75% to 1 for Thai reconciliation

The survey numbers speak for themselves, Thais are tired of the separation in Thai society driven by Thai politics. However the one key player who does not want to see reconciliation has the ability to keep that from happening.

For a long time now people in Thailand simply knew the convicted fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra was financing the division in Thailand for his own personal gains. In fact so much so there are plenty of creative satirical emails floating about depicting Thaksin as the man pushing the buttons and moving the leavers behind the scenes. The hatred of Thaksin is so overwhelming  that even just hearing him open his mouth, the impulse to stop him right there in a physical way is a singular primary desire. If you are a good read in body language or not, you can clearly see people’s muscles tighten and fists clench when Thaksin opens his mouth.

So as expected and even before the ruins of Thaksin’s rampage had even stopped smoking, and the dead victims of Thaksin’s sponsored violence have had their funerals, the pro Thaksin political party Pheu Thai Party (PTP) has endorsed a censure debate of Prime Minister Abhisit and a few others along with an impeachment motion. It is clear that the PTP fell short of their goals and what they expected. The telltale of that is the PTP canceled a previously planned censure debate because they were convinced the Red Shirts would be successful in overthrowing Abhisit and his government. The only bright side to this is as time moves on, the regularly scheduled 2011 elections moves closer reducing the desire to force an early election.

Without a doubt this signals Thaksin’s arrogance and goals are still intact. It also says that Thaksin’s temper tantrum is far from over. There are plenty of theories of what will happen next. The biggest anxiety is what will happen when the Bangkok curfew is finally retired. There is a concern that the Red Shirts will simply move underground and commence guerilla warfare. For them to even suggest another rally in Bangkok is likely to lead to a lynching of anyone who would even suggest the idea. The scars of their last rally will be around for well over a year as the demolition and rebuilding of downtown continues.

The one thing that says this will go on is the lack of remorse from the Red Shirt leaders. As far as it seems thus far, their task of burning Bangkok is not yet done.

So as much as the Thai people want to get politics out of their lives, Thaksin will not let it happen. Even the international support of Abhisit’s road map is just another indirect way of saying they support Abhisit and despise anyone who would seek the contrary without mentioning Thaksin by name. For the most part that says the world is listening and perhaps will take a more assertive stance in clipping Thaksin’s wings with international political influence.

The goals of Thailand are not extraordinary. The desire to live a peaceful happy life without social division is common in all cultures. For that to happen the one man must be silenced one way or another, and clearly the mass majority of Thailand cries for this remedy if the surveys are an accurate indicator of the pulse of Thailand.


5 Responses to 75% to 1 for Thai reconciliation

  1. Let’s not confuse roadmap support with Abhisit support. The international community has consistently expressed a desire for peaceful negotation between both sides. They have also been consistent in not supporting the current government or the Red shirt protesters. They see reasonable expectations and grievances on both sides and they are also saddened by the events of the past couple of months which are just an extension of events that have occurred since the military coup 4 years ago.

    Unfortunately, Thailand in many ways is very immature. To this day, I continue to see both sides blame the other side and inflame the hatred that exists. While it is true that an overwhelming majority of Thai’s want peace, it is just as unfortunate that this SAME majority continues to inflame hatred by not acknowledging the divides that exist and spewing their hatred towards the other side.

    I see more press coverage directed at the other side. Red shirt PTP censures government; Government states international community is biased in their reporting. How is this helping?

    Why isn’t a mature leader stepping up on either side and trying to make true inroads towards reconciliation? Only then will meaningful progress take place. Those that refuse to acknowledge grievances from the other side (both sides) must learn to live with the repurcussions of that decision.

    My guess is because there is too much loss of face by either side in admitting that perhaps they too have made mistakes. Yet, until both sides acknowledge the mistakes they have made and stop pointing the finger, they will continue to squabble, and like a volcano, this will erupt again.

    Many say this is all caused by one man. My response is Bullshit. If the Thai people truly allow their future to be controlled by one man, they are truly immature and helpless. These issues have been percolating for years; before Thaksin even arrived on the scene and were part of the 1992 uprisings.

    A strong leader (or leaders) can find solutions to the issues Thailand faces and will, in effect neutralize Thaksin. There will be a core group that will always be loyal to Thaksin. However, if a strong leader emerges that can bridge the gap with the non-core red group and the rest of the nation, the core group will find their influence minimized. In fact, those red supporters that truly want peace (which make up the majority) will help Abhisit root out the disruptive personalities if they feel the government is truly trying to find a peaceful solution and appease many of the grievances.

