Saturday, August 30, 2008
A Muay Thai of some sorts
I read the story about the situation in Thailand now.. the political situation... and I felt a sudden knot in my stomach.
I was surprised; I actually was grieved by what I was reading. I thought, "How could Thailand, Bangkok, reach this stage?"
It's no longer just about camping on the grounds of Government House. You have airports outside of Bangkok getting closed down, a report about the union leader of Thai Airways calling for its 15,000 members to go on strike to show their support with PAD, and so on.
And you know what the really ironic thing is? PAD is doing all this because they want Samak (the current PM) to resign as they believe that he is the proxy for Thaksin... it's all about the abuse of power, PAD says.
BUT what they have failed to added is that even if Samak resigns, the protests will continue as long as PAD is not placed in power of the government. It's not about, "Oh, if Samak resigns, we'll go away and not disturb everyone in the future." No, there will be more demands for more changes in government, and perhaps even in the army leadership.
That's how PAD defines a good government = a PAD-led government.
And that's what is really really sad about all this. It's not about democracy.. oh please, if you believe that then you're vey naive... it's all about the power struggle. And the people (ie. the common people actually protesting) let themselves get dragged around like that in this sick game. The common people may have real concerns, a real desire to have some form of change... but unfortunately for them, it's a case of "different actors, same story plot".
What PAD is doing is not even civil disobedience at all, because innocent people are being harmed, not being able to work (eg. invasion of TV station etc). Maybe back when they were trying to get rid of Thaksin, they were a credible group fighting for genuine change. But this time, they have crossed the line.
The fact that they have broke into the office of Samak coz the PAD leaders wanna use it, indicates that this is just about wanting power, not democracy.
So sad... this whole thing will never end.
Interesting quote in the Bangkok Post... an academic political scientist, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, said this:
"If the PAD succeeds in ousting Samak, it will be a huge setback for Thai democracy," Prof Thitinan said. "It will be the crowning success for the right-wing conservative contingent who are against election-based democracy."
Never really saw it that way.. right-wing conservatives... hmm.. the Professor has a point there.
Oh, and from that same article, there was this:
PAD leaders, such as retired Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, have said the Thai electorate is too uneducated to vote in honest politicians and continues to sell its votes to the highest bidders.
So who educates the electorate?
I really wonder how much royal backing PAD has...
Sigh.. dear Thailand, you have been so good to me... I hope things get better for you.
I was surprised; I actually was grieved by what I was reading. I thought, "How could Thailand, Bangkok, reach this stage?"
It's no longer just about camping on the grounds of Government House. You have airports outside of Bangkok getting closed down, a report about the union leader of Thai Airways calling for its 15,000 members to go on strike to show their support with PAD, and so on.
And you know what the really ironic thing is? PAD is doing all this because they want Samak (the current PM) to resign as they believe that he is the proxy for Thaksin... it's all about the abuse of power, PAD says.
BUT what they have failed to added is that even if Samak resigns, the protests will continue as long as PAD is not placed in power of the government. It's not about, "Oh, if Samak resigns, we'll go away and not disturb everyone in the future." No, there will be more demands for more changes in government, and perhaps even in the army leadership.
That's how PAD defines a good government = a PAD-led government.
And that's what is really really sad about all this. It's not about democracy.. oh please, if you believe that then you're vey naive... it's all about the power struggle. And the people (ie. the common people actually protesting) let themselves get dragged around like that in this sick game. The common people may have real concerns, a real desire to have some form of change... but unfortunately for them, it's a case of "different actors, same story plot".
What PAD is doing is not even civil disobedience at all, because innocent people are being harmed, not being able to work (eg. invasion of TV station etc). Maybe back when they were trying to get rid of Thaksin, they were a credible group fighting for genuine change. But this time, they have crossed the line.
The fact that they have broke into the office of Samak coz the PAD leaders wanna use it, indicates that this is just about wanting power, not democracy.
So sad... this whole thing will never end.
Interesting quote in the Bangkok Post... an academic political scientist, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, said this:
"If the PAD succeeds in ousting Samak, it will be a huge setback for Thai democracy," Prof Thitinan said. "It will be the crowning success for the right-wing conservative contingent who are against election-based democracy."
Never really saw it that way.. right-wing conservatives... hmm.. the Professor has a point there.
Oh, and from that same article, there was this:
PAD leaders, such as retired Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, have said the Thai electorate is too uneducated to vote in honest politicians and continues to sell its votes to the highest bidders.
So who educates the electorate?
I really wonder how much royal backing PAD has...
Sigh.. dear Thailand, you have been so good to me... I hope things get better for you.
