The hate campaign in Thailand, which started in 2005 and intensified in 2008, has been successful and has polarized the Thai society to an unprecedented degree. It is time to reset Thailand's domestic politics before it is too late.
It was frightening then to notice that the themes and the words used were similar to the ones used in Rwanda, which led to genocide in that country 15 years ago.
The success of the hate campaign owed much to the round-the-clock live television, broadcasting and reaffirming hate messages. This was supplemented by demonstrations and rallies, including the occupation of Government House and the closure of international airports by demonstrators wearing yellow shirts, members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), determined to bring down several elected governments. The PAD has called for a parliament to be dominated by appointed, rather than elected members.
These events sent a strong message that illegal acts, detrimental to Thailand's national interest and with the aim of bringing down elected governments, are acceptable in Thailand. The military did not react to enforce the law against the "Yellow Shirts".
Earlier this month, following the examples set by the "Yellow Shirts", an opposing group of people, members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), wearing red shirts, took to the streets to demand a return of full democracy to Thailand. A regional summit was abruptly cancelled as a result, and this time, the military reacted swiftly to enforce the law against the "Red Shirts".
Opposing groups in Thailand now see the situation as a "zero sum game," in which if one side wins, the other side loses. With this attitude, there is no possibility of a settlement with mutual gains.
As events developed following the coup, many Thais became convinced that there is a double standard in Thailand in which members of one side can break the law with impunity while members of the other side are subjected to maximum punishment.
Both sides used strong personal attacks on key personalities, resorting to emotional accusations. In this way, action leads to reaction, escalating into violence. The situation is grim, and there is real potential for things to get worse, leading Thais into the abyss together.
How can we put an end to this escalation of conflict?
The only way out that I can see is to borrow the words of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as she met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. On that occasion, mindful of deteriorating relations between Russia and the United States, she said, "Let us press the reset button." I now say, it is time to press the reset button for Thailand.
A fresh start for Thailand is needed urgently. This means nothing less than the immediate change in assumptions and attitudes for all sides, followed immediately by constructive action. But how?
1. Thais must stop using their time, energy and brain power to attack and destroy one another. Instead, these resources should be used by Thais to jointly find solutions agreeable to all sides through constructive negotiation and dialogue. This means all sides must stop seeing the situation as a "zero sum game." Attitudes must change to enable all sides to see that a "positive sum game" or a "win-win" situation is possible, one in which all sides, by working together, can gain together and save the kingdom.
2. Thais must separate the people from the problem -- and stop trying to find creative ways to destroy one another. We must resist the temptation to act against someone on the basis of assumptions based on rumors or unverified accusations. Personal attacks only lead to counter personal attacks and the hardening of opposite positions. This must end.
3. Instead of declaring positions and thinking that we cannot back down from the declared positions without losing face, let us focus on our underlying interests and work together to find common ground. We are all Thais. We have lived happily together for over 800 years. There is no reason why we cannot work together now.
4. All Thais must have good reasons to be convinced that there is no double standard in Thailand. Due process of law must apply to all Thais, regardless of which side the person may be perceived to be from. All Thais, whether they are rich or poor, whether they are from Bangkok or from the rural areas, must be made to feel that they are all Thai citizens, with equal rights under the same law. This includes voting rights.
5. We should avoid the retroactive application of laws which take away people's rights, such as the one by which if one executive of a political party is found guilty of violating election law, the entire political party can be disbanded and all party executives lose their rights to vote in local and national elections and are prohibited from holding political positions for 5 years. In addition, the principle of proportionality should be applied when punishments are handed down by the courts.
6. We must stop debating whether or not there is a double standard in Thailand from the 2006 coup d'etat, until now. Debates on this point are counterproductive, since they can only help entrench the polarized positions of each side. Except for very serious crimes of which the evidence is clear, the fact that a significant part of the Thai society feels that there is a double standard is enough to trigger amnesty across the political board.
7. Controversial provisions of the 2007 constitution must be revised to be more consistent with democracy.
8. The results of our next elections must be respected. All political parties have ample time to design effective strategies to win elections. Resorting to illegal means to reverse election results must not be condoned.
I want to see the day when all Thais can walk proudly together, wearing whatever color shirts we like, uniting together in a just society and working together to enable the kingdom to succeed with flying colors under globalization.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has often emphasized that he is determined to bring about reconciliation by the promotion of justice, democracy and political reform, including the amendment of the constitution. He said that he would invite all parties concerned to discuss ways for the country to move forward. The formation of a truly impartial and independent body, acceptable to all parties concerned, to help with the reconciliation process, would be helpful. It is now time to Reset Thailand by translating those noble words into concrete actions.
