Are ‘nation, religion and king’ really ‘ultra right-wing slogans’, or is the problem more that they have been appropriated by the right-wing, thus giving right-wingers a tool with which to villify anyone who doesn’t agree with their political beliefs. I cannot see anything right-wing per se in loving one’s nation, religion or even king (although I suspect a Marxist might disagree at least on the last one) – the problem surely lies in right-wingers labelling anyone to their left as unpatriotic, secular and anti-monarchist, and thus dangerous for the cohesion of Thai society. I would argue that it is the duty of those on the left to show that one can love one’s nation without, for instance, making ridiculous claims over Preah Vihear, to love one’s religion while accepting people of other or no faith, and to love one’s King while continuing to ensure the rule of law and democracy.
But otherwise a very refreshing article. Thank goodness someone in Thailand is talking a bit of sense.
I think this text is brillant. I’m not usually a big fan of Giles… I’m honest I don’t like labels “intellectuals” and “socialists” they’ve done enough damages in the world…
But he’s very talented the summarize the -totally blocked- situation and to give a real name to “objects” : infantil chauvinism, gangsters, crypto-fascists etc.
However… I think he makes some mistakes… Particularily regarding the causes, the deep causes : he speaks about “lack of independence among Peoples’ Organisations, N.G.O. networks and Social Movements. ”
And he doesn’t explain why : “Repeated demonstrations, a coup, a court inspired dissolution of Thai Rak Thai and a military Constitution, all failed to dent the electorate’s support for the (PPP).”
People are voting, indeed, and with enthousiasm, for “gangsters and sleazy politicians”“.
Strange…
Giles is like a few other thais… when they manage to see through the “curtain”… they fail to go one step further. It’s the missing step, the most important.
I mean to call for the creation of a large “left party” in Thailand is a joke… in the current (60 years) political system, with a very strong monarchy… that mold the whole political game and more importantly, the minds and eventually the people themselves.
Left (with a “gilian” meaning) and such active monarchy (I’m not satisfied with this expression) are just 2 concepts that can’t coexist together !
In a way, Giles is a dreamer.
But any sane people would have to agree with his motto : “ building an independent class position… which rejects the P.A.D. and the government.”
And I support your commendable ideals Ajarn Ji. It is certainly a worthwhile goal/future for Thai society/democracy.
However, the realities in parliament and in the streets are very far from those ideals – and capitalist gangsters deserve right-wing, ultra-assertive ‘mobs’ (in the Thai sense). It is our working system of ‘checks-and-balances’ unfortunately while your (and in many cases my) left-leaning language is foriegn to the Thai masses… How much media coverage did your 2007 raid of the parliament achieved compared to the prominence of PAD’s raid?
I argue that the case of Khao Pra Vihear (and I intentionally mix Thai-Khmer English transliterations) is far more complex than the selective historical “facts” you stated. There is also the critical colonial overtone and the issue of ‘mapping/maps’ – and also the obvious natural topography (which is a huge barrier to access from Cambodia). For me, an ideal solution here is a joint application between the two countries for World Heritage listing. However, it is another ideal and the two countries (or at least their politicians) are not that mature as yet (but will be, with time – it is the issue of patience here).
And this case illustrates my ‘Thai checks-and-balances’ perfectly. The PPP government clearly bungled the KPV case. It was handled opaquely and with suspicion without the broader participation as I understand is required by Thai law (?) in a case like this. The PAD on the street and Democrats in parliament naturally reacted to this government mishandling and made the most of what it’s worth… I know that if it is up to AjarnJi, he’ll just hand the temple to Cambodia as it “belongs to them” – but I don’t think it is up to him, PMSamak, FMNopodol, or PMThaksin/PMHunsen, for that matter, to make that decision… There are many more stakeholders here on both sides of the border. In the ideal future, with less patriotic insecurities, the temple just might belong to ‘us…
We all saw the response of the international community, read Western here, when the French wanted to invoke R2P and force aid. Many Burmese were very disappointed when they learned that the ships in the Bay of Bengal had withdrawn. They had hoped for Western intervention in sheer desperation – there was a widespread rumour of a US naval ship loaded with arms and greenbacks to assist the popular uprising in 1988 too – but I was surprised these states actually expected the military junta to let them land or their helicopters fly in.
