absolutelyBangkok archive · Politics
Originally published Dec. 2, 2008
What was all the noise and smoke about?! I’ve spoken to dozens of stranded tourists over the past few days and embassies and airlines… and suddenly, just like that, it’s all over? No arrests? More importantly even: No betterment of the political environment? What are they celebrating?
Consider this “sad list” a reader sent who is wondering what the PAD are actually achieved:
1.
The disbanded governing party PPP will regroup under the Puea Thai.
2.
A new prime minister — most probably from the Puea Thai — will be announced soon. He/she will be another Thaksin-proxy.
3.
Several people got killed since the PAD demonstrations started and hundreds were injured, with no one taking or facing responsibility.
4.
The PAD don’t have to fear any serious legal action for taking over Government House and two airports.
5.
Thai courts seem biased to say the least by enforcing some decisions and evading other with a rule-by-law culture evolving.
6.
The armed forced did not perform their constitutional duties by refusing the orders of a democratically elected government.
7.
The police did likewise.
8.
The kingdom lost if not billions in revenues and incomes. 9. The potential for new conflict ahead is even higher.
10.
Thais are infinitely embarrassed for their leaders and country.
11.
We’ll most likely witness situations
3.-9.
all over again.
Why then did the PAD stop?! They didn’t want to. The only plausible answer is they had to.
Lessons learned? Only the repetition of situations 3)-9) will show.
Or better even:
never mind. A bloody nose is just for a start.
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