| Thailand's Political Drama Continues |
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| Written by Pavin Chachavalpongpun | |
| Friday, 05 March 2010 | |
 Jakrapob Penkair Prior to the verdict of the Thailand Supreme Court declaring deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra guilty of corruption and confiscating more than half of his personal fortune, I predicted that some of his money would be returned as a gesture of political compromise. Although the court did as predicted, the ruling appears to have simply guaranteed Thaksin's permanent role in politics. The billionaire politician will not walk away from the political scene now. If his opponents believed that punishing him this way would drive him out, they are wrong. The deposed premier's bitter response, in which he called the ruling "a joke," gives no suggestion of political compromise. In fact, the guilty verdict appears to have led Thailand into another phase of political battle, a potentially more brutal one. Already, the Office of the Attorney-General has said that it would quickly follow up on the legal consequences of the court's verdict, saying the Thai state suffered immensely in financial terms from his abuse of power. In addition, the royalist Yellow Shirt faction is vowing to continue to file a string of lawsuits against Thaksin. Certainly, the Feb. 26 guilty verdict "will not heal the deeply polarised Thai politics," Jakrapob Penkair, former Minister of the Prime Minister's Office and one of the leading figures of the red-shirted National United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, said in an exclusive interview earlier this week. Living in exile since violent protests broke out in Bangkok last April, Jakrapob has remained politically active from outside the country, hoping that eventually he and his comrades will drive what he calls the "aristocratic dictatorship" from power, which as he argued has long obstructed Thailand's democratic development. Jakrapob was a spokesman for Thaksin, who was removed from office in a royalist coup in October of 1966. Jakrapob was charged with insulting the king in a speech to the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand and, after being charged, was forced to flee the country. He is one of 20 people who are being investigated for lèse-majesté in addition to the entire 13 members of the board of directors of the Foreign Correspondents Club. Another four have been convicted and given long prison terms. The Red Shirts have vowed to bring a million protesters to the streets on March 14 to demand dissolution of the current government, led by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. They say they will remain nonviolent in the wake of the black eye they took over violence that brought the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit to a stop in Patthaya a year ago, shocking the nation. Asked to share his view on the Supreme Court's verdict, Jakrapob said he had not paid much attention to the legal technicalities involved in the case. But he added, "The entire case rests upon the court's legal justification for wrongdoings. Justification, as we all heard that day, was the power bestowed to them by the military coup of 2006 and its legal subsequence." Jakrapob raised one important point: why do the courts recognize the illegality of the military coup of 2006 as well as the legitimacy of the current government, which was not elected? These are conditions fiercely in conflict with democratic tradition. Arnaud Leveau, a Thailand expert at the Bangkok-based Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia, agrees: "What (the Red Shirts) hear in the verdict is that you can be above the law, organize a coup and then ask the court to say that the coup was legal." "A military takeover has been treated as a legitimate source of legal authority," Jakrapob said. "One does not even have to hear the rest of the case to understand what was actually going on." To Jakrapob, "the verdict was simply a continuation, and in many ways, a completion of the 2006 coup. It is the first and foremost reason why the verdict will not heal anything in Thailand." The guilty verdict has satisfied the military and some other factions in the establishment forces who have perceived Thaksin as a threat to their power. Yet, Jakrapob asserted that in misusing state mechanisms to go after Thaksin, they have done great damage to their own country, its judicial credibility and its reputation in the eyes of the world. "The case should be seen as compelling evidence that Thailand's entire system has ceased to function properly, nothing more and nothing less," Jakrapob said. "I cannot imagine how our current conflicts are to evolve from this point on. It is always dangerous to tamper with the ‘independent powers' of the judiciary. This case, I believe, has elevated Thailand's problems into the level of the social and political structure." Thaksin himself has condemned the ruling as politically motivated and a "joke" and insisted that he would appeal. In such a vengeful climate, Abhisit is sitting tightly on his premiership. He in fact may not be the weak and inexperienced leader whom both his allies and enemies like to project. Day by day, his authority has grown stronger. He has made his decisions, and at many points, ignored the instructions from the Bangkok elites who can't stand Thaksin. Abhisit has kept his distance from the court cases and has repeatedly confirmed his faith to the Thai judicial system. Ironically, Thaksin's open war against the court may well just strengthen Abhisit's political legitimacy. Moreover, the red-shirts' upcoming demonstrations could play into Abhisit's hands, especially if they turn violent, as they did last April. It would be convenient for the government to link the rally, violent or otherwise, with Thaksin's attempt to shred the credibility of the courts. It has been more than three years since Thaksin was overthrown. Through the years, he has inspired many of his red-shirted supporters to go beyond his own personal plight to fight for injustice in society, and in particular the double standards nurtured by the well-to-do aristocrats who have dominated Thailand's political space for so long. At a deeper level however, many sceptics say that what Thaksin had fought for was indeed to regain his frozen assets. Money, and not democracy, has been Thaksin's motivation to stay in the political limelight. From this viewpoint, had the Supreme Court decided to return all of his assets, Thaksin might have actually exited Thai politics. But such a decision was held hostage by the military coup which was staged purportedly to wipe out corruption engendered by Thaksin's administration. Despite this murky picture of Thailand's politics, Jakrapob's concluding words were more positive: "All in all, the case is beneficial to our course," he said. "If impartial supporters realise the state of injustice and the possible insult to their future's equal rights, our goals will be realised much sooner." Pavin Chachavalpongpun is a Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore. Comments
(10)
 written by ian , April 11, 2010
When you have wealth imbalance between the city and the rural area, the elite and the masses, then the situation is ripe for an outbreak of protest. Address the economic imbalance first.
Votes: +1
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I'd love to see something like the French Revolution. He who oppresses, lives not!!
Votes: +9
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This court which was set up by the junta was a joke to anyone. There is no more justice in this country. We need a change, a change from the top to the bottom, a change in every sectors, especially the justice system. The jury system needs to be introduced in Thailand like the one in The U.S. We can never trust this few judges any longer.
Votes: +15
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Country of Prsotitutes andChild Abusers-Thailand-the Pariah Country!, Lowly rated comment [Show]
written by Goondu Mami , March 06, 2010 Malay rights -Malays are Thai By Shaik Rizal Sulaiman The Malays are 'technically' in power governing the country but it is also this same controlling group that demands the right to correct economic imbalances and disparities for its own race. What does this say about the 'majority governing' Malay race for the last 50 years? I dare say that most Malaysians (regardless of race) below the age of 40 would like to see all opportunities be spread amongst those who deserve it on meritocracy. We do not need the keris anymore to tell others to be careful of what they say and do because in the survival of the fittest, the keris are of very little relevance! If we continue to hide under the 'bumiputera' tempurung as most Malays have been in the last 50 years or more, the catch-up games will just get harder and the gap wider. If we continue to expect without earning it, we will never learn how to be a race that succeeds on merit. There is NO substitute for merit. The Malay politicians continue to shout about Malay rights and bumiputera rights because the very nature of our local politics is sadly racially biased. In this day and age, a great nation is built upon joint success stories, meritocracy and the combined hard work of its people WITHOUT any fear or favor of racial biased politics governing our daily policies. Sadly, the Malay politicians have ended up completely corrupt, racialists, twisted religious fanatics. I am below 40 and as much as I love the 'idea' that Malaysia is Tanah tumpahnya darah orang Melayu, I can't help but also feel that this country is for ALL Malaysians alike including the Chongs, the Kumars, the Xaviers, the Singhs & Kaurs etc who were born on the same day in the same hospital as me here in Malaysia. If we feel that WE (the Malays) deserve this country more than THEM, then WE (the Malays) should have shown them a long time ago that we deserve the 'control all' status. We have to earn it. The policies FAILED because the very concept of Malay rights or the NEP/DEB is like a double-edged sword. On one hand, it aims to eradicate wealth disparity but on the other, it has made the Malays oblivious of what reality is. Our (Malays) success is only reflected in the 'perceived' political power which today can collapse in a matter of minutes. I would also like to see my children succeed in their country, Malaysia, for reasons that true success should be based upon, which are merit and hard work and NOT because they are Malays or bumiputera. For as long as the Malays don't see this, there is very little point in fighting for Malay rights... It just makes us look more ridiculous. We have taken this notion of being privileged a bit too literally in that it now simply means we want this country and its fruits all for ourselves without accepting the responsibilities that come with it. I blame the MALAY politicians for this because we want to only fight the cause without strategizing for the true substance and need of the cause. We have been given fish all the while without being taught how to fish. It's funny how two different generations can be so diverse in their thinking and the recent elections proved just that... We are no longer concerned with racial problems but more so the never-ending Malay agenda issues. The rakyat has spoken and the landscape has drastically changed. Is this change welcomed? Is it good? The answer is 'NO'. Because we, the Malays, have been caught with our pants down - we are not ready to compete on any level playing field (we can't even compete on advantageous grounds!). Even with three or five more continuing policies for Malay rights or bumiputera privileges over the next 50 years, we will still be in exactly the same position as we are in today. The truth hurts and the truth will always prevail. And the truth of what's to come will NOT go away. I am cynical perhaps because I feel that Malay rights are NOT relevant anymore. The right to be safe, to