An invasion that inevitably leads to a period of occupation would have been unwise given the strength of Burmese nationalism among the public in general and the military in particular, and given the none too impressive record of the behaviour of invader/occupiers faced with resistance over time.
There was a brief window of opportunity for a one off surgical air strike on Naypyidaw which would have been very welcome by most Burmese including many in the army, when China had her hands full in the wake of the Szichuan quake. It could have set off a much hoped for army rebellion if they got a clear message that an invasion was not going to follow, and would have laid the door wide open for aid. There would have been strong words and condemnation in the UNSC and from ASEAN, but would any of them, China and the rest, retaliate against their major trading partners on Burma’s behalf? Not very likely.
People would still want to look for weapons in preparation for yet another confrontation given the intransigence of and continued repression by the junta. If the long hoped for mutiny in the army fails to materialise altogether, access to arms and munitions becomes an insurmountable problem, and the odds no better than in 1988. Aung San Suu Kyi not only failed to split the army and pull off a Cori Aquino at the time, but managed to split the opposition by refusing to work with U Nu. These mistakes proved fatal and sealed the fate of the uprising.
I couldn’t agree more that the issue of leadership is of paramount importance. Ready or not on the part of the leaders, the country is a tinderbox and can explode again at any time. With shortage of fuel and food in the offing the chances of this scenario recurring are very high. But over and over again, we have witnessed the opposition leadership that came into being riding the wave of a popular uprising overtaken by the events and reduced to reacting and picking up the pieces as best they can under severe restrictions, and completely hamstrung by their total commitment to non-violence, even those driven into exile.
The junta has so far only involved some handpicked minority representatives in order to achieve consensus, just as they have conjured out of the referendum a magical 92.4% approval, for their new constitution. Why some people still expect the generals to do the right and honourable thing after so many times and for so long is beyond me.
The Burmese will in due course find the right leaders to fight their own battles. Premature insurrections and defeats need to be avoided. In the end however armed resistance may yet prove to be the only option left. If ‘to be prepared for the worst’ doesn’t mean that I don’t know what does.
Minorities have gone through a very protracted civil war and so have Burmans themselves against a succession of Socialist and military ruling elites since independence 60 years ago, culminating in a stalemate at best or defeat and annihilation at worst. United fronts come and go but disunity and fragmentation have dogged them all along. Unless a unified struggle by the majority Burman and ethnic nationalities can be forged to include both above and underground oppositon as achieved during the fight for independence, a new dawn for Burma is still a long way off.
Hat-Yai is not a province. It’s the biggest city in Songkhla Province, with its own district The provincial seat of Songkhla is about 26 kms away. This is a frequent mistake
For quite some years, I have been buying EVERY SINGLE COPY of Discus I could find. I thought as many copies as possible should be repatriated to Thailand. I now have several copies in English, from very good to fine in good to very good dust wrapper. First and only edition. And a single copy at the present time of р╕Бр╕Зр╕Ир╕▒р╕Бр╕гр╕Ыр╕╡р╕ир╕▓р╕Ир╕лр╕ер╕▒р╕З, the only Thai edition in its secondary variant with black papercovers.
This is YOUR perfect opportunity to support Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT). Own your very own piece of Thai history which will never be reprinted!
I’m glad they came out with this. It confirms their departure from separatist demands of old, and a forward looking way ahead. God speed and good luck.
