Thai editorial: Unfair law enforcement, political bias fuel social division

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Unfair law enforcement, political bias fuel social division
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The delay in arresting suspects for the 2010 violence is just the latest example of a country overwhelmed by double standards

Many of the fundamental problems afflicting this country can be traced to one common cause - biased law enforcement that favours whoever happens to be in power. This perennial injustice has for decades been a source of dissatisfaction and anger among citizens.

It's a common feeling that one is being unfairly treated and taken advantage of in a society that favours the well connected, the wealthy and the powerful. Many of us have witnessed authorities ignoring the letter of law while under the influence of money or political power.

At times these double standards are blamed for the damaging political conflict that has gripped Thailand for the past decade. "Without justice and fair treatment there will be no reconciliation," a columnist in another newspaper wrote recently. It's easy to agree with this statement, regardless of which side of the political divide you're on. But the problem is in complaining about the law being biased when the political party you support is not in power, and then seeing nothing wrong when your party is elected and the same double standard proves beneficial. Rather than basing judgement on common sense or fact, prejudice and personal gain become yardsticks with which to measure the justice system.

Law-enforcement officials make the issue more complex by favouring people in power, either through fear of losing their job or in the hope of benefiting somehow, or both. Arrests were made this week in connection with the violence surrounding the political unrest of 2010, and others have come that relate to the anti-government street protests last November until the May 22 coup.

There are those who regard the suspected "men in black" now in custody as scapegoats. Some politicians deny there were any armed paramilitaries among the protesters at all. Overall, though, we can't help but wondering why it took so long - and a change of government - for the police to make arrests. No such eagerness was evident when the politicians who are complaining now were ruling the country.

Deputy national police chief Pol General Somyot Pumpunmuang, who heads an investigation that has now led to more than 100 arrests, has acknowledged that his force took no action on any political cases for the past four years. "Nobody did it," he told the press, despite mounting evidence and, in some cases, confessions.

Citizens should not help legitimise the practice of unfair treatment and double standards by politicians and law-enforcement authorities. We should rely on common sense in making judgements and should avoid being blinded by our political preferences and selfishness.

Armed with common sense and accurate information, people can decide for themselves whether their favourite politicians and parties are right or wrong on specific issues. We must never assume that "our" side is always right, and that the other is always wrong.

By dropping our bias and blind affections, we will see things more clearly. If enough citizens do so, everyone will reap the reward of a less divided society.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Unfair-law-enforcement-political-bias-fuel-social--30243430.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-17

[jcisco]

Oh great an editorial piece and the byline.... The Nation.... fantastic its a nameless article. Yes the article is correct and I agree, but with who????

[ramrod711]

Deputy national police chief Pol General Somyot Pumpunmuang, who heads an investigation that has now led to more than 100 arrests, has acknowledged that his force took no action on any political cases for the past four years. "Nobody did it," he told the press, despite mounting evidence and, in some cases, confessions.

I have no doubt that this would be true in every administration in the history of Thailand. The obvious cover ups and blatant favoritism with regard to prestige are sickening. How much money you have, or whether you are famous should have nothing to do with how the law treats you. It's bad enough that it happens at all, but it happens in the open, everyone expects it.

[sprq]

Oh great an editorial piece and the byline.... The Nation.... fantastic its a nameless article. Yes the article is correct and I agree, but with who????

Newspaper editorials are never credited to an individual. They are the opinion of the newspaper as a whole, not of any single person.

[seajae]

actually what is needed are laws that actually are applied to everyone equally so we do not see a ferrari driving idiot allowed to run away because his family are rich, underage drivers killing 10 people then complaining she has to do community work and face no charges because her family is rich, a ministers son walking away from a murder charge because of his family connections etc all while the poor are convicted if they commit anything like these crimes. Its a bit hard to respect the law when the law will not allow anyone with money or family connections to be convicted let alone jailed. When will we see these people that have broken the laws for personal gains (land encroachment etc) have to reimburse the millions in damage/profits they have made from it instead of a p*ssy little fine, never, the hi-so's are untouchable in Thailand. Just like we will never see any of the ptp/reds that are high up do any time, the law is a joke and so are those that enforce are supposed to enforce it

[halloween]

Oh great an editorial piece and the byline.... The Nation.... fantastic its a nameless article. Yes the article is correct and I agree, but with who????

Ummm....the editor?

"a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue."

[halloween]

double

Edited September 17, 2014 by halloween

[halloween]

nope, triple

Edited September 17, 2014 by halloween

[Stradavarius37]

Oh great an editorial piece and the byline.... The Nation.... fantastic its a nameless article. Yes the article is correct and I agree, but with who????

Ummm....the editor?

"a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue."

Be gentle with the less able guys...

[xminator]

Oh great an editorial piece and the byline.... The Nation.... fantastic its a nameless article. Yes the article is correct and I agree, but with who????

Ummm....the editor?

"a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue."

Be gentle with the less able guys...

So a certain aiport occupation led to arrests and prosecutions - when?

[ThailandNoob]

Oh great an editorial piece and the byline.... The Nation.... fantastic its a nameless article. Yes the article is correct and I agree, but with who????

Ummm....the editor?

"a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue."

Be gentle with the less able guys...

So a certain aiport occupation led to arrests and prosecutions - when?

Not just that, when are we going to see prosecutions of Suthep and his thugs for using violence to shut down an election? Plus when are we going to see heads roll for the army's killings in 2010?

Sent from my IS11T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Strangebrew]

A great man once said the Truth will set you free.

[Stradavarius37]

Oh great an editorial piece and the byline.... The Nation.... fantastic its a nameless article. Yes the article is correct and I agree, but with who????

Ummm....the editor?

"a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue."

Be gentle with the less able guys...

So a certain aiport occupation led to arrests and prosecutions - when?

Not just that, when are we going to see prosecutions of Suthep and his thugs for using violence to shut down an election? Plus when are we going to see heads roll for the army's killings in 2010?

Sent from my IS11T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

So cute, like a little gerbil

[Robby nz]

Liked these two last bits.

The red apologists on here should take careful note.

Armed with common sense and accurate information, people can decide for themselves whether their favourite politicians and parties are right or wrong on specific issues. We must never assume that "our" side is always right, and that the other is always wrong.

By dropping our bias and blind affections, we will see things more clearly. If enough citizens do so, everyone will reap the reward of a less divided society.