Thailand: Away from the brink

Comment:

As talk of violence, another coup d'etat, and mass confrontation continues to haunt the Thai political landscape, the maligned "no to the coup, no to Thaksin" position continues to gain credibility in Thailand, offering ways of rethinking the crisis and ways out of the current conjuncture of polarised adversaries. It is alarming that some Nation columnists are more or less accepting that violence will now be the only way of out the crisis.

Away from the headlines, and the casual bile of much commentary on webboards on Thai politics, the internal debates are much more complex and nuanced than some commentators would allow. The full discussion on the Prachatai website involves criticism of the use of lese majeste, and a recognition that all sections of the upper echelons of Thai society are largely free from scrutiny. The debate is now moving in the direction of a fuller reappraisal of Thai society. If authoritarian populism or elite liberalism are to be transcended, the the question requiring urgent attention, and which is now being posed by popular sentiment, is "where are the masses in the political equation?".

Below, part of the transcript of a seminar held several days ago in Chiang Mai is reproduced from the excellent website prachatai.com

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Seminar at Chiang Mai (Part 1): The blind men and the elephant; different thinking makes you an enemy’

Prachatai
11 June 2008
News
On 4 June 2008, the Democracy for a Welfare State Group, Midnight University, and various Chiang Mai-based civil society organizations jointly organized a seminar on the Thai political crisis, coup d’état, and solutions at the 4th floor Meeting Room, Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiang Mai University.

The speakers were Associate Professor Dr. Attachak Sattayanurak (Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Chiang Mai University), Mr. Chamnan Chanruang (Midnight University Academic), Mr. Somsak Yo-inchai (Northern Farmers Coalition), Mr. Suchart Trakulhutip (Friends of Women Foundation), Assistant Professor Somchai Preechasilpakul (Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chiang Mai University), and Associate Professor Somkiat Tangnamo (Rector of Midnight University). The seminar was moderated by Mr. Suepsakul Kijjanukorn (Masters Degree Student, Department of Social Development, Chiang Mai University).

This is the transcript of the seminar:

1.

Atajak Satayanurak

Faculty of History, Faculty of Humanities, Chiang Mai

“Creating a new environment and situation or constitutional amendment through the broad participation of the people should be the best solution. The conflicting groups could see the positions which could complement each other in this political society. Broad participation means that each group can put forward their political demands and understand the needs of other groups. Different groups will then understand each other more.”


The proposal of the Midnight University, which I regard as the most neutral one, is to create a new environment and situation by amending the constitution. Broad popular participation must take place. This should be the best solution as the conflicting groups could see the positions which could complement to each other in this political society. Broad participation means that each group can put forward their political demands and understand the needs of other groups.

The current political situation is not just a conflict among the ruling class, although we see it as a conflict between the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and its leaders and Thaksin and his nominees.

In reality, the conflict is rooted deep in the society. The National Social and Economic Development plans throughout the past 40 years have created an army of the poor. The poor in the past did not feel that they were poor, but now they do think that they are.

Being poor is not as important as knowing that you are poor. The recognition of class politics has moved from ‘class by itself’ to ‘class for itself’. It is through this process that the question arises as to what the conflict between the classes will lead to.

I think that both sides will not back down because it is a political struggle for their respective classes. The poor people might think of Thaksin, but it does not mean that Thaksin is the leader. However, it is Thaksin who gives them hope and shows them a new perspective on the world.

Under these circumstances, the conflict between the two sides will lead to a higher level of pressure as neither side will back down. I believe that the anti-PAD movement in the provinces is multiplying. Although many claim that this is done in an organized way, but without a reason it cannot emerge here and there. An anti-PAD network was created in Chiang Mai yesterday, and I foresee more in other parts of the country.


Similarly, PAD is also organizing groups in support of them. These activities are present in Chiang Mai and also in Southern Thailand. It is more difficult to come up with a solution under these circumstances.

The proposal of the Midnight University, which I regard as the most neutral one, is to create a new environment and situation by amending the constitution. Broad popular participation must take place. This should be the best solution as the conflicting groups could see the positions which could complement to each other in this political society. Broad participation means that each group can put forward their political demands and understand the needs of other groups. Different groups will then understand each other more. This proposal has been put forward by 137 academics.


I think that this would be a good solution under the current situation. Different classes will see each other more clearly and understand one another better. I hope that in this way, emotions and anger will decrease.


The political paradigm that we are facing now is an outcome of development policies where the poor have been suppressed. A coup d’état cannot be the answer and it should not be necessary to explain why a coup d’état is not good. But definitely a coup d’état can never solve this problem.

Translated by Pokpong Lawansiri

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