AFTERTHOUGHTS

A Siamese tragedy: the collapse of democracy in

Thailand
By Walden Bello
INQ7.net
Last updated 02:24am (Mla time) 09/0/200!
(Summary: Even before Thaksin, Thai democracy was already in severe crisis, owing to a succession of
elected but do-nothing or exceedingly corrupt regimes since !!"# $ts legitimacy was eroded even further by
the $%&, which for all intents and purposes ran the country, with no accountability, for four years, from !!'
to "((, and imposed a program that brought great hardship to the ma)ority#
Thaksin stoked this disaffection with the $%& and the political system to create a ma)ority coalition that
allowed him to violate constitutional constraints and infringe on democratic freedoms, while enabling him to
use the state as a mechanism of private capital accumulation in an unparalleled fashion# This led to the
middle-class based, politically diverse opposition that sought to oust him by relying not on electoral
democracy but on people power, the democracy of the street#
The tide turned against Thaksin, and in the past few months he not only lost moral legitimacy but a great
deal of political power# Thai politics was not gridlocked, and the democracy movement was about to launch
the final phase to drive Thaksin out when the military intervened# Though it is for the moment popular
among *angkokians, the coup will eventually prove to be a cure worse than the disease#
+ivil society cannot condone the coup, and it must move to make its presence felt in the current institutional
vacuum to counter the moves of the newly assertive ,ld -ight# *ut more than this, it must elaborate an
alternative political program that will win the critical or hegemonic mass that would put democracy on firm
foundations#.
"#$ MILI"%&' ()*+ in ",ailand last -ee. ma/.ed t,e se0ond ,i1,2p/o3ile 0ollapse o3 a demo0/a0y in t,e
de4elopin1 -o/ld in t,e past se4en yea/s. ",e 3i/st -as t,e 0oup in +a.istan in )0to5e/ 6999 t,at 5/ou1,t
7ene/al +e/4e8 Mus,a//a3 to po-e/. Li.e t,e 0oup in ",ailand9 t,at 0oup -as popula/ -it, t,e middle 0lass.
%s in ",ailand9 t,e milita/y -as e:pe0ted to 4a0ate po-e/ soon a3te/ it ousted +/ime Ministe/ Na-a8 ;,a/i3.
;i: yea/s late/9 Mus,a/a33 and t,e a/my a/e still in po-e/.
/emocracy on the ropes
It is no- 0laimed in some <ua/te/s t,at ",a.sin ;,ina-at/a unde/mined t,e demo0/ati0 /e1ime t,at 0ame
into 5ein1 a3te/ t,e people=s po-e/ up/isin1 in May 6992. "/ue9 5ut ",ai demo0/a0y -as in 5ad s,ape 5e3o/e
",a.sin 0ame to po-e/ in >anua/y 2006. ",e 3i/st (,uan Lee.pai 1o4e/nment 3/om 6992 to 699? -as
ma/.ed 5y t,e a5sen0e o3 e4en t,e sli1,test e33o/t at so0ial /e3o/m.
",e 1o4e/nment o3 3o/me/ p/o4in0ial 5usinessman Ban,a/n ;ilipa2%/0,a9 3/om 699? to 699!9 -as des0/i5ed
as @a semi2.lepto0/ati0 administ/ation -,e/e 0oalition pa/tne/s -e/e paid to stay s-eet9 Aust li.e ,e used to
5uy pu5li0 -o/.s 0ont/a0ts.B
",en 3ollo-ed9 in 699!2979 t,e 1o4e/nment o3 (,a4alit 'on10,aiyud,9 a 3o/me/ 1ene/al9 -,i0, -as 5ased
on an allian0e amon1 5i1 5usiness elites9 p/o4in0ial 5osses9 and lo0al 1od3at,e/s. &elati4ely 3/ee ele0tions
-e/e ,eld9 5ut t,ey se/4ed mainly to dete/mine -,i0, 0oalition o3 elites -ould ,a4e its tu/n at usin1
1o4e/nment as a me0,anism o3 p/i4ate 0apital a00umulation.
