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Status quo in Thailand protected by so-called 'reconciliation'
Red Thai Socialist - April 7, 2012
Pua Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawat, elected by millions of Red Shirt voters in July 2011, is constantly photographed, with friendly smiles alongside General Prayut Junocha, the Butcher of Bangkok. It was General Prayut and General Anupong Paojinda who ordered troops to fire on unarmed pro-democracy demonstrators in April and May 2010. Democrat Party politicians Abpisit Vejjajeewa and Sutep Tuaksuban, who were in Government at the time, also have blood on their hands. But the new Government and the authorities have no plans to bring these murderers to court. In fact the opposite is the case. Soldiers involved in the blood bath have been promoted and Pua Thai politicians have gone out of their way to show friendship to the Military.
At the same time, The Government has raised the use of Lese Majeste to manic and repressive levels with increased imprisonments and persecution. Corrupt government ministers like Chalerm Yubamrung have spear-headed this repression against the freedom of speech, along with IT Minister Anudit Nakorntup. Those who have not yet been found guilty, like Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, have been denied bail and are shackled when appearing in court. Others, who have poor health, like Surachai Darnwatanatrakun and "Aa-Kong" have been forced to "confess" in the hope of a royal pardon at some time in the future. Naturally the Government is refusing to amend this draconian law. The Pua Thai government's supine attitude towards Lese Majeste and its support for huge wasteful spending on Royal ceremonies is not just an attempt to "prove" its royalist credentials. It is a way to prove that it is serious about grovelling to the Military and allowing the Military to have an extra-constitutional veto. The Military are the main beneficiaries from Lese Majeste, since the law helps them to justify all that they do, including killings and coups, by claiming to protect the Monarchy.
There have been no attempts to release non-Lese Majeste Red Shirt prisoners either. The only concession was to move them to a "political prison". This did not apply to Lese Majeste prisoners, however.
The parliamentary committee overseeing "reconciliation" is none other than General Sonti Bunyaragarin, the man who staged the 2006 coup!
Taksin Shinawat, who was overthrown by a military coup in 2006, is keen to steer Pua Thai towards reconciliation with the Military and the elites. He hopes to be able to return to Thailand soon. The public prosecutor has recently dropped Lese Majeste charges against exiled politician Jakrapop Pencare. He was initially charged with making a speech attacking the "patronage system" at a talk at the Foreign Correspondents" Club of Thailand. Jakrapop used to be Taksin's right hand man. This may be a crumb thrown in Taksin's direction.
Another aspect of so-called "Reconciliation" has been to throw money at the relatives of those killed or to those who suffered in various ways during the political unrest. One is reminded of the arrogant rich buying off the families of the poor after they have killed people. The difference is that the money comes out of public funds, originating from taxes on the poor. No compensation is being paid out of the pockets of the butchering generals. In the South, money is also being thrown at relatives of civilians who were murdered in cold blood by the Army.
One reason why Pua Thai is not willing to bring the generals to trial may be that Taksin does not want to stand trial over the murdering of nearly 90 unarmed civilians at Takbai, in the South, in 2004.
The official leadership of the Red Shirt Movement (UDD) has made meaningless noises about not forgetting the dead and the need to help prisoners. It is pushing for minor constitutional reforms, but is refusing to back the reform or abolition of Lese Majeste. In practice the UDD is keeping the lid on any mobilisation against government policies by progressive Red Shirts.
As the Pua Thai government, the Military, the Palace and Taksin join hands in "reconciliation" over the dead bodies of pro-democracy activists, while spitting in the faces of those political prisoners rotting in Thai jails, the only glimmer of hope is with the Nitirat Movement and the Movement to Reform Lese Majeste. Nitirat want to abolish all laws resulting from the 2006 coup in order to open the way to prosecute the generals. Recently a leading Nitirat academic was violently attacked by royalists. Both these movements are acting as important poles of attraction for progressive Thais and they should be given full support.
Genuine Peace and Reconciliation can only be achieved with full Democracy, Freedom of Speech, the release of all political prisoners and the prosecution of state officials who have committed crimes. The Pua Thai government, the UDD and Taksin have no intention of bring this about.
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