Thai language needed to fully grasp what we went through under Thaksin
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Foreigners who criticise Thai people for lack of democratic spirit should read more about its history and culture, as well as be able to understand its language very well, before voicing their critique.
So long as these foreigners do not understand or speak Thai, they will not get the grasp of what the Thai people have been bombarded with on Thai TV, radio and the press prior to the coups of 2006 and 2014.
In any normal democracy, political players are duty bound to protect democracy by way of observing the constitution to the letter. The constitution is a democracy’s most sacred fundamental law.
Unfortunately, Thaksin Shinawatra emerged as Thailand’s prime minister in 2001, and changed all these settings.
Thaksin bought a TV station to propagate himself, his party and the government that he ruled; he turned his political party into a private entity; he tried to make changes to the constitution so that it worked for him and not the country’s majority; he bought some members of the media to speak out for him only — and put a smear on the reputations of all who criticised him.
This action by Thaksin has given birth to the colour-coded media in Thailand that are still thriving today. Lies and unfounded accusations are being thrown at one another by these media today. This is one of the reasons why half of people of this country shudder every time someone speaks of the country returning to democracy!
Vint Chavala
Bangkok
