FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Simplistic thinking can’t disguise historic lack of democracy

Simplistic thinking can’t disguise historic lack of democracy

Re: “Now fashionable for bullies to dress as democrats”, Letters, March 10.

Robin Grant takes a very simplistic view of three quite different situations. The first, protesting on the streets of the UK, was about changing laws within an established democracy. Secondly, protesting on the streets of Bangkok two years ago was aimed at establishing democracy in Thailand for the first time in its history. 
Thirdly, the people protesting against the junta government claim they want to return to democracy, but democracy has never existed here. What they consider to be democracy is the undemocratic, corrupt oligarchy supported with military weapons and a partisan police force that existed prior to the coup in May 2014. The military had to stop the murderous behaviour on the streets by government supporters.
The three issues have nothing in common. If Mr Grant considers it hypocritical to be “pro” the first and second and “anti” the third, then I suggest he do some homework on democracy and word definition, and face reality. 
A senator I spoke to in Bangkok only yesterday said we must not rely on a constitution to change the situation. Nothing will change until the attitude and understanding of the people changes. In a nutshell, Thailand is not yet ready for democracy. There can never be democracy until people understand what it is. It is not simply about having the right to vote. We’ve witnessed the chaos that idea has caused over the last 84 years and it would continue without the junta in control. 
JC Wilcox
 
 
 
nationthailand