.
Update 2: This Bangkok Post report gives details of the equipment the government lost in their 'non-violent' dispersal attempt on that Saturday:
"Among the firearms and other equipment claimed to have been lost during the clash were nine M16 rifles, 25 Tavor rifles, six anti-aircraft guns, 116 shields, 105 batons and 80 body armour suits.
The army also lost control of six personnel carriers and three high-mobility multi-purpose vehicles when troops abandoned them in the face of angry red shirts.
Ammunition also went missing, including 580 rubber bullet rounds, 600 anti-aircraft rounds and 8,182 M16 rifle rounds"
Any conclusions other than:
(a) government had violent 'intentions', and was incompetent?
or
(b) the equipment was left behind by watermelon soldiers to help in subsequent battles?
Update 1: This post was originally posted before the crackdown as a plea for it to not happen - after the actual crackdown, and especially after Abhisit's late night tv speech, all I can say is that I've completely given up on him. It's hard for me to believe he is even human, he's certainly no better than Thaksin, and probably much worse. Thaksin's drug war killings at least had a noble intention - there is nothing noble about Abhisit's killing to avoid going to an election!
How long can things go on like this, without one side going for broke and the shit hitting the fan?
Abhisit is the new face on an old playbook - the old style crackdowns are no longer viable, so it needs a respectable face to try to spin it as though there was no alternative but to crackdown.
I hope the red leaders are fully switched on to that aspect of what Abhisit is doing, because even though the pro-democracy side of this conflict has right on their side, they must also be seen to be reasonable.
(To spell it out: Abhisit wants to appear reasonable, and make other side appear unreasonable - the emphasis is on 'appear' in both cases)
Abhisit knows very well this aspect of the political game. He came to power promising reconciliation, he appeared very reasonable, but his real actions have not been about reconciliation at all:
- How does appointing, then keeping Kasit as FM, help reconcilation?
- How does stonewalling on the constitutional reform help reconcilation?
- How does closing PTV help reconcilation (when ASTV & NBT are still on air)?
- How does blocking Prachatai (and hassling the webmaster with lengthy jail terms) help reconciliation?
- How does stalling on bringing PAD international airport invaders to justice help reconcilation?
- Now that the boot is on the other foot, how does a complete about-face shown on statements he made regarding protesters rights, and PM's resigning, help bring about reconciliation ?
(for more examples see this revealing piece by one of Thailand's best journalists)
He is doing it again - appearing reasonable, but the reality is very different:- He offers to talk with red leaders, but creates excuses why elections cannot be held till at least 9 months have passed.
Forget about 9 months! How can the red masses, who have had their votes usurped so blatantly, be forced to endure another month, week, or even a day of living under a military/judiciary coup installed puppet PM who talks reconciliation, but in reality does everything he can to keep those masses disenfranchised?
PM Abhisit has also appeared very reasonable in dealing with protestors over the last few weeks, but if you look at all the other times he appeared reasonable, the reality was much different - you get my drift ?- the stakes have been upped in recent days - quite scary don't you think?
The world must not let him, or his minders, get away with thinking that a crackdown against pro-democracy protesters can ever be acceptable - especially when an easy solution is readily available.
I have focussed on Abhisit because he is the face of the current military/royalist overlords - we know he is expendable, but right now he's the man in the box seat, so he still has a chance to gain real legitimacy with the people. If he acted with integrity, you never know, the Thai people might warm to him, and he could one day even become a legitimate elected PM.
His first step on that road to legitimacy should be to offer dissloution/election within 3 months (Dr Weng has already said reds would accept that).
The people will never be more informed than they already are. The air would then be cleared, and the new parliament could then embark on the genuine constitutional reform process so the country can start moving forwards again.
That is the obvious solution, it is also the right thing to do given the considerable doubts as to his legitimacy arising from military & judicial interventions over the last 4 years.
No amount of smooth talking spin will ever justify a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters when there is a viable solution readily available.
Remember, no redshirt has ever said they will not accept the results of a fair election, so it should be abundantly clear they are not the real problem in Thailand.
The real problem is that there is no culture of democracy. Such a culture can only begin to develop when all sides accept election results and reject military coups or other forms of higher authority interference.
38 comments:
...even though the pro-democracy side of this conflict has right on their side, they must also be seen to be reasonable...
With all due respect Hobby, I think the leaders of the Redshirts are at least as aware of that as you are. I think they want to accomplish their aims without getting anyone killed. That's why things are proceeding in slow motion.
Managing to get their TV show back on the air was an astounding feat! I was as astounded that they just walked away from Pathum Thani. I was sure the Brownshirts would be back to shut the Redshirts down again. An elemental conclusion, obvious to me, it was surely obvious to the Redshirts.
What has happend at Pathum Thani.
1. The government shut down the pro-democracy station disrupting communications between the active protestors and the masses at home.
2. The Redshirts marched to Pathum Thani, were gassed and hosed, fought back briefly, talked the people there into resuming their operations, handed all the weapons they had taken from the hands of the Brownshirts back! And left.
3. They then returned to their stations and resumed their non-violent protest.
4. The Brownshirts re-occupied the satellite station and took down Redshirt communications.
The quasi-government, Brownshirt hate-station continues in operation, loud and clear, all the while.
The Redshirts will go back to Pathum Thani and open up their communications once more. They must. Everyone knows the non-violent lengths to which they went the first time around. Especially the rank and file soldiers at the scene.
Can the Generals can find a group of Thais under their command willing to murder their countrymen and women in order to forestall an election? They cannot. I hope the Redshirts walk to Pathum Thani this time, swelling their ranks as they go, signaling their non-violent intentions as slowly and deliberately as possible. They must reinstate their communictions.
I have focussed on Abhisit because he is the face of the current military/royalist overlords... If he acted with integrity, you never know, the Thai people might warm to him, and he could one day even become a legitimate elected PM.
Abhisit would not be Premier if he had any integrity. The ability to follow direction is paramount in his case. He is quite similar to Barack Obama in this respect. The military will throw him under the bus if they see a chance to form a new government without him that still forestalls elections.
But they will not be able to forestall elections. The Redshirts will not take no for an answer. Elections... a government chosen by the people, is the essential bit of democracy and they have not come this far to back down now.
After the Redshirts there is... nothing. Nothing but a clear field for fascism in Thailand. Military rule with a civlian face. The emerging Thai-Burmese convention.
But what the Redshirts have done in their slow, deliberate plod to democracy is to have set the stage for the elimination of the Thai military from politics. And without their enforcers the Ammat will shrink to their true size, a minority in a democracy.
The Redshirts will march again on Pathum Thani and reinstate their communications there and it will have been done with the co-operation of the Thai military where it counts... at the trigger finger. The Generals' power consists of their ability to order Thais to murder Thais, and to be obeyed. In reality the only "enemies" the Thai military have ever slain is their fellow Thais.
This time they will not be obeyed. The spell will be broken. The history books will record 2010 as the end of military coups in Thailand because the people stood together and showed the military where the limits of its power truly lay.
The Thai soldiers will not slay their pi-nong simply, especially not, to forestall elections!
I have just been called to the TV to see the Thai soldiers gassing the Redshirts at Phan Fa...
Thanks JFL: My point was that they needed to concede on the 15 day dissolution demand by making it clear they would accept something like 3 months, so they turn the table on Abhisit who then appears unreasonable sticking to 9 months.
(I cannot help from seeing things from a farang perspective)
BUT things have moved very fast today, and it looks like Songrran 2009 all over again, although this time there is a risk that large parts of the country might become ungovernable.
Probably just have to sit & watch how it unfolds now.
Actually I don't think Abhisit is at all interested in democracy - after all he has never legitimately won an election by leading his party to win the hearts and minds of the people. He just likes to "appear" to be doing the right thing - a trait which is very common in Thai culture.
Actions speak louder than words. And the actions of the present administration demonstrate a move towards a single-party communist or military Government. Attempts to silence dissent through censorship and expensive royalist campaigns to "educate" people are the antithesis of a genuine democratic movement.
I think you are correct on both your points, Anonymous one.
And my thesis that there were no Thais who would kill Thais has proved to be wishful thinking.
There is nothing between all of us and full-blown fascism in Thailand but the Redshirts.
These ordinary Thai people are heroes and heroines and certainly deserve our wholehearted support in the face of the Thai Wehrmacht.
Has the Thai Wehrmacht ever made war on anyone other than the Thai people?
I think you are being harsh on young Abhisit, he has no power, and is only there to do what he is told. So he has done what he was told, and will be seen frequently in the near future crying crocodile tears and trying desperately to get the genie back in the bottle.
The only bright part of this whole mess, is that at last the Thai people know who is to blame and have evidently started taking down some of the many unsmiling posters that have formed such a large part of their lives and propagandised minds for so long.
