Embrace the day of reckoning with wisdom

In Thai history, no major event has taken place on November 11. But today, there could be two – if Thais lose their senses and jointly cause disastrous consequences.

First, the opposition-led protesters are demanding that the government kill the controversial amnesty bill by 6pm, or else “the people’s court” will bring former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister, Yingluck, the incumbent leader, to justice. 

Developments in the past three days indicate a possible conspiracy to block the government from doing so. The so-called group of 40 senators boycotted Friday’s meeting and nobody knows if they will join today’s meeting. Without a quorum, the Senate cannot kill the bill, the first step under the Constitution to make it wither away. 

The protest continues even after the Pheu Thai Party and the other coalition parties have vowed not to revive the amnesty bill. Now, the prolonged protest is agitating the government’s supporters, who have mobilised their own protest. A confrontation is possible, particularly if the anti-government group politicises the International Court of Justice’s ruling on the Preah Vihear case.

The ruling due today is another event Thailand will have to mark 

in its history. There are fears 

that Thailand will have to relinquish its right to more land around the Hindu temple, if the ICJ rules to that effect. 

Some patriots will find it hard to swallow this but some groups’ demand that Thailand withdraw from the membership of the world court, to make the ICJ ruling inapplicable, is unacceptable. Being a part of the global justice system shows Thailand’s willingness to honour global rules, as a member of the globe. The withdrawal would isolate Thailand from the global community. 

It is worth nothing that while some Thais living along the border are prepared for possible violence, those on the opposite side are rather quiet. It was reported that none 

of the political parties in Cambodia are using this case for political gains.

Confrontation in the heart of Bangkok is one thing that all must avoid, as any loss of life is tragic. Unlike the 1973 and 1976 uprisings when people fought against dictators, the 2010 demonstration, that left nearly 100 dead, was a direct result of political divisions. A repeat of that tragic scenario would only tarnish Thailand’s image. Victory in getting the government to back down on the amnesty bill should suffice for protest leaders. Indeed, the remarkable civic dissent against the bill is a reminder to the government that despite majority votes in the House, it cannot push through anything that ignores the minority’s voice. 

Confrontation along the border must also be avoided as this would tell the globe how bad Thailand is as a global member. Negative repercussions on other intergovernmental agreements are foreseeable. 

November 11, 1918 marked the end of World War I – the Great War, which left 9 million soldiers dead and 21 million wounded. It is one of the historic events all should remember. 

Thailand must not add two other historic events to this day by inflicting avoidable incidents of violence on itself.