Not su/p/isin1ly9 t,e massi4e 0o//uption9 espe0ially unde/ Ban,a/n and (,a4alit9 /epelled t,e Ban1.o.
middle 0lass9 and t,e u/5an and /u/al poo/ did not see t,e ad4ent o3 demo0/a0y ma/.in1 a 0,an1e in t,ei/
li4es.
Thailand under $%& rule
Cemo0/a0y su33e/ed a 3u/t,e/ 5lo- in 699722006 3ollo-in1 t,e %sian 3inan0ial 0/isis. ",is time it -as not t,e
lo0al elites t,at -e/e t,e 0ulp/it. It -as t,e Inte/national Moneta/y Dund (IMD)9 -,i0, p/essu/ed t,e (,a4alit
1o4e/nment9 t,en t,e se0ond (,uan 1o4e/nment to adopt a 4e/y se4e/e /e3o/m p/o1/am t,at 0onsisted o3
/adi0ally 0uttin1 e:penditu/es9 de0/eein1 many 0o/po/ations 5an./upt9 li5e/ali8in1 3o/ei1n in4estment la-s9
and p/i4ati8in1 state ente/p/ises.
",e IMD assem5led a E7225illion /es0ue 3und9 5ut it -as money t,at -as spent not to sa4e t,e lo0al
e0onomy 5ut to ena5le t,e 1o4e/nment to pay o33 t,e 3o/ei1n 0/edito/s o3 t,e 0ount/y. W,en t,e (,a4alit
1o4e/nment ,esitated to adopt t,ese measu/es9 t,e IMD p/essed 3o/ a 0,an1e in 1o4e/nment. ",e se0ond
(,uan 1o4e/nment 0omplied 3ully -it, t,e Dund9 and 3o/ t,e ne:t t,/ee yea/s ",ailand ,ad a 1o4e/nment
t,at -as a00ounta5le not to t,e people 5ut to a 3o/ei1n institution.
Not su/p/isin1ly9 t,e 1o4e/nment lost mu0, o3 its 0/edi5ility as t,e 0ount/y plun1ed into /e0ession and one
million ",ais 3ell unde/ t,e po4e/ty line. Mean-,ile t,e *; "/ade &ep/esentati4e told t,e *; (on1/ess t,at
t,e ",ai 1o4e/nment=s @0ommitments to /est/u0tu/e pu5li0 ente/p/ises and a00ele/ate p/i4ati8ation o3 0e/tain
.ey se0to/s 22 in0ludin1 ene/1y9 t/anspo/tation9 utilities9 and 0ommuni0ations 22 Fa/e e:pe0tedG to 0/eate ne-
5usiness oppo/tunities 3o/ *; 3i/ms.B
",e IMD9 in s,o/t9 0ont/i5uted 1/eatly to sappin1 t,e le1itima0y o3 ",ailand=s 3led1lin1 demo0/a0y9 and9 in
t,is 0onne0tion9 t,is -as not t,e only instan0e -,e/e t,e Dund 0ont/i5uted to e/odin1 t,e 0/edi5ility o3 a
1o4e/nment9 espe0ially amon1 t,e poo/.