You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but even the compliant Thais are waking from their nightmare.
Grim times ahead. I predict Prem, Anupong, Abhisit will languish and die overseas, and the monarchy will now be truly outside of politics, if only because in a real democracy (as for example exists in Europe), the sovereign knows his/her place and should they forget will be rudely reminded to speak when they are spoken to and keep their opinions to themselves.
This is a glimpse of the future for Thailand but it is not over yet. I believe there is one more huge blunder to be made, and that is another coup. That will motivate the international community to put Thailand in its place. The economic devastation will be huge, but if you want to win their hearts and minds, first you have to get them by the balls.
In my opinion, e are privileged to be witnessing the downfall of yet another fascist regime.
sorry for irrelevant comment but i quite like the following quote u link to:
When you are open, there is unending help
If someone has helped you and you make of him your authority, then are you not preventing all further help, not only from him, but from everything about you? Does not help lie about you everywhere? Why look in only one direction? And when you are so enclosed so bound, can any help reach you? But when you are open, there is unending help in all things, from the song of a bird to the call of a human being, from the blade of grass to the immensity of the heavens. The poison and corruption begin when you look to one person as your authority, your guide, your saviour.
Thanks Joy - that sounds like a Krishnamurti quote - much wisdom to be found in his work, and if humans took the time to really know themselves like he suggests we do, there would not be the trouble that seems to have been such a constant in the world (for the last 3000 years or so, at least:)
In addition to Krisnamurti's words guiding us to find things for ourselves, Thailand has Buddhism, and if the people (especially it's rulers & leaders) paid more than lip service to Buddha's words, days like yesterday would not have happened.
Hobby
here is my attempt to sum up what and how it has happened
Thanks AntiPADshist - you mentioned reinforcements from Lopburi - is that ominous?
why did the red shirts never come out and oppose Somak when he was elected in the same way as Abisit. Why did they sit around for so long to shout about their disatisfaction. If i remember correctly the then proxy of Thaksin never received a majority of votes and joined with other groups who later decided to side with Abisits party.
Anonymous: You are conveniently forgetting the military & judicial interference over the time since the coup (which continued after the PPP won the election)
Even if Abhisit is legitimate in your eyes, he isn't for many Thai's - if you think he won fair & square why is he so afraid of another election?
btw, are you StanG (or Abhisit:)
Actually thinking further about Anonymous' comment:
- if Abhisit thinks he can win another election, doesn't it make it even more perverse that he (& his minders) would prefer people get killed than go to that election?
Hobby
reportedly, those troops from Lopburi are special (most loyal ? most not giving a F ? most fearsome / tough ) who won't compromise or be lenient
looks like now many others confirmed / strengthened some/ many points mentioned by me there (as BP too - about snipers)
let's see what'll happen next. hopefully those guys in charge have got their message and learned the lessons. if not, then most likely much heavier crackdown - like a full scale offensive between 2 (or more, few?) factions of army, with mob on the streets at the same time.
although I think all of them are aware how much it costs to country and to them (at least in money) and also are under constant pressure from all those lobbyists from banks, corporations, bureaucracy, etc. who're eagerly waiting for their "slice of pie" (aka "stimulus package")
I was one of the first to predict civil way, and was saying it to the jeers of the gallery early last year.
Now we are teetering on the brink.
IMHO, the only option of preventing a guerilla-style war of attrition is for immediate elections, for Abhisit, Suthep, Anupong and Prem to disappear into permanent exile, for fundamental and transparent changes to the role of the monarchy (whether they like it or not), and for the new government to start putting corrupt people in jail, starting from the very top and working down.
Admittedly, this will all take a little bit of time, but the first thing is that a new government with balls must appear on the Thai scene, because everything we have seen in decades of Thai watching has happened because of the last thing; corruption, which is actively supported by the existing Thai culture and social structure, and sustained by the pervasive propaganda which was introduced by the Americans and gleefully embraced by the Thai troughers.
Get it fixed Thailand, or become a failed (and eventually bankrupt) state, which you are about 20 microns away from being right now.
Thai tv is presently a disgraceful presentation of chewing gum for the eyes. Pretending nothing has/is happening. Is the UDD channel up anywhere? I can't find it. Reply via email if you can.
Certainly agree with the anonymous opinions directly above.
BP talked about Abhisit's coalition members this morning... they're all making their own calculations.
Why are not the Redshirts trying to split the coalition and bring down the government via divide and conquer tactics?
