I can only imagine the emotional turmoil that must have been roiling inside PM Thaksin as he announced on TV that he would not return as prime minister. Here is a vain man, an arrogant man who brooks no dissent, who thinks he knows it all and is always right. How difficult it must have been for him to receive an overwhelming popular mandate at the polling booth and announce a break from politics a few days afterwards. I think it was not a decision he made willingly, but he made it, probably under duress, and that has redeemed him somewhat in my eyes, duress or not.
A more troubling question is what precedent this sets for Thai democracy. It shows that you can win an absolute majority of the vote and yet be hounded out of office for transgressions that are not even introduced in court, much less proven. It shows that reasoned discourse has been shoved aside in favor of name-calling and shouting of memorable but simplistic slogans. It shows that demonization of your opponents is still seen as an effective tactic, including insinuations that your opponents are trying to destroy the country's beloved institutions. The anti-Thaksin camp may be celebrating for now, but they are at least as guilty of the man himself of undermining Thailand's democracy. Now it seems some of them, at least, are trying to press their advantage by calling for the dissolution of the TRT party itself. So much for a rule-based society.
Here is what Pol.Lt.Col. Thaksin said in his TV appearance, as translated by the Bangkok Post.
WORDS of RECONCILIATION
Bangkok Post, 5 April 2006
Full text of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's April 4 speech announcing that he will not seek a third term:
Good evening, all Thais. First of all, I would like to apologise to all of you for interrupting your television time by speaking on the TV Pool because this issue is important to Thailand and I need to use the TV Pool's airtime.
I would like to congratulate the Thai people nationwide for preserving their democracy as around 28 million Thais exercised their voting rights on April 2. And I would like to thank about 16 million voters for trusting me and re-electing the Thai Rak Thai party.
However, I need to apologise to these 16 million people who voted for me in the hope that I would be the prime minister again. Many incidents have made me realise that the time has come for reconciliation in our country. If we all want only to win, then our country will lose, as stated in His Majesty the King's speech in May 1992.
Today, I am delighted as my request during last night's Krong Sathanakan television programme for the reconciliation of the people has brought a positive response from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) which submitted a letter to me this afternoon supporting national reconciliation. I, hereby, would like to thank them and wish that all political parties understand my intentions.
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to apologise to all of you for my decision not to accept the prime minister's job when the new parliament is convened within 30 days of the elections.
With respect for all of you, I have a very good reason for not taking the prime minister's position. This is because this year is very auspicious for the Thai people as His Majesty the King is to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne on June 9 this year. There are only about 60 days left and we have no more time for fighting. I want to see all Thais love each other, be united and let bygones be bygones.
Those who love me have already shown their support for me with 16 million votes while those who love the other political parties or dislike me have already expressed their feelings by voting ''no-vote'' or by abstaining. All of them have already expressed their opinions. So did the PAD members and the former opposition parties.
Thus, I think now is the time for us, all Thais, to join as one soul in doing good deeds for His Majesty the King who has long contributed a great deal to all Thais with his energy, intellect and money. Now, with only about 60 days left, there is still no solution to the impasse, which is an unpleasant thing. Royal guests _ kings and queens from all over the world _ are to join the celebrations, but the protests have continued. Thus, it will be better for me to take a step back by not accepting the prime minister's position although I need to remain the caretaker prime minister under Article 215 of the constitution, which requires a caretaker prime minister to be in charge until the selection process in parliament is complete. The person who is chosen will then take over the duties as the new prime minister under the charter.
I will remain the caretaker prime minister until that day by performing my duties to my fullest capacity and trying to bring about reconciliation.
So, I would like to beg all Thais to sacrifice little bits of our happiness for our country's sake and for our King.
Again, I apologise to the 16 million people who voted for me. By the way, I will continually perform my duties as an MP and as the Thai Rak Thai leader to push forward all the policies that I have promised to you.
