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Anarchy or Democracy?

Someone said this is about grabbing power, not reform. I say this is anarchy and oligarchy, not democracy.
 
Thailand’s political situation, once again, enters a loop of needs over the law. The uprising of middle-class people in Bangkok (and other provinces) led by Suthep Thaugsuban and friends (most of them from the Democrat party) is now unending. At first, the demonstration was formed to show disagreement with and stop the blanket amnesty bill which in their view made the government illegitimate. Later, after the bill had been suspended and abolished, their proposals have escalated. They now want to establish a people’s council and call for the appointment of an outside person as prime minister. In this regard, their thoughts go beyond literal meanings. It is already obvious that they want to expel the Shinawatra family and the Thaksin regime from Thai politics. Moreover, they judge that elections are a tool for bad politicians to grab power. So, how can democracy in Thailand work? 
 
The question is whether these things could happen according to the democratic system. What is this people’s council, and where does it come from? How can you ensure that the people in it are “good” and “moral”? Is it allowed under the constitution to appoint an outside person?  How can people participate in governing themselves without an election, or are you afraid of losing on the election battlefield? What’s the next step? These questions are simple things that should be in people’s minds while they are demonstrating.
 
Since parliament was dissolved in the early morning of International Anti-Corruption Day, the leaders of the demonstration are still dissatisfied, and want more intensely to get rid of Thaksinocracy. They would like the acting cabinet to resign. According to Articles 180 and 181 of the 2007 Thai Constitution, this is impossible. It is clear that they want a state of vacuum, and then use Article 7 to seek an outside person to govern. This intention violates the constitution. Moreover this evening, they claimed that Article 3 authorizes the return of power to the people. Is this another form of state action because sovereignty has been returned to the people with the dissolution of the house? Or was this a declaration by a group of people acting as a state within a state? Consequently, we have reached the borders of the law.
 
Democracy is not built in one day. We have to respect each other’s rights and freedoms. We have to step forward together within the system. The way democracy grows is by letting the people learn the flaws of the system, remembering the mistakes of the government, and solving and fixing these problems under the rule of law. If they choose the wrong person this time, they would learn a lesson and learn not to vote for bad things again at the next election. This is not just a theory; we all have to use the right principles in practice to make Thailand a better place. There could be a discussion on reform of the political system. In any case, we have to accept that we cannot avoid elections and politicians. That viewpoint has to be adapted as politicians must be real representatives working for the people, not for their own benefits. The election system is not an evil. Reform could bring in clean elections and strengthen the checks and balances on the government, since elections are not the sole element in democracy.
 
The purity of people’s power that is raised to combat corruption and dirty politics should be praised and cherished. But we all have to be conscious and cautious. We cannot overcome illegitimacy by putting our own needs and desires over the law. Even if there are a large number of protesters, they still cannot represent every person in the country. That would make the protesters outlaws and be anarchy or oligarchy, which contradicts democracy, the government that we all need. Somehow, this might be a lesson for corrupt politicians. The next election will be proof. Democracy is an ongoing creation in Thailand. Please come back to following the rule and do not discard principles just because you want to eliminate someone. This will ruin society before the shrine of constructive politics. Real reform is coming, perhaps….
 
Jutha Saovabha
Bachelor of Laws, Thammasat University
 

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