I can see the Redshirts on the internet again... there was a muslim lady who tore the regime a new orifice, she was great and I hope that the folks in the Northeast and North and South realize their common cause... but I hear Abhisit, Abhisit, Abhisit... Democrat Party, Democrat Party, Democrat Party...
The Democrat Party doesn't have what it takes on its own.
Why don't the Redshirts hold the Bhumjaithai Party, Chart Thai Pattana, Puea Pandin, Ruam Chart Pattana Party... all of them responsible for the deaths of their people over the weekend?
Why don't they demand the leaders of each of those parties to answer for their continued support of the de facto regime?
Why don't they make a deck of cards with the faces of their enemies on them, or some such device, and include Newin, and Snoh, and Banharn and all the other deadbeats on them.
Why don't they split the coalition to bring down the government?
It's not as though any of the existing political parties are the friends of the people.
I must be missing something really basic here... what is it?
Not sure I'd want to be associated with any of the political parties on offer in Thailand - that's where democracy gets messy, even in the more 'developed' West, because there's usually not much to choose from.
For Thailand it's baby steps - first lets have the will of the people accepted without interference.
(There is actually the basis for a new grassroots party from the moderates of the PAD & UDD and respective supporters, and pigs might fly too:)
The Thai constitutions explicitly mention political parties and practically require them.
It seems very weird, limiting, and unnecessary to me. Nothing like that in our Constitution.
Of course we are presently crippled by a single political party with two "brands" aimed at different demographics and, by virtue of a monopoly on corporate money and the corporate media, they have a lock on politics.
But it's really like giving up smoking... there is nothing actually keeping us Americans from just doing it... just turning the out-sourced corporate employees out of office and electing ourselves to represent ourselves.
I think it's different in Thailand. I think you have to be associated with a political party.
I think the party, not the individual, is the grain of sand on the beach of Thai politics, so it's no wonder that everyone's toes are stubbed and broken after a day at the shore.
I think parties can actually discipline members for not toeing the party line... I mean there are actually legal penalties.
And you cannot change parties without following the rules, and all sorts of laws that elevate the party and depress the people.
And the 1997 Constitution, best of the lot, is several hundred pages long!
This has all got to change if the people are ever to be sovereign in Thailand.
But my original question was, how come the Redshirts don't stand up on the stage and ask, say, "Mr Newin, why are you continuing to support the Butchers of Bangkok? Why do you hate the Thai people so much?"
Instead he, and the rest, are given a free ride. Why?
As far as being associated with the present de facto regime in Thailand, Henry Thoreau had yet another histrionic reply :
"How does it become a man to behave toward this American government to-day? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it."
-- Henry David Thoreau
Re Newin: Could be because he's shaping to be the next slippery eel - they may hate him but might need him one day.
btw, StanG has an interesting take on the EC Democrat dissolution announcement - I think its one of his better blog posts - see his blog linked on my side bar.
A surreal moment for me, the first time I have found myself in agreement with StanG, whom I had previously thought to be delusional and beyond the grip of reality.
I think the dissolution thing has palace fingerprints all over it. StanG is probably right. Damn that felt weird...
And Abhisit knows all about it - anything to cling on to power.
Off at a tangent; I was also astonished to hear one of the senior Reds (Arisman I think it was), saying he was a royalist again. He was cheap. The power of propaganda is such that even with all the evidence to the contrary, the palace is still capable of representing itself as a benign force in Thailand, knowing that some folk will be determined to continue believing it.
They tell me most Thais believe in fairies too.
Agree with you Anonymous, and the really sad thing is that a lot of supposedly well 'educated' people still believe in fairytales - for all their education & opportunity they are close minded, and are even more gullible than the 'country bumpkins'.
At least many of the bumpkins have kind hearts.
Hobby
if you're sure it was Arisaman - I'm not surprised. a lot of discussions about him on net, that he is sort of an "agent", infiltrator or something like that (Pattaya last year, storming Parliament this year). frankly, I have also started to think something like that.
although then someone has explained that last year, after Pattaya, he (Jatuporn too?) was arrested and taken by helicopter (to Prachuap?), and ont he way they've overpowered guards and forced pilot to turn back. that time his wife was pregnant, expecting - and having learned such news about him she lost baby.
so, that's why now, as some say, he is sort of possessed, furiously trying to get even with those who were cause of his loss (the Amart & "roach party"). although after incident at Parliament apparently he was quickly called back to main stage at Ratchaprasong and main 3 leaders decided to relieve him of his position and make him be in "low profile" (or whatever in Thai they call it). and he was quite disheartened about it.
anyway, this is just a side story. I can't judge him - if the story told about his lost child is true, - although I guess that in such a struggle one must try to put aside personal ambitions or motives in order to avoid jeopardizing the whole main objective, which is certainly much bigger than personal problems.