There is no need for you to fear that any of our policies will be ended. All the policies, including the 30-baht medical care and anti-poverty schemes and the mass transit train project in Bangkok, will be continued by the new government, in line with this government's policy.
As a member of parliament and a former prime minister who loves and cares for the country and the people, I will continue to visit and meet all of you. As a Thai citizen, I will do my best for the benefit of the Thai people. But today all Thais need to compromise and spare their desires to win. When there is a winner, someone must lose and it will be the country that will surely lose according to His Majesty the King's speech in 1992. The speech is aired on television everyday. I read it and realised that national reconciliation and unity is crucial to Thailand.
I would like to thank the PAD members and beg them to join us in pushing for political reform to ensure the best politics for Thailand and for all Thais.
Political reform will be a guideline for politicians to follow. If we are dissatisfied with current rules, we need to improve them. But, as long as there are rules, we must preserve and apply them.
With my respect, I would like to thank all the Thai people for trusting me and giving me a majority of votes in the three elections over the past five years. Of course, democracy is a matter for the majority, but not every issue requires a consensus. Over the past five years I worked hard and everything I did was for our country.
Regarding several of the accusations against me, I would like to insist that this prime minister never wanted to do harm to the country or rule by doing bad deeds. Moreover, I am confident that I did the best and hope that I will someday have an opportunity to explain more to you.
And I wish all of you high morale, reconciliation and courage because our country needs further development and our children must have bright futures. A few adults' efforts to defeat each other will do no good but eventually cause damage to the country.
Now, nothing else is better to reunite us than the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne. Only about 60 days are left until this world-class event begins and attracts the attention of people worldwide, as kings and queens from all over the world are to join the celebrations for His Majesty. Why can't we, all Thais, welcome them, clean our houses and be focussed so they can be proud of our King?Therefore, I would like to beg for your mercy. Following conflicts within certain families, all of you have had the chance to express your opinions on April 2 and should allow everything to return to normal and reunite for the future of Thailand.
Again, I would like to thank and apologise to all of you who elected and trusted me and have now learned that I will not accept the prime minister's position. I am so sorry but am also delighted to have the chance to bring about reconciliation and wish for the reconciliation of the former opposition parties, the PAD and all Thais for our country and our King. Thank you.
A more troubling question is what precedent this sets for Thai democracy. It shows that you can win an absolute majority of the vote and yet be hounded out of office for transgressions that are not even introduced in court, much less proven. It shows that reasoned discourse has been shoved aside in favor of name-calling and shouting of memorable but simplistic slogans. It shows that demonization of your opponents is still seen as an effective tactic, including insinuations that your opponents are trying to destroy the country's beloved institutions. The anti-Thaksin camp may be celebrating for now, but they are at least as guilty of the man himself of undermining Thailand's democracy. Now it seems some of them, at least, are trying to press their advantage by calling for the dissolution of the TRT party itself. So much for a rule-based society.
Here is what Pol.Lt.Col. Thaksin said in his TV appearance, as translated by the Bangkok Post.
WORDS of RECONCILIATION
Bangkok Post, 5 April 2006
Full text of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's April 4 speech announcing that he will not seek a third term:
Good evening, all Thais. First of all, I would like to apologise to all of you for interrupting your television time by speaking on the TV Pool because this issue is important to Thailand and I need to use the TV Pool's airtime.
I would like to congratulate the Thai people nationwide for preserving their democracy as around 28 million Thais exercised their voting rights on April 2. And I would like to thank about 16 million voters for trusting me and re-electing the Thai Rak Thai party.
However, I need to apologise to these 16 million people who voted for me in the hope that I would be the prime minister again. Many incidents have made me realise that the time has come for reconciliation in our country. If we all want only to win, then our country will lose, as stated in His Majesty the King's speech in May 1992.
Today, I am delighted as my request during last night's Krong Sathanakan television programme for the reconciliation of the people has brought a positive response from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) which submitted a letter to me this afternoon supporting national reconciliation. I, hereby, would like to thank them and wish that all political parties understand my intentions.
