Need for a credible, accepted mediator

After Pheu Thai drastically broadened the amnesty bill’s scope and rammed it through at 4.30am, even the red shirts (let alone the Democrats and the rest of us) have little basis to believe that Yingluck has the country’s best interests at heart, and not Thaksin’s.

And I am very unsure of the Democrats, whose shutting down Rajdamnoen Avenue is in callous disregard of the equal rights of those who live, work in, or pass through the area – and now Democrat deputy leader Suthep Thaugsuban is talking about a “people’s court” to “try” the government. I don’t see how such a “court” is in any way in keeping with democracy – and I suspect that Suthep’s ultimate goal here is not to stop the amnesty bill, but to overthrow the government by non-democratic means. 

Many non-governmental organisations have become politically active during the current unrest. This surge in activity is fully in keeping with former prime minister Anand Panyarachun’s 7 Pillars of Sustainable Democracy, one of which gives a key role to civil society. We should scrutinise these NGO’s and see if they could help mediate a solution out of our mess. For example, the Council of University Rectors is, almost by definition, composed of the best intellects of our society, and its members are trained to be rigorously neutral. As a body, they have no political interests. Or, another candidate might be the Law Society, since the amnesty bill is at the heart of the present dispute. 

Of course, to be truly neutral, the mediating body should have taken no stand, but I know of no such body that would be acceptable to both sides.

If, dear reader, you think that a mediator can help, now’s the time to voice your opinion, and to propose such a person.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok