Experts' Comments & Mine
These commentaries are worth reading because of their authors' fine reputation, integrity, and patriotism.Tuesday, August 22, 2006
C. Chachoengsao August 21 2006 on ManagerOnline
ความคิดเห็นที่ 416
An Open Criticism on Thailand’s Current Leadership
Capitalism is good. Better yet, capitalism is great. But a leader acting on the principle of capitalism for his own benefits and for the benefits of his family and associates at the expense of a nation and its people is sickening and wrong in both the eyes of morality and legality values. This audacious behavior of a national leader would not be allowed to go unpunished and unaccountable for under the Constitution and the check and balance structures of most democratic nations. Citizens in those nations would not tolerate this kind of behavior by their leaders, how could you expect the people in the Kingdom of Thailand to endure this abuse of power?
Similar to other democratic countries around the world, the Kingdom of Thailand has assets, businesses, and interests which are considered to be “strategic,” such as land, dams, power generators, satellites, etc. and are not allowed to be operated or possessed by foreigners. These assets, businesses and interests are sheltered by written laws and regulations to protect national security for the benefit of the Kingdom and its citizens. Written laws could be altered, corrected, or promoted to safeguard a nation’s sovereignty and its people. Unfortunately, some laws were intentionally altered, corrected, or promoted to preserve or to augment the benefits of the lawmakers but none were done in a bold and irrational manner as the amendment to the Telecom Business Act, increasing the limit on foreign ownership of telecommunication companies to 49%, which was endorsed and enacted by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s government in January 2006.
The Prime Minister’s legitimacy to govern the country was immediately terminated at the moment in which he encouraged and allowed the negotiation on the sale of his family’s monopolistic telecommunication empire, which included satellite networks, privately held television station, mobile media system, etc. to a foreign entity. Even if he did not, in any manners, partake in the commencement of the negotiation, but his failure to halt the illegal action made him accountable for the consequences arising from this transaction. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister’s political fate and legal destiny were sealed when he compelled his political cronies in the government controlled Parliament to endorse the amendment in the telecommunication law facilitating the sale of his family’s businesses. Once the deal was completed and announced, one day after the Amendment was passed, the Prime Minister immediately proclaimed his rights to sell his assets under the free market economy and the democratic laws of the Kingdom, the laws in which he altered, with prior knowledge as an insider in both the business and the legal aspects, to his utmost advantage.
Even though capitalism is an economic and social system that encourages monetary gains and wealth accumulation for individuals and companies according to their efforts in the sustaining and broadening of their assets, but it also concurrently calls for the separation of state and political policies from business activities. The government should only serve as the silent hand that protects the property of its citizens, not interfering with the mundane business transactions, related or unrelated to public officials.
Expectedly, if one has been running monopolistic businesses based cronyism and grease money then one would not be able to grasp the true economic and social concept of capitalism. Therefore, it is understandable how one cannot respect democratic values, which in many economies have fostered free market and transparent competition. The Prime Minister’s track record has repeatedly shown his disregard for democratic principles, in words as well as in actions. As many developing nations progressed socially, economically, and politically on transparency and human rights, Thailand retreated backward.
In the late 1990’s to the early 2000’s, as Thailand struggled to emerge from the nightmare of the 1997 Economic Crisis, human rights and social freedom in the country were at their pinnacle. Expectations of social, economic and political transformations were rampant when the Prime Minister took office in 2001, with an overwhelming majority. Now, almost six years have passed and the Kingdom of Thailand is confronted with shattering disappointments and worsening nightmares.
This government usurped independent organizations that were supposed to be fair and impartial. We do not need to look very far. This was evidently demonstrated by the actions of the Election Committee during the past elections and its behavior at the present time. The appointment of an honest and incorruptible Auditor General was repeatedly blocked by the Prime Minister to prevent her from auditing many questionable projects and actions of the government and its officials. Under this government the National Counter Corruption Commission was crippled, unable to inspect allegations against the government and individuals linked to the Prime Minister. Sadly, these honorable organizations and many more became tools, which the government used to destabilize its opponents and critics.
Absolute power held by the Prime Minister effectively controlled and corrupted the bureaucrats, the police, and the military. Frequent and routine suppression of democratic values and human rights, along with obvious disregards for due process of law by the government have been implanted in the daily lives of citizens and residents of the Kingdom. In violation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, along with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, most suspects and potential suspects cursory deemed to be political insurgents, illegal drug possessors and illegal drugs dealers were fatally prosecuted without due process of law. Under due process of law, people are presumed innocent, until proven guilty; under Thaksin Shinawatra’s draconian government these people were guilty without having to prove their guilt or innocence.
Alarmingly, the media was silenced, under the government’s control. News reporting only exposed favorable propaganda and picture perfect headlines in support of the current regime. Shameful attempts to control independent media entities were made by nominees or cronies of the ruling party.
All negative reporting were countered with the termination of involved individuals from the media network or, as with many government critics, harsh and expensive lawsuits. In almost everywhere else in the world, public figures and national leaders could be the central topic of discussion, both positively and negatively. However, in Thailand, the Prime Minister is untouchable to negative criticisms or suggestions.
