Can Thailand learn something from Ukraine's political protests?

[webfact]

Can Thailand learn something from Ukraine's political protests?
Thepchai Yong
Kiev


Five months on, the fight for a better Ukraine at Maidan Independence Square still continues.

KIEV: -- Is there something Thailand can learn from the Euromaidan, the ongoing political demonstration in Ukraine that has ousted President Viktor Yanukovych but is still far from achieving its ideal goal of seeing real democracy?

"Enough is enough. That's what people should learn to say to corrupt politicians," Nataliya Vernyhora, a hotel executive-turned-activist, told me without hesitation.

Five months on, with Yanukovych out of power and Russian annexation of Crimea, Independence Square in central Kiev today is still bustling with demonstrators demanding a say in how Ukrainians are governed.

They should have ended the demonstration with Yanukovych's departure but they continue to stay on because they believe that their mission is still far from accomplished.

The crisis in Crimea might have diverted the world's attention from Ukraine's domestic political problems, but the Euromaidan protesters have no intention of dispersing. Russia's annexation of Crimea has only added a new sense of urgency to the months-long protest.

Like all the other protesters at Maidan Square that I talked to, Vernyhora admitted that getting rid of Yanukovych and his corrupt band of political cohorts didn't spell an end to Ukraine's political woes.

The interim government led by Prime Minister Arseniy P Yatsenyuk, a veteran public official, has not offered much hope that Ukraine is heading for a better political future.

"We are here to make our voice heard. We want politicians to know that they cannot ignore people's wishes," said a young Ukrainian in a national guard uniform.

He had responded to the new government's call for a mobilisation of reserves and volunteers to counter Russia's military moves following the annexation of Crimea.

Angry Ukranians started pouring into Independence Square on November 21 after then president Yanukovych ditched a partnership deal with the European Union that had been years in the making in favour of seeking help from Moscow to save its sinking economy. The uprising by Ukrainians is unprecedented and some even call it a "revolution".

The pro-Moscow Yanukovych's sudden U-turn on the EU deal was the last straw. Ukranians had already been seething over what they saw as blatant abuse of power and rampant corruption.

"Bandits get out" was a rallying cry that was heard everyday at the square.

"Yanukovych was the biggest bandit of them all. He was the most corrupt leader we have ever had,'' said another protester.

"Bandits" includes members of the former president's immediate family and those in his inner circle.

The protesters cannot be blamed for believing that Yanukovych and his political henchmen were responsible for making Ukraine one of the most corrupt countries in Eastern Europe.

Transparency International put Ukraine at 144th place on its Corruption Perception Index in 2013 (far worse than Thailand, which ranked 102nd out of 177 countries).

From taxi drivers to political activists and journalists, there is this strong sentiment that corruption is the biggest problem dragging down Ukraine's economy.

Speaking to me after a press conference on Friday, Ihor Smeshko, former head of the Security Service of Ukraine and now leader of a political party that positions itself as a new alternative to the existing political establishments, said nothing had changed since the ouster of Yanukovych.

Smeshko echoed calls for Ukraine to have a system that held politicians accountable for their wrongdoings.

"What we need is a reform of the political system," he said, but admitted that nobody in power is interested in doing that because "politicians are only interested in elections" but not the interests of society.

He also stressed the need for civil society to be active in monitoring those in power.

"Only an active civil society can bring about changes," he said.

That's exactly the reason why protesters like Vernyhora still find it necessary to continue to be part of the Euromaidan movement.

She was there when the temperature was minus 20 and when snipers and thugs harassed and killed protesters.

And she is still there today, sometimes doing menial jobs like peeling potatoes and preparing food from home for fellow die-hard demonstrators.

Few at Maidan Square are aware of a similar street protest that has been going on in Bangkok. But someone who knows something about it asked me: "Have the Thai people won yet?"

The way things are, it's evident that both Thais and Ukrainians are far from achieving what they really want. Street protests may unseat governments but do not guarantee that cleaner politics and good governance is waiting on their horizon.

They have both stood up and said "enough is enough". Now they need to stay on the long journey until they are certain that their voice and their political will is respected.


-- The Nation 2014-03-24

[Dr Bruce]

I wonder if the Ukrainians count splitting thier country in half as a "success"?

[Borzandy]

"Can Thailand learn something from Ukraine's political protests?" no, Thailand, cannot learn, Thailand knows.

[DrMe]

incompetent governments, corrupt politicians create problems automatically.

[Krataiboy]

Yes, a lot of Thai people have taken to the streets over the last few months to protest against corruption in Thailand.

But a national opinion poll published only eight months ago showed 65 per cent of Thais thought government corruption was acceptable if they benefited from it.

Either there has been a big change of heart across the board or there is no moral core to the current protests - which means they are doomed to fail.

[rickirs]

Most assuredly! Get nuclear weapons and never give them up.Nuclear weapons make a heck of a roadside IED's.

[ABCer]

No.

Russia is not Thailand's immediate neighbor.

Besides, Thailand's learning curve is not steep enough.

