Thai opinion: The emperor has few clothes

[webfact]

The emperor has few clothes

The international community remains sceptical of the Thai government's claims of democratic reform

BANGKOK: -- Falsehoods won't help Thailand salvage an international reputation badly tarnished by undemocratic rule and rights violations. In fact, the propaganda and denials being pumped out by the Foreign Ministry and its envoys abroad are making the Kingdom look worse.

Thai envoys have borne the brunt of strong international criticism of the May 22 coup and junta rule. The diplomats and Foreign Ministry officials are in a tricky position. Not at liberty to offer their own interpretation of political developments in Thailand, they must instead follow the official line of their military government. However, foreign countries have other, often more reliable, sources of information, including their own embassies here, the news media and international and local rights groups. Developments in Bangkok reach ears in Washington, New York, London, Beijing and Tokyo in minutes, if not seconds. Few facts can be concealed from view in our relatively open society.

But the main fact of international concern is the military's seizure of power from a democratically elected government. The long-held international consensus is that elections are the only legitimate way to change a government. Thus, as long as the Thai government remains non-elected and military-backed, countries will call Thailand an authoritarian state. Likewise, as long as martial law remains in force, we can expect foreign criticism of basic rights violations here. And, as long as the constitution currently being drafted contains undemocratic elements, foreigners will question the Thai government's commitment to democratic reform.

The proposal for a non-elected Senate is just one example. If it stands, ordinary voters would lose their say in the composition of this powerful checks-and-balances watchdog for the executive branch. Without an elected Senate, how can we call to account those who have the important job of scrutinising government legislation? An elected Senate worked quite well under the 1997 Constitution, so why change the system? And how can Thai diplomats defend the change as "democratic reform"?

Unfortunately they will have little choice in the matter. Several Thai diplomats have already told their counterparts, host countries and international media that Thailand has no political prisoners. As long as people remain imprisoned in this country because of their political beliefs or actions, the government cannot expect to be believed when it claims there are none.

According to Amnesty International, 665 individuals were arrested or detained for resisting the junta's orders in the three months after the coup. Among them, nearly 100 faced criminal prosecution, while more than 50 faced a military court.

Even worse, dozens of individuals have been charged or investigated for alleged lese majeste, under a draconian law imposed to silence criticism of the monarchy. Of course, many democratic countries also have laws to protect their heads of state, but the Thai version faces widespread international criticism that the establishment here uses it as a political tool to silence opposition. Suspects are rarely granted bail and many are treated as if they were murderers, though it is often unclear how their offending words or expressions could have damaged the monarchy.

The world knows what is going on in Thailand. Denials and obfuscation will not help us regain our place on the international stage. For that to happen, we need genuine democratic reform.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/The-emperor-has-few-clothes-30255214.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-03

[Thailand]

Not what the powers that be want to hear.

Today's modern communications make it impossible to hide what is going on.

[smutcakes]

Of course all the embassies, people critical simply do not understand.....

[zaphod reborn]

Elections are the only legitimate way to change governments? No democratic country follows this alleged consensus. All of them have impeachment proceedings and criminal courts that can remove government leaders. Maybe the OP should take a brush up course in political science. ,

[baboon]

Elections are the only legitimate way to change governments? No democratic country follows this alleged consensus. All of them have impeachment proceedings and criminal courts that can remove government leaders. Maybe the OP should take a brush up course in political science. ,

Which countries are you referring to and when do they use extraordinary methods to remove their democratically elected governments?

[tbthailand]

Elections are the only legitimate way to change governments? No democratic country follows this alleged consensus. All of them have impeachment proceedings and criminal courts that can remove government leaders. Maybe the OP should take a brush up course in political science. ,

looks like the air is getting thin up there, ... you need to come back to earth...

[tbthailand]

who woke up the staff at The Nation?

They clearly need to get some 'adjusting'

[NeverSure]

Elections are the only legitimate way to change governments? No democratic country follows this alleged consensus. All of them have impeachment proceedings and criminal courts that can remove government leaders. Maybe the OP should take a brush up course in political science. ,

Which countries are you referring to and when do they use extraordinary methods to remove their democratically elected governments?

More like "when do they use military coups to remove their governments?

Good for The Nation. I don't know why more people don't see this for what it is.

[WhamBam]

When will the rest of the world listen to what they are told?

There is democracy and Thai democracy. Same same but different and we know whose version the Thai Junta will say is best.

[NongKhaiKid]

Little wonder the international community is skeptical, in fact stronger words may be more appropriate.

Martial Law continues and situations such as AA sends a clear signal. In the last few weeks alone issues of only ' pro ' opinion polls are acceptable, new laws on gatherings, the proposal for unelected PMs, news anchors facing summonsing if they criticise etc are hard to explain away.

Of course it's just too bad if foreigners don't understand and it's not their business anyway.

[chooka]

Of course all the embassies, people critical simply do not understand.....

and it is really tearing them up inside because they can't send out the army to round up all the foreign heads of government and ship them off to the attitude adjustment factories where they will be made to worship at Thailand's feet and praise the coup.

[chooka]

Of course all the embassies, people critical simply do not understand.....

Just have the junta conduct a poll amongst all foreign heads of state and all will be fixed. 97% will be in favour of and support Thailand 100% and then you will have the 3% who don't understand. Uncle Too could release the findings of this poll on Friday night.

[Emster23]

How long until the Nation is gelded? I do love that poll result where choice was "doing better than expected"... If you expect 0% but get 1%, that is "better than expected".

[umbanda]

No doubts Prayut is the head of a very Thai coup.....or a very Thai "dictatorship".

I never heard of a military "dictator" explaining its acts every week on TV...even a Democratic president doing that.

