Puey gives hope for the path ahead

I am sure that the continual sparring by foreigners in the Letters Page over their differing views on Thailand’s politics will induce wry smiles and much head shaking among The Nation’s Thai readers, but the fact that such a forum still exists is reassuring.
JC Wilcox declares that democracy has never existed in Thailand, but this is just not true, as even a cursory study of recent Thai history will show. Yes, the periods of democracy were brief interludes, and unruly at times, but democracy it was. He also fixates on the Shinawatra network as if it were the only threat to democracy in Thailand, and cannot see beyond the street violence against the PDRC – but if, to take just one example, he were to study the causes of the tragic events of October 1976 he would realise that there are powerful groups who see real democracy as a threat.
It is also pertinent to point out that, contrary to what Mr Wilcox seems to think, those who are openly critical of the military junta are not exclusively from one political faction, and some probably don’t have links to any political faction. He and many others may well have believed that they were demonstrating for democracy on the streets of Bangkok two years ago, but in reality they were just pawns in a power struggle. Comments by Suthep Thaugsuban at a party held after the military coup in 2014 revealed what had been going on behind the scenes, and he was sharply rebuked by General Prayut for this.
Ultimately it should be up to the Thai people to determine what sort of government system their country should have if, they are given the chance. The fact that they are being asked to vote on a new constitution drawn up by a small group of people with no democratic mandate, and on which no public debate is allowed, is regrettable.
However, one should always try to accentuate the positive. Events are currently being held to commemorate the centenary of the birth of a real Thai patriot, Puey Ungpakorn. The fact that Thailand produced a man of such high intellect and moral character gives hope for the future. There are surely many more like him, and their country needs them to step forward now.
Robin Grant