[…] Mandala readers who have been following the lengthy discussions of foreigners supporting the Karen National Liberation Army will want to see this official […]
Sidh: “Do you think it is possible that Thai, or any society for that matter, can come together and say let’s deal with all past injustices first and present injustices will take care of itself?” I didn’t answer your question correctly. I didn’t mean to imply that present or recent injustices should be ignored. I was answering that I do think societies can deal with past injustices. Examples can include places like Northern Ireland, some parts of the US South and South Africa. So in the general sense, my answer remains yes.
By the way, the stolen generations injustices were a part of a longer process of reconciliation that began, I would argue, in the early 1970s.
My comment about your “injustice” was heartfelt. The memories of people involved in these tragedies is sharp as well and their voices deserve to be heard.
As to whether Thailand can deal with past injustices, I have serious doubts. But I also doubt that dealing just with Thaksin will make a difference to the generalized culture of lack of accountability for injustice.
[…] Mandala readers who have been following the lengthy discussions of foreigners supporting the Karen National Liberation Army will want to see this official statement by the […]
[…] Mandala readers who have been following the lengthy discussions of foreigners supporting the Karen National Liberation Army will want to see this […]
Disks posted to K. Suwat & Ajarn Frank. Please confirm arrival by email.
Frank, I was getting reading to send you the Printing Act 1941 in Thai & English but I don’t seem to have to have your email address.
I don’t, however, seem to have the Printing Act 2007 in Thai or English. Will some good soul please find these, download them & attach them to email to me? Thanks in advance!
Totila, thank goodness I’m not a voice in the wilderness, but of course we are outsiders, all of us physically, to be able to discuss the issues freely. Burmese are peaceful, gentle, kind and docile people but some British writer has once said they all have a Jekyll and Hyde in them. They can be cornered or provoked into ‘uncharacteristic’ ferocity and brutality in hitting back.
They’ve done it just with swords and slingshots before, and word is some monks have been collecting slingshots again in case of another confrontation. That’s where they could do with some help in acquiring arms to level the playing field , or ideally at this juncture a split in the army leading to open rebellion. And they need good leaders who will not shy away pleading non-violence from such a confrontation, not of their own making, because they will fight win or lose. It’s in their nature, leaders or no. Some are bound to call it foolish adventurism that can only end in defeat, but how do we stop them, I mean the junta, from carrying on regardless violating human rights and cracking down at will?
There was talk of some kind of power-sharing with Khin Nyunt at the time, and that sealed his fate. Some people including Westerners still talk about KN making a comeback as he seemed like a Burmese de Klerk. Well, good luck to them. Nobody wants unnecessary bloodshed except psychos.
Quite simply rural people accept payments from everyone and vote for whoever they wish. This is a complex sociological issue, but my feeling is that these payments should be seen as a demonstration of the ability of candidates to direct resources to the villages within their electorate. This is what rural people quite properly expect of their parliamentary representatives and distribution of funds prior to an election is a widely accepted way of demonstrating this willingness and capability.
yes it’s sad that it has come to this. I think they have enough on their plate fighting a war against the military regime in Burma without people coming along and pretending to be something they are not and creating negative publicity. Especially in the US, whose governemtn has always been positive towards prodemocracy groups in Burma.
@blaster: huh? Where is this coming from? Certainly Hun Sen is a corrupt politican (is there any other kind?)… Certainly he’s a bloodthirsty (or powerhungry, at least) one. So what? I can’t even firmly deduce what the point of this post is all about, let alone assume that it’s solely a sarcastic attack on Thai politicians and hence a support of Cambodian ones, as you do.
Ah, quick to convict Reg! Injustices are injustices, Reg, no debates there. Your answer to my question is “yes” – then I ask you “How”?History tells us that some take longer to be addressed than others, many are not and with many often not addressed within the victims and/or perpetrators lifetime. Take the injustices suffered by the Stolen Generation of the indigenous population in Australia, committed mainly through the first half of last century (if I am not wrong). Australian society has finally built up enough ‘consensus’, evolved enough to say “sorry” (if it can be called a consensus, as I know many Australians who disagreed with PMRudd). However, most of the victims and perpetrators have long passed away.
