Thaksin: ''I will not accept premiership'' (Thailand PM Resigns)

Bangkok Post ^ | April 4, 2006

[starbase]

Maybe I've been in Asia too long and am starting to think autocratically. Democracy is very young and fragile in Thailand, and the protesters have gotten what they want, they should stop all protests now.

The military's warning seems to me (and again, maybe I've "gone native") to be a rather responsible thing to do. After all the people can't just run the whole country from the streets everyday, they have achieved their goal, and they still want to protest (or "make trouble" in the eyes of many people).

Thailand is not America. (How ironic that WE have millions of marching criminals, but we will condescend to other's practice of democracy! We can't even demonstrate healthy democracy ourselves!). But even so, America is more stable than Thailand, so Thailand should not play games like this anymore.

I was willing to minimize the importance of the demonstrations because of Thai culture and recent history, but I think anymore will pose the danger that GOP_1900AD sees, and I think the military's warning actually counter acts the danger of continued instability, not adds to it.

And regarding the "highway to KunMing", let's never forget that the Thais are out for the Thais, they will not be controlled by the Chinese or anyone else. They'll do whatever benefits themselves, while keeping a firm grip on their piece of real estate.

[GOP_1900AD]

I will grant you that a stepped up military face right about now is NOT necessarily a bad thing, under the circumstances. It is actually somewhat of the silver lining, assuming a return at some point to normalcy and assuming that it does not end up looking more like Myanmar in terms of point of view. Lots of caveats in my statement though ....

[killjoy]

The word out just today is that Thailand's military will now be moderating any future political protests. Something they have not done since 1992.

No offense, but what in the world are you talking about? I am pretty close with some of the Generals who were involved in the strategy sessions that went on during the protests. Both the military and police went completely out of their way to maintain a hands off policy both during the protests and after.

Yes, there was a pretty strong statement given by General Boonyaratglin, who is very well respected, after Sondhi mouthed off that the King should resign. Why is that surprising?

[killjoy]

TRT technically won.

TRT was the only party running. Everyone else boycotted the election!

[killjoy]

After all the people can't just run the whole country from the streets everyday,

They were not. The situation was being watched carefully and if it ever did out get out of hand, the government was prepared to squash them like ants. To me, the fact that the government kept a hands off policy shows the military's respect for democracy, not their contempt as some posters are saying.

they have achieved their goal, and they still want to protest (or "make trouble" in the eyes of many people).

Where are you getting this information?

[starbase]

[After all the people can't just run the whole country from the streets everyday,]

They were not. The situation was being watched carefully and if it ever did out get out of hand, the government was prepared to squash them like ants.

Yes, I'm not saying they were running the country, I'm saying that continued petulant demands in the streets would begin to aspire to running the country from the streets, and that cannot be tolerated (by any government).

[they have achieved their goal, and they still want to protest (or "make trouble" in the eyes of many people).]

Where are you getting this information?

Well the fact that Thaksin resigned is, of course, common knowledge. And my assertion that some people consider continued protests to be trouble making is my own opinion.

Also, just before Thaksin resigned I read that the protests started going into commercial districts and many people there did not appreciate the disruptions or traffic tie ups, and had, in fact not gone to the protests in the first place. Plus just the common sense idea that some people would rather go to work and put the instability behind them.

That is why I said some people will view continued protests as trouble making. Because I am one of them, and I have no doubt there are many more.

[killjoy]

Also, just before Thaksin resigned I read that the protests started going into commercial districts and many people there did not appreciate the disruptions or traffic tie ups, and had, in fact not gone to the protests in the first place. Plus just the common sense idea that some people would rather go to work and put the instability behind them.

There was a protest in front of Siam Paragon/Discovery/Square as well as a small protest at Silom. This was tollerated but if it continued, the police would have put a stop to it.

That is why I said some people will view continued protests as trouble making. Because I am one of them, and I have no doubt there are many more.

I don't know where you are getting the idea that the protests are continuing. They are not. Tomorrow is the start of Songkran (New Years) Festival and Toxin is the last thing people are thinking about.

[Killborn]

Mixed blessing. The Thai military has been a force for good and ill. Same with student protests. In the 70s and 80s, when the students were allying with communist insurgents, the military was great. In the 1990s, the military oppressed the Thais for a fascist bastard.

Tough call.

[GOP_1900AD]

Those who boycotted it were total asshats. So, let's say a bunch of Lefty whiners boycott the US election in 2008. Are you going to label that illigitimate as well?

[killjoy]

Those who boycotted it were total asshats.

So you are saying everyone in Thailand except TRT is an 'asshat'? The election was boycotted because there was no legitimate reason for Toxin to dissolve the Parliament. There was no political crisis, no alligations of wrong-doing in the Parliament, or anything else. The problem was questions about Toxin's leadership. That is why almost 50% of people went to the polls and voted "NONE OF THE ABOVE".

So, let's say a bunch of Lefty whiners boycott the US election in 2008. Are you going to label that illigitimate as well?

You are comparing apples and oranges. It is an illogical question since the special election was illigitimate to begin with. Let me rephrase your questions to make it more accurate. Say there are protests against Bush over the Iraq war. Instead of answering the protestors, Bush finds a way to dissolve the House and Senate and force new elections a month later. Bush then makes a comment, "If you don't like me, then don't vote for Republicans in the special election." If a stunt like that was pulled in the US, how would you feel?

[GOP_1900AD]

There are protests and Bush ignores them. But in Thailand, if Thaksin had done that, there would have been a violent revolution, probably led by you and 1000000 of your closest Jacobin buddies. You just don't get it ... this has been an undermining op all along. Thaksin, while not perfect, was smeared then undermined. The vote was an attempt to defeat the revolution with process discipline. But since all you Jacobins will not accept him, even that failed. Well, you win, enjoy the mess now.

[killjoy]

But in Thailand, if Thaksin had done that, there would have been a violent revolution, probably led by you and 1000000 of your closest Jacobin buddies.

Wrong side of the fence. The closest I ever got to the protests was bringing food and drinks to my friends in the Border Patrol who were brought into town as extra security. Mega-LOL.

[GOP_1900AD]

So why so you spend so much energy defending the Jacobins?

[killjoy]

So why so you spend so much energy defending the Jacobins?

I assume you are talking about PAD. I am not defending them any more than I am defending Toxin. I am actually neutral on the issue. Toxin or no Toxin, nothing is going to change. Corruption is so entrenched in the Thai government than nothing short of executing people for taking bribes is going to change it. If it is not Toxin, it will be the next guy that takes over.

It is quite funny how it has now become a big international rallying cry that democracy has failed in Thailand. I do not get any international news, or US news, but I know this view was put forward in The Economist magazine a few weeks ago. I read the piece and it had almost no bearing on reality at all. I can only wonder what else is being said.

[GOP_1900AD]

Nah, I'm not naive about corruption. It's just is a crock that Thaksin was undermined the way he was, and that a bunch of wannabe do gooder BKK elitist intellectuals were like sharks into the chum about the thing. Thai libs are not all that different than Western ones, in the final analysis.