Be determined to push for true democracy: Sulak

[rooster59]

Be determined to push for true democracy: Sulak

By THE SUNDAY NATION

 

 

NOTED social thinker Sulak Sivaraksa called on Thai society yesterday to learn from the past and have strong determination in revolutionising the country for a “true democracy”.

 

Sulak spoke at a seminar at Thammasat University on the 85th anniversary of the Siamese Revolution, saying the revolution would truly return to Thai society if there was a strong intention to step past dictatorship and capitalism and move towards democracy.

 

As such, he called on the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to return to where it came from in order to allow a return of true democracy to Thai society.

 

Some successors of the People’s Party, which revolutionised Siam 85 years ago joined the seminar yesterday. They included Lt Col Buddhinart Paholpolpayuhasena, son of Phraya Phraya Paholpol-payuhasena, the party’s leader.

 

The bloodless revolution on June 24, 1932, launched parliamentary democracy in Thailand, but the eight and a half decades since then have been punctuated by frequent military coups, including the latest one in 2014 that brought in the current government.

 

Sulak said yesterday society must learn from the past and confront the truth. It should also dare to speak to those in power – to help them see the truth and not get lost in illusion. 

 

He asked if it was appropriate to lay hope on one person or group. Coup-makers in the past, he said, were under an illusion that they were better than others, when in fact the essence of democracy was people having freedom and liberty in various aspects of life, such as freedom of expression.

 

Buddhinart, meanwhile, said he was proud of the People’s Party for risking their lives to bring democracy to Thai society. This was because they believed that power belonged to the people.

 

Meanwhile, police yesterday detained a man who attempted to install a mock-up of the missing historical plaque marking the Siamese Revolution at the Royal Plaza.

 

The man, identified as Ekachai Hongkangwan, said he wanted to reinstall the plaque at the same spot but was picked up by police and taken to a military compound, Prachatai online news agency reported.

 

A police officer contacted by the agency said they had not charged Ekachai but only detained him for “some talk” for an understanding of the situation.

 

The venue was secured yesterday as the police have banned political activities there following the junta’s ban on political gatherings.

 

On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police said it would keep a close eye on any activities planned for June 24, which marks the 85th anniversary of the revolution in 1932. 

 

Police said they knew of at least five activities expected to take place in Bangkok on the day, besides academic seminars by experts and students. But the police made it clear they would not allow political activities at the Royal Plaza, where the 1932 plaque was embedded to mark the revolution. The plaque has been missing since April, and has been replaced by a “Na Sai” plaque, inscribed with ultra-royalist messages. Police said the Plaza was due to be cleaned in the morning and live music would be played there in the evening.

 

In a related development, student activist group Serinonsi, of Kasetsart University, joined their fellows in commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Siamese Revolution yesterday.

 

The group issued a statement to express their gratitude to the People’s Party who revolutionised Siam, while denouncing the ruling government for allegedly using excessive force to suppress the people and destroying democracy.

 

The group also expressed their support to those who stand up for liberty while opposing any use of excessive force by the government to suppress the people. They also asked the government to return democracy to the country quickly following the will of the People’s Party. Representatives read the statement before dispersing.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30319028

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-06-25

[roamer]

I thought we had democratic elections scheduled, well, loosely scheduled and loosely democratic, and even after that;

 

" It's not the voting that's democracy; it's the counting."

 

I'm sure that election monitors will be happy to take part, they won't be invited of course but that's democracy, Thai style

 

 

Edited June 24, 2017 by roamer

[harada]

Sulak called on Thai society to learn from the past, IMO here lies the main reason for Thailands never ending woes, they won't.  

[roamer]

23 minutes ago, harada said:

Sulak called on Thai society to learn from the past, IMO here lies the main reason for Thailands never ending woes, they won't.  

Not wrong. But different generation, different times, internet, social media and a "government" that is sticking around way too long even for those who thought it might be a solution.

[yellowboat]

 

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

This was because they believed that power belonged to the people.

Wished the army felt that way. 

[klauskunkel]

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

the revolution would truly return to Thai society if there was a strong intention to step past dictatorship and capitalism and move towards democracy.

sadly, I can only see a strong intention towards yaba and street-racing (which could be by design according to some conspiracy theorists)

[trainman34014]

The only thing Thai's learn from the past is that they don't learn anything from the past !!

[Get Real]

Oki doki! First we just need an expensive education system that can teach and clarify what democracy is to the masses.
Easy put. Don´t turn the big stone before you know whats under the gravel.

[Srikcir]

13 hours ago, rooster59 said:

As such, he called on the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to return to where it came from in order to allow a return of true democracy to Thai society.

After only three years of military regime he's figured this all out.

Now what is he going to do the the next 20 years of the NCPO roadmap for reform?

[Cadbury]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

After only three years of military regime he's figured this all out.

Now what is he going to do the the next 20 years of the NCPO roadmap for reform?

And who is he?  As in what is "he going to do in the next 20 years". Give us a name please. We all want to know who this mystery person is you refer to. Speak out man!

[Stargeezr]

If the next government does not try to buy their votes to get in then maybe the new goernmnt will

be a better try for democracy.The last two governments that were voted in were bought. They were

also fraught with corruption, failed and in one case fled the country to avoid arrest.

Geezer

[Srikcir]

11 hours ago, Cadbury said:

And who is he?  As in what is "he going to do in the next 20 years". Give us a name please. We all want to know who this mystery person is you refer to. Speak out man!

"He" is Sulak Sivaraksa as mentioned in the first seven paragraphs of the article.

Sorry if you were confused.

He-he.

[halloween]

While they are studying primary voting, would-be Thai politicians could try a few more concepts, such as conflict of interest and recusal to avoid it, and no 3rd party payments to elected officials. Those would certainly be foreign ideas, but given some nicely savage penalties and a watchdog to enforce them, they could probably come to grips with it.

[Cadbury]

On ‎26‎/‎06‎/‎2017 at 7:52 AM, Srikcir said:

"He" is Sulak Sivaraksa as mentioned in the first seven paragraphs of the article.

Sorry if you were confused.

He-he.

Sorry I could not reply beforehand. I was given a red card and sin binned. Now back on the field.

Thank you for having cleared up that minor point. I thought for a moment you were implying it may have been someone else. He-he.