Tarit getting too loud over whistle-blowers

While there is widespread acceptance that statements made at anti-government rallies can be offensive and aggressive “with no holds barred”, there has also been no shortage of pungent provocation from the other side of the political divide. The latest government official guilty of stoking anger against the protesters on Rajdamnoen Avenue is Tarit Pengdit, chief of the Department of Special Investigation, who really should know better.

Though he hasn’t gone as far as some red-shirt TV commentators, who have labelled Democrat chiefs Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Thaugsuban “animals”, Tarit’s words could be even more effective in provoking anti-government protesters or those thinking about joining them. Apparently upset by the increasing use of whistles by protesters – and the fact that he himself is a target – Tarit has warned that inconsiderate or overly persistent whistle-blowers could find themselves in jail. 

To back the threat, Tarit quoted laws against disturbing public peace and public humiliation. The former offence carries a Bt100 fine, while the latter can land an offender in prison for a month, along with a fine of Bt1,000. The laws are reasonable, but talking about them in reference to the anti-government whistling might not be.

Blowing whistles has become a symbol of defiance against the Yingluck administration. It’s a clever new idea by protest organisers, replacing the noise of plastic hands and feet “clappers” that had dominated rallies for the past few years but had worn out their welcome. Whistles have made their political debut with a bang, helped by being less friendly to the ear than the clappers.

Tarit is, no doubt, feeling frustrated. He might be under a lot of pressure. He is not in an easy position. But, as head of the DSI, he is supposed to show integrity, because his position serves as a barometer for whether the political storm is ending or worsening. In this regard he has failed miserably.

Tarit might get away with accusing Suthep of leading street protests to protect himself against serious criminal charges. But to lambaste whistle-blowing is a step too far and exposes him as a hypocrite. In a country where hypocrisy and political crisis feed on each other, the last thing we need is a top law-enforcer zeroing in on relatively peaceful acts while ignoring incidents of wrongdoing that are worse and more blatant. Tarit seems to have forgotten many things. First and foremost, Prime Minister Yingluck’s car has never been besieged and smashed with bricks, and nobody has poured blood in front of her house. 

In truth, what political demonstration does not disturb the peace? Tarit was in the same position when Abhisit and Suthep were in power, during which time there were plenty of “public disturbances” or “incidents meant to humiliate others”, against which he could have acted.

But he chose to do nothing. Like many security and law-enforcement officials, Tarit has had no qualms about showing where his political loyalty lies. He might suppose it’s all right to display his allegiance, having seen a few key examples. But the truth is that it is not all right. If “double standards” are one key source of Thailand’s political strife, Tarit and his like have two choices: They can help solve the problem – or become a big part of it.