Thai editorial: Jury still out on another year of turmoil

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Jury still out on another year of turmoil
The Nation

2014 set to end with Thailand at a crossroads yet again

BANGKOK: -- Every year has its significance and 2014 will go down in Thai history as one to remember one way or other. Politically speaking, some may call this year another setback because of the military coup in May. Others may be more reluctant to brand the coup as the cause of all things evil in the country. Anyway, a remarkable year is drawing to a close and now is a time for reflection. Written history, after all, cannot be trusted 100 per cent.

The year has given us some hope. Our athletes performed well at the Asian Games and street tensions and violence took a break. Social media outlets have proven more powerful and agile than ever. And if someone has taken a good look, Thai children's exposure to cyberspace has led to a flourishing of creativity unseen before and that can only be good for national education.

The flaws are abundant, too. The economy, pummelled by years of political power struggles, is barely growing. That does not bode well for the country's preparations for the Asean Economic Community. Social media have proved to be a knife that can cut both ways. More provocateurs, manipulators and simple pranksters lurk online than ever before. Politically, while street tensions have subsided, "reform" that can bring about true and long-lasting peace is nowhere to be seen.

On freedom, again, it's up to where one stands politically. Some will say life is still the same since the coup except that some popular TV programmes need to cut regularly to what the coup-makers want us to see. Others will say only those on the military's side are unaffected. Freedom of expression that forms the basis of democracy is at best lopsided or at worst non-existent in Thailand, they say.

2014 was the year the word "reform" was uttered like never before. From anti-government protesters to their opposite numbers to social media users, ideas for reform have poured out, some clashing with others. Ideologically, the year picked up where 2013 left off, just as 2013 followed 2012's lead and so on. Thailand remains a deeply divided nation where politics is concerned.

Yingluck Shinawatra's impeachment saga, the unfinished reform business of the military junta and the increasing political role of social networks mean 2015 will give Thais more of the same. It's easy to say there were lessons to be learned, but the truth is that the divided Thai people are still learning different lessons. Simply put, words like "reform" and "reconciliation" should continue to dominate 2015 but whether we will see real light at the end of the tunnel remains highly doubtful.

But Thai youths and sportsmen will continue to reap the benefits of globalisation. The economy may remain tied to the political course, but our economic "auto-pilot" can come to the rescue again. Thai businesses have proved resilient and able to shake off political upheaval without much difficulty and that strength may have to be summoned again in 2015.

As things stand, 2014 can hardly be called a steppingstone forward. But it can't be called a "back to square one" year either. The year's historic depiction remains wide open. It's what we do as a nation in 2015 that counts. As they say, the end will justify the means. A description of 2014 is impossible without Thais' acts in 2015, collective or otherwise.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Jury-still-out-on-another-year-of-turmoil-30250351.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-22

[Suriya4]

Protest has stop. Thais no longer divided. Prayuth the great has successfully united the nation like never before in thai history.

[NongKhaiKid]

Protest has stop. Thais no longer divided. Prayuth the great has successfully united the nation like never before in thai history.

I sincerely hope you are being sarcastic otherwise you need to seek help.

[Somtamnication]

Just another day in a Prozac-induced paradise,

[ramrod711]

The killing has stopped. People are no longer afraid to go to the local food stalls because they could be maimed, or worse, by indiscriminate bombing and gunfire. Yingluck and company are no longer bleeding the economy dry. Thais may not be in total agreement with each other....but when were they?

[Tatsujin]

Protest has stop. Thais no longer divided. Prayuth the great has successfully united the nation like never before in thai history.

I sincerely hope you are being sarcastic otherwise you need to seek help.

I'm still unsure with suriya4's postings whether they are straight talking beliefs or extremely good sarcasm/satire.

[NongKhaiKid]

Protest has stop. Thais no longer divided. Prayuth the great has successfully united the nation like never before in thai history.

I sincerely hope you are being sarcastic otherwise you need to seek help.

I'm still unsure with suriya4's postings whether they are straight talking beliefs or extremely good sarcasm/satire.

Remember the line from an old song " They're Coming To take Me Away Ha ha " ?

Of course in LoS these days it doesn't have to mean you've lost your marbles it could simple be for Attitude Adjustment !

[yellowboat]

It seemed to be an effort to find the silver lining. The Thailand at the moment has disillusioned many needlessly.

[chainarong]

It is hard to see much more than the same for next year , there are a few large glaring holes in the political structure in Thai that I am not allowed to discuss here( Democracy Thai style) that will keep Thailand in the land of the never, never , until something is done about the power of the military Thailand will keep the same old elite brigade dancing to the beat for eons, as for a well thought out constitution and reforms the time limit and immense workload will water down anything that resembles much more than what is there now , whether it favours the blue collar area is another thing , Thailand 2015 Same , same , same.

[JOC]

Protest has stop. Thais no longer divided. Prayuth the great has successfully united the nation like never before in thai history.

Way past the time for your medication!!

[soalbundy]

Protest has stop. Thais no longer divided. Prayuth the great has successfully united the nation like never before in thai history.

I sincerely hope you are being sarcastic otherwise you need to seek help.

I'm still unsure with suriya4's postings whether they are straight talking beliefs or extremely good sarcasm/satire.

He is Thai, Thai's don't do sarcasm,take it from there.

[NongKhaiKid]

Protest has stop. Thais no longer divided. Prayuth the great has successfully united the nation like never before in thai history.

I sincerely hope you are being sarcastic otherwise you need to seek help.

I'm still unsure with suriya4's postings whether they are straight talking beliefs or extremely good sarcasm/satire.

He is Thai, Thai's don't do sarcasm,take it from there.

[noitom]

The jury is not out. The jury is in. Large majority of Thais have been excluded from any discussion or part of the process. Figure out for yourself Mr. Editor if this augurs well for Thailand's future.

[MilesofSmiles]

It's not really remarkable at all, just another year in which there was a coup.

Only thing of significance is that the political vacum was orchestrated.

The writer doesn't mention martial law means that the only right anyone really truly has, is the right to shut the <deleted> up.

or get re-educated, attitude adjusted, etc

& that the institutions that provide checks and balances on abuse of power in a democracy were dismantled.

[jollyman]

Protest has stop. Thais no longer divided. Prayuth the great has successfully united the nation like never before in thai history.

Who is this Clown probably just got off the plane at Bangkok

[Cuchulainn]

Good year. Got rid of the Shinawatra mafioso clan's grip.

[yellowboat]

Protest has stop. Thais no longer divided. Prayuth the great has successfully united the nation like never before in thai history.

Who is this Clown probably just got off the plane at Bangkok

Perhaps a government shill.

[FangFerang]

The Shins were a symptom. The coup is a symptom.

No one who has wealth or power here wants reform. They each want to consolidate their own power.

Any other way of looking at it is farcical to me, and implies not only an allegiance and agenda, but pure sophistry.

[Caveat Emptor]

The Shins were a symptom. The coup is a symptom.

No one who has wealth or power here wants reform. They each want to consolidate their own power.

Any other way of looking at it is farcical to me, and implies not only an allegiance and agenda, but pure sophistry.

If any of the amazing amount of committees operating at any given time were to suggest truly needed reform in any sector it would be rejected out of hand once those in power recovered from the shock or it would be watered down to such an extent there would be no reform.

[jollyman]

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The Shins were a symptom. The coup is a symptom.

No one who has wealth or power here wants reform. They each want to consolidate their own power.

Any other way of looking at it is farcical to me, and implies not only an allegiance and agenda, but pure sophistry.

Yes none of these rich, elite,military want change. Thats what Taksin offered, CHANGE and These guys want to go back in Time No change Taksin was just an excuse. All are corrupt.

[rickirs]

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Protest has stop. Thais no longer divided. Prayuth the great has successfully united the nation like never before in thai history.

You mean unlike any of the Kings that preceeded 1933?

[rickirs]

'Jury still out on another year of turmoil'

Just a sticky point I'd like to make. This title could be found in any Western nation and as a metaphor draw attention to a lack of conclusion, ie., by a jury, to a conflict. But to use "jury" in connection with events in Thailand is a difficult metaphor as Thailand does NOT have a jury trial system. All criminal court decisions are made by judges; there is no court decision made by one's peers. The "jury" will always be out. And maybe that is really the true metaphor for the democratic future of Thailand.

[Alwyn]

Good year. Got rid of the Shinawatra mafioso clan's grip.

Yes, to be replaced by the grip of a bigger stronger mafiosa, one who cannot be overthrown by yet another coup

[Alwyn]

2014. Great year for Thailand. Democratically elected (whether people like them or not) government overthrown and an "Autocrat" PM installed by the junta. Martial law still in place and no signs that's going to change. Promised elections deferred for yet another year (doesn't look like that will change - yet another year..) economy in the crapper, tourism pretty much in the same place, Thai people without a voice, media gagged... etc...Yup, great year.