Kudos to Kanit and the TRCT report

I was particularly struck by Paragraph 5.7, which points out that all societies go through such conflicts during major transitions, and that reconciliation will occur when Thais learn how to talk together better.
The report states, “In this regard, the government should vigorously support knowledge dissemination and the exchange of opinions through various media to support a mutual understanding of the root causes of the problem and the correct way to overcome the conflict.
“The creation of such an important knowledge asset will contribute to building a strong and sustainable democratic society.”
And here's something else to crow about. Has there ever been a country that has passed through such a violent confrontation between the government and rival groups with such a free press intact, and I mean during the tenure of both the previous government and this one?
One quibble, though. I think the TRCT is dead right when it says in Paragraph 5.9 that the wound the judiciary inflicted upon itself in the “illegal” tallying (TRCT quotes!) of the votes in Thaksin's “hidden assets case” at the very beginning of the troubles was where it all started.
But please, Kanit, that happened in 2001, not 2004 as the Interim Report states in the English translation. And that date is really important. One wonders how the mistake could ever have crept in, it so distorts the cardinal importance of the event!
Indeed, the event is so important the TRCT has suggested the judgement should be revisited, not to change the verdict but to find out how such a distortion could ever have been allowed to stand and, as a result, so poison Thailand's future.
I suspect the decision was thought to be “for the good of the people” at the time, but the results prove that meddling with the rule of law never benefits anyone, anywhere, ever.
The other case – one which the TRCT will presumably review in a later report – was the Ratchadaphisek case in which Thaksin Shinawatra was sentenced to two years in prison for a conflict of interest involving his wife and the government.
Needless to say, there are many Thais who would argue vigorously that that judgement was politically motivated, yet there are just as many Thais who would argue, equally vigorously, that it was just. A revisit there at the right moment, perhaps one in which Thaksin was even granted another day in court to argue his case, might do wonders for peace in the country.
Or not, depending on how much the TRCT has managed to accomplish first. So we’ll see.
Lung Kip
Chiang Mai