Every action has an equal and opposite reaction: Thai politics

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction
Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK: -- The push by the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) for national reform under a non-elected government has given some pro-government red shirts a reason to toy with the idea of dividing the country.

Apparently, northerners are fed up PDRC's "my way or the highway" attitude and are planning to bring back the Kingdom of Lanna - the historical centre of which was Chiang Mai before it was fully absorbed more than a century ago into what is now Thailand.

With such talk of separatism in the air, one must ask if the PDRC has pushed its fellow Thais too far, especially when some of its members shamelessly and openly refer to the red shirts as "water buffaloes".

Society is a complex thing and the failure to see the bigger picture and complicated interactions among various groups and factors often results in failing to achieve what one first set out for. Thailand has been full of such examples over the past seven years.

While Thaksin Shinawatra's arrogance and abuse of power unintentionally gave rise to the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy in 2006, the military coup in the same year that ousted him also gave rise to the pro-Thaksin red-shirt movement.

The crackdown on red shirts in 2010 under the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration, which led to 99 deaths, most of whom were red shirts, did not succeed in squashing the pro-Thaksin fervour but instead strengthened the movement's sense of comradeship, with their struggle being baptised by death and suffering.

The same could be said about the PDRC today, as a perceived sense of common suffering brought all anti-Thaksin factions together after the arrogant attempt by the Yingluck Shinawatra administration and her ruling Pheu Thai Party to push through the blanket amnesty bill.

Similarly, the country's lese majeste law has been solidifying the stances of both the royalists and non-royalists.

Perhaps these situations suggest that the path from A to B is often not straightforward, and sometimes heading for your destination without caring about other factors might land you at a completely different spot. Even then, some people continue insisting that there is a simple route to the destination and it can be reached without caring for anything else.

Many PDRC supporters continue insisting that once Yingluck resigns or is impeached and a non-elected government runs the country for 18 months to introduce reform, then everything will be just fine.

However, the PDRC seems to have forgotten that 10 million-plus people voted for Pheu Thai and that these people will most certainly not keep quiet. Even people who are not exactly fans of the Shinawatra siblings, but find the very notion of an unelected government unacceptable, are also not likely to sit idle.

So even if Yingluck steps down, the "solution" will not be that simple.

It's ironic that many of those who thought the 2006 coup would solve problems are thinking of something similar again. Though they acknowledge that staging a coup is unconstitutional, they believe it will help resolve the political crisis.

Yet seven years after the coup - Thailand has not exactly moved forward. Moving to solve problems without considering the complexity of the situation often leads to new and possibly far bigger problems.

PDRC supporters often say that the pro-Thaksin red shirts and the anti-royalist camp should leave Thailand and live elsewhere. Maybe it is time for the PDRC to stop and listen to what those "unwanted" people are saying now.


-- The Nation 2014-03-05

[ChrisY1]

Nothing new here...same old "opinion" journalism!

[noitom]

The light switch just came on at the newspaper. They are now speculating that if Yingluck steps down or is hauled off in handcuffs that it "may" not be the end of Thailand's unrest. Wow. They are getting it. These Thais. They are something else.

[PepperMe]

One of the worst reports I have read on the matter.

Started off with some spin saying this Lanna movement is possibly PDRCs fault, and then points out all the problems since 2006 and Thaksin's name mentioned throughout... Doesn't that tell you that maybe Thaksin is behind all the problems??

Of course Thailand has not moved forwards.

Since Thaksin absconded, we have had five and a half of those eight years under a 'Thaksin controlled government'. Governments that Thaksin and the red shirts are responsible for.

No wonder people call them buffalo.

So a report attempting to put Thailand's problems onto the PDRC when throughout the same report the real reasons were on display and so bloody obvious and yet the author never spotted it.

Sheesh..........

[kikoman]

One of the worst reports I have read on the matter.

Started off with some spin saying this Lanna movement is possibly PDRCs fault, and then points out all the problems since 2006 and Thaksin's name mentioned throughout... Doesn't that tell you that maybe Thaksin is behind all the problems??

Of course Thailand has not moved forwards.

Since Thaksin absconded, we have had five and a half of those eight years under a 'Thaksin controlled government'. Governments that Thaksin and the red shirts are responsible for.

No wonder people call them buffalo.

So a report attempting to put Thailand's problems onto the PDRC when throughout the same report the real reasons were on display and so bloody obvious and yet the author never spotted it.