2557 - 2014 = 543. This is 543 years response delay to today's reality

Edited March 24, 2014 by ABCer

[oztaurus]

Interesting to see how a fair and democratic 98% vote by the citizens of Crimea to join Russia (which is the quintessential definition of self-determination) is now unanimously portrayed as Russia annexing Crimea ie. Russia is the big bad bully because we like Ukraine oil, yet secessionist (self-determination) attempts by Chechnya and Georgia (which are ethnically, religiously and culturally distinct from Russia) are seen as terrorist activities to be (rightly) quashed.

You spin me right around, 'round, 'round, 'round .....

[Halion]

Very doubtful as this country does not take heed of the lessons from it's own history it is most unlikely that they will heed any lesson from a country that the majority of Thai's don't even know exists. Mass myopia.

[JamesDean3]

Haha...Ukraine is now run by Neo-Nazis. It is a successful execution by the U.S. CIA & Sate Department of a Coup albeit presented as 'people Power" type by the Western Media. Basically it is their version of the 2010 Red Shirt Riots in Bangkok Thailand. The CIA have learned a few lessons when they backed Thaksin in 2010. Now they have applied these in Ukraine which they want to put in the Western orbit away from the Russians. Now, the CIA & US State Dept are grappling with ascenario were their same tactics are being used against them in their stooge Thaksin. As you can see the Western Press still skew the news to benefit their puppet.

[Nemesis7]

No, never. Simply because they don't want to learn

[sawadee1947]

what a stupid article and comment of Ukraine situation. Who dares to compare Thais with Ukrainians??? And is there any country to occupy Thailand or parts of it???? Cambodia? Burma?

What a nonsense comment! Shame on the author!

[Pops]

Biggest differences between both protests are, that in Thailand both sides are run by equally corrupt persons (Yingluck as well as Suthep) and that there is a big social division in Thai society, which plays a huge role in the conflict.

[DoctorG]

It is too late for TL. The Russians have already invaded.

[Baerboxer]

Interesting to see how a fair and democratic 98% vote by the citizens of Crimea to join Russia (which is the quintessential definition of self-determination) is now unanimously portrayed as Russia annexing Crimea ie. Russia is the big bad bully because we like Ukraine oil, yet secessionist (self-determination) attempts by Chechnya and Georgia (which are ethnically, religiously and culturally distinct from Russia) are seen as terrorist activities to be (rightly) quashed.

You spin me right around, 'round, 'round, 'round .....

Crimea was only "given" to Ukraine in 1954 by the then Soviet dictator Kruschev, who strangely enough happened to by half Ukrainian.

Turkey has more of a historic claim on Crimea than the Ukraine does!

Crimea has its own parliament and its people have overwhelmingly voted to join Russia in a referendum.

The West can't just support the elections that vote in their friends.

[Jasun]

Preah Vihear Temple is Thailand's if they really want it, no one is going to stop them taking it back.

[nifty11]

No. Because Thai mentality is that "Ukraine is not Thailand".

[Emster23]

Here's a thought: Get Laos and Cambodia to come in and "liberate and return" those portions of Thailand that border those countries. Plenty of Lao and Khmer there to justify the action. Lose Isaan and get rid of all that red support. They could still come in and work illegally for a pittance. Maybe then Democrats could win an election? Win-win situation as I see it for ruling class.

[penwithcris]

Ukraine? Who's that? Is she a celeb? A movie star?

Fox News? Is that a wildlife channel?

Barracko Barner UK president? What's wrong with that?

It's freezing today - must be a cold wind coming in from Nigeria!

Ignorance is bliss - tis folly to be wise

Pass the somtam

[F430murci]

Yeah, the lesson is don't f with Putin. He will take all your <deleted> and your lunch money too. The Crimea vote is kinda like the vote in some of his hostile takeovers where board members of target companies vote unanimously to just give Putin, or his front people, all of their stock. Oh it's so great being King.

[xminator]

Question is more Can Suthep learn something from Putin? The question asked was relevant in 2009/2010. Now it is a mob in the street trying to oust a democratic elected government.

[Patje]

Thailand does not learn....... It only copies !!

[a99az]

You mean learn as in using a British model of education, law and order, health, rail transport, road safety, safety at work, and so, so much more? Oh yes I am sure they could. The question should be "will they". I think it highly unlikely.

[a99az]

Thailand does not learn....... It only copies !!

Bad copies at that.

[RamblingSam]

Learn lessons about what? In what context? Circumstances are different, as are how people are ruled in both countries. The lessons to be learnt are also different. If the questioner is relating this to the level of violence in either country, the question probably needs to be the other way round. This might be a more relevant question if you were comparing the situation in the deep South and Ukraine, but in that instance, the Thais could teach them a number of lessons. However, I still think it's a 'strange' question.

[asiamaster]

what a stupid article and comment of Ukraine situation. Who dares to compare Thais with Ukrainians??? And is there any country to occupy Thailand or parts of it???? Cambodia? Burma?

What a nonsense comment! Shame on the author!

Did it not occur to you that the Chinese may just feel like marching in (in Russian style)?

Edited March 24, 2014 by asiamaster

[majhiggins]

The headline was a few words too long. Keep only the first three words. Can Thailand learn something from Ukraine's political protests?