Nothing ‘silly’ about a repressive junta

Probably the most astounding comment I have ever read was ”People knew very well what they were voting for, even though they probably did not read the constitution.” Huh? Then how could they possibly know what they were voting for? A Thai woman told me she had no idea what the referendum was about, but was going to vote anyway because she was afraid she’d be punished by the junta if she didn’t. (Voting in Thailand is compulsory, although the law isn’t always enforced.) Mr Suthep also denies that the junta is repressive and says it only imprisons people for a week or two. Huh? What about that 28-year-old mother of two who was sentenced to 29 years in prison for lese majeste?

General Prayut said this about those who opposed the constitutional draft: “I don’t allow anyone to debate or hold a press conference about the draft constitution. Yet they disobey my orders. They will be arrested and jailed for 10 years.”

Is this what Mr Suthep calls democracy in action?

Eric Bahrt