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Published on July 26, 2007

Whether or not the anti-coup protesters who ran amok outside the residence of the head of the Privy Council on Sunday night were playing a dangerous game, there is no point in Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont doing the same. His statement condemning the violence - in which he claimed that the protests could be part of a conspiracy to undermine Thailand's monarchy - was uncalled for. After all, the country's political situation has already become fragile, without bringing its most beloved institution into the picture. Surayud, who is supposed to be the leading light as the nation limps back towards democracy, should keep whatever he knows or merely suspects to himself.

His statement, released after he and his Cabinet visited Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda on Tuesday, was one of the most serious charges Thai citizens can ever face. Whereas the demonstrators themselves have hurled abuse and strong allegations against Prem, accusing him of masterminding the September 19 coup, Surayud, as interim prime minister, is meant to take a more mature stance. Accusing the protesters of creating violence is one thing, labelling them as tools of an anti-monarchy conspiracy is another.

The anti-coup movement is a confluence of several groups with different objectives. Among the protesters are many idealistic activists who disapprove of the coup because they consider it a worse setback to democracy than the alleged corruption and abuse of power under Thaksin Shinawatra. Others who have joined the protests might have been infuriated by  the dissolution of the Thai Rak Thai. Supporters of Thaksin, obviously, are part of the movement.

Surayud's charge is simply too serious to be made against everyone involved in the protest. It will only widen the national divide and inflame hatred. Thai politics has deteriorated into underground power plays that could erupt into a bloody upheaval with just a little spark. Already, there is so much multi-layered brinkmanship, that maybe it's best to take Sunday's incident at face value only.

The protesters were largely responsible for the violence. This much is obvious. The police, while probably deserving criticism for allowing things to go as far as they did, can not be faulted for the manner in which they coped with the protest. Police outnumbered protesters on the injury list, and the junta did not take advantage of the mini-riot with a state of emergency clampdown. The incident was reasonably dealt with, but Surayud's claim has threatened to change that.

Apparently, some protest leaders have resorted to provocative strategies, pushing the limits of political sensitivity by targeting the most senior member of a generally revered body tasked with advising His Majesty the King. As someone who served in the Privy Council until he was appointed interim prime minister last year, Surayud's anger was understandable, although in his current capacity he doesn't have the luxury of expressing it.

His sworn task as interim leader is to restore the rule of law and national harmony. His performance has received mixed opinions on many fronts, but nobody has doubted his good intentions toward the country. Surayud has been seen as the most patient member of the military-dominated interim leadership and the only one without future political ambitions. This prolonged crisis, however, has strewn our path back to democracy with landmines and just about everyone, Surayud included, is capable of walking into a trap.

And every trap has the potential to undo everything Surayud has done or is trying to do since he took the helm. The country already had a tragic experience more than three decades ago, when right-wing extremists stormed the Thammasat University campus on that infamous day of October 6, 1976 to massacre student activists accused of trying to undermine the institution. That major scar has remained, and one is enough, for everybody's sake.

Thailand's beloved institution shall not be involved with political divisions. Everybody must help to ensure that, and yet our efforts are best conducted behind the scenes. Thais' love and respect for the monarch shall not be used to spawn hatred. Patriotism born out of reverence for His Majesty must be pure, and it must be only harmony, innovation and national progress that it inspires.