compassion, and it wears no colours.


-- The Nation 2014-02-01

[noitom]

The most dangerous person is the person with nothing to lose.

[NongKhaiKid]

Err, what colour is the true national conscience ?

Is it red, yellow or more likely the colour of money.

[Thai at Heart]

Of course, the demonstrators and the nation wouldn't want to explain how these peaceful protestors might suddenly morph into a violent rabble if the general population dared to go toe to toe with them

[Cricketnut]

Bit late for this editorial don't you think...

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 8.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[englishoak]

Meh don't tell the English readers we already know how ridiculous and dangerous this all is... tell it to the Thais ... pref in Thai so they can understand ... bit late now though anyway

[pipkins]

Cowardly Thais, mostly in the media, too scared to call Suthep the Fascist he is will let the mob beat up people in the street (pics went viral yesterday with the tuk tuk guy? ) all in the hope that they won't be next. Trying to roll it out as 2 sides in the wrong need to meet in the middle... It is not.

What it is, and how most outside media clearly see it, and how all western Gov and NGO see it is

Aspiring fascist Dictatorship, top down rule from elites --- V -- Democracy.

Up to you now. And the choice is vote or enter civil war.

The eyes of the world are on Thailand, and we see on very small violent mob unleashed by the Amart to make violence so their partners in the army can be seen to restore order. Nobody has bought it as it is a 100 year old tactic of Musollini!!! Only a few thias are going along with it, so it won't wash on the worlds stage if there is judiciial coup

Fascisim is what it is and if Thai/s are too cowardly to stand up,,,, they are going down the pan with the country. Entrenched regimes such as sutheps will take decades to clear out if you give him the power. Up to you, and good luck to the Country.

Edited February 1, 2014 by pipkins

[Artisi]

Meh don't tell the English readers we already know how ridiculous and dangerous this all is... tell it to the Thais ... pref in Thai so they can understand ... bit late now though anyway

Agreed, it never ceases to amaze me how the so-called English language "news" addresses the English readers as if we have a say in the outcome. What we want is unbiased, properly researched reporting, we can handle the poor English but not the bullsh1t that is passed on as "news".

[pipkins]

Meh don't tell the English readers we already know how ridiculous and dangerous this all is... tell it to the Thais ... pref in Thai so they can understand ... bit late now though anyway

Don't we just.

The mob in the street down to its last few hundred engaging in another on camera series of severe beatings is 1920'2 and 30's Italy and Germany.

The Education system has totally failed the middle class if even 2 of them belive a word of suthep.

This is how it starts. Thailand wake up. You will not get rid of the Elite if you let Suthep in. Looks good and feels good for the sheep to be in a big crowd.

Millions as there were supporting Musollini... THE LOST, !!! Took 20 years war, but they lost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaq8xmjcfpE

[Halion]

Rather pathetic myopic article dribbling on about what everyone knows already.and it ends by asking for compassion which tends to suggest that the author has little idea of either the issues or the Thai psyche.

[blackman]

Meh don't tell the English readers we already know how ridiculous and dangerous this all is... tell it to the Thais ... pref in Thai so they can understand ... bit late now though anyway

Don't we just.

The mob in the street down to its last few hundred engaging in another on camera series of severe beatings is 1920'2 and 30's Italy and Germany.

The Education system has totally failed the middle class if even 2 of them belive a word of suthep.

This is how it starts. Thailand wake up. You will not get rid of the Elite if you let Suthep in. Looks good and feels good for the sheep to be in a big crowd.

Millions as there were supporting Musollini... THE LOST, !!! Took 20 years war, but they lost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaq8xmjcfpE

pipkins

member for 2 weeks

520 posts in favor of thaksins team

[Artisi]

Meh don't tell the English readers we already know how ridiculous and dangerous this all is... tell it to the Thais ... pref in Thai so they can understand ... bit late now though anyway

Don't we just.

The mob in the street down to its last few hundred engaging in another on camera series of severe beatings is 1920'2 and 30's Italy and Germany.

The Education system has totally failed the middle class if even 2 of them belive a word of suthep.

This is how it starts. Thailand wake up. You will not get rid of the Elite if you let Suthep in. Looks good and feels good for the sheep to be in a big crowd.

Millions as there were supporting Musollini... THE LOST, !!! Took 20 years war, but they lost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaq8xmjcfpE

pipkins

member for 2 weeks

520 posts in favor of thaksins team

Fishy, that was pretty evident from about the second post.