Sheesh..........

What a crock, This person did a great analysis of the problems as they exist, taking a look at the situation as it really exist, quite unheard of in the Thai media. All sides are to blame in the current crisis.

The military by staging the coup and rewriting the constitution, re structuring the Senate and the legal system to insure the ammart need not win political victories to have power in future governments.

Yingluck and PTP were foolish in trying to force the amnesty bill down Thailand throat, the Democrat unrealistically hoped to be placed back into power by a military coup and chose to forsake Thailand's democracy for its own quest for un-elected power.

PDRC has accomplished little in its complete obstruction of progress in the country, what it did accomplish is ferment hate in the country that will have a lasting effect on the future of Thailand. and its masses.

But the greatest damage was done by the Thai legal system that made it quite clear to the country it will always result in their biased decision and ruling will always favor the country's ammart, no matter how many election they win the ammart will always take their victories away from them using the bias legal system to do it.

The court has made a number of stupid decision, but the peaceful protester ruling only conveyed to the pro government supporters their worst fears were realized they will never get the their rights respected in Thailand's political military/ammart stunted government and something new is needed!

Cheers

Edited March 5, 2014 by kikoman

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The light switch just came on at the newspaper. They are now speculating that if Yingluck steps down or is hauled off in handcuffs that it "may" not be the end of Thailand's unrest. Wow. They are getting it. These Thais. They are something else.

This problem will take eons to settle down , because of the hate for each other , that is passed on to the children and so forth, Thaskin did no one any favours that's for sure and he still is a billionare

[wprime]

Nothing new here...same old "opinion" journalism!

Is there another kind of journalism?

[northernjohn]

One of the worst reports I have read on the matter.

Started off with some spin saying this Lanna movement is possibly PDRCs fault, and then points out all the problems since 2006 and Thaksin's name mentioned throughout... Doesn't that tell you that maybe Thaksin is behind all the problems??

Of course Thailand has not moved forwards.

Since Thaksin absconded, we have had five and a half of those eight years under a 'Thaksin controlled government'. Governments that Thaksin and the red shirts are responsible for.

No wonder people call them buffalo.

So a report attempting to put Thailand's problems onto the PDRC when throughout the same report the real reasons were on display and so bloody obvious and yet the author never spotted it.

Sheesh..........

What a crock, This person did a great analysis of the problems as they exist, taking a look at the situation as it really exist, quite unheard of in the Thai media. All sides are to blame in the current crisis.

The military by staging the coup and rewriting the constitution, re structuring the Senate and the legal system to insure the ammart need not win political victories to have power in future governments.

Yingluck and PTP were foolish in trying to force the amnesty bill down Thailand throat, the Democrat unrealistically hoped to be placed back into power by a military coup and chose to forsake Thailand's democracy for its own quest for un-elected power.

PDRC has accomplished little in its complete obstruction of progress in the country, what it did accomplish is ferment hate in the country that will have a lasting effect on the future of Thailand. and its masses.

But the greatest damage was done by the Thai legal system that made it quite clear to the country it will always result in their biased decision and ruling will always favor the country's ammart, no matter how many election they win the ammart will always take their victories away from them using the bias legal system to do it.

The court has made a number of stupid decision, but the peaceful protester ruling only conveyed to the pro government supporters their worst fears were realized they will never get the their rights respected in Thailand's political military/ammart stunted government and something new is needed!

Cheers

The military by staging the coup and rewriting the constitution, re structuring the Senate and the legal system to insure the ammart need not win political victories to have power in future governments.

Just who is this mysterious group of people you consider the ammarat. Lets face it you are clueless and pick a mysterious unknown group to be behind it all. Do you see conspiracies in every thing backed up by mysterious unnamed people. The people who are in power were the PTP red shirts backed up by Thaksin Shinawatra. No secret there. No mysterious bunch of unnamed people.

The people who are behind Suthep are the grass roots people who after years of watching the destruction of a decent government have risen up no secret there. Yes there names are unknown but you might know a few of them your self. They could be your neighbor or work mate. Your grocery clerk the man behind the desk at the information counter in the Mall The factory worker. Just plain ordinary Thais who have had enough of Thaksin and his clan which includes many bought and paid for politicians.

[Suriya4]

Yet seven years after the coup - Thailand has not exactly moved forward.

Thaksin remains the same old problem pre-coup.

[DrTuner]

Yeah,f.ex. whistle as action, getting a bomb thrown at you as reaction. Equal has a funky meaning in LoS.

[HUAHIN62]

One of the worst reports I have read on the matter.

Started off with some spin saying this Lanna movement is possibly PDRCs fault, and then points out all the problems since 2006 and Thaksin's name mentioned throughout... Doesn't that tell you that maybe Thaksin is behind all the problems??

Of course Thailand has not moved forwards.

Since Thaksin absconded, we have had five and a half of those eight years under a 'Thaksin controlled government'. Governments that Thaksin and the red shirts are responsible for.

No wonder people call them buffalo.

So a report attempting to put Thailand's problems onto the PDRC when throughout the same report the real reasons were on display and so bloody obvious and yet the author never spotted it.

Sheesh..........

What a crock, This person did a great analysis of the problems as they exist, taking a look at the situation as it really exist, quite unheard of in the Thai media. All sides are to blame in the current crisis.

The military by staging the coup and rewriting the constitution, re structuring the Senate and the legal system to insure the ammart need not win political victories to have power in future governments.

Yingluck and PTP were foolish in trying to force the amnesty bill down Thailand throat, the Democrat unrealistically hoped to be placed back into power by a military coup and chose to forsake Thailand's democracy for its own quest for un-elected power.

PDRC has accomplished little in its complete obstruction of progress in the country, what it did accomplish is ferment hate in the country that will have a lasting effect on the future of Thailand. and its masses.

But the greatest damage was done by the Thai legal system that made it quite clear to the country it will always result in their biased decision and ruling will always favor the country's ammart, no matter how many election they win the ammart will always take their victories away from them using the bias legal system to do it.

The court has made a number of stupid decision, but the peaceful protester ruling only conveyed to the pro government supporters their worst fears were realized they will never get the their rights respected in Thailand's political military/ammart stunted government and something new is needed!

Cheers

The military by staging the coup and rewriting the constitution, re structuring the Senate and the legal system to insure the ammart need not win political victories to have power in future governments.

Just who is this mysterious group of people you consider the ammarat. Lets face it you are clueless and pick a mysterious unknown group to be behind it all. Do you see conspiracies in every thing backed up by mysterious unnamed people. The people who are in power were the PTP red shirts backed up by Thaksin Shinawatra. No secret there. No mysterious bunch of unnamed people.

The people who are behind Suthep are the grass roots people who after years of watching the destruction of a decent government have risen up no secret there. Yes there names are unknown but you might know a few of them your self. They could be your neighbor or work mate. Your grocery clerk the man behind the desk at the information counter in the Mall The factory worker. Just plain ordinary Thais who have had enough of Thaksin and his clan which includes many bought and paid for politicians.

If I gave you the names of these people, which I have, I will be either locked up under Section 112 or deported. Which is the fundmental problem if you don't have free speech. Without free speech there can not be an open discussion about the countries problems and how to solve them. Yes the ammart exist and are very active in politics and if you don't know it or are denying it you are the clueless one.

[bigbamboo]

HuaHin62...... so can you tell us why nobody in the PTP or the red shirt movement has revealed the names of these 'amart' or are you referring to that long list of supposed anti government financial backers we heard about the other day.

[jayboy]

Just who is this mysterious group of people you consider the ammarat. Lets face it you are clueless and pick a mysterious unknown group to be behind it all. Do you see conspiracies in every thing backed up by mysterious unnamed people. The people who are in power were the PTP red shirts backed up by Thaksin Shinawatra. No secret there. No mysterious bunch of unnamed people.

The people who are behind Suthep are the grass roots people who after years of watching the destruction of a decent government have risen up no secret there. Yes there names are unknown but you might know a few of them your self. They could be your neighbor or work mate. Your grocery clerk the man behind the desk at the information counter in the Mall The factory worker. Just plain ordinary Thais who have had enough of Thaksin and his clan which includes many bought and paid for politicians.

From a very competitive entry the above post wins the dunce's hat for meeting all three main criteria of (1) fatheaded ignorance, (2) lack of perspective and (3) sheer thickness.Special merit was acquired in the last category.

Turning to the real world and the thread subject matter I have changed my mind somewhat on the likelihood of a judicial coup which I had thought inevitable.I believe the odds are about even now, the main factor being a growing awareness by the unelected elites behind Suthep that the consequences could be catastrophic.As the article rightly points out for every action there is an equal and opposite reactionStill one should never underestimate the shortsightedness of some influential figures so the odds have only been reduced.

The Asian Sentinel covers some of this ground rather well.

http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/thai-opposition-losing-gamble/

[seminomadic]

The military by staging the coup and rewriting the constitution, re structuring the Senate and the legal system to insure the ammart need not win political victories to have power in future governments.

Just who is this mysterious group of people you consider the ammarat. Lets face it you are clueless and pick a mysterious unknown group to be behind it all. Do you see conspiracies in every thing backed up by mysterious unnamed people. The people who are in power were the PTP red shirts backed up by Thaksin Shinawatra. No secret there. No mysterious bunch of unnamed people.

The people who are behind Suthep are the grass roots people who after years of watching the destruction of a decent government have risen up no secret there. Yes there names are unknown but you might know a few of them your self. They could be your neighbor or work mate. Your grocery clerk the man behind the desk at the information counter in the Mall The factory worker. Just plain ordinary Thais who have had enough of Thaksin and his clan which includes many bought and paid for politicians.

Seriously, you are as dumb as the day is long.

Desist from any further comment on the way things are or work in Thailand. You are breathtakingly stupid if you honestly believe what you just said. Try reading a book, D.A.

[DK2223]

One of the worst reports I have read on the matter.

Started off with some spin saying this Lanna movement is possibly PDRCs fault, and then points out all the problems since 2006 and Thaksin's name mentioned throughout... Doesn't that tell you that maybe Thaksin is behind all the problems??

Of course Thailand has not moved forwards.

Since Thaksin absconded, we have had five and a half of those eight years under a 'Thaksin controlled government'. Governments that Thaksin and the red shirts are responsible for.

No wonder people call them buffalo.

So a report attempting to put Thailand's problems onto the PDRC when throughout the same report the real reasons were on display and so bloody obvious and yet the author never spotted it.

Sheesh..........

What a crock, This person did a great analysis of the problems as they exist, taking a look at the situation as it really exist, quite unheard of in the Thai media. All sides are to blame in the current crisis.

The military by staging the coup and rewriting the constitution, re structuring the Senate and the legal system to insure the ammart need not win political victories to have power in future governments.

Yingluck and PTP were foolish in trying to force the amnesty bill down Thailand throat, the Democrat unrealistically hoped to be placed back into power by a military coup and chose to forsake Thailand's democracy for its own quest for un-elected power.

PDRC has accomplished little in its complete obstruction of progress in the country, what it did accomplish is ferment hate in the country that will have a lasting effect on the future of Thailand. and its masses.

But the greatest damage was done by the Thai legal system that made it quite clear to the country it will always result in their biased decision and ruling will always favor the country's ammart, no matter how many election they win the ammart will always take their victories away from them using the bias legal system to do it.

The court has made a number of stupid decision, but the peaceful protester ruling only conveyed to the pro government supporters their worst fears were realized they will never get the their rights respected in Thailand's political military/ammart stunted government and something new is needed!

Cheers

The military by staging the coup and rewriting the constitution, re structuring the Senate and the legal system to insure the ammart need not win political victories to have power in future governments.

Just who is this mysterious group of people you consider the ammarat. Lets face it you are clueless and pick a mysterious unknown group to be behind it all. Do you see conspiracies in every thing backed up by mysterious unnamed people. The people who are in power were the PTP red shirts backed up by Thaksin Shinawatra. No secret there. No mysterious bunch of unnamed people.

The people who are behind Suthep are the grass roots people who after years of watching the destruction of a decent government have risen up no secret there. Yes there names are unknown but you might know a few of them your self. They could be your neighbor or work mate. Your grocery clerk the man behind the desk at the information counter in the Mall The factory worker. Just plain ordinary Thais who have had enough of Thaksin and his clan which includes many bought and paid for politicians.

But just to ask you, are you so sure that there is no other people behind Thaksin and the people backing up Suthep is just the people you mentioned?

Then can you please let me know where and how all the money came from for the protester to set up stages and to give food to the other protester by just this kind of people?

Please wake up and don't take side to view this issue..All politicians is a puppet to the rich and powerful ( this included Thaksin, Suthep and all other politician). In this world and coming future there will not be a real politician with a mind just to serve only to the public and protect the public from the rich abuse over the poor but all politician will always do and listen to the people that control the economy cause all government need money to run the country( and their own pocket). And just a reminder, now is 21st century, no one fight for land or for the people to have place to live but all just fight for money, power over the economy and their selfish little pocket..

