Chasing after minor issues does junta more harm than good
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NORMALLY, people visiting a park or “liking” and sharing cynical infographics on social media do not make headlines. But headlines pop up in big letters when military men try and stop people from doing these things. And as a junta that has struggled, perh
In the past week, the crackdown on any and all anti-junta sentiment has reached a level of madness. On Monday, a group of people and military officers blocked activists from heading to Rajabhakti Park. The activists were only going to the park to hold a symbolic protest against the non-transparent probe into the questionable construction of the park. This protest would have been meaningless, as it would do nothing to expose those who may be behind the scandal surrounding the park.
News about this campaign would normally be “buried” and gain little public attention. Also, talks and activities organised by the students would barely have raised an eyebrow, if it wasn’t for the junta’s actions.
When officers began pulling students off the train, it caught everybody’s attention, with some high-profile individuals, including an envoy, issuing statements and making comments.
This behaviour has done little to remove the doubts hanging over the Rajabhakti Park project, nor has it made the junta’s roadmap to democracy any more achievable.
After the park incident, the junta decided to run after those who liked and shared the infographic on social media and slap them with sedition charges.
To many, these actions look more like sweeping the dirt under the rug, which may work for as long as the absolute power of the interim charter’s Article 44 is in place, but in long run, this “dirt” may start becoming visible.
With all these “skeletons” waiting to jump out of the closet, as it were, the junta might want to reconsider whether people should be allowed the freedom to express themselves.
Surely, granting people a little liberty will not hurt – if anything it will keep them quiet enough to turn a blind eye to certain things.
Once people are given the freedom to exchange views, the junta may be able to achieve its aim to bring back peace and reconciliation. After all, this “established sovereignty” has the social contract to return normality after “a transitional period of time”.
At the moment though, the junta should concentrate on the tasks at hand, instead of chasing after and blowing up over every minor issue.
So far, there does not seem to be an opposition force strong enough to bring the junta down, though the authorities may ruin things for themselves if they continue to overreact and feel insecure.