That's a first... you sent me to stang's site...
The elites have done it again – used the judiciary power to solve the political stalemate, hoping that reds might declare a victory and tone down their protest just like yellows did in 2008.
That and the observation that the Reds aren't buying accord with my way of thinking.
As for the case itself, with the available information I can’t imagine how the whole Democrat party can possibly be dissolved.
But as for the other parties which were dissolved... no problem. They're the bad guys.
Apart from that – what law exactly they would apply in this case? Think of it for a second – the electoral law that was in place in 2004-2005 does not exist anymore. Last time it was applied was to TRT dissolution case, under the interim constitution that went out of the way to keep it in place after the coup.
PPP was tried for offenses committed when laws stemming from 2007 constitution were firmly in place, and they are stricter than the previous version...
And a bit more in that vein. Pointing up the absurdity of the "legal" system in Thailand. The laws mean what the elite says they mean... if they don't they tear 'em up and make new ones. And tear up the new ones and make new new ones if that seems to be required.
There's a lot of work required after the dissolution and election. Chief from my point of view, after emasculating the military, would be to eliminate the different "kinds" of law... eliminating all bureaucratic, "administrative law" and its court system would be a good start.
As far as double agents go, the country seems full of them. Duplicity is considered "normal" in the ruling circles.
Take Seh Daeng. He's a rabid killer looking for any excuse. He's on no one's side but his own.
When I say Redshirts I mean the millions of Thai people everyone is exploiting from Thaksin on down. Veera and Weng seem a cut above the rest... but I don't trust a one of them.
AntiPADshist: I think we have our wires crossed - I've never accused Arisaman of anything other than being a passionate hothead.
(and if the personal story you related about him is true it's somewhat understandable why he is like that, but maybe its just his nature?)
The fairytale stuff I was referring to was more related to those still believing the noble lie.
Our friends a the International have updated their point of view, ending with...
Violent repression of "red shirts" in Bangkok
' The red shirts are demanding the restoration of democracy. This involves the immediate resignation of Abhisit, who has blood on his hands, and the convening of new legislative elections. It is a critical moment in the history of Thailand. '
'...they may hate him but might need him one day... '
The people don't need these parasites the parasites need them... from Thaksin on down, as I'm seeming to say more often for some reason.
In fact their "politics" is played hand in glove with the elite, over the heads of the people... they are not separate in any way from "the problem" and will never be genuinely helpful to the people.
There own perceived interests may seem to them to be congruent with this or that fragmentary interest of the people but they are all looking out for number one, as they say, exclusively.
I agree JFL, but unfortunately not everyone is as idealistic as you (and especially those on power trips, in Thailand and elsewhere)
Hobby
did you ever get this sort of message ?
"Twitter is over capacity.
Too many tweets! Please wait a moment and try again."
lately Twitter has been working weirdly - often delayed, or showing blank page.
AntiPADshist: It might be something to do with this
Hobby, about elections without interference...
The biggest, right in your eyes interference is the red shirt movement that has run amok, lawless and arrogant in its newfound power.
It's delusional to expect free/fair elections when everyone, including the EC itself, is forced to comply with whatever demands reds put forward.
I'm sure you've all seen HRW recommendation - bring perpetrators to justice. That means arresting practically all red shirt leadership, and yet unnamed commanders who gave orders to shoot, if there were any.
Will reds submit themselves to the rule of law? Rhetorical question, of course they won't, not now, not ever.
Yet you want elections run on their terms.
Is it a touch of democratic masochism or what?
HObby
that's what I guess.
how about your twitter - smooth, no delays ?
StanG: You sound like Abhisit making excuses for not being able to have elections.
Of course all unlawful acts should be prosectuted under a fair justice system, but that's not the system that Thailand's rulers have created, is it?
In Thailand coup leaders go unpunished, brutal dictators get state funerals or are rewarded with Privy Council seats, airport invaders are left untouched etc etc.
We a dealing with a massively brainwashed country after decades of propaganda, and the rot starts at the top.
It's going to be a long haul, but the first step is for democracy to be allowed to develop.
AntiPADshist: I get that Twitter message intermittently, but have not been on there so much lately.
