The alternative is fascism
Re: “Stick to the facts, my friend”, Letters, April 11.
Yes, I am in complete agreement that we must research facts and face reality. It is a fact that Thaksin Shinawatra created the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). He was well aware that in 1932 Thais were led to believe their new right to vote in itself constituted democracy. Thaksin realised that majority vote gave him carte blanche to do as he pleased, without the constraints imposed by democracy. Hence, his followers confused dictatorship with democracy. Thaksin, Yingluck, the UDD and the red shirts are synonymous with dictatorship. Education under this dictatorial regime perpetuated the Thaksin indoctrination and it was supported with bombs and guns. The Red Shirt Village schools were under government control. Thailand was on the brink of fascism. Had democratic principles been fully established in 1932, Thaksin would not have risen to power. There would have been no coup or a fresh constitution every four years, and the military junta would not be running the country today. Democracy is controlled by established principles and laws, not by individuals. The military government faces a horrendous problem in explaining all this and the true nature of democracy to an indoctrinated electoral majority. The junta is quite benign, and for that we should be somewhat thankful.
JC Wilcox
