An undemocratic mentality is true enemy of justice

I would like to make a few final observations before concluding my exchange of views with Mr Satish Sehgal. 

Firstly, despite more dissembling and obfuscation, he still does not respond to the main point raised in my original letter, namely his statement that another writer had “no business” offering an opinion on the 2014 military coup, while reserving the right to express his own opinion on the subject. This compunction to shout down any dissenting voice is a tendency that has blighted recent political discourse in Thailand and really needs to be replaced by a more mature, reasoned and tolerant style of debate if some form of democracy is to be successfully established. 

I expressed neither support nor opposition to the coup, merely observing that, if cooler heads had prevailed, a more satisfactory way of ending the violence might have been found.

As regards the violence preceding the coup, Mr Sehgal seems to discount the numerous injuries inflicted on those perceived to be opponents of the PDRC. And most regrettably he does not acknowledge the fatal shooting of an elderly man in a crowd of red shirts at Laksi by a hired gunman operating under the direction of the PDRC. He was subsequently accorded celebrity status as the “popcorn gunman” and was even praised by the PDRC leader. 

These are not the sentiments one would expect from a movement that was peaceful, as Mr Sehgal claims it was. The deaths and injuries sustained during these disturbances were equally tragic and needless, and neither side can claim an exclusive right to the moral high ground.

Finally, and rather rudely, Mr Sehgal criticises me for not offering evidence that I have made a positive contribution to the country. I resist the strong temptation to offer such evidence. Some people like to advertise their virtue at every opportunity. Others regard this as rather unseemly and self-serving. I fall into the latter category.

Robin Grant