Widespread false sedition charges were slapped on critics and oppositions. Only positive comments were heeded and applauded. Freedom of speech for the Thai people was at the lowest point of the 21st century, and it’s not even past the first 10 years of the 21st century.
Peaceful nonviolent demonstrations by those disagreed with the Administration were called barbaric and undemocratic, even labeled as insurrections to illegally overthrow the regime. There were many shocking attempts by the police and government officials to violate human and constitutional rights by, blocking peaceful rallies, creating obstacles for demonstrators, accusing critics and oppositions of instigating unrest in the nation, and detaining those making negative comments about the government, all violating the basic freedom allowed by the Constitution. But demonstrations supporting the government, despite their threatening gestures and behaviors were facilitated and applauded as being patriotic. Actions by the pro-government rallies to intimidate pro-democracy activists, journalists, or innocent bystanders, including a pregnant woman, went unnoticed by law enforcement officials, without any legal actions taken. No suspects, no apprehensions, and no justice served, just victims of the injustice committed by the government and its “supporters.”
At the expense of national welfare, irrational populist campaigns aimed at grassroots communities were enacted by the Prime Minister at will, in a rather whimsical manner. These campaigns intended to gather political supports from grassroots communities, and at the same time gently coercing them into submission to the government’s propaganda, enslaving and incarcerating them to socialist policies, while injuring these communities and the Kingdom in the long run. Tax money was wasted for extension of loans to the poor to finance unnecessary lifestyles, instead of using it to the betterment of their professional livelihood or support the education for the mass. Although debt from the low-income family increased, the conscience for responsibility and morality declined.
These are just a few grievances that many citizens under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand excruciatingly voiced against the autocratic regime of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The honor and sovereignty of a nation tumbled to the lowest point, concurrently with the prevalent human rights abuses and injuries to national security and unity. If the Prime Minister is innocent and has no vile intentions in his deeds, then he should allow for the scrutiny of his policies and actions by the oppositions, critics, independent organizations, and the people who he has governed.
However, his brash efforts to silence and demolish oppositions, critics and independent organizations, along with the bribery of the general public through his populist policies, clearly demonstrated the probability of misdeeds committed by him, as the Prime Minister, and his administration against the Kingdom of Thailand and its innocent citizens. He is culpable for his deeds and actions that damaged the stability, security, and unity of the Kingdom, and the current ambiguous direction in which the country is heading toward.
C. Chachoengsao
August 21 2006
An Open Criticism on Thailand’s Current Leadership
Capitalism is good. Better yet, capitalism is great. But a leader acting on the principle of capitalism for his own benefits and for the benefits of his family and associates at the expense of a nation and its people is sickening and wrong in both the eyes of morality and legality values. This audacious behavior of a national leader would not be allowed to go unpunished and unaccountable for under the Constitution and the check and balance structures of most democratic nations. Citizens in those nations would not tolerate this kind of behavior by their leaders, how could you expect the people in the Kingdom of Thailand to endure this abuse of power?
Similar to other democratic countries around the world, the Kingdom of Thailand has assets, businesses, and interests which are considered to be “strategic,” such as land, dams, power generators, satellites, etc. and are not allowed to be operated or possessed by foreigners. These assets, businesses and interests are sheltered by written laws and regulations to protect national security for the benefit of the Kingdom and its citizens. Written laws could be altered, corrected, or promoted to safeguard a nation’s sovereignty and its people. Unfortunately, some laws were intentionally altered, corrected, or promoted to preserve or to augment the benefits of the lawmakers but none were done in a bold and irrational manner as the amendment to the Telecom Business Act, increasing the limit on foreign ownership of telecommunication companies to 49%, which was endorsed and enacted by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s government in January 2006.
The Prime Minister’s legitimacy to govern the country was immediately terminated at the moment in which he encouraged and allowed the negotiation on the sale of his family’s monopolistic telecommunication empire, which included satellite networks, privately held television station, mobile media system, etc. to a foreign entity. Even if he did not, in any manners, partake in the commencement of the negotiation, but his failure to halt the illegal action made him accountable for the consequences arising from this transaction. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister’s political fate and legal destiny were sealed when he compelled his political cronies in the government controlled Parliament to endorse the amendment in the telecommunication law facilitating the sale of his family’s businesses. Once the deal was completed and announced, one day after the Amendment was passed, the Prime Minister immediately proclaimed his rights to sell his assets under the free market economy and the democratic laws of the Kingdom, the laws in which he altered, with prior knowledge as an insider in both the business and the legal aspects, to his utmost advantage.
Even though capitalism is an economic and social system that encourages monetary gains and wealth accumulation for individuals and companies according to their efforts in the sustaining and broadening of their assets, but it also concurrently calls for the separation of state and political policies from business activities. The government should only serve as the silent hand that protects the property of its citizens, not interfering with the mundane business transactions, related or unrelated to public officials.
