Thailand’s troubles - FT.com
After a nearly three-year hiatus, Thailand has reverted to a depressingly familiar pattern of political polarisation. Ever since 2006, when Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister, was removed in a military coup, the country has been bitterly divided between those who love him (the “reds”) and those who loathe him (the “yellows”). The fight is about more than personality. Mr Thaksin, a deeply flawed politician, has nevertheless come to encapsulate the aspirations of a majority of poorer Thais. The ensuing ideological confrontation has spiralled into violence. In 2008 yellows occupied the international airport in their efforts, eventually successful, to force out an elected pro-Thaksin government. In 2010, dozens of Mr Thaksin’s supporters were shot after they occupied parts of Bangkok.
Mr Thaksin still casts a lengthy shadow even though he now lives in exile. In Thailand he faces a two-year jail sentence for corruption after a trial in absentia that he insists was politically motivated. A calm of sorts returned when his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was elected prime minister in 2011. The truce was broken in recent weeks when her government tried to pass a wide-ranging amnesty that critics said was aimed at exonerating her brother. The resulting protests have not abated even though the amnesty bill – a clumsy piece of legislation – has since been dropped.
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It would be tempting to say “a plague on both your houses”. Three years ago it was Mr Thaksin’s supporters who were on the streets. Today it is the yellows. Accusations of corruption and incompetence against the current government – including for its poorly conceived rice-subsidy policy – have merit. They were equally applicable to the previous Democrat-led administration.
Yet the opposition is more in the wrong than the government. The proposal of Suthep Thaugsuban, the main protest leader, that the government stand down in favour of an unelected “people’s council” is nonsense. It shows that the Thai establishment has still not learnt to accept the result of elections. Ms Yingluck’s government has acted with appropriate restraint. There has been no repetition of the shootings of three years ago. She should ensure it stays that way. Yet the onus is now on the protesters to cease their illegal occupation of ministries. They have made their point and should now withdraw. If they want to occupy government buildings in future, they should fulfil one condition first: win an election.
After a nearly three-year hiatus, Thailand has reverted to a depressingly familiar pattern of political polarisation. Ever since 2006, when Thaksin Shinawatra, former prime minister, was removed in a military coup, the country has been bitterly divided between those who love him (the “reds”) and those who loathe him (the “yellows”). The fight is about more than personality. Mr Thaksin, a deeply flawed politician, has nevertheless come to encapsulate the aspirations of a majority of poorer Thais. The ensuing ideological confrontation has spiralled into violence. In 2008 yellows occupied the international airport in their efforts, eventually successful, to force out an elected pro-Thaksin government. In 2010, dozens of Mr Thaksin’s supporters were shot after they occupied parts of Bangkok.
Mr Thaksin still casts a lengthy shadow even though he now lives in exile. In Thailand he faces a two-year jail sentence for corruption after a trial in absentia that he insists was politically motivated. A calm of sorts returned when his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was elected prime minister in 2011. The truce was broken in recent weeks when her government tried to pass a wide-ranging amnesty that critics said was aimed at exonerating her brother. The resulting protests have not abated even though the amnesty bill – a clumsy piece of legislation – has since been dropped.
On this story
On this topic
Editorial
It would be tempting to say “a plague on both your houses”. Three years ago it was Mr Thaksin’s supporters who were on the streets. Today it is the yellows. Accusations of corruption and incompetence against the current government – including for its poorly conceived rice-subsidy policy – have merit. They were equally applicable to the previous Democrat-led administration.
Yet the opposition is more in the wrong than the government. The proposal of Suthep Thaugsuban, the main protest leader, that the government stand down in favour of an unelected “people’s council” is nonsense. It shows that the Thai establishment has still not learnt to accept the result of elections. Ms Yingluck’s government has acted with appropriate restraint. There has been no repetition of the shootings of three years ago. She should ensure it stays that way. Yet the onus is now on the protesters to cease their illegal occupation of ministries. They have made their point and should now withdraw. If they want to occupy government buildings in future, they should fulfil one condition first: win an election.
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