‘The King and Thaksin’

Thursday, January 31. 2008

For Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thaksin Shinawatra will very likely be the most difficult part of Thai citizens he has to deal with after Thai voters gave the former prime minister a strong vote of confidence last month, despite the king’s clear disfavor of him.

Perhaps it is the first time the king’s leadership has been directly challenged. In the past, political leaders or military generals who lost the king’s trust would never be able to return to power.

Thaksin’s case indicates that while the monarchy is still formidably respected by the nation, Thai people now are more able to distinguish the role of the king as a major moral force and political rationale.

With the king’s strong support, the military toppled Thaksin in a bloodless coup in September 2006 and took all necessary steps — freezing Thaksin’s assets, banning his political party, Thai Rak Thai, and threatening to take him to court for corruption — to kill Thaksin’s political future.

Just 15 months later, People Power Party (PPP), whose major platforms include the return of Thaksin from exile, won 233 of 480 votes in parliament. Its coalition with five other parties now controls two-thirds of the lower house’s seats.

The failure of the military to win the allegiance of the people in the last 15 months is an alarming sign for military generals anywhere in the world who want to topple democratically elected government in their countries. “Coup” has become a nearly obsolete word in this era of globalization.

The king gave his blessing Tuesday to the newly elected prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, who will form his Cabinet soon. Samak openly portrayed himself as the close ally of Thaksin and repeatedly promised to bring him home.

How should King Adulyadej deal with the multi-billionaire businessman, who is still hugely popular among the citizens?

The two sides must find an acceptable face-saving solution for the sake of democracy and stability of the nation. Thailand will face serious jeopardy if both sides are not willing to reach a satisfactory compromise.

Hugely loved by his people, many now doubt the king will put the interests of the majority of the people above anything else, including the military. However, at least psychologically, it will not be easy for the king, whose stance on Thaksin was “vetoed” by the people.

The military has to swallow its own words on the self-exiled billionaire, because the military generals totally failed to prove Thailand would be better off without Thaksin. The fact that Thai people still place high trust in Thaksin is a slap in the face to the generals.

Thai media also has to face bitter facts. In the beginning, Thai mainstream media supported the military’s move to crush Thaksin’s government, only to realize later they had made fatal mistakes by supporting a military which never actually believed in the principles of democracy.

Thaksin should be given a fair and transparent chance to defend himself in a credible court in facing the corruption and power abuse charges. And as long as Thai military generals are not confident that they themselves never commit corruption or abuse their power, it will be very difficult for the people to listen to the military.

The Thai king is much loved by his people because of his wisdom and love of the nation. In these difficult times, the people need to support the king in facing the problem of Thaksin. The king has proven in the past the interests of the people is always above anything else.

Thaksin himself needs to prove that all the military allegations are false and he needs to resolve his problems with his political enemies. He needs to prove he is a true Thai statesman.

Source: The Jakarta Post

Thai embassy responds

The editorial titled “The King and Thaksin”, (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 31) is disappointing. Its title is misleading and much of the content illustrates a serious lack of understanding about Thai politics. First and foremost, the whole construct of the aforementioned editorial was built on a false premise about the role and status of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s political and social contexts.

As a constitutional monarch, the King of Thailand is above politics. The King’s action subsequent to the Sept. 9, 2006, military intervention, including the royal assent by signature to the order that appointed the Council for Democratic Reform, was a function assigned to a constitutional monarch, similar to the royal assent to appoint Samak Sundaravej as Thailand’s 25th prime minister on Jan. 29.

It may not be easy for the writer to understand the love and reverence that Thais have for their King. These feelings are apolitical on both sides because they arise out of the Thai people’s appreciation of his Majesty’s devotion to uplifting their well-being, in keeping with the coronation oath the King took in 1946 that “I shall reign with righteousness, for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people”.

No matter how governments change, the ties between his Majesty and the Thai people have stood strong, unchanged. The article’s attempt to juxtapose Thaksin with the King is not only simply ludicrous but more importantly, highly insensitive to Thai people’s feelings.

As far as politics is concerned, Thailand now has a new, elected government, and the senate election is scheduled for next month. All political institutions prescribed for a full-fledged parliamentary democracy gradually take on their respective functions, after a brief intermission.

As for the country’s justice system, this has remained unaffected in spite of the 2006 military intervention. Corruption allegations against anyone are investigated in accordance with due process, and any charges filed will be proven in accordance with the rule of the law.

CHOMBHALA CHAREONYING
Charge d Affaires a.i.
Thai Embassy
Jakarta

Source: The Jakarta Post