Dr. Kantathi Suphamongkhon served as Foreign Minister of Thailand during the administration of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from March 11, 2005, until the military coup d'etat on Sept. 19, 2006. He is currently Senior Fellow at the Burkle Center for International Relations at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) where he also teaches law and diplomacy.
© 2009 GLOBAL VIEWPOINT
To hear Khun Kantathi tell it, the peaceful protests by the yellow shirt PAD at government house and the airport were no different than the red shirt riots in Bangkok, which featured molotov cocktails, burning tires, and commandeered bus bombs through the streets of the capital. Likewise, Kantathi's statement that "a regional summit was abruptly cancelled" leaves out the very relevant fact that it was cancelled after a mob of hired red-shirt thugs threatened the safety of visiting foreign dignitaries. And Kantathi completely omits the mob or red-shirts who twice attempted to assasinate the Prime Minister by attacking his vehicle, riot-style.
Thais everywhere were rightly horrified by the crazed violent actions of the red shirted thugs. Thais in Bangkok spontaneously drove the red shirt thugs from their neighborhoods, and elsewhere, their support has now dried up completely. It's as if Thais who had no idea they'd married a bad drunk finally saw what they'd gotten themselves into, and wanted out.
Right on cue, here come Kantathi and Thaksin's other apologists calling for "reconciliation." Now they want to be friends.
Not gonna happen. Kumbaya time's over. Enjoy your exile, fellas.
Your comments reflect the very attitude that is taking Thailand into the abyss. You accused Kantathi of being a leader of the Red Shirts and an apologist for Thaksin with no evidence. Just because he was foreign minister under Thaksin doesn't mean that he has sold his soul to Thaksin. Look below and you would see that "fflambeau" had just accused Kantathi of being a Yellow Shirt activist. "fflambeau" then had the decency to acknowledge that his accusation was wrong.
You are more interested in placing blames than finding solutions to save our kingdom. It is easy to link things in your mind just to suit your argument without bothering about evidence.
You missed the point when you tried to argue whether or not the Red Shirts were more violent then the Yellow Shirts. Arguments on which mob damaged the kingdom more can continue endlessly.
I think the point that Kantathi was making was that, by illegally occupying Government House and the airports with impunity, the Yellow Shirts were sending the message that mob rule is acceptable to the Thai society, thereby encouranging other groups to resort to the use of mobs. As you must know, when mobs are used anywhere in the world, violence could break out any time, since it all depends on action/reaction and the heated emotions from all sides. I think we need more people like Kantathi.
There has been a widespread change in public sentiment as a result of the alleged extent of political connivance over the past few years. Perhaps there can no longer be certainty that such a Royal directive would be obeyed. To speak, and be ignored would be far worse than not to speak at all.
Bearing this in mind, it's no wonder that the oppressed are convinced that there are not two sides to this argument. The old, entrenched, self-serving establishment is seen to have no argument but preservation of their repressive, elitist status quo.
Reset to when? Who is in power?
And when does the free election come?
The ousted governnment and its top 100 officials, were banned as a result of vote-buying and the penalties were just: it is not simply to blame the individuals, but to ensure the party itself is held to a higher level of responsibility.
Dr . Kantathi nobly suggests that the reset button is pressed, but can he offer any guarantee that, if this were done and there was a return to the status quo, that there would be a reset on both sides. When Samak Sundaravej became PM as Thaksin's proxy, there was immediate retaliation and several officials, including the police chief were removed from office; while the Democrats also adjusted things in a similar way when they came into office. Is he suggesting there would be no such actions?
His article is similar to many that are appearing in the world's press and is part of an effort to restore Thaksin Shinawatra to power now that his rabble-rousing has failed.
Talk about hypocrisy and about promoting one's self interest. This writer, Dr. Kanthati, was an activist with the yellow shirts and vocally supported the illegal storming of Bangkok's international airport, which caused millions of dollars in damages. Is it a wonder that he doesn't mention this but does seek "across the political board" amnesty--meaning for himself too? The election in 2006 was a resounding victory for Thaksin, whom this writer is an opponent of. This writer is in office only because soldiers overthrew a democratically elected government.
You got the wrong guy! You must be thinking of the current Foreign Minister, Kasit Piromya, who strongly supported the yellow shirts in their takeover of the international airport and Government House.
Dr. Kantathi Suphamongkhon was Foreign Minister until the 2006 coup. I understand that he has never been charged with any crimes and he has been teaching law and diplomacy at UCLA for about 2 years now.