Thursday, May 31, 2007
TRT disbanded
I'm no TRT supporter, but I can't help but feel somewhat deflated at the fact that the prevalent feeling among Thai elite (as reflected in the judges decisions) is that threatening parties should be disbanded... I find it insulting to my intellect that I'm being denied the opportunity and choice to support who I want to in a multi-party scenario. I'm being guided as to what is 'right' and what is 'wrong' when I'd rather decide for myself. I'd rather that Thai people, as a whole, be given the tools to make the right choice, so that we know why we are making those choices and can't be swayed from our views by witty argumentation.
If a government fails you, a coup and party dissolution is hardly the answer. Elect someone else in the next government, no? However, as I mentioned in a previous post, Thailand's form of democracy is hardly deliberative, so it's hard to prevent those that would use the democracy to their own ends through populist propaganda and policies from gaining power. It's arguably hard to have anyone with good intentions on a ministerial seat.
TRT may be gone, but the tactic is there. Either TRT will be back in two elections time, or else, in the meantime, some other group will adopt the tactic. Are we going to continue having coup after coup whenever those who are powerful are unhappy with the elected party? I'd like to believe that any party I support is willing to face its opponents to an audience of well-educated citizens. However, that's far from being a reality in Thailand. We seem to much prefer keeping people in the dark, and keeping those in power, powerful. After all, who's going to tend to the garden, wash the mercedes, and guard the gate to the mansion if all the poor people suddenly have the means to improve their lives?
fon @ 6:05 AM link to post * *