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to apologise to all of you for my decision not to accept the prime minister's job when the new parliament is convened within 30 days of the elections.
With respect for all of you, I have a very good reason for not taking the prime minister's position. This is because this year is very auspicious for the Thai people as His Majesty the King is to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne on June 9 this year. There are only about 60 days left and we have no more time for fighting. I want to see all Thais love each other, be united and let bygones be bygones.
Those who love me have already shown their support for me with 16 million votes while those who love the other political parties or dislike me have already expressed their feelings by voting ''no-vote'' or by abstaining. All of them have already expressed their opinions. So did the PAD members and the former opposition parties.
Thus, I think now is the time for us, all Thais, to join as one soul in doing good deeds for His Majesty the King who has long contributed a great deal to all Thais with his energy, intellect and money. Now, with only about 60 days left, there is still no solution to the impasse, which is an unpleasant thing. Royal guests _ kings and queens from all over the world _ are to join the celebrations, but the protests have continued. Thus, it will be better for me to take a step back by not accepting the prime minister's position although I need to remain the caretaker prime minister under Article 215 of the constitution, which requires a caretaker prime minister to be in charge until the selection process in parliament is complete. The person who is chosen will then take over the duties as the new prime minister under the charter.
I will remain the caretaker prime minister until that day by performing my duties to my fullest capacity and trying to bring about reconciliation.
So, I would like to beg all Thais to sacrifice little bits of our happiness for our country's sake and for our King.
Again, I apologise to the 16 million people who voted for me. By the way, I will continually perform my duties as an MP and as the Thai Rak Thai leader to push forward all the policies that I have promised to you.
There is no need for you to fear that any of our policies will be ended. All the policies, including the 30-baht medical care and anti-poverty schemes and the mass transit train project in Bangkok, will be continued by the new government, in line with this government's policy.
As a member of parliament and a former prime minister who loves and cares for the country and the people, I will continue to visit and meet all of you. As a Thai citizen, I will do my best for the benefit of the Thai people. But today all Thais need to compromise and spare their desires to win. When there is a winner, someone must lose and it will be the country that will surely lose according to His Majesty the King's speech in 1992. The speech is aired on television everyday. I read it and realised that national reconciliation and unity is crucial to Thailand.
I would like to thank the PAD members and beg them to join us in pushing for political reform to ensure the best politics for Thailand and for all Thais.
Political reform will be a guideline for politicians to follow. If we are dissatisfied with current rules, we need to improve them. But, as long as there are rules, we must preserve and apply them.
With my respect, I would like to thank all the Thai people for trusting me and giving me a majority of votes in the three elections over the past five years. Of course, democracy is a matter for the majority, but not every issue requires a consensus. Over the past five years I worked hard and everything I did was for our country.
Regarding several of the accusations against me, I would like to insist that this prime minister never wanted to do harm to the country or rule by doing bad deeds. Moreover, I am confident that I did the best and hope that I will someday have an opportunity to explain more to you.
And I wish all of you high morale, reconciliation and courage because our country needs further development and our children must have bright futures. A few adults' efforts to defeat each other will do no good but eventually cause damage to the country.
Now, nothing else is better to reunite us than the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne. Only about 60 days are left until this world-class event begins and attracts the attention of people worldwide, as kings and queens from all over the world are to join the celebrations for His Majesty. Why can't we, all Thais, welcome them, clean our houses and be focussed so they can be proud of our King?Therefore, I would like to beg for your mercy. Following conflicts within certain families, all of you have had the chance to express your opinions on April 2 and should allow everything to return to normal and reunite for the future of Thailand.
Again, I would like to thank and apologise to all of you who elected and trusted me and have now learned that I will not accept the prime minister's position. I am so sorry but am also delighted to have the chance to bring about reconciliation and wish for the reconciliation of the former opposition parties, the PAD and all Thais for our country and our King. Thank you.
posted by Bob Boonhod @ 8:37 PM
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