So don't be so innocent to set a statement that we cannot ever confirm or understand what is all the benefit to getting involve in politics ( cause we are not politician).

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 5.3 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Scamper]

This article is yet the latest attempt to lend excuses to the secession movement within the UDD. There are no excuses for that. Period. This administration is outside the parameters of the constitution already. As of today, Article 7 is supposed to take effect. The writer of this article seems to think they they have earned the right to govern. They do not. Parliament was dissolved on December 9. For all intents and purposes, the administration ended then. They have failed to secure a quorum, therefore they have lost their caretaker status as per Article 7, starting today. The writer says that ten million voted for them, but he doesn't say that 68 % of the voters either didn't vote or voted " no ". Is that the mandate that he seems to be referring to - a constitutionally quorum-less one where 68 % of the Thai people are completely absent ? Forget the PDRC. The constitution itself is the barometer of this administration's legitimacy. When the writer talks about Thaksin's " arrogance and abuse of power unintentionally " giving rise to the anti-Thaksin movement. " Unintentionally " ? What a strange word to use, as if there was something particular odd and unforeseen about a public's reaction against arrogance and the abuse of power. Right now, the administration has no legislative power. Period. They are a past administration. They are embarking on the third of a proposed four-step " election as you go " - not even scheduled - which is clearly outside what the constitution will allow. Yingluck is the subject of an impeachment investigation from the NACC. So if the writer can forget the PDRC and their Lumpini Park gathering for one minute. This administration greatest obstacle will be through the constitution and through the courts.

Edited March 5, 2014 by Scamper

[kikoman]

One of the worst reports I have read on the matter.

Started off with some spin saying this Lanna movement is possibly PDRCs fault, and then points out all the problems since 2006 and Thaksin's name mentioned throughout... Doesn't that tell you that maybe Thaksin is behind all the problems??

Of course Thailand has not moved forwards.

Since Thaksin absconded, we have had five and a half of those eight years under a 'Thaksin controlled government'. Governments that Thaksin and the red shirts are responsible for.

No wonder people call them buffalo.

So a report attempting to put Thailand's problems onto the PDRC when throughout the same report the real reasons were on display and so bloody obvious and yet the author never spotted it.

Sheesh..........

What a crock, This person did a great analysis of the problems as they exist, taking a look at the situation as it really exist, quite unheard of in the Thai media. All sides are to blame in the current crisis.

The military by staging the coup and rewriting the constitution, re structuring the Senate and the legal system to insure the ammart need not win political victories to have power in future governments.

Yingluck and PTP were foolish in trying to force the amnesty bill down Thailand throat, the Democrat unrealistically hoped to be placed back into power by a military coup and chose to forsake Thailand's democracy for its own quest for un-elected power.

PDRC has accomplished little in its complete obstruction of progress in the country, what it did accomplish is ferment hate in the country that will have a lasting effect on the future of Thailand. and its masses.

But the greatest damage was done by the Thai legal system that made it quite clear to the country it will always result in their biased decision and ruling will always favor the country's ammart, no matter how many election they win the ammart will always take their victories away from them using the bias legal system to do it.

The court has made a number of stupid decision, but the peaceful protester ruling only conveyed to the pro government supporters their worst fears were realized they will never get the their rights respected in Thailand's political military/ammart stunted government and something new is needed!

Cheers

The military by staging the coup and rewriting the constitution, re structuring the Senate and the legal system to insure the ammart need not win political victories to have power in future governments.

Just who is this mysterious group of people you consider the ammarat. Lets face it you are clueless and pick a mysterious unknown group to be behind it all. Do you see conspiracies in every thing backed up by mysterious unnamed people. The people who are in power were the PTP red shirts backed up by Thaksin Shinawatra. No secret there. No mysterious bunch of unnamed people.

The people who are behind Suthep are the grass roots people who after years of watching the destruction of a decent government have risen up no secret there. Yes there names are unknown but you might know a few of them your self. They could be your neighbor or work mate. Your grocery clerk the man behind the desk at the information counter in the Mall The factory worker. Just plain ordinary Thais who have had enough of Thaksin and his clan which includes many bought and paid for politicians.

If you attempted to learn something about the country you reside in, you would know who the ammart are, no mystery group of people, ask a Thai, as it is not a farang expression!

It would do you a world of good to reread the article as it is more of an impartial analysis of the reactions that it has caused that will take a long time to heal in the country!

Cheers