Thais must resist being dragged into the escalating war of words

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Thais must resist being dragged into the escalating war of words
SAMUDCHA HOONSARA
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A few days after Songkran, the anti-government group will probably start counting down the days until the demise of the caretaker Yingluck Shinawatra government.

It is highly likely that the Constitutional Court will make a similar ruling to the one handed down by the Supreme Administrative Court in the case of National Security Council secretary-general Thawil Pliensri, who challenged caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's order to remove him from his post.

The Supreme Administrative Court ruled last month that Yingluck must reinstate Thawil on the grounds that her order to transfer him was unlawful and involved nepotism - and therefore was in violation of the charter.

The order to transfer Thawil could cost Yingluck her job - a greater loss than she may have ever expected - if the court rules that she violated the Constitution.

To rub salt into the wound, the National Anti-Corruption Commission is finalising its investigation into the caretaker PM on charges of malfeasance and dereliction of duty for her alleged failure to stop losses and alleged corruption in the rice-pledging scheme. Yingluck faces being suspended from duty if the NACC decides to indict her.

The two cases are so significant that government supporters led by Jatuporn Promphan, chairman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, have challenged anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to mobilise as many protesters as he can at the court to hear the verdict. Whichever camp comes up with fewer protesters must accept defeat, Jatuporn said.

Both political camps have decided to define defeat or victory by the number of protesters showing up at their rallies, believing it would have a psychological effect on protesters. Neither side is willing to admit to having fewer forces. The leaders of both camps have vowed to notify their followers as soon as they know the time and exact place of the court ruling. If this happens, confrontations are likely, even though officials are expected to blanket the scene with heavy security.

Soothsayers have voiced concern that the country's political situation after Songkran, at the end of April, is worrisome. Some political observers have predicted that both camps are going to make calculated moves, as in a chess game. They have kicked off the battle with a war of words - sometimes resorting to hate speech - vowing to resort to "heavy weapons on the battlefield", even though their words could leave them liable to criminal and constitutional charges.

One cannot underestimate or overlook these threats, because both camps have struggled through long, drawn-out conflicts. They have fought fierce legal battles, taking one another to court in several cases. They have attacked each other in social-media networks. And in the worst cases, they have resorted to war weapons, assaulting one another during rallies.

Hate speech, once it goes viral in cyberspace, could bring about the breaking point, provoking anger, riots and clashes.

Thais must exercise the highest degree of prudence and conscience in receiving information and making political decisions from now on. They must not let themselves be dragged into a war of words or hate speech by the rival camp.

Onlookers or bystanders also risk being injured if they get close to areas where the camps are confronting one another or clashing.

Casualties - regardless of which side they are on - will go down in the country's history as a defeat and a great loss to every single Thai.


-- The Nation 2014-04-11

[noitom]

All is well in Thailand. Stunning display of Thai leadership as well as slavish attempt at journalism. Tourists and foreign investors should read this story and flock to Thailand in droves.

[bkkbarbara]

Just heard the barn door slam but the horse was long gone.

[chainarong]

These problems of appointments stem from their antiquated rules, people should apply to a vacancy , this business of appointing is ancient, the Prime Minister should not be involved in these sort of going's on , the appointments to high government positions should be , after applications close and qualifications met , on a recommendation from a independent tribunal and then appointed by the parliamentary secretary, this should be for all appointments, this then gets the generals out of the equation and nepotism .

Edited April 11, 2014 by chainarong

[antimedia]

As regular as clockwork the printed media have entered the fray to steer the ship of discontent.. When these immoral and unethical leeches get a sniff of anything that they believe could adversely affect their circulation, they crank up the propaganda machine. They start their rumour mongering with articles called 'burning issues', 'editorials' or 'a must read' to name but a few and always with unnamed authors. Their aim is to keep the mass audience embroiled in argument over a particular or series of events that has been a hot news item but coming to end or outcome.

The beginning of the end has commenced with the anti government protests with Yingluck and possibly all her cohorts going down and out and Suthep winding up the protests and seeing a favourable end to his means. So what does the media do, start gentle but persuasive indoctrination with innuendos, distorted facts and in instances blatant lies, all in the name of money. One only has to look at how many TVF members take the bait with their nonsensical postings and if to call which group in particular, the 'REDS' win hands down.

Journalists could play a large part in circumventing much of this current situation with good old fashion investigative reporting. The people need to be told the truth and the criminals need to be exposed to the public. By aiding and abetting all these corrupt cretins for the sake of the profit lines in itself makes them lowest of the lowest. To the public, editors should be treated like the children they are, seen but not heard.

[seajae]

the thais have nothing to worry about, all the action is in here on TV

[Scamper]

" Whichever camp comes up with fewer protesters must accept defeat, Jatuporn said. "

What a profoundly silly idea. Are we to take it that the Constitutional Court's ruling doesn't factor into this at all - that it's merely a question of rally size ? It's not surprising of course that what the Constitutional Court rules is not factored into Jatuporn's thinking at all. That just shows where he's at. But for the Thai population the ruling by the Constitutional Court will be the final word. Yesterday, Yingluck offered some highly unsettling words by offering what seemed like a " provisional " acceptance of the Constitutional Court ruling. She'll apparently accept it if it treats her fairly. And of course she will determine that ! In other words, we're right back to Square One with Pheu Thai. As long as the ruling is " fair " - in their estimation - they'll accept it.

So what we have are the makings of a potentially dangerous and unprecedented situation. If Pheu Thai are trying to prepare the narrative for not accepting a Constitutional Court ruling they won't like, we are in for a heck of a ride. To begin with, the backlash reaction to that throughout the country would make the outcry over the Thaksin amnesty bill pale in comparison. The international community would condemn it - instantly. Overnight. It is unthinkable. Yingluck has one duty and one duty only - she is to state - right now - that she will unequivocally accept the rulings of the Constitutional Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Unequivocally.

Edited April 11, 2014 by Scamper