An unprecedented rise in political consciousness

What struck me most about the two letters by Bangkok Dave and Sumet Jumsai on March 2 was their appalling disregard for the obvious.

Bangkok Dave asked why an apology was never offered by Pheu Thai or the red shirts. The obvious answer is that they don't feel that they have done anything wrong (in 2010). Sorry if this answer makes you squirm in your seat and hot under the collar. In any society when the rights of the population are suppressed or taken away you can expect the worst.

I am not justifying what happened but just making an observation. Sure, Thaksin and the men-in-black played a role but it is my belief that what we witnessed was an unprecedented rise in political consciousness of the masses against the wanton exercise of power by the ruling class who felt threatened by Thaksin. One would have thought that fighting Thaksin under the umbrella of democracy would be easy, since the guy has so many flaws. But a coup was decided - the tried and true method for getting rid of someone.

Sumet inveighed against the western press for not getting it when in fact it is the other way round given what I have said above. Sumet wrote: "Numerous rocket-propelled grenades rained on military and civilian targets". Rained? Aren't we being too dramatic here? How many deaths were caused by rocket-propelled grenades, and how many were caused by bullets?

Finally, we have Vint Chavala in his letter yesterday who regarded the red shirts and Pheu Thai voters as buffaloes. Let's do away with rational discourse. Calling names is much quicker and to the point. Why not? If it makes the one Vint Chavala that much happier why not indeed. Strange though coming from a person who made the evil of the satisfaction of one man his overriding theme.

Kemadist Chiaracharuwat

Bangkok