PM must respect the law
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In a recent interview with CNN Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she would resolve the current conflict "with peace", claiming there had been no casualties as a result of the current uprising. In fact some 20 people have been killed and 700 injured
Yingluck added that the protesters “should return to democracy, the vote”.
Perhaps somebody should explain to the premier that she should respect the truth, that democracy is a system of government controlled by laws and that everybody, including the government, must respect these laws. When the prime minister and the whole government continually ignore the paramount law – the Constitution – they are violating democracy. They dismiss court decisions and make their own laws at will. The vote is simply part of the democratic system but it does not give a government the right to do as it pleases in a self-serving manner. The vote does not give government the right to ignore democracy and flout the law.
The vote gives government a mandate to govern in the interests of the population as a whole, including minorities, but above all, within the framework of laws established democratically.
To back her oft-repeated claim to be “protecting democracy”, the prime minister must start with her own behaviour and respect the law.
JC Wilcox
Bangkok