    Unfotunately, it will take a leader that is not readily apparent now. It does not appear leaders exist on either side with the skills to navigate through this crisis

  2. R Simpson says:

    By now most people know that Taksin has been using poor people’s true grievances to further his plan to return to power. The irony is that hiding behind his democratic face, he is more of a despot than Thailand has ever had. This does not make the Reds bad, it just makes them misled. I have also often seen repeated that one man, meaning Taksin, could not be solely responsible for all this mayhem. Can I point out that history is replete with exactly this kind of silver tongued, one man shows, capable of rallying millions to there cause and often their death. Hitler, Mao, PolPot, Bin Ladin, Castro, Napoleon, Ceasar, Hannibal, the list is endless. In all these cases, the course of history was changed by one man. However, one critical point that does not seem to exposed as often is that the elite of Thailand, along with the P.l..e supported by the military is who ( as a group) really controls Thailand. This becomes very apparent when any elected government gets too powerful (Taksin) or displeases any one of these groups, there is a coup. The Army reports to the P.l..e which removes any effective power from the elected government. The Prime Minister is NOT the commander in chief. If this were corrected, Thailand would have a chance and until it is, the upheaval will continue. This is sad because Abhisit, due to his western based education, is probably closer to a real democrat than any leader Thailand has ever had. He is much more Red than Yellow Taksin.

  3. Paul C. Parvis says:

    Thaksin has “highjacked” and misled a “legitimate movement” for his own benefit. Abhisit is ideologically closer to the “red Shirts” than many of their so-called “leaders”.
    I certainly hope Abhisit will be able to bring about democratic change through evolution rather than his opponents aims to bring about change with the destructive forces of “Thaksins revolution”.

  4. Let’s not confuse roadmap support with Abhisit support. The international community has consistently expressed a desire for peaceful negotation between both sides. They have also been consistent in not supporting the current government or the Red shirt protesters. They see reasonable expectations and grievances on both sides and they are also saddened by the events of the past couple of months which are just an extension of events that have occurred since the military coup 4 years ago.

    Unfortunately, Thailand in many ways is very immature. To this day, I continue to see both sides blame the other side and inflame the hatred that exists. While it is true that an overwhelming majority of Thai’s want peace, it is just as unfortunate that this SAME majority continues to inflame hatred by not acknowledging the divides that exist and spewing their hatred towards the other side.

    I see more press coverage directed at the other side. Red shirt PTP censures government; Government states international community is biased in their reporting. How is this helping?

    Why isn’t a mature leader stepping up on either side and trying to make true inroads towards reconciliation? Only then will meaningful progress take place. Those that refuse to acknowledge grievances from the other side (both sides) must learn to live with the repurcussions of that decision.

    My guess is because there is too much loss of face by either side in admitting that perhaps they too have made mistakes. Yet, until both sides acknowledge the mistakes they have made and stop pointing the finger, they will continue to squabble, and like a volcano, this will erupt again.

    Many say this is all caused by one man. My response is Bullshit. If the Thai people truly allow their future to be controlled by one man, they are truly immature and helpless. These issues have been percolating for years; before Thaksin even arrived on the scene and were part of the 1992 uprisings.

    A strong leader (or leaders) can find solutions to the issues Thailand faces and will, in effect neutralize Thaksin. There will be a core group that will always be loyal to Thaksin. However, if a strong leader emerges that can bridge the gap with the non-core red group and the rest of the nation, the core group will find their influence minimized. In fact, those red supporters that truly want peace (which make up the majority) will help Abhisit root out the disruptive personalities if they feel the government is truly trying to find a peaceful solution and appease many of the grievances.

    Unfotunately, it will take a leader that is not readily apparent now. It does not appear leaders exist on either side with the skills to navigate through this crisis

  5. By now most people know that Taksin has been using poor people’s true grievances to further his plan to return to power. The irony is that hiding behind his democratic face, he is more of a despot than Thailand has ever had. This does not make the Reds bad, it just makes them misled. I have also often seen repeated that one man, meaning Taksin, could not be solely responsible for all this mayhem. Can I point out that history is replete with exactly this kind of silver tongued, one man shows, capable of rallying millions to there cause and often their death. Hitler, Mao, PolPot, Bin Ladin, Castro, Napoleon, Ceasar, Hannibal, the list is endless. In all these cases, the course of history was changed by one man. However, one critical point that does not seem to exposed as often is that the elite of Thailand, along with the P.l..e supported by the military is who ( as a group) really controls Thailand. This becomes very apparent when any elected government gets too powerful (Taksin) or displeases any one of these groups, there is a coup. The Army reports to the P.l..e which removes any effective power from the elected government. The Prime Minister is NOT the commander in chief. If this were corrected, Thailand would have a chance and until it is, the upheaval will continue. This is sad because Abhisit, due to his western based education, is probably closer to a real democrat than any leader Thailand has ever had. He is much more Red than Yellow Taksin.