I3 t,e/e is today a patte/n /e4e/sin1 so20alled @",i/d Wa4eB o3 demo0/ati8ation t,at too. o33 as a t/end in t,e
de4elopin1 -o/ld sin0e t,e mid2se4enties9 t,e IMD 22 suppo/ted9 o3 0ou/se 5y t,e *; 1o4e/nment 22 is pa/t o3
t,e ans-e/. %n IMD p/o1/am /e<ui/in1 steep /ises in t/anspo/t 0osts dest/oyed t,e last oun0e o3 le1itima0y o3
Hene8uelan demo0/a0y in 69I9 and plun1ed t,e 0ount/y into t,e spontaneous /isin1 .no-n as t,e
@(a/a0a8o.B
$a/lie/9 in 69I79 t,e IMD 3o/0ed t,e ne- demo0/ati0 (o/a8on %<uino 1o4e/nment in t,e +,ilippines to adopt
a national e0onomi0 p/o1/am p/io/iti8in1 de5t /epayment o4e/ de4elopment9 pus,in1 t,e +,ilippines into a
pe/iod o3 sta1nation9 /isin1 po4e/ty9 and /isin1 ine<uality t,at sa-9 amon1 ot,e/ t,in1s9 t,e s<uande/in1 o3
mu0, o3 t,e le1itima0y o3 t,e demo0/a0y t,at su00eeded t,e De/dinand Ma/0os /e1ime.
%lso9 a .ey 0ont/i5uto/ to t,e un/a4elin1 o3 +a.istan=s demo0/a0y -e/e t,e st/u0tu/al adAustment p/o1/ams
t,at t,e IMD and t,e Wo/ld Ban. 1ot 5ot, t,e 1o4e/nment o3 Bena8i/ B,utto and t,at o3 ,e/ /i4al Na-a8
;,a/i3 to impose on t,e 0ount/y. ;in0e pa/liamenta/y demo0/a0y 5e0ame asso0iated -it, a /ise in po4e/ty
and e0onomi0 sta1nation9 it is not su/p/isin1 t,at t,e Musa,//a3 0oup -as 4ie-ed -it, /elie3 5y most
+a.istanis9 3/om 5ot, t,e middle 0lasses and t,e -o/.in1 masses.
The Thaksin years: monopoly capitalism cum populism
&etu/nin1 to ",ailand9 it -as a se4e/ely 0omp/omised demo0/a0y t,at ",a.sin stepped into in 2006 a3te/
/unnin1 and -innin1 on an anti2IMD plat3o/m. In ,is 3i/st yea/ in o33i0e9 ",a.sin inau1u/ated t,/ee ,ea4y
spendin1 p/o1/ams t,at di/e0tly 0ont/adi0ted t,e IMD: a mo/ato/ium on 3a/me/s= e:istin1 de5t alon1 -it,
3a0ilitatin1 ne- 0/edit 3o/ t,em9 medi0al t/eatment 3o/ all at only 0 5a,t9 o/ less t,an a dolla/9 pe/ illness9 and
a 3und o3 one million 5a,t 3o/ e4e/y dist/i0t to in4est as it sa- 3it.
",ese poli0ies did not 5/in1 on t,e in3lationa/y 0/isis t,at t,e IMD and 0onse/4ati4e lo0al e0onomists
e:pe0ted. Instead t,ey 5uoyed t,e e0onomy and 0emented ",a.sin=s massi4e suppo/t amon1 t,e /u/al and
u/5an poo/.
",is -as t,e @1oodB side o3 ",a.sin. ",e p/o5lem -as t,at9 ,a4in1 se0u/ed t,e maAo/ity -it, t,ese
p/o1/ams and -it, p/a0ti0es t,at analysts %le0 and (,anida Bam3o/d 0alled @neo23eudal pat/ona1e9B ,e
5e1an to su54e/t 3/eedom o3 t,e p/ess9 use 0ont/ol o3 1o4e/nment to add to ,is -ealt, o/ ease /est/i0tions
on ,is 5usinesses and t,ose o3 ,is 0/onies9 5uy allies9 and 5uy o33 opponents.
",ansin=s -a/ on d/u1s9 usin1 ,is 3a4o/ite a1en0y9 t,e poli0e9 /esulted in t,e loss o3 o4e/ 29?00 li4esJ t,is
5ot,e/ed ,uman /i1,ts a0ti4ists 5ut t,e 0ampai1n -as popula/ -it, t,e maAo/ity. #e also assumed a ,a/d2
line9 pu/ely puniti4e9 poli0y to-a/d t,e Muslim insu/1en0y in t,/ee sout,e/n p/o4in0es t,at me/ely -o/sened
t,e situation t,e/e.
