We have to solve our own problems
Play
John Arnone wrote on June 8 that an international tribunal with absolute power would "clean up the rot" here. He is assuming that an international tribunal would do Thailand a world of good.
I do not think an international tribunal with absolute power could solve our problem. It would most likely put a lid on the animosity. I am reminded of the dissolution of the old Yugoslavia after the death of Tito, the dissolution of the USSR with the weakened Communist Party and the conflicts between Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims after the removal of Saddam Hussein.
Absolute power might make people change their behaviour, but it is unlikely to make them change their mind.
With the Asian financial crisis, the IMF prescribed a regime of extreme austerity that did more harm than good, and as much as admitted to its mistakes later on. Better for us Thais to solve our problems. How? By adhering to the spirit of democracy and using the ballot box to determine the “righteous” approach. We must have confidence in the wisdom of the common people to determine what is best for the country, to learn from their own mistakes and to resolve conflicts and to heal themselves. That’s a tall order, but I do not see any other system that can remotely achieve any of that for Thailand. If only us Thais would give democracy a chance.
Kemadist Chiaracharuwat
Bangkok