be treated fairly, to have a world-class healthcare and education, to enjoy equal prosperity, to have good governance, to live in a clean environment and to be war-free is what I want for my Malaysia. NOT for MY race to be artificially powerful. If we want the Malays to fail, then by all means continue the fight for Malay rights. Go and polish your keris. Shaik Rizal Sulaiman Posted by Malaysian Unplug @ Link to This Post ps In recent months we have seen the Syariah Courts allowing quite a few Malays to exercise their rights to a third or fourth wife. Fair, the guy may be able to provide for the financial & conjugal needs of his wives. However, question here is when he has a dozen kids, will he be able to provide a decent education and life to his kids or will he demand for his 'Rights' for subsidy and aid and be a burden to the govt and society. report abuse
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written by Ali baba , March 05, 2010
Thailand like Malaysia has corrupted leaders-even when Taksin was found to be corrupted, he is still trying to popple the country.In Malaysia, the ruling racist party UMNO guides corruption using it as a tool to stay in power.Najib's family like Hishamuddin and others have already collected millions of $$$ to ensure their continued running of the country.Taksin should be atrrested internationally for using his position to amass so much wealth corruptly and Singaporeans too should not be allowed to live in impunity! There should be an international court to try these people.
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written by Shan , March 05, 2010
"The case should be seen as compelling evidence that Thailand's entire system has ceased to function properly, nothing more and nothing less," Jakrapob said.
Votes: +11
"Thailand's entire system" has never functioned properly in the first place. "The vote" was, is and will remain an empty word (not only in Thailand but all of Asia). Now a new elite is being snubbed by an old elite. Yes, "democracy" suffers. But Italy, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are democracies, too, so let's not lose the perspective. It doesn't matter from which angle the slate is wiped clean, none of the various elitist groups in Thailand will ever accept any ruling that chops away the slightest bit of what they perceive to be their rights. Deadlock. The word "healing" is used a lot in Thai politics these days. It sounds oddly naive but makes perfect sense in Thai linguistics and the socio-cultural context ...yet on second thought a "healed" Thai society is almost as utopian as a "just" communist or "fair" capitalist society. (A perhaps not entirely unrelated statistic: Thailand has the highest homicide rate in Asia. Indeed, the land of smiles). Yes, the drama will continue. Actually we're only in the second act. Once the king is gone we'll enter the third. report abuse
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written by john francis lee , March 05, 2010
' "What (the Red Shirts) hear in the verdict is that you can be above the law, organize a coup and then ask the court to say that the coup was legal."
Votes: +21
' "The case should be seen as compelling evidence that Thailand's entire system has ceased to function properly, nothing more and nothing less/" ' That is certainly correct. The Thai courts have taken a page from the kangaroo courts in Singapore and become the willing tool of the ruling elite. They are seen now as the rubber stamp of the Military, and as facilitators of the civilian putsch with Abhisit as figurehead put in place by the Thai Military after the same courts decimated the opposition using other Military-issue "laws". ' It would be convenient for the government to link the rally, violent or otherwise, with Thaksin's attempt to shred the credibility of the courts. ' Thaksin need attempt no such thing, the courts have shredded their own credibility all by themselves! But the Bangkok Post and The Nation, dependable mouthpieces for the Military, have been beating the drum against the Red Shirts... the Bangkok Post compared the Red Shirts, all Thai citizens and the salt of the Thai earth, to the invading troops of Burmese King Padung 225 years ago! That's demonization on a par with the same Bangkok Post publishing the fake "photo" of the students a Thammasat "hanging" the Crown Prince in effigy in 1976 which helped "justify" the vicious slaughter that followed. If Thai blood flows in the streets again now more than three decades later it will again be on the hands of the management of the Bangkok Post, that journalistic juggernaut of jingo. report abuse
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