Banharn to PM: Decide soon on Parliament dissolution
Former prime minister Banharn Silapa-archa yesterday called on the ruling Democrat Party to decide soon on what to do about dissolution of the House of Representatives and constitutional amendment, describing it as the "last chance" for solving the worsening political crisis.
The veteran politician pleaded for the Democrats to make a decision urgently, or he would not try to help them again.
"I won't talk to the other side now. I am speaking to the Democrats. I am not pressuring or threatening. I am just saying what should be done first. If they don't do anything, then neither will I. In a short period of time, I will fly overseas for a 15-day trip to England."
Banharn said that despite calls for Chart Thai Pattana to withdraw from the coalition, it would remain with the Democrat-led bloc to help steer the government out of the political crisis.
He said the prime minister had not recently called him for any advice. He asked Abhisit to rely on advice from a wider group of people than merely a handful of his trusted aides, like Korbsak Sabhavasu and Sirichok Sopha.
Meanwhile, Theptai Senpong, spokesman for the Democrat leader, yesterday dismissed a rumour that Abhisit was so disheartened that he was considering stepping down. He said the rumour was politically motivated.
"Abhisit is a democrat and he is ready to listen to viewpoints from all sides. But he will never bow to an evil force that breaks the law and tries to create anarchy in the country. He will not allow attempts by some groups of people who try to establish a new Thai state to change the country's political system," Theptai said.
You see Banharn, the godfather of the Chart Thai Pattana crime family, will pay no price for his refusal to bring down the "governing" coalition.
The Redshirts should be haranguing him, Newin, and the rest from their stages as complicit with the Democrats, enemies of the people. But they're not. The "leadership" of the Redshirts is being found wanting, in my view.
Where is the Redshirt manifesto, the statement of its demands upon those wanting to represent them? Where is the concise statement of Redshirt legislative programs in the spirit of the six points of protest earlier put up here? Unseating this de facto regime is a the first step, governing thereafter as the de jure government is the prize.
As for Abhisit and his spinmeister : he was put in power by an evil force that broke the law and created anarchy in the country.
But in allowing attempts by the PAD faction in the military to crush the Thai people merely seeking an election his defiant, over the top use of force against the opposition has, I hope, changed the country's political system in directions opposite to the Democrat/military/PAD intentions.
JFL: I just cannot see it getting any better until the structural issues are addressed - right now, it's illegal (and dangerous) to even discuss them!
The 'cult of personality' is the major stumbling block because bad people can do bad things to the country, and keep getting away with it because they spin it as though they are protecting someone or something that is 'fundamental to the thai way of life'.
(am I a terrorist if I advocate for fundamental change?)
Well this government has to go before anything is possible.
The first structural issue to be addressed is the relationship of the military to society, the military must be made a subservient part of society rather than the irresponsible war-lords they are now.
How do you do that? Reinstate the 1997 Constitution and prosecute the coup leaders for throwing their coup.
Then the courts. Thailand has several layers of law with "administrative" law being the law created by unelected bureaucrats. It must be summarily deprecated, marked obsolescent, the administrative courts merged with the mainline courts, and a more nearly indepenedent judiciary brought about.
These details are the business of the Thai people, not me. But 1. the military and 2. the courts.
But before that is possible a reasonably representative parliament is required. The people must make their requirements known, in writing, have the candidates who want their support, that is get elected, literally interview and sign up for the job. Step 0. And the main step. The opposite of how its done now.
It's the Thai people who have to do this not me. Something along those lines is required. The people can trust literally no one in the Thai political class so they are going to have to do this work themselves.
And there is not a lot of time to waste.I hope they do it. Real change requires it. I don't want to think that after so many people have suffered and died working for change everything is going to return to the status quo ante.
Fully agree with JFL except there is one more step, and that is to thoroughly purge the armed forces, the judiciary and the bureaucracy.
People must do hard jail time. Coup-makers, including Prem, Surayud and Sonthi must be tried for treason and the appropriate penalty applied. Let us not forget either, that deliberately subverting the law on a nod and a wink from the King to unseat a government is no less a treason than doing so at gunpoint, so some members of the judiciary must also do hard jail time.
When these people have finished serving their time, get them the hell out of Thailand - permanent exile, persona non grata, Thais do not need this poison.
People must do very hard jail time, this is essential, both as a punishment and a deterrent. But it will require discipline because the Thai way is to grease their way around the issues and that would only suit the elites nicely.
Next step is the police force.
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