"There is no sign that we're achieving a democratic society and what we have is a mere change of characters," said Sulak, during a keynote speech on how Thai citizens can realise a democratic society. The talk, at the Pridi Banomyong Institute, was organised by the NGOs Coordinating Committee for Development (NGO-COD) and the Social Venture Network (SVN).

"People are still satisfied with top-down thinking and having big people lording over small people - so how can our society be democratic in its essence? There is no scrutiny of various institutions and people subscribe to the yellow-shirt as mere fashion."

Sulak said the current junta-installed Surayud Chulanont administration may contain a number of good people but they seem to have no clue on how to connect with the majority of the rural poor. He urged the middle classes to learn more from the rural poor to make a democratic co-existence possible.

While the aftermath of the September 19 coup saw a number of intellectuals calling for a Thai-style democracy and a discounting of the Western model of a democratic society, Sulak said there was no need to throw away all Western concepts such as checks and balances, transparency and more. But more traditional notions of an egalitarian and democratic society based on Buddhist philosophy and the Sangha community of monks should be adopted.

"Old local folklore, in fact, did challenge the powers-that-be ... It's the elite who don't re-cognise the democratic potential and even suppress it. The Sangha has been a model for democratic coexistence until it was co-opted by the state.

The essence of democratic value exists within Buddhist teaching," he said, adding it would do well for NGOs to become transparent, accountable and open to criticism.

Sem Pringpuangkaew, a former Public Health minister and former supporter of Thaksin Shinawatra's rise to power but who later became disillusioned, warned that political vultures would take advantage of the regime change.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation