Editorial was a blinkered and irresponsible attack on coup-makers

The editorial is blinkered and, to use your term, full of “dishonesty” in stating that, “Prior to both the May 2014 coup and the 2006 coup, Thailand had a normal parliamentary system.”

This suggests that rampant corruption among a ruling party’s leaders and those under them, as well as the banning of politicians and parties from politics, are normal within democracy. This is total nonsense. As Prime Minister Prayut has said many times, the decision to seize power was only made after all attempts to bring the opposing sides together failed. He carried through the action without any bloodshed.

The editorial suggests this action was wrong, and that the country should have been allowed to slip into total anarchy from its position of political disarray and economic free-fall. 

You state that, “Countries around the world deal with street protests through the application of judicious application of existing laws.” Most footage I’ve seen of such “judicious application” shows shielded police charging protesters with batons, water cannon and teargas. In contrast, the 2014 coup was a well-handled takeover without violence. 

Your last point is that, “The ongoing detention of critics of the junta has nothing to do with reforms and in fact runs counter to what ought to be reform’s ultimate goal – the strengthening of democracy.” Prayut is espousing just that – the return to democracy and happiness of the people – but is carrying it out in his own way. 

Your editorial is nothing but criticism. Nowhere do you give suggestions or answers as to how the situation could be handled more effectively. 

Maybe it’s time for the media to act responsibly and come forward with positive suggestions, rather than carping away incessantly, to the annoyance of all concerned.

Ray Gregory