Failure and disgrace of the police force

When the reds occupied Rajprasong, an area explicitly declared off-limits to the rally, the police did nothing to stop them. As the reds dug in and began bringing weapons into the site, the police looked the other way. When militants from the site attacked peaceful protesters on Silom Road with M79 grenades, the police stationed between the two groups failed to lift a finger. When angry reds broke into Chulalongkorn Hospital, the police facilitated the crime and pretended not to notice a wanted red-shirt leader standing next to them.

When the army finally moved in to blockade the protest zone, the police failed to assist them, allowing militants to escape into surrounding neighbourhoods and turn sections of the city into war zones.

What the red-shirt protest exposed was a nothing short of a total failure of this country's police force to act as a law enforcement institution. They failed to uphold the law and protect this country's citizens from unspeakable violence. They are a disgrace. If Thailand is to have any kind of a future as a state operating under the rule of law, there has to be a reckoning for this failure.

Bangkokdave

Bangkok

Dusting off Anand's 7 pillars of democracy

I laud PM Abhisit for confirming that "The government would continue the roadmap for national reconciliation as announced earlier and we will repair all the damage brought about by the conflict - mental, economic, social and even political. [We] need the intensive participation of people from all walks of life."

      I suggest that the root cause of the protests is a gross misunderstanding of how a democracy under a constitutional monarchy manages relationships between those governing and those governed, including how government is monitored and made responsive to the wishes of the majority, while protecting minority rights. Thus, the reds/yellows felt justified in holding the nation to ransom to meet the demands of a few, totally bypassing their elected representatives to take to the streets.

As former PM Anand Panyarachun holds, our roadmap should focus on eliminating poverty, especially in closing the urban-rural divide, for no nation can long endure where 2 per cent of the population controls 80 per cent of the GDP. It is no accident that the UNDP's Human Development Report shows that eight out of our 10 most disadvantaged provinces are in the rural North and Northeast, precisely where red-shirt support is strongest.

I suggest that we use Khun Anand's 7 Pillars of Sustainable Democracy in planning and implementing the roadmap. These pillars are: elections, political tolerance, the rule of law, freedom of expression, accountability and transparency, decentralisation and civil society. 

Surveys have repeatedly shown that a fair judicial system, an open press, and democracy are the best tools for reconciliation - and I would add that, "Justice delayed is justice denied" (William Gladstone). For starters, justice for the yellows over the Suvarnabhumi Airport shutdown and the reds who shut down the Asean Summit is long overdue.

Let our reconciliation be one of substance, not just form, and let it teach us how the pillars of a sustainable, robust democracy work together to give us a nation that will rise from the ashes, strong and united as never before.

Burin Kantabutra

'Beastly' lawyer just like his boss

I previously wrote to point out that a possible anagram of Thaksin Shinawatra is: "Ah! A stink. Warn Thais".

Now we have a pair.

An anagram of Thaksin's new lawyer, an increasingly nervous and stuttering Robert Amsterdam, is: "M-mad terror beast".

Clearly, they are made for one another!

John Shepherd

Cushy detention for red leaders an outrage

Re: 'Uproar as red-shirt leaders have an easy life', May 22

I was sickened though strangely not surprised to see the pictures of the red-shirt leaders enjoying an easy life at their police holiday camp. Having left behind a sea of devastation and destruction with many ordinary Bangkokians' lives now lying in ruins they are pictured smiling and relaxing as if without a care in the world having been whisked away from the smouldering ruins in the comfort of a police helicopter. This is nothing short of a national disgrace.

It contrasts sharply with pictures of ordinary red-shirts lying face down in the dirt their hands tied behind their backs with cable ties. What we must all ask is why these people are being treated like film stars. It is utterly insulting and the height of condescension for the likes of Pol Maj-General Amnuay Nimmando to say "that no suspects had received extreme comfort" when quite the contrary is plastered across the front pages of national newspapers. It is nauseating, and nothing short of an affront against every law-abiding citizen in the Kingdom that these terrorist suspects should be treated in this grossly inappropriate manner.  Since when does being held in detention on suspicion of grave offences against the state entitle you to be in the lap of luxury with access to the Internet, mobile phones, private villas, freedom to move around at will and of course all-important air-conditioning in this hot time.

It does show starkly however that there are indeed elites in Thailand who greedily share power and when they are out of power or in trouble they are treated with kid gloves just in case they might be in power again soon and the tables may be turned. None of these gives the slightest for the plight of ordinary Thais; it is grasping self-interest that is their only drive.

So, Mr Prime Minister, I don't think much of your pronouncement that those who have broken the law will be dealt with severely. It seems not to be happening at even this most early of stages.

Dr John Patterson

Bangkok

Myths about red shirts that need exploding

In science fiction we have a construct called the Parallel Universe where our world is replicated but in a significantly different way? I would like Early Worm (Letters to the Editor, May 22) to consider such a universe. In this universe the red shirts have an idealism. They are not all poor ignorant peasants at the beck and call of Thaksin and his money.

They are actually better described as middle class. Certainly more middle class than poor. The same middle class that Early Worm waxed so eloquently about in his letter. And they are not rural unless you describe being rural as not coming from Bangkok.  No, they are better described as urbanites. 

Above all, these red shirts make use of Thaksin and his money. They actually use Thaksin as a vehicle to highlight grievances that are independent of Thaksin's woes. 

And no, they are not violent. They just want their voices heard and to be treated like human beings. They want their one vote to be treated as equal to everybody else's one vote. They want the simple dignity of being counted as equal in this world.

Contrary to what Early Worm said, they are not a dying breed but their ranks will grow and grow, with or without Thaksin.

Kemadist Chiaracharuwat

Bangkok

Four tasks for PM

PM Abhisit has four big tasks ahead of him.

First, he must deal with the question of terrorism. Those suspected of carrying out acts of terrorism during the recent unrest, including Thaksin Shinawatra, must be investigated. Measures to prevent a repeat of what happened last week - scores of people killed and injured, and buildings burned down - must be taken.

Second, he must deal with the rural poor of Thailand fairly and squarely. He must deal with those poor souls who were at Rajprasong intersection with a kind heart and a tender hand. It is evident they were used. It is not a crime to be poor anywhere in the world.

Third, he must fully commit himself  to dealing with the inequality, corruption and double standards present in Thai society: elements of the police force are suspected of helping and facilitating acts of terrorism last week. To start with, here's is a good idea: all government officials suspected of facilitating terrorism should be investigated.

Fourth, he must deal with our ever more complicated political problems. If he intends to go forward with his reconciliation plan, he must do it quickly and decisively. An early dissolution of Parliament is also an option if he believes that the majority of people want it. According to the Constitution, the power to dissolve Parliament lies squarely in the prime minister's hands.

PM Abhisit must take on these tasks with optimism and resolution.

Chavalit Van

Chiang Mai