And...no doubts... that many countries leaders, many foreigners, and many expats, cannot understand how things are done in Thailand....and will be better for them just shot up and leave Thailand alone with its Thainess...

[Anthony5]

Quickly forward to the news from tomorrow.

General Happiness announces that he has explained to foreign embassies, and they now understand.

[bkkgooner]

You can see that this coup isn't like others and that there is a very specific long term goal in place, no discussion allowed of this however so I won't elaborate.

[laolover88]

Sorry! Thailand's so called 'bad reputation' is not as a result of coups/generals/non-democracy. It is a as a result of the shared and recorded experience of greed, corruption, racism in Thailand by people who have come here and won't come back! In the wilds of Issan life goes on. We are more worried about rain than dictators/soldiers/farangs/democrats/tourists....etc.

[toybits]

Didn't HE say - only good news can be reported? The Nation has CROSSED the Line!!! Haven't they been briefed about why it was NECESSARY to declare Martial Law? So dense - these people from The Nation. Almost like those KWAI in the provinces...

[yardrunner]

Elections are the only legitimate way to change governments? No democratic country follows this alleged consensus. All of them have impeachment proceedings and criminal courts that can remove government leaders. Maybe the OP should take a brush up course in political science. ,

Yes but you go to the courts you do not replace the government at gunpoint

[Fat Haggis]

The Nation isn't shy at lambasting the Junta these days are they?

[Anthony5]

The Nation isn't shy at lambasting the Junta these days are they?

After all, General happiness himself instructed the media to only write the truth, so I assume the Nation adheres to that rule.

[TheDiva]

You can see that this coup isn't like others and that there is a very specific long term goal in place, no discussion allowed of this however so I won't elaborate.

Dash it all, there I was thinking that the coup happened because of corruption and a looming civil war, at least that's what I read on here.....................................

[BSJ]

The Nation isn't shy at lambasting the Junta these days are they?

After all, General happiness himself instructed the media to only write the truth, so I assume the Nation adheres to that rule.

This will explain it for you. Replace Col Jessup with General Prayuth!

http://hwww.youtube.com/watch?v=8hGvQtumNAY

[Eric Loh]

I seriously doubt the junta is listening or even bother with what the rest of the world is saying. The new charter will be written with all the controversial amendments like the unelected PM, full chamber of appointed senators and the MMP election system. This government has gone down the road too far to accommodate any democratic residue and will be heavily skewed to more establishment control and checks. Really not the say of the PM but his backers. Thailand is just a ticking time bomb.

[heybruce]

No doubts Prayut is the head of a very Thai coup.....or a very Thai "dictatorship".

I never heard of a military "dictator" explaining its acts every week on TV...even a Democratic president doing that.

And...no doubts... that many countries leaders, many foreigners, and many expats, cannot understand how things are done in Thailand....and will be better for them just shot up and leave Thailand alone with its Thainess...

Huh? Prayuth commandeers television time and that means he's not a dictator? That's the most desperate rationale I've read yet!

My apologies if you were being sarcastic.

[Fat Haggis]

No doubts Prayut is the head of a very Thai coup.....or a very Thai "dictatorship".

I never heard of a military "dictator" explaining its acts every week on TV...even a Democratic president doing that.

And...no doubts... that many countries leaders, many foreigners, and many expats, cannot understand how things are done in Thailand....and will be better for them just shot up and leave Thailand alone with its Thainess...

Huh? Prayuth commandeers television time and that means he's not a dictator? That's the most desperate rationale I've read yet!

My apologies if you were being sarcastic.

I guess umbanda hasn't lived in places where there has been TV broadcasts and state run news amid the likes, I mean Saddam never did this, neither did Ghaddafi, I don't think Kim Il Jung participates much on state run TV these days either, so I guess what umbanda is saying, is he hasn't a clue what he is saying!! ?

[masuk]

You can see that this coup isn't like others and that there is a very specific long term goal in place, no discussion allowed of this however so I won't elaborate.

Dash it all, there I was thinking that the coup happened because of corruption and a looming civil war, at least that's what I read on here.....................................

Agree with you here. If the corruption and civil conflicts became any worse, where would the country be?

look at all the slightly bent BIB who are behind bars.

[Fat Haggis]

If they put all the bent coppers in Thailand behind bars there wouldn't be many left to police the country!!

And the Prisons wouldn't have any room left for the bent politicians !!

[billd766]

Sorry! Thailand's so called 'bad reputation' is not as a result of coups/generals/non-democracy. It is a as a result of the shared and recorded experience of greed, corruption, racism in Thailand by people who have come here and won't come back! In the wilds of Issan life goes on. We are more worried about rain than dictators/soldiers/farangs/democrats/tourists....etc.

It is the same over on this side of the country in rural Khampaeng Phet.

Rural people are more interested in their jobs, a roof over their heads, food on the table than all the so called "intellectuals" and foreign governments. They have to live here and they know not much will change whoever is in charge so they get on with their lives and leave the talking heads to chatter on incessantly about the realities of life that they don't have to live with every day.

Farmers are far more interested in when it will rain next and what prices they will get for their crops, rather then how some farang in a country far away who deosn't even live in Thailand seems to care about the rights of Thai people.

[billd766]

No doubts Prayut is the head of a very Thai coup.....or a very Thai "dictatorship".

I never heard of a military "dictator" explaining its acts every week on TV...even a Democratic president doing that.

And...no doubts... that many countries leaders, many foreigners, and many expats, cannot understand how things are done in Thailand....and will be better for them just shot up and leave Thailand alone with its Thainess...

Huh? Prayuth commandeers television time and that means he's not a dictator? That's the most desperate rationale I've read yet!

My apologies if you were being sarcastic.

Didn't Yingluck, Abhisit, Somchai, Samak and Thaksin do exactly the same thing when they were in power?