",a.sin appea/ed to ,a4e 0/eated t,e 3o/mula 3o/ a lon1 stay in po-e/9 suppo/ted 5y an ele0to/al maAo/ity9
-,en ,e o4e//ea0,ed. In >anua/y9 ,is 3amily sold t,ei/ 0ont/ollin1 sta.e in tele0oms 0on1lome/ate ;,in
(o/p. 3o/ E6.I7 5illion to a ;in1apo/e 1o4e/nment 3/ont 0alled "emase. #oldin1s.
Be3o/e t,e sale9 ",a.sin ,ad made su/e t,e &e4enue Cepa/tment -ould inte/p/et o/ modi3y t,e /ules to
e:empt ,im 3/om payin1 ta:es. ",is 5/ou1,t t,e Ban1.o. middle 0lass to t,e st/eets to demand ,is ouste/ in
a mo4ement t,at 5o/e a st/i.in1 /esem5lan0e to t,e so20alled @+eople +o-e/ *p/isin1B t,at o4e/t,/e-
>osep, $st/ada in t,e +,ilippines in >anua/y 2006.
"o /esol4e t,e pola/i8ation9 ",a.sin dissol4ed +a/liament and 0alled 3o/ ele0tions9 .no-in1 t,at ,e -ould
-in ele0tions ,andily9 as ,is 0oalition ,ad in 2006 and in 200?. ",e %p/il 2 ele0tions -e/e ,eld9 ",a.sin=s
0oalition -on ?7 pe/ 0ent o3 t,e 4ote9 5ut t,ey -e/e 5oy0otted 5y t,e )pposition9 leadin1 to an )pposition2
less +a/liament.
%3te/ a not2too24eiled su11estion 5y t,e /e4e/ed Kin1 B,umi5ol9 t,e ;up/eme (ou/t 3ound t,e ele0tions in
4iolation o3 t,e (onstitution and o/de/ed t,em ,eld on0e mo/e. ",a.sin /esi1ned as +/ime Ministe/ and said
,e -ould 5e a 0a/eta.e/ +M till a3te/ ne- ele0tions -e/e ,eld.
It is use3ul to pause ,e/e and note 0e/tain dimensions o3 t,e ",ai 0on3li0t:
L It pitted9 in 1ene/al te/ms9 t,e u/5an and /u/al 0lasses 22 t,e maAo/ity 22 a1ainst t,e middle 0lasses9
meanin1 mainly t,e Ban1.o. middle 0lass.
L It -itnessed9 as a p/in0iple o3 su00ession9 a 0on3li0t 5et-een /ep/esentati4e demo0/a0y 4ia ele0tions and
t,e di/e0t demo0/a0y o3 t,e st/eets.
L It in4ol4ed a split 5et-een t,e t-o p/in0iples t,at a/e united in t,e system o3 li5e/al demo0/a0y 22 li5e/alism
and demo0/a0y. In4o.in1 t,e le1a0y o3 li5e/alism9 t,e people in t,e st/eets sou1,t to /emo4e ",a.sin 3o/ ,is
4iolations o3 ,uman and 0i4il /i1,ts and ,is a/5it/a/y /ule9 -,ile ",a.sin=s suppo/te/s sou1,t to .eep ,im in
po-e/ 5y appealin1 to t,e 5asi0 p/in0iple o3 a demo0/a0y 22 t,at is9 t,e /ule o3 t,e maAo/ity.
",e anti2",a.sin 3o/0es9 ,o-e4e/9 0laimed t,at ",a.sin=s maAo/ity /ule 3it t,e p,enomenon t,at >o,n ;tua/t
Mill des0/i5ed as t,e @ty/anny o3 t,e maAo/ityB t,at /ested 1/eatly on 5uyin1 o33 t,e people.
To be continued