A triumph for democracy
Thaksin's departure will pave the way for national reconciliation and rebuilding of democratic institutions
There is no better proof of the resilience of Thailand's democracy under the constitutional monarchy than the interplay of political forces that has compelled Thai Rak Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra to forego his chance to become a third-term prime minister only two days after scoring yet another electoral landslide. The most remarkable thing is that the titanic struggle between Thaksin, a seriously-flawed, but democratically-elected leader, and the people who have taken to the streets to oppose him was played out over two volatile months without violence.
Even more wonderful is the fact that such a peaceful resolution to the most dangerous political conflict since the 1992 bloodbath was achieved through the exercise of ordinary citizens' constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, which are the hallmarks of well-functioning democracies everywhere. The People's Alliance for Democracy, the organiser of the anti-Thaksin campaign, has made effective use of non-violent protest as a weapon against the regime, which stands accused of corruption and anti-democratic tendencies.
The sustained peaceful protest - which first galvanised the middle-class elite and then persuaded members of society at all levels to rise up in defence of democracy, uphold the national interests and reassert their constitutional rights - enabled the whole society to engage in an intense public discourse on the most important question of the day: what constitutes the political legitimacy of a democratic leader?
It helped focus the collective mind of the people on the true spirit of democracy, not just the facade of democracy that has been cynically manipulated by Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai Party. The awakening of the usually apathetic public proved to be the desperately needed catalyst for positive change in Thailand's political landscape, which had been completely dominated by Thaksin for the past five years.
Without a doubt, a valuable lesson has been learned by the Thai people about democracy and how it can be made to work the way it is intended. People learned that they can take their fight to the streets against a government that has lost its legitimacy to rule, and they can also take their fight to the ballot box. The avalanche of abstention votes cast by democratic-loving citizens was a resounding rejection of Thaksin, his Thai Rak Thai Party and the culture of deceit and corruption that they stand for.
Credit must be given to security forces, assigned by the government to maintain peace and order, which consistently carried out their duty with restraint and discipline. They deserve praise for not allowing themselves to be used by the Thaksin government to suppress peaceful demonstrators.
Thaksin's announcement that he will step down as caretaker prime minister after the House of Representatives elects a new prime minister is a great source of relief for the nation, which is beset by an unprecedented divisiveness that has pitted mostly wealthy urban middle-class citizens against poverty-stricken rural masses.
This is a time for national reconciliation. The Election Commission is planning new rounds of elections in single-candidate constituencies where the sole contestant failed to garner the requisite 20 per cent of eligible votes. The continuing election process must be completed without further delay now that rules have been relaxed to allow new candidates to take part in subsequent rounds.
One of the likeliest scenarios is that the Thai Rak Thai Party will form the core of the new government to oversee constitutional reforms, perhaps with some level of participation by impartial public figures or even members of opposition parties, which boycotted the election. And perhaps that sort of arrangement will still allow Thaksin to pull the strings behind the Thai Rak Thai-led government.
Be that as it may, Thaksin's resignation to pave the way for a new prime minister did break the potentially violent impasse. All sides must now work together to ensure that the new government makes a clean break from the corruption-prone legacy and anti-democratic tendencies of the Thaksin regime. Under intense public scrutiny, it will be extremely difficult, if at all possible, for the new government to deviate from the people's renewed democratic aspirations.
How it came to this
Jan 23: The prime minister's family officially announces the tax-free sale of its stake in Shin Corp to Singapore's Temasek Holdings.
Feb 4: Up to 50,000 people gather at the Royal Plaza demanding that Thaksin step down due to his lack of legitimacy and ethics.
Feb 24: Thaksin dissolves Parliament and calls a snap election for April 2.
Feb 26: At least 50,000 protesters rally peacefully to demand the premier's resignation.
Feb 27: Three main opposition parties announce a boycott of the April 2 elections.
March 25: More than 200,000 people attend an anti-Thaksin rally outside Government House.
March 29: About 100,000 people join another protest in the Siam Square area.
Sunday: Voters go to the polls.
Monday: A defiant Thaksin claims victory in Sunday's general elections, saying his Thai Rak Thai Party won 16 million party-list votes against 10 million abstention votes.
Yesterday: Thaksin announces in a national address that he will step down after a new parliament is convened.
Following Review by 2bangkok.com:
April 2006
news
Thaksin steps down
Earlier
Anti-Thaksin
protests on Rama I Road
March 26,
2006 - Anti-Thaksin protest at Rajaprasong
March 21-31,
2006 news
Pro-Thaksin
demonstrators at Chatuchak Park
March 9-20,
2006 news
March 14 - What is
on Thai TV now?
March 5 - What
is on Thai TV now?
March 5
anti-Thaksin rally news
Photos of the
March 5 anti-Thaksin rally
March 3 -
Pro-Thaksin rally
February 27,
2006 - Protest moves to Democracy Monument
February
27-March 8, 2006 news
February 26,
2006 - Photos from the anti-Thaksin protests
February
26, 2006 - Putting out the truck fire at the anti-Thaksin protests
February 26,
2006 - Almost like being there: Start of the rally
February 26,
2006 - Dissolution headlines
February
13-26, 2006 - House dissolution and other news
February 11,
2006 protest news
February 11, 2006
- Photos from the anti-Thaksin protest
February 4,
2006 protest news
February 4, 2006 -
Photos from Sondhi's anti-Thaksin protest
February 4, 2006 -
Sondhi's protest instructions
January-February, 2006 - The Shin
Corp sale
January,
2006
November-December,
2005
Disclaimer
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