- Published: 28/05/2012 at 12:00 AM
Assuming the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) organisers keep it peaceful, Bangkok residents will once again be subject to even worse traffic disruptions, and businesses will be harmed. Nearly seven years after it was formed as an anti-Thaksin Shinawatra group, the PAD is still a force which is unable to articulate views that could move the country forward.
Sondhi admitted during his speech on Saturday _ even bragged _ that the fight he proposes against the amnesty bill now before parliament will be a "final battle". But he was quick to note it is not the final effort to move the country forward. It is his personal, final fight.
After this imminent confrontation over the proposed reconciliation law, Sondhi will drop out of politics.
This selfish and totally negative view of the reconciliation bill is unhelpful. Parliament has heard arguments for and against, and the government has wisely not tried to ram through the measure. There is plenty of time to debate it, and the PAD should be a part of such public consideration.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, meanwhile, has tried to have it both ways on the issue. On Saturday, she said yet again that the Pheu Thai Party and her government "have no agenda to push the bill". This disingenuous attempt to evade such an important issue is hardly the sign of strong leadership. It is clear to everyone that the party and the government support the bill. Otherwise, it would have died a parliamentary death before it even arrived on the floor.
It is also interesting that the bill is officially sponsored by Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the only member of his tiny political group, and the leader of the 2006 coup which ousted Thaksin. Gen Sonthi has refused to explain that coup, leading to speculation that it involved Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda. Nor has he articulated why he has pushed strongly for a law which will whitewash Thaksin's conviction and pending cases, and bring him back to Thailand without any consequences.
Sondhi is correct, then, in saying that the reconciliation proposal is a partisan effort. His relatively extremist PAD are not the only opponents. The Democrat Party has also criticised the bill, and has voted against it at every opportunity in parliament. Last week, chief Democrat whip Jurin Laksanavisit criticised the government for "only considering the interests of one person".
This is the reason why Sondhi and the PAD leaders are so wrong to return to the divisive and upsetting tactics of street rallies. The yellow shirts can serve the country far better if they joined the active and often lively public and parliamentary debate over this proposed attempt to legislate reconciliation via a blanket amnesty. The rally on Wednesday will disrupt traffic and city life once again, without making a dent on public policy. Seven years ago, Sondhi and his political allies formed the PAD to affect the future of the country. The group needs to help the country with new proposals and tactics instead of resorting to its tired and unpersuasive methods.
Share your thoughts
- Discussion 1 : 29/05/2012 at 04:53 AM
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PADs claim the Rules of Law is on their side, but TRT-UDD alliance claim they have a clear majority. So, who is right, or whose country is it?
- Discussion 2 : 28/05/2012 at 10:47 PM
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'PAD takes a backward step.' Backward ? How ? Demonstrating peacefully against a bill that will divide the country even deeper is progressive.
- Discussion 3 : 28/05/2012 at 09:05 PM
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Diss 13
Actually it was Thaksins corruption which started all the political chaos .The PAD was just a response to it.
- Discussion 4 : 28/05/2012 at 06:54 PM
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Discussion 1:
Actually it was the yellow mob which started all this political chaos. The reds just upstaged them and did the full monty. It's a monkey-see-monkey-do world.
- Discussion 5 : 28/05/2012 at 05:46 PM
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meme (d1). "The red mob rule worked so no surprise that the yellows are targeting the same tactics."
I have to disagree. The Red mob completely failed to acheive their goal!
You cannot force people to reconcile. Sonthi says, in another report, that reconciliation must start with forgiveness which is a clear admission that his bill is only about whitewashing all the wrongdoers including himself. I have no time for mob rule, red or yellow, but as long as the PAD stay within the law they have every right to protest against this bill. Thailand needs someone to stand up against politicians that use the people for their own ends, cause havoc, and then expect to be let off the hook.
Sonthi was under orders in 2006 so I have a certain amount of sympathy for his position. He gave himself amnesty in the 2007 constitution and now that's under threat he needs to play ball with the PTP/TS to keep himself out of jail. But until coup makers and self serving politicians get punished this country will not move forward.
