Keep away from hatred, detach from politicians

Last week, there was talk about banning “hate speech”. The constitution-drafters may have identified a major problem, but it is questionable if they were proposing the right cure. In making people hate their opponents, politicians make the public hate one another. That is the case in Thailand, where family ties and friendships have been severely affected by political differences. 

As the new year brings hopes for reform, a new constitution and a return to democracy, there is little light at the end of the tunnel regarding what matters the most – the real strife that has cut through not only the political spectrum but the once unique national harmony.

The real casualties of Thailand’s political war are the Thai people. So far, there have been few signs the parties involved are doing something about it. The “reform” being planned following last year’s coup will focus on political rules rather than genuine reconciliation. The country’s biggest political parties, sidelined since the military takeover, will be preoccupied with plotting a return to power. The media will, knowingly or unwittingly, keep contributing to the national divide in search of a political model that suits Thailand.

The year will be scattered with minefields, which, if triggered, will make true reconciliation even harder. The interim legislature’s impeachment proceedings against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, former Parliament president Somsak Kiatsuranont and former Senate speaker Nikom Wairatpanij will not help restore national harmony. Neither will the writing of the new charter, whose clauses or provisions will almost certainly be interpreted as biased one way or another. A criminal case is also likely to be built against Yingluck.

All of the sensitive political developments will be closely watched and heatedly commented on by the social media, which has replaced key Bangkok avenues as Thais’ ideological battlefields. If 2014 saw divided Thais pulled back from the brink of a very nasty showdown, 2015 will at best struggle to keep the lid on simmering hatred, mistrust and anger.

Is it possible for the people to have extreme political differences but not hate each other? The answer is “Yes”, but unfortunately it has never been the case in Thailand over the past few years. 

Political wars were not only fought in Parliament but they spilled over into the streets, resulting in violence that left deep scars. Mobilisation of the masses became a must-do strategy if one wanted to destroy one’s political enemies and take power. Political rallies, as it turned out, reflected not just the spirit of democracy, but also hate propaganda that warmongers wanted to disseminate.

How can we truly see the “return of the beautiful land”, as pledged in the post-coup song – although, ironically, the song itself is disdained by one half of the country? 

The key players of the political warfare hold the answer to that. It's not very promising so far, but, sooner or later, there will come a day when the politicians realise that spreading hatred may work for the short-term but will come back to haunt them forever.

As for ordinary Thais, 2015 will be a truly testing year. What is democracy? How much do political power ballot boxes entail? Should corruption be dealt with in Parliament or should an entirely separate entity, an unelected one perhaps, be empowered to tackle it? These questions and more have caused national strife but there is no avoiding them this year. If the country is to have an election within the timeframe, or early next year, the issues will have to be confronted, albeit with different mindsets.

This is the year Thais will have to keep a sensible distance from the key political players and search their own souls. Having differences in thoughts, ideas or ideologies is part of growing up. To be able to embrace extremely different ideologies and yet co-exist peacefully is called maturity.