Academic puzzled "Against Democracy!!! Then the Coup?"

Prachatai - 1 June 2007

 

Academics and activists differ on the May 30 verdict of the Constitution Tribunal to dissolve the Thai Rak Thai party and bar executives from politics.

 

How can the Tribunal explain itself as the coup is also against Democracy?   

 

Somchai Preechasilapakun, dean of Law Faculty of Chiang Mai University and a member of Midnight University-an independent group of academics based in Chiang Mai, doubted the Tribunal's verdict to disband the Thai Rak Thai party on grounds of electoral fraud, deemed an act against Constitutional Democracy.   He wondered how the Tribunal would justify itself as the judicial body was set up by the junta after the coup d'etat that tore up the Constitution.  And the judiciary has never questioned the power wielded by the coup makers through their announcements, although it was against the rule of law; for example, the Council for National Security announcement No.27 that gives the Constitution Tribunal power to dissolve political parties and deprive party executives of voting rights for 5 years.

 

"I feel frustrated about the fact that the judges never question the laws created by the coups. In effect, that perpetuates the tradition and legacy of coup d'etat in Thailand," Somchai said.

  

A repeated coup that brings us close to the dictator regime of Myanmar

 

Jedsada Chotikijpiwat of the Democracy for Welfare State Group likened the dissolution verdict on May 30 to a repeated coup, as more than 10,000 military and police troops were deployed in many places in Bangkok and the provinces, including television stations, hindering people to gather.  The junta did just the same thing as the Thaksin government did in the past to thwart the gathering of the People's Alliance for Democracy, he said.

 

"The junta is getting closer to the dictator in Myanmar. I believe that when academics come out to protest against the draft charter, they will be treated the same," Jedsada said.       

 

Activist afraid the remnants of Thaksin regime are still alive

 

Nikom Putta, director of Upper Ping River Management Project based in Chiang Mai, said that the verdict showed the people, the grassroots in particular, that the populist policies of Thai Rak Thai party were like sugar-coated poison.   In fact, Thaksin and his party deceived the people, and they were corrupt.  Therefore, the people must be careful to select leaders.   Aside from being good at works, virtue and ethics also count.   

 

"However, I believe that the Thaksin regime has yet to disappear.  Even though Thaksin is gone, the regime still remains, embedded in people's mind.   Other political parties should not follow Thaksin's path."

When asked which direction the people's movements will be heading to, Nikom said that the people should hold forums on politics, to see how much we have learnt, and to learn more, as our lives are inseparable from politics.

 

The verdict helped ease the crisis

 

Suriyan Tongnuiad of the Northern Farmers Federation said that the people must respect the ruling and it helped ease the crisis to some extent.   During Thaksin admistration, there was no way to bring the Thaksin government to court.  Now the situation has changed.   And this could lead to development of Thai politics.

 

"I think the verdict would not lead to political unrests.  When Thaksin escaped the asset concealment charge [in 2001], we accepted the outcome.   It's not right to incite people to fight for your party.  We have to accept the verdict," Suriyan said.       

 


 

Source: 
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