It has been uncharacteristically quiet on the political front over the past week as politicians avoid bickering in public ahead of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne.

Apart from the weekly press briefings on Sunday, where political party spokesmen traded accusations with their rivals, politicians have remained calm on the surface, in a show of respect of the upcoming grand celebrations, which officially start today.

There have been no political exchanges over the past week and the political arena seems to be a different world from a few months ago, when feuding politicians were involved in a conflict so worrying that the King deemed it time for court intervention.

His Majesty summoned the assistance of the country's three top judicial institutions - the Supreme Court, Administrative Court and Constitution Court - in the hope of finding a way out of a severe political deadlock that the general elections in April failed to solve.

The judges involved are actively contributing to the efforts to get politics moving again.

But their work alone won't complete the picture without contributions on the part of the politicians, many of whom are to blame for the situation we are in today.

Senior and young politicians alike have promised to avoid political bickering and called on their colleagues to behave themselves ahead of this important occasion for the country. Aspiring politicians and government enemies also have kept a low profile, at a time when royals and dignitaries from around the world will converge in the Kingdom to mark the special occasion.

But are those politicians and political activists really sincere about burying the hatchet for the good of the country? Or is their seemingly fragile truce just for show?

In public, they pledge not to worry the father of the Kingdom, but in fact they have already bickered severely in the year our King marks an important milestone on the throne. They called the truce shortly before the celebrations and it is likely that this period of peace will be short-lived.

If the feuding politicians refuse to compromise by each taking a step back, ugly scenes such as those seen recently will inevitably return. And, with no signs of compromising in sight, this time the situation could be worse.

They will have to prove they are sincere about sticking to their word - that they highly revere the King and that they will refrain from causing further concern for His Majesty.

It's deeds now, and not words that count. Otherwise, the politicians will end up embodying the cause for His Majesty's concern.

Your comments are welcome.

Contact the Political Desk at poldesk@nationgroup.com.

Kittipong Thavevong

The Nation