In that regards, my point is only grounded in the realities of the present. If Thai society (elites and general populace; urban and rural etc.) are not disturbed enough, do not see grave injustices at Krue-se, Takbai, Sabai Yoi etc…etc… to prosecute the perpetrators, most of whom are still living and in positions of power, then there’s little chance that the cases of 1973, 1976 and 1992 gets its time in the courts (at least, it has been symbolically marked with monuments on Bangkok’s Ratchadamnoen Avenue, tied closest to Thailand’s political evolution). At the grassroots level, if murderers of activists in the rural area such as KhunCharoen Wataksorn are not caught and convicted as yet – and no one in the present elite (of any political color – and most of the general population) are not calling for blood – what are the chances, Reg?
If the present don’t have the tools to convict present injustice, we don’t have any to address the past. Thai society needs to build up a strong culture of the rule-of-law that is tied closely with respect for basic human rights. We need a truly independent, pro-active judiciary branch – and, right now, they have the opportunity (with society watching, and learning it is hoped) to cut their teeth against the most powerful person in Thailand, PMThaksin and his cronies. These cases, if carried out transparently will set Thai society, democracy into new directions and also go a long way to build up those ‘tools’ to address past injustices.
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Ji Ungpakorn on the “carnival of reaction”
Are ‘nation, religion and king’ really ‘ultra right-wing slogans’, or is the problem more that they have been appropriated by the right-wing, thus giving right-wingers a tool with which to villify anyone who doesn’t agree with their political beliefs. I cannot see anything right-wing per se in loving one’s nation, religion or even king (although I suspect a Marxist might disagree at least on the last one) – the problem surely lies in right-wingers labelling anyone to their left as unpatriotic, secular and anti-monarchist, and thus dangerous for the cohesion of Thai society. I would argue that it is the duty of those on the left to show that one can love one’s nation without, for instance, making ridiculous claims over Preah Vihear, to love one’s religion while accepting people of other or no faith, and to love one’s King while continuing to ensure the rule of law and democracy.
But otherwise a very refreshing article. Thank goodness someone in Thailand is talking a bit of sense.
Ji Ungpakorn on the “carnival of reaction”
I think this text is brillant. I’m not usually a big fan of Giles… I’m honest I don’t like labels “intellectuals” and “socialists” they’ve done enough damages in the world…
But he’s very talented the summarize the -totally blocked- situation and to give a real name to “objects” : infantil chauvinism, gangsters, crypto-fascists etc.
However… I think he makes some mistakes… Particularily regarding the causes, the deep causes : he speaks about “lack of independence among Peoples’ Organisations, N.G.O. networks and Social Movements. ”
And he doesn’t explain why : “Repeated demonstrations, a coup, a court inspired dissolution of Thai Rak Thai and a military Constitution, all failed to dent the electorate’s support for the (PPP).”
People are voting, indeed, and with enthousiasm, for “gangsters and sleazy politicians”“.
Strange…
Giles is like a few other thais… when they manage to see through the “curtain”… they fail to go one step further. It’s the missing step, the most important.
I mean to call for the creation of a large “left party” in Thailand is a joke… in the current (60 years) political system, with a very strong monarchy… that mold the whole political game and more importantly, the minds and eventually the people themselves.
Left (with a “gilian” meaning) and such active monarchy (I’m not satisfied with this expression) are just 2 concepts that can’t coexist together !
In a way, Giles is a dreamer.
But any sane people would have to agree with his motto : “ building an independent class position… which rejects the P.A.D. and the government.”
Good luck…
Ji Ungpakorn on the “carnival of reaction”
And I support your commendable ideals Ajarn Ji. It is certainly a worthwhile goal/future for Thai society/democracy.
However, the realities in parliament and in the streets are very far from those ideals – and capitalist gangsters deserve right-wing, ultra-assertive ‘mobs’ (in the Thai sense). It is our working system of ‘checks-and-balances’ unfortunately while your (and in many cases my) left-leaning language is foriegn to the Thai masses… How much media coverage did your 2007 raid of the parliament achieved compared to the prominence of PAD’s raid?
I argue that the case of Khao Pra Vihear (and I intentionally mix Thai-Khmer English transliterations) is far more complex than the selective historical “facts” you stated. There is also the critical colonial overtone and the issue of ‘mapping/maps’ – and also the obvious natural topography (which is a huge barrier to access from Cambodia). For me, an ideal solution here is a joint application between the two countries for World Heritage listing. However, it is another ideal and the two countries (or at least their politicians) are not that mature as yet (but will be, with time – it is the issue of patience here).
And this case illustrates my ‘Thai checks-and-balances’ perfectly. The PPP government clearly bungled the KPV case. It was handled opaquely and with suspicion without the broader participation as I understand is required by Thai law (?) in a case like this. The PAD on the street and Democrats in parliament naturally reacted to this government mishandling and made the most of what it’s worth… I know that if it is up to AjarnJi, he’ll just hand the temple to Cambodia as it “belongs to them” – but I don’t think it is up to him, PMSamak, FMNopodol, or PMThaksin/PMHunsen, for that matter, to make that decision… There are many more stakeholders here on both sides of the border. In the ideal future, with less patriotic insecurities, the temple just might belong to ‘us…
Ashley South on post-cyclone Burma
We all saw the response of the international community, read Western here, when the French wanted to invoke R2P and force aid. Many Burmese were very disappointed when they learned that the ships in the Bay of Bengal had withdrawn. They had hoped for Western intervention in sheer desperation – there was a widespread rumour of a US naval ship loaded with arms and greenbacks to assist the popular uprising in 1988 too – but I was surprised these states actually expected the military junta to let them land or their helicopters fly in.
An invasion that inevitably leads to a period of occupation would have been unwise given the strength of Burmese nationalism among the public in general and the military in particular, and given the none too impressive record of the behaviour of invader/occupiers faced with resistance over time.
There was a brief window of opportunity for a one off surgical air strike on Naypyidaw which would have been very welcome by most Burmese including many in the army, when China had her hands full in the wake of the Szichuan quake. It could have set off a much hoped for army rebellion if they got a clear message that an invasion was not going to follow, and would have laid the door wide open for aid. There would have been strong words and condemnation in the UNSC and from ASEAN, but would any of them, China and the rest, retaliate against their major trading partners on Burma’s behalf? Not very likely.
People would still want to look for weapons in preparation for yet another confrontation given the intransigence of and continued repression by the junta. If the long hoped for mutiny in the army fails to materialise altogether, access to arms and munitions becomes an insurmountable problem, and the odds no better than in 1988. Aung San Suu Kyi not only failed to split the army and pull off a Cori Aquino at the time, but managed to split the opposition by refusing to work with U Nu. These mistakes proved fatal and sealed the fate of the uprising.
I couldn’t agree more that the issue of leadership is of paramount importance. Ready or not on the part of the leaders, the country is a tinderbox and can explode again at any time. With shortage of fuel and food in the offing the chances of this scenario recurring are very high. But over and over again, we have witnessed the opposition leadership that came into being riding the wave of a popular uprising overtaken by the events and reduced to reacting and picking up the pieces as best they can under severe restrictions, and completely hamstrung by their total commitment to non-violence, even those driven into exile.
The junta has so far only involved some handpicked minority representatives in order to achieve consensus, just as they have conjured out of the referendum a magical 92.4% approval, for their new constitution. Why some people still expect the generals to do the right and honourable thing after so many times and for so long is beyond me.
The Burmese will in due course find the right leaders to fight their own battles. Premature insurrections and defeats need to be avoided. In the end however armed resistance may yet prove to be the only option left. If ‘to be prepared for the worst’ doesn’t mean that I don’t know what does.
Minorities have gone through a very protracted civil war and so have Burmans themselves against a succession of Socialist and military ruling elites since independence 60 years ago, culminating in a stalemate at best or defeat and annihilation at worst. United fronts come and go but disunity and fragmentation have dogged them all along. Unless a unified struggle by the majority Burman and ethnic nationalities can be forged to include both above and underground oppositon as achieved during the fight for independence, a new dawn for Burma is still a long way off.
Southern violence and the state
Hat-Yai is not a province. It’s the biggest city in Songkhla Province, with its own district The provincial seat of Songkhla is about 26 kms away. This is a frequent mistake
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
For quite some years, I have been buying EVERY SINGLE COPY of Discus I could find. I thought as many copies as possible should be repatriated to Thailand. I now have several copies in English, from very good to fine in good to very good dust wrapper. First and only edition. And a single copy at the present time of р╕Бр╕Зр╕Ир╕▒р╕Бр╕гр╕Ыр╕╡р╕ир╕▓р╕Ир╕лр╕ер╕▒р╕З, the only Thai edition in its secondary variant with black papercovers.
This is YOUR perfect opportunity to support Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT). Own your very own piece of Thai history which will never be reprinted!
facthaiATgmailDOTcom
KNU statement “regarding foreign individuals”
I’m glad they came out with this. It confirms their departure from separatist demands of old, and a forward looking way ahead. God speed and good luck.
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
My e-mail
[email protected]
Thanks krub Mr. Hinke
Suwat L.
JSEAS special issue on Burma is out now
[…] Mandala readers who have been following the lengthy discussions of foreigners supporting the Karen National Liberation Army will want to see this official […]
“Samak’s government has no ability to shape public opinion”
Sidh: “Do you think it is possible that Thai, or any society for that matter, can come together and say let’s deal with all past injustices first and present injustices will take care of itself?” I didn’t answer your question correctly. I didn’t mean to imply that present or recent injustices should be ignored. I was answering that I do think societies can deal with past injustices. Examples can include places like Northern Ireland, some parts of the US South and South Africa. So in the general sense, my answer remains yes.
By the way, the stolen generations injustices were a part of a longer process of reconciliation that began, I would argue, in the early 1970s.
My comment about your “injustice” was heartfelt. The memories of people involved in these tragedies is sharp as well and their voices deserve to be heard.
As to whether Thailand can deal with past injustices, I have serious doubts. But I also doubt that dealing just with Thaksin will make a difference to the generalized culture of lack of accountability for injustice.
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
http://www.tja.or.th/images/stories/3-12psb2550.pdf
This is the 2007 Printing Act, I believe. Thai only.
The 1941 Thai language version seems to be here…
http://www.tja.or.th/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=300
A glossy feature on Thomas Bleming
[…] Mandala readers who have been following the lengthy discussions of foreigners supporting the Karen National Liberation Army will want to see this official statement by the […]
Volunteering to fight in Burma
[…] Mandala readers who have been following the lengthy discussions of foreigners supporting the Karen National Liberation Army will want to see this […]
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
[email protected]
Thanks a great deal!
Frank
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
Disks posted to K. Suwat & Ajarn Frank. Please confirm arrival by email.
Frank, I was getting reading to send you the Printing Act 1941 in Thai & English but I don’t seem to have to have your email address.
I don’t, however, seem to have the Printing Act 2007 in Thai or English. Will some good soul please find these, download them & attach them to email to me? Thanks in advance!
facthaiATgmailDOTcom
JSEAS special issue on Burma is out now
Totila, thank goodness I’m not a voice in the wilderness, but of course we are outsiders, all of us physically, to be able to discuss the issues freely. Burmese are peaceful, gentle, kind and docile people but some British writer has once said they all have a Jekyll and Hyde in them. They can be cornered or provoked into ‘uncharacteristic’ ferocity and brutality in hitting back.
They’ve done it just with swords and slingshots before, and word is some monks have been collecting slingshots again in case of another confrontation. That’s where they could do with some help in acquiring arms to level the playing field , or ideally at this juncture a split in the army leading to open rebellion. And they need good leaders who will not shy away pleading non-violence from such a confrontation, not of their own making, because they will fight win or lose. It’s in their nature, leaders or no. Some are bound to call it foolish adventurism that can only end in defeat, but how do we stop them, I mean the junta, from carrying on regardless violating human rights and cracking down at will?
There was talk of some kind of power-sharing with Khin Nyunt at the time, and that sealed his fate. Some people including Westerners still talk about KN making a comeback as he seemed like a Burmese de Klerk. Well, good luck to them. Nobody wants unnecessary bloodshed except psychos.
Thai politics quote of the day
An oldie, but a goodie (by guess who?):
Quite simply rural people accept payments from everyone and vote for whoever they wish. This is a complex sociological issue, but my feeling is that these payments should be seen as a demonstration of the ability of candidates to direct resources to the villages within their electorate. This is what rural people quite properly expect of their parliamentary representatives and distribution of funds prior to an election is a widely accepted way of demonstrating this willingness and capability.
Classic!
Volunteering to fight in Burma
Hi Charles,
yes it’s sad that it has come to this. I think they have enough on their plate fighting a war against the military regime in Burma without people coming along and pretending to be something they are not and creating negative publicity. Especially in the US, whose governemtn has always been positive towards prodemocracy groups in Burma.
Cheers,
Dave
Unscrupulous Cambodian politicians!
@blaster: huh? Where is this coming from? Certainly Hun Sen is a corrupt politican (is there any other kind?)… Certainly he’s a bloodthirsty (or powerhungry, at least) one. So what? I can’t even firmly deduce what the point of this post is all about, let alone assume that it’s solely a sarcastic attack on Thai politicians and hence a support of Cambodian ones, as you do.
Weird. Moral? Don’t drink and blog.
“Samak’s government has no ability to shape public opinion”
Ah, quick to convict Reg! Injustices are injustices, Reg, no debates there. Your answer to my question is “yes” – then I ask you “How”?History tells us that some take longer to be addressed than others, many are not and with many often not addressed within the victims and/or perpetrators lifetime. Take the injustices suffered by the Stolen Generation of the indigenous population in Australia, committed mainly through the first half of last century (if I am not wrong). Australian society has finally built up enough ‘consensus’, evolved enough to say “sorry” (if it can be called a consensus, as I know many Australians who disagreed with PMRudd). However, most of the victims and perpetrators have long passed away.
In that regards, my point is only grounded in the realities of the present. If Thai society (elites and general populace; urban and rural etc.) are not disturbed enough, do not see grave injustices at Krue-se, Takbai, Sabai Yoi etc…etc… to prosecute the perpetrators, most of whom are still living and in positions of power, then there’s little chance that the cases of 1973, 1976 and 1992 gets its time in the courts (at least, it has been symbolically marked with monuments on Bangkok’s Ratchadamnoen Avenue, tied closest to Thailand’s political evolution). At the grassroots level, if murderers of activists in the rural area such as KhunCharoen Wataksorn are not caught and convicted as yet – and no one in the present elite (of any political color – and most of the general population) are not calling for blood – what are the chances, Reg?
If the present don’t have the tools to convict present injustice, we don’t have any to address the past. Thai society needs to build up a strong culture of the rule-of-law that is tied closely with respect for basic human rights. We need a truly independent, pro-active judiciary branch – and, right now, they have the opportunity (with society watching, and learning it is hoped) to cut their teeth against the most powerful person in Thailand, PMThaksin and his cronies. These cases, if carried out transparently will set Thai society, democracy into new directions and also go a long way to build up those ‘tools’ to address past injustices.