Don't let the game blur the reality

Thailand’s political stability is teetering once again. The political temperature is rising, with both pro- and anti-government protesters gathering in the capital. Both are aiming for nothing less than “victory” and both are focused on today’s Constitutional Court ruling on the legitimacy of the bill the that would bring a fully elected Senate. Whatever the court rules, one side will be left displeased. 

With the rally by anti-government protesters continuing, pro-government red shirts yesterday called their own mass demonstration at Rajamangala National Stadium ahead of the Constitutional Court ruling. Their rally could ber a prolonged one if the court rules against the Senate-changing bill. Meanwhile, the ruling Pheu Thai Party yesterday announced it would not accept the court’s decision. 

At first glance, the protests might seem an unhealthy development for the country as a whole. But we miss the bigger picture if we allow ourselves to get distracted by the various political manoeuvrings.

The red shirts’ rally, the anti-Thaksin protests and the charter court’s verdict have blurred the significance of the greater development – that “people power” has blocked key legislation pushed by a party that holds a strong majority in the lower House. This phenomenon is unprecedented in Thai political history.

Veteran social critic Dr Prawase Wasi has long emphasised the importance of the power of civic society in political reform but had not witnessed it until now. The country, he pointed out, has gained “social capital” with the people’s triumph in killing the amnesty bill. 

The crowd that came out to oppose the bill was unprecedented, spreading across the capital to dwarf protests organised to topple previous Thaksin governments, or those of his proxies. The masses took to the streets voluntarily to protest against a government that had crossed the line in passing a bill against the public will. The government claimed it had the democratic mandate to do so, but that was soon torpedoed by its own U-turn in cancelling the bill. 

Prawase called the phenomenon a “tipping point” in favour of the ordinary members of Thai society. To him, the “November whistles” offer strong hope that Thailand is moving closer to democratic political reform. A civil society strengthened by informed and politically active citizens has finally found its voice.

The success of the “whistle-blowers” should send a clear warning to this and all future governments that they cannot ignore the public will. 

The successful campaign against the blanket-amnesty bill has set an unprecedented example. Thais will no longer tolerate any kind of dictatorship, whether by the military or by parliament. It also signals that the public no longer have to wait in vain for conscientious politicians to fight for them. On the contrary, civic-minded members of the public now have the power to suppress self-serving politicians and promote the good ones. 

Thailand’s political stability might be hostage to different sides each seeking victory right now. But the real victory may already have been achieved. At a time when Thailand is once again facing political storms, civil society has stood up to help keep her from foundering on the rocks of self-serving political agendas.