Pheu Thai and Shinawatras not the problem, law enforcement is
Re: “Pheu Thai needs to prove it isn’t owned by Shinawatras”, Have Your Say, yesterday.
The Pheu Thai party has nothing to prove – but Thailand does.
Every political party has the right to choose its own leader, be it a Shinawatra or whoever, provided they do not have a criminal record. That’s a democratic principle that must be upheld. But therein lies the problem.
A democracy is a form of government controlled by laws, not people. In a democracy every person, whatever their status, is accountable under the law. Be it the prime minister, the offspring of a wealthy family or a motorcycle taxi rider, if they violate the law they must face the judiciary. Once this principle is established, cabals and oligarchies will cease to exist and coups d’etat will not occur.
Thailand needs to prove that the constitution is observed and the law is enforced by an institutionally apolitical police force and judiciary. The Shinawatra family, like all Thai citizens, will then be obliged to respect the law and pay the price should they violate it.
JC Wilcox
