Thai editorial: Secret talks not solution to political crisis

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EDITORIAL
Secret talks not solution to political crisis

HEALING THE RIFT IN SOCIETY SHOULD BE THE JOB OF EVERY CITIZEN

BANGKOK: -- Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha has rejected the possibility of talks with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now reportedly willing to engage in high-level negotiations for the sake of national reconciliation. It would be wrong for a state official to negotiate with a fugitive from justice, explained Prayut, adding that he was in any case impartial to opposing sides in the political conflict.

Thailand has been plagued by serious conflict for more than a decade, some observers tracing its roots to Thaksin's premiership. A fact-finding committee set up after the 2010 political unrest concluded that the conflict began with the assets-concealment case against Thaksin in 2004, when the Constitutional Court ruled in his favour.

According to sources in the pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai Party, the former premier is now seeking talks with the country's leaders because he had been disappointed by lower-level talks. He wants to negotiate with someone powerful enough to ensure that any agreement reached is put into practice.

Some politicians are optimistic that the conflict remains "theirs to solve" and that such negotiations represent a way forward.

That optimism should be a cause for concern among ordinary citizens. It conjures up the spectre of a secret agreement on the country's future made within a small group of powerbrokers. Any such talks would be unlikely to address crucial questions that remain unanswered: What was the root cause of the conflict? What is at dispute? Is the conflict confined to politicians, or are all of us involved?

Without knowing the cause, it is unlikely we will achieve reconciliation. Without that foundation, how can we know where to start and what actions to take towards reconciliation?

The political polarisation has been blamed on discontent stemming from

corruption, abuse of power, failure of democracy and social inequity. It could be that the conflict is a straightforward battle for political power waged by groups who use their followers as pawns.

Street protests and shows of public discontent are part of any normally functioning democracy and rarely lead to severe conflict. However, protest in Thailand has been blighted by political violence triggered by what appeared to be attackers hired for the purpose. The violence left scores of people dead and several hundred injured and dragged the two sides into deeper conflict.

Anti-government rallies over the decades have focused on social inequity, public corruption, double standards and abuse of power.

However, those protests have often missed their mark by targeting the supporters of the government - ordinary citizens - rather than the politicians in power. More often than not, the politicians have responded in kind, rallying their own supporters and setting citizen against citizen. In this way they can maintain that the accusations against them, however well founded, are merely persecution.

At the root of the conflict is the self-serving and corrupt behaviour of politicians. Changing this, however, is easier advocated than done.

In fact, the Thai conflict boils down to one problem - too many of the country's politicians have little or no respect for the law. Some have managed to buy their way into power, then sown this disregard for the rule of law among their followers.

The reality is that our conflict reaches well beyond political circles. It has radiated through every sector and level of society. As such it cannot be resolved with secretive talks among powerbrokers. Only thorough reform drawn from popular opinion can bring solutions to a crisis that goes this deep.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Secret-talks-not-solution-to-political-crisis-30254466.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-20

[BSJ]

I am sure if Thaksin came home did his jail time, got released and made an appointment with the PM the PM would give it some consideration.....maybe even offer him a job.

Every ex-con needs a second chance.

And there isn't enough cleaners in Bangkok from the look of the place.

[Lupatria]

Secret talks not solution to political crisis

...neither is secret politics!

[sawadee1947]

very good and open article. Congrats.

Reforms are necessary. By whom? By a non elected arny government?

No end of conflicts in sight though......! In general a lack of education. There will be no democracy in a country without a reasonable level of education joined by respect different political parties with different views.

[Srikcir]

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I am sure if Thaksin came home did his jail time, got released and made an appointment with the PM the PM would give it some consideration.....maybe even offer him a job.

Every ex-con needs a second chance.

And there isn't enough cleaners in Bangkok from the look of the place.

And if the NCPO didn't abolish the Constitution and grant itself amnesty, Gen. Prayuth and his military cronies could also join Thaksin as ex-cons.

[FangFerang]

"The political polarisation has been blamed on discontent stemming from corruption, abuse of power, failure of democracy and social inequity."

A rather indelicate way of minimizing the major polarisation; the quote should have been: ""The political polarisation has originated from social inequality, with the Thai style red herrings and selective enforcement concerning corruption and abuse of power. Refusing to even agree on the cause of polarisation created a failure of democracy, and has legitimized liars on both sides of the divide.."

Edited February 20, 2015 by FangFerang

[Srikcir]

“Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha has rejected the possibility of talks with former prime minister Thaksin ….. adding that he was in any case impartial to opposing sides in the political conflict.”

Taking Gen. Prayuth’s statement at face value, wouldn’t he seem to be the perfect party to negotiate the political conflict? He is not only “impartial” and “nonpolitical,” but also holds all the power. Sadly, it is because he holds all the power that allows him to pursue his own agenda for the political future of Thailand without being concerned about public participation and mandate.

Prayuth naively sees the political conflict as PTP versus the Democrats and his reforms are intended to eliminate the political strength of Thaksin and the PTP. In reality the conflict is a much deeper RIFT in Thai society. Prayuth should understand that Thaksin does not own populist ideology and any charismatic leader can succeed Thaksin and Yingluck to attract majority support of the Thais.

The growing middle class and ignored low income class will continue to challenge the long-ruling elite despite the Junta’s reforms. There will come a time when appeasements by the oligarchy in the forms of gifts and subsidies will become insufficient for the loss of Thais human rights and liberties.

Then the military may wish that it was more accommodating to reconciliation.

[wowfactor10]

Yes talking about..

No talking with...

Thainess