Lessons the opposition can learn from Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso’s military overthrew the government of President Blaise Compaore after street protests against him led to riots, looting and burning of the Parliament building. The protesters were dissatisfied with Compaore’s attempt to amend the constitution to allow him to remain in power after ruling the country for 27 years.
The plan to amend the charter was put on hold after the street demonstrations. However, that failed to stop the riots. Several hundred angry protesters stormed into the National Assembly building. Offices were looted and vehicles set ablaze. The protesters forced their way into the national television station and then the president’s residence.
The Burkina Faso military, led by General Nabere Honore Traore, decided to seize power and promised to return constitutional rule to the country within 12 months.
This situation is similar to that of Thailand. Although we did not see riots, looting or torching of state agency offices in the Kingdom, the protesters from the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) managed to besiege several government offices, causing them to close. There was a political vacuum and a general election could not be held.
The unrest began with an attempt by the government at the time, which was led by Yingluck Shinawatra, to amend the constitution in a way that was viewed as aiming to benefit their side. People found that move unacceptable and they took to the streets.
Another similarity between Burkina Faso and Thailand is that when the situation worsened, the military seized power.
But one difference between the two countries is that Burkina Faso’s opposition politicians and civil society campaigned for a mass rally to protest against the military coup. They reasoned that transfer of government power should be a matter for the people, and not for the military.
That country’s opposition politicians said the victory against the president resulted from the people’s uprising. They called for the right to transfer power to be in the hands of the people and that the military should not snatch that power from the people.
In our country, it appeared that the opposition party found the military coup to be acceptable. In fact, many opposition politicians organised street protests and employed different means that led to a political deadlock. There was no way out even after the prime minister at that time was dismissed following a verdict by the Constitutional Court.
The opposition did not oppose the coup and those politicians in fact praised the military for seizing control of power. Some PDRC leaders, who were opposition politicians, threw a party while in military-style clothes after the coup.
Until now Thailand’s opposition party has not offered any public views against the coup, although in fact they are a political party under the democratic system. Also, they have not made any concrete reform proposals.
However, we have seen attempts to get rid of their political enemies. The opposition politicians are pressuring the military-appointed National Legislative Assembly to impeach the former Parliament president and his deputy, who are both accused of abusing their power while in office.
Many people view that if the country’s oldest political party fails to reform itself, it will miss the bandwagon and will be forgotten – even if the post-coup reforms succeed.