Elections have only out self-serving govts in power
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It is somewhat ironical, to say the least, that universal suffrage in Thailand has only ever produced anti-government "governments", while its 19th coup d'etat has achieved constructive government in the interests of the people and the country.
The protests of 2013-14 were not anti-government as there was no government. It was the so-called government that was anti-government. Government is about constructively running national affairs in the interests of the people and the country. What was not understood was that the street protests were against a group of people who achieved power as a result of a majority vote. It was this group who benefited from universal suffrage but who in fact had little or no interest in government. Their interests lay not in improving the lot of the people and running the country but in furthering their own interests and filling their own pockets. They were the self-serving result of the majority vote.
Over the last 11 months, many areas have been shown to have been totally neglected: education, law enforcement, agriculture and many other issues have never previously received constructive attention. The latest evidence of their non-governance is the refusal by Japan, South Korea and China to accept flights from Thai-registered aviation companies. These companies do not meet International Civil Aviation Organisation standards.
The prime minister has ordered a thorough review of the government-neglected Department of Civil Aviation, which is responsible for ensuring Thai-registered carriers meet international standards.
Undoubtedly there will be many more stones to overturn, exposing further need for reform. The need for total reform was, of course, the very reason for the protests in the first place.
JC Wilcox