Edited February 1, 2014 by Artisi

[CosmicSurfer]

Amen !!!

[pisico]

Meh don't tell the English readers we already know how ridiculous and dangerous this all is... tell it to the Thais ... pref in Thai so they can understand ... bit late now though anyway

Don't we just.

The mob in the street down to its last few hundred engaging in another on camera series of severe beatings is 1920'2 and 30's Italy and Germany.

The Education system has totally failed the middle class if even 2 of them belive a word of suthep.

This is how it starts. Thailand wake up. You will not get rid of the Elite if you let Suthep in. Looks good and feels good for the sheep to be in a big crowd.

Millions as there were supporting Musollini... THE LOST, !!! Took 20 years war, but they lost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaq8xmjcfpE

It happened already in Thailand. Thais are quite comfortable with Totalitarianism. A brief synopsis.

Phibulsonggram supported fascism and nationalism. Together with Luang Wichiwathakan, the Minister of Propaganda, he built a leadership clut to personality in 1938.

Read on, please:

In 1939, Phibunsongkhram changed the country's name from Siam to Thailand.

Did anyone went to the streets to protest this change of one of the all so important Thai traditions?

In 1941, in the midst of World War II, he decreed January 1 as the official start of the new year instead of the traditional April 13, akin to the Chinese New Year. Nobody complained nor went on to the streets to protest this change in age old traditions.

The Japanese invaded Thailand on December 8, 1941, (because of the international date line this occurred an hour and a half before the attack on Pearl Harbor), Phibunsongkhram ordered a general ceasefire after just one day of resistance (by a Police detail in Samut Phrakan) and allow the Japanese armies to use the country as a base for their invasions of Burma and Malaya.

The following month, on January 25, 1942, Phibunsongkhram declared war on Britain and the United States.

SOURCES:

WIKIPEDIA and Aldrich, Richard J. The Key to the South: Britain, the United States, and Thailand during the Approach of the Pacific War, 1929-1942. Oxford University Press, 1993. ISBN 0-19-588612-7

I suggest the blind gun-ho anti-Thaksinistas to go to the intersection Informally called Samjek Fai chai (Charansanitwong and Phran Nok) and there, under the pedestrians bridge on Phran Nok read a Plaque describing how Thais had to position giant search lights to be ready against the air raids of the Allied Forces during Second World War. No mention at all that it was the Japanese who were de facto ruling Thailand or that Thailand had declared war to the UK and the US. Learn from history and extrapolate.

While he was Deputy Prime Minister Suthep publicly said to the domestic and international Media that he did not like, he did not trust Farang. This just before the last election the Democrats predictably lost.

If Suthep succeeds in this power grab, what could make us think that he will restore democratic values and the Rule of Law to Thailand?

[Cnxforever]

".......even if the election miraculously brings about a new government. Results will be bitterly challenged or protested and there might be grounds for the poll to be nullified" ??????

Why should - if the election brings a new government - the results be protested and challenged?? Because the election did not bring the outcome desired by certain people?

The people boycotting and not voting have zero right to protest after! If you do willingly not take part in the democratic process you have no right to whine afterwards!

They can "challenge" a possible government in the next elections then - that's how it's done - with all the mistakes this government has made it should have been easy to win over enough voters to win or at least send a powerfull message to PT - instead the democrats decided to put Suthep on the stage to alienate all potential swing voters - very clever!!! - Some people never seem to learn!

[Cnxforever]

Meh don't tell the English readers we already know how ridiculous and dangerous this all is... tell it to the Thais ... pref in Thai so they can understand ... bit late now though anyway

Don't we just.

The mob in the street down to its last few hundred engaging in another on camera series of severe beatings is 1920'2 and 30's Italy and Germany.

The Education system has totally failed the middle class if even 2 of them belive a word of suthep.

This is how it starts. Thailand wake up. You will not get rid of the Elite if you let Suthep in. Looks good and feels good for the sheep to be in a big crowd.

Millions as there were supporting Musollini... THE LOST, !!! Took 20 years war, but they lost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaq8xmjcfpE

pipkins

member for 2 weeks

520 posts in favor of thaksins team

With all due respect - it's a free forum - he can post whatever he likes - it is his opinion and as long as he does not break the forum rules what's wrong with that?

And if anybody is against the Democrats, PDRC, PAD or whatever it does not mean he is pro-Thaksin.

And even if he is - does it warrant a "witch-hunt"? What's next posts being "analyzed" as to where ones loyalties lie?

Is Suthep's GESTAPO already active here? "If you are not with us - you are against us!"

It's still a (relatively) free country he can support whoever he wants!

If everybody would be on the same side without an opinion would be kind of boring here really!

[pisico]

".......even if the election miraculously brings about a new government. Results will be bitterly challenged or protested and there might be grounds for the poll to be nullified" ??????

Why should - if the election brings a new government - the results be protested and challenged?? Because the election did not bring the outcome desired by certain people?

The people boycotting and not voting have zero right to protest after! If you do willingly not take part in the democratic process you have no right to whine afterwards!

They can "challenge" a possible government in the next elections then - that's how it's done - with all the mistakes this government has made it should have been easy to win over enough voters to win or at least send a powerfull message to PT - instead the democrats decided to put Suthep on the stage to alienate all potential swing voters - very clever!!! - Some people never seem to learn!

A repeat of 2006 is what Suthep has tried to foment all along.

He has changed his harangues to the "Academics, students and the Amat" the way a chameleon changes colors as it moves on different surfaces.

First it was the protest against the Amnesty (that would have favored him and Abhisit) because it could paved Thaksin's return. The bill was defeated and withdrawn then it came the next protest, and the next and the next... All along he has wily created circumstances that will foster violence by blocking, using women as shields, occupying government buildings, streets and other important thoroughfares and much more in order to provoke confrontations, as it has.

To repeat the same action and expect a different result has been deemed to be insanity. Could this moment in history be an exception to that rule? A repeat of 2006?

The drones are the uneducated students and the Amart that enjoy the favors of the military and have deep vested interests in removing any semblance of governance that includes the farmers, the poor and peasants in this chiefly agricultural country. After all, Bangkok is Thailand

The Democrats do not want to participate in elections because there will be vote buying by Thaksin and the Reds. Really?

Was there ever an election in Thailand without vote buying from all parties?

The reason they appeal to the emotional side of the urban Amart and so called students (the future professionals of this country???) is because he is aware that Thais are not keen on learning from history. In fact, Thais are not interested in history. To accept and swallow a simple claim is easier than to study and learn the events of their own country of the past 60 years or so.

Thais have develop their own brand of hubris after Pibhunsongkhram imposed new norms of behaviour to Thais, including Xenophobia (read the 12 Mandates).

Thais are not evil. They re not per se bad people. Thais are like children: thoughtless and ignorant of what can harm or destroy their lives.

[pipkins]

Enjoy the flames.!!!

Try to shut down free speach everywhere. We have been to most marches this week, have photo everything, and there is hardly anybody on them

We have less people try to shut the election down than are trying to vote. Fact.

The army are shielding the protesters against the public. Less than 50 mob at Cheang wattana today with soldiers camped both ends and in the middle. = Fact, therea re more soliders at Cheang wattana than protesters.

The media do not report this in thailand = Fact.

The Media are complicit therefore.= fact

[pisico]

Enjoy the flames.!!!

Try to shut down free speach everywhere. We have been to most marches this week, have photo everything, and there is hardly anybody on them

We have less people try to shut the election down than are trying to vote. Fact.

The army are shielding the protesters against the public. Less than 50 mob at Cheang wattana today with soldiers camped both ends and in the middle. = Fact, therea re more soliders at Cheang wattana than protesters.

The media do not report this in thailand = Fact.

The Media are complicit therefore.= fact

The Media: that self-promoting whore!

[pipkins]

Enjoy the flames.!!!

Try to shut down free speach everywhere. We have been to most marches this week, have photo everything, and there is hardly anybody on them

We have less people try to shut the election down than are trying to vote. Fact.

The army are shielding the protesters against the public. Less than 50 mob at Cheang wattana today with soldiers camped both ends and in the middle. = Fact, therea re more soliders at Cheang wattana than protesters.

The media do not report this in thailand = Fact.

The Media are complicit therefore.= fact

The Media: that self-promoting whore!

Fact and here is sutheps 200 man march to prove it. whiteshirts also occupied poling booths in north bangkok to shut the fascist out.

How many short of 6 million is this

[rreddin]

Meh don't tell the English readers we already know how ridiculous and dangerous this all is... tell it to the Thais ... pref in Thai so they can understand ... bit late now though anyway

Agreed, it never ceases to amaze me how the so-called English language "news" addresses the English readers as if we have a say in the outcome. What we want is unbiased, properly researched reporting, we can handle the poor English but not the bullsh1t that is passed on as "news".