- Discussion 6 : 28/05/2012 at 05:00 PM
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Consider other important news, this govt. just handed out a lot of money to protesters as damages from the state. They are pushing for an amnesty for all protest offenders resulting from the current political malaise. Why then wouldn't the PAD go back on the streets to try put a halt to a bill that clearly is counter reconciliation. The govt probably guess that the country has all had enough of protestors, and the PAD are no longer the force they used to be, but in the world of Thai politics where you can hold a city hostage for months to force your way, and be rewarded for it, you may as well be spoilt sports and resort to desperate measures.
- Discussion 7 : 28/05/2012 at 04:47 PM
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bikeme (#8) - "Interesting that no one claimed credit for the editorial."
I don't recall BP ever including a writer credit for its Editorials - as opposed to opinion piece columns from Veera, Voranai etc.
- Discussion 8 : 28/05/2012 at 03:33 PM
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saltation (#3) - "...this very bill is about usurping the rule of law by parliament..."
As it's parliament that itself enacts laws within the framework of the Constitution, it's really hard to follow your logic. Any new law that contravenes the supreme law vested in the current Constitution will be deemed unconstitutional & struck down. In the ultimate case, the Constitution itself can be amended - but only by following strict legal process already contained within its provisions. That IS the rule of law.
- Discussion 9 : 28/05/2012 at 01:21 PM
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Interesting that no one claimed credit for the editorial.
In a manner the writer is correct that the PAD and the DEMs should work through parliamentary debate and public discussion, BUT the PTP have stymied any avenue available. The PTP have already decided what is to be done and they have showed no interest in outside opinion. If the PTP aren't interested in peaceful discussion, planning and compromise with ALL parties involved, then there is really only one route left - public outcry.
I don't want to see protests in the streets again nor another coup, but if the PTP continue to dictate without consultation or compromise then it may be inevitable. Thailand is more than Thaksin, it is more than the PTP/UDD, it is 67 million unique people all wanting a better future. Its time for the government to start thinking about all 67 million.
- Discussion 10 : 28/05/2012 at 11:44 AM
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Once again Thailand is being held hostage and fact of the country to be decided by individuals like Sonthi, Prayuth and Taksin. We now have to hold our breath again and pray that democracy and rule of law will prevail. None of these individuals will care less that we keep moving backwards. We now have a capable elected government and our economies and foreign relationship are thriving and let's keep it that way till the next election.
- Discussion 11 : 28/05/2012 at 10:38 AM
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Sondhi Limthongkul? "final battle"?
This is not the 1st nor the last time he use the phase "final battle".
Another "final battle"? Again?
- Discussion 12 : 28/05/2012 at 10:21 AM
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Having stated that "the government has wisely not tried to ram through the measure", why do you then call PM Yingluck "disingenuous" just for having said that the government "have no agenda to push the bill"? It really makes no sense at all.
- Discussion 13 : 28/05/2012 at 09:17 AM
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The writer of this article needs more knowledge about the present political situation that encounters our beloved country. The proposed reconciliation bill with 8 sections is not for the benefit for the majority of thai people but only for the particulare fews , such as former pm Thaksin Shinawatra. The PAD movement has the constitutional right to protest. The Pad is now taking the right steps to go foward for the survival of our beloved country Thailand.
- Discussion 14 : 28/05/2012 at 07:34 AM
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In order to expect that these groups will work within the rule of law, you must first assume that the rule of law is respected. Since this very bill is about usurping the rule of law by parliament, how can you then expect the PAD not to protest? It would be wonderful if Thailand had a strong judiciary and that everyone respected it and was treated equally, but that is not the case. As long as the parliament fails to respect the separation of powers, the people will continue taking things into their own hands.
- Discussion 15 : 28/05/2012 at 05:00 AM
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I agree that the PAD needs to help the country with new proposals and tactics instead of resorting to its tired and unpersuasive methods. Otherwise, it will be difficult to regain the support of the people it once had. The PAD lost already support because it was not very active the last few years and old supporters lost interest in this group. Maybe a new and young leadership can change that. The risk is there, that Mr.Sondhi,Gen.Chamlong and the other old leaders will march alone in future.
- Discussion 16 : 28/05/2012 at 03:02 AM
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The red mob rule worked so no surprise that the yellows are targeting the same tactics.
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