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Ousted PM Thaksin retakes center stage
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-05 10:52 Moreover, the demonstrations this time remain limited, with a narrower Bangkok-based middle-class support, compared to two years ago when hundreds of thousands took to the streets. "The issues were clearer in 2006 with obvious targets, and people were very angry with Thaksin's abuse of power," said Prapanth Koonme, one of the protest leaders. "This time the issue of constitutional crisis is more complex. It's harder to get people to be angry about a constitution." Many Thais are simply staying on the sidelines. "Why do I have to choose either the PAD or Thaksin? They are just looking after themselves," said Danai Pairaengroj, a 42-year-old taxi driver. "What's in it for me? How about me and my family?" Although the size of protests has remained limited so far, Thitinan warned that a continuation of demonstrations could undermine democracy. "You see a group of 5,000 to 10,000 people who are claiming to have legitimacy, claiming to represent the people, taking it upon themselves to topple the government," said Thitinan. "I am no Thaksin fan but if they get away with it, it will undermine the country's parliamentary democracy." The protests may just be a tip of the iceberg of a fundamental conflict between "the old establishment" represented by the coup leaders and Bangkok's traditional power-brokers and "the new establishment" of Thaksin and his allies. Thaksin transformed Thailand by bringing the once largely silent rural population into any future political equation. His return to power, officially or behind the scenes, would likely put populist politics back on track along with other hallmarks of his regime, crony capitalism, corruption and centralization of power. Victory by his opponents could restore the pre-Thaksin establishment, which critics say held back the full and speedy development of democracy, although progress was gradually being made. "The tension is here to stay and it will manifest itself in different forms on the street or otherwise," Thitinan said. "It is a monumental and fundamental conflict between old Thailand and the new Thailand. The people have certain demands and expectations which need to be met and Thaksin's era had opened up the possibilities of those demands to be met." |