Expectedly, if one has been running monopolistic businesses based cronyism and grease money then one would not be able to grasp the true economic and social concept of capitalism. Therefore, it is understandable how one cannot respect democratic values, which in many economies have fostered free market and transparent competition. The Prime Minister’s track record has repeatedly shown his disregard for democratic principles, in words as well as in actions. As many developing nations progressed socially, economically, and politically on transparency and human rights, Thailand retreated backward.
In the late 1990’s to the early 2000’s, as Thailand struggled to emerge from the nightmare of the 1997 Economic Crisis, human rights and social freedom in the country were at their pinnacle. Expectations of social, economic and political transformations were rampant when the Prime Minister took office in 2001, with an overwhelming majority. Now, almost six years have passed and the Kingdom of Thailand is confronted with shattering disappointments and worsening nightmares.
This government usurped independent organizations that were supposed to be fair and impartial. We do not need to look very far. This was evidently demonstrated by the actions of the Election Committee during the past elections and its behavior at the present time. The appointment of an honest and incorruptible Auditor General was repeatedly blocked by the Prime Minister to prevent her from auditing many questionable projects and actions of the government and its officials. Under this government the National Counter Corruption Commission was crippled, unable to inspect allegations against the government and individuals linked to the Prime Minister. Sadly, these honorable organizations and many more became tools, which the government used to destabilize its opponents and critics.
Absolute power held by the Prime Minister effectively controlled and corrupted the bureaucrats, the police, and the military. Frequent and routine suppression of democratic values and human rights, along with obvious disregards for due process of law by the government have been implanted in the daily lives of citizens and residents of the Kingdom. In violation of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, along with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, most suspects and potential suspects cursory deemed to be political insurgents, illegal drug possessors and illegal drugs dealers were fatally prosecuted without due process of law. Under due process of law, people are presumed innocent, until proven guilty; under Thaksin Shinawatra’s draconian government these people were guilty without having to prove their guilt or innocence.
Alarmingly, the media was silenced, under the government’s control. News reporting only exposed favorable propaganda and picture perfect headlines in support of the current regime. Shameful attempts to control independent media entities were made by nominees or cronies of the ruling party.
All negative reporting were countered with the termination of involved individuals from the media network or, as with many government critics, harsh and expensive lawsuits. In almost everywhere else in the world, public figures and national leaders could be the central topic of discussion, both positively and negatively. However, in Thailand, the Prime Minister is untouchable to negative criticisms or suggestions.
Widespread false sedition charges were slapped on critics and oppositions. Only positive comments were heeded and applauded. Freedom of speech for the Thai people was at the lowest point of the 21st century, and it’s not even past the first 10 years of the 21st century.
Peaceful nonviolent demonstrations by those disagreed with the Administration were called barbaric and undemocratic, even labeled as insurrections to illegally overthrow the regime. There were many shocking attempts by the police and government officials to violate human and constitutional rights by, blocking peaceful rallies, creating obstacles for demonstrators, accusing critics and oppositions of instigating unrest in the nation, and detaining those making negative comments about the government, all violating the basic freedom allowed by the Constitution. But demonstrations supporting the government, despite their threatening gestures and behaviors were facilitated and applauded as being patriotic. Actions by the pro-government rallies to intimidate pro-democracy activists, journalists, or innocent bystanders, including a pregnant woman, went unnoticed by law enforcement officials, without any legal actions taken. No suspects, no apprehensions, and no justice served, just victims of the injustice committed by the government and its “supporters.”
At the expense of national welfare, irrational populist campaigns aimed at grassroots communities were enacted by the Prime Minister at will, in a rather whimsical manner. These campaigns intended to gather political supports from grassroots communities, and at the same time gently coercing them into submission to the government’s propaganda, enslaving and incarcerating them to socialist policies, while injuring these communities and the Kingdom in the long run. Tax money was wasted for extension of loans to the poor to finance unnecessary lifestyles, instead of using it to the betterment of their professional livelihood or support the education for the mass. Although debt from the low-income family increased, the conscience for responsibility and morality declined.
These are just a few grievances that many citizens under the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand excruciatingly voiced against the autocratic regime of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The honor and sovereignty of a nation tumbled to the lowest point, concurrently with the prevalent human rights abuses and injuries to national security and unity. If the Prime Minister is innocent and has no vile intentions in his deeds, then he should allow for the scrutiny of his policies and actions by the oppositions, critics, independent organizations, and the people who he has governed.
However, his brash efforts to silence and demolish oppositions, critics and independent organizations, along with the bribery of the general public through his populist policies, clearly demonstrated the probability of misdeeds committed by him, as the Prime Minister, and his administration against the Kingdom of Thailand and its innocent citizens. He is culpable for his deeds and actions that damaged the stability, security, and unity of the Kingdom, and the current ambiguous direction in which the country is heading toward.
C. Chachoengsao
August 21 2006
posted by A Desperate Seeker # 7:17 PM
On the same topic
- The Sorry State Of Thailand
- The Dark Age Of Thailand, Part 1 | 2 | 3
- Shocking Images
- Tyrant's Guilts
- People's Responses
- Triumphant Victory of the Thais
- Chronicles Of A Fateful Day
- Foreigners' Lack of Understanding
- Voices of Conscience
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