The protagonists in the ongoing political war may have their own reasons for destroying each other. But when they manage to kill people’s faith in the very foundation of a genuine democratic system, that is inexcusable.
- Extracted from Suthichai Yoon, “From delusion to loss of faith in ‘democracy‘”, The Nation, 17 September 2009.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Steve // Sep 17, 2009 at 1:06 pm
The label of “utter hypocrite” doesn’t really do justice to Yoon for this article. The most blatant example (but just one of many) that earns it is: “Instead of engaging in a healthy debate on the best way to get the country back on its feet, the various political groupings choose the simplistic and dangerous tactic of pinning ‘yellow’ and ‘red’ labels to split society.” With the possible exceptions of ASTV/Manager and their polar opposites, would he care to point to one media outlet which is more guilty of this than his own – with himself as cheerleader?
He refers to “the ongoing parliamentary debate on ‘political reform’ (whatever that means for the general public)”. Does it occur to him that The Nation might usefully take on the task of trying to explore and explain what “that means for the general public”? Of course not – the lopsided agenda-driven Nation is incapable of it and has other fish to fry.
His own closing line serves perfectly to sum up the charge that should be laid at his door: “The protagonists in the ongoing political war may have their own reasons for destroying each other. But when they manage to kill people’s faith in the very foundation of a genuine democratic system, that is inexcusable”. Spot on.
2 Tench // Sep 17, 2009 at 2:33 pm
“But when they manage to kill people’s faith in the very foundation of a genuine democratic system”
What, you mean like the coup leaders? Clearly they can’t have had much faith in a democratic system or they wouldn’t have tried to override it.
3 reg herring // Sep 17, 2009 at 3:27 pm
The problem for both Yoon and Steve here is that there is scant evidence that genuine democracy has ever had any foundations in Thailand. All attempts to build those foundations have always been subverted by the cleverclogs in society for their own enrichment. It is exactly the same with the ’shirts’. They are essentially paid mercenaries in a power struggle which has never had anything to do ‘democracy’. Why pretend? (Unless one has a vested interest in supporting a particular faction.) I have seen nothing happen in the last 20 years that did anything to improve social justice. Same in other countries for that matter. Just more of the tyrrhany of big business.
4 Steve // Sep 17, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Ouch – I’m still coming to grips with the fact that (the ingeniously-named?) reg herring thinks Yoon and I share anything……..
But I think he (reg) is a tad sweeping with most of his remarks. I don’t think I have many illusions about the prospects – past, present and near future – for anything much like “real” democracy (as in OMOV that works and is allowed to stand) here in the Kingdom. That said, the optimist in me still sees a two-steps-forward-one-back (and baby steps at that) movement that ever so stutteringly looks something like progress to the goal.
Just one further bit of distancing myself from Yoon – I don’t have a horse in this race……. vested or otherwise).
5 Ralph Kramden // Sep 17, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Suthichai is just parroting a royalist lexicon on democracy. It has nothing to do with democracy, real and existing or otherwise. Politicians are corrupt and self-serving hence representative institutions via elections are never acceptable (except to sort out a crisis of authoritarianism). This is why constitutions also don’t matter. Solution? Thai-style democracy where the good and great rule why the politicians fiddle around, get a cut, but don’t really matter, a la Prem’s period in power as PM. Suthichai, the appointed senators and so on are just doing their “job” for this long line of opposition to electoral politics. It is starting to look like re-run of the debates that began in 1992?
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