Enforcing Rule of Laws with effective measures

[dan_bkk]

Note: Edited for Grammar check

Disclaimer: I completely disagree with the U.D.D. demand for Mr. Prime Minister to resign, as the Apisit government is legitimate government coming from parliamentary processes (No matter what happen behind the scene)

I want to bring up an issue that nobody ever brings up. The issue is enforcing rule of law. Without effective measures to enforce laws, Thailand will never be able to move forward from this political stalemate let's alone, the path of development. Right now, anyone who has lots of powers and moneys can simply do anything they want. Just ask the backers of the PAD and the Thailand Public Enemy #1 and his U.D.D henchmen. Heck, if I have several billion Bahts, I probably will mobilize some massive mobs to protest about something.

So, how can we enforce the rule of law when they are several thousand people protesting? You simply can't without the threat of using appropriate measures including the use of violent. Sadly, in Thailand there will never be any officials who come out and say that violent is an option. Sure violence do happen sometime when the situation is out of control and when that happen all hell break lose.

Did Mr. I who save Thailand #1 and #2 of the PAD ever think that the police and the army will actually charge in and stop their last crusade. Probably not, It is probably the same thing with the henchmen of the Public enemy #1 to try to prolong and escalate the U.D.D protests so that their beloved boss can fulfilled his manifest destiny. Will the government or the military stop them even with limited violent measures? Probably not, but I hope that they do for the sake of Thailand.

What do I mean by limited violent measures? It simply means the ability to effectively break up the protesting mobs to ensure stability and public order. Let compare Thailand with other countries in the world,

In the US, UK and mature western democracies, people protest all the time and the authorities are mostly able to deal effectively with the protesters