Unbiased, properly researched reporting is elusive in most countries, but in Thailand it is non-existent.

[casualbiker]

"Cowardly Thais, mostly in the media, too scared to call Suthep the Fascist he is will let the mob beat up people in the street "

So the media are supposed to do the police's job?

also you say you have been to the places, fact. Any pictures? (because the pictures you posted are from Richard Barrows twitter feed)

also who's WE!

Edited February 1, 2014 by casualbiker

[ratcatcher]

On Blue Sky right now, Suthep having a meal on the street, many (Chinese NY)red shirt wearers among them including ST. Thida will probably be wearing daffodil yellow tomorrow.

[Issangeorge]

pipkins

member for 2 weeks

520 posts in favor of thaksins team

Let's see 520 posts times perhaps 100 per post = 52,000 not bad for two weeks, maybe the monitors should keep an eye on this guy. Then again maybe he truly believes what he says and has lots of time on his hands.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ X using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[winstonc]

Enjoy the flames.!!!

Try to shut down free speach everywhere. We have been to most marches this week, have photo everything, and there is hardly anybody on them

We have less people try to shut the election down than are trying to vote. Fact.

The army are shielding the protesters against the public. Less than 50 mob at Cheang wattana today with soldiers camped both ends and in the middle. = Fact, therea re more soliders at Cheang wattana than protesters.

The media do not report this in thailand = Fact.

The Media are complicit therefore.= fact

whose we....are you a reporter...johnathon head perhaps..

[Arkady]

Meh don't tell the English readers we already know how ridiculous and dangerous this all is... tell it to the Thais ... pref in Thai so they can understand ... bit late now though anyway

Don't we just.

The mob in the street down to its last few hundred engaging in another on camera series of severe beatings is 1920'2 and 30's Italy and Germany.

The Education system has totally failed the middle class if even 2 of them belive a word of suthep.

This is how it starts. Thailand wake up. You will not get rid of the Elite if you let Suthep in. Looks good and feels good for the sheep to be in a big crowd.

Millions as there were supporting Musollini... THE LOST, !!! Took 20 years war, but they lost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaq8xmjcfpE

Not a bad parallel Pipkins. Thaksin also demands total obedience and blahs on about democracy as Mussolini did in this film. Mussolini made the trains run on time and Thaksin wants to build a high speed train. The difference is the back drop to the fascism of the 30s was the Great Depression which is not present here. Also Mussolini ended up strung up by his ankles in a public square in Milan.

[winstonc]

Cowardly Thais, mostly in the media, too scared to call Suthep the Fascist he is will let the mob beat up people in the street (pics went viral yesterday with the tuk tuk guy? ) all in the hope that they won't be next. Trying to roll it out as 2 sides in the wrong need to meet in the middle... It is not.

What it is, and how most outside media clearly see it, and how all western Gov and NGO see it is

Aspiring fascist Dictatorship, top down rule from elites --- V -- Democracy.

Up to you now. And the choice is vote or enter civil war.

The eyes of the world are on Thailand, and we see on very small violent mob unleashed by the Amart to make violence so their partners in the army can be seen to restore order. Nobody has bought it as it is a 100 year old tactic of Musollini!!! Only a few thias are going along with it, so it won't wash on the worlds stage if there is judiciial coup

Fascisim is what it is and if Thai/s are too cowardly to stand up,,,, they are going down the pan with the country. Entrenched regimes such as sutheps will take decades to clear out if you give him the power. Up to you, and good luck to the Country.

up to you now...??? surely you meant to post this on the thai speaking forum..i doubt any here will be voting..

[blaze]

".......even if the election miraculously brings about a new government. Results will be bitterly challenged or protested and there might be grounds for the poll to be nullified" ??????

Why should - if the election brings a new government - the results be protested and challenged?? Because the election did not bring the outcome desired by certain people?

The people boycotting and not voting have zero right to protest after! If you do willingly not take part in the democratic process you have no right to whine afterwards!

They can "challenge" a possible government in the next elections then - that's how it's done - with all the mistakes this government has made it should have been easy to win over enough voters to win or at least send a powerfull message to PT - instead the democrats decided to put Suthep on the stage to alienate all potential swing voters - very clever!!! - Some people never seem to learn!

Well said Cnx.

[siampolee]

There is no worse violence than that between blood brothers.

[dude123]

Bit late for this editorial don't you think...

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 8.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Exactly. Should have been written long ago to promote peace. The media can calm a situation to a certain extent and should have done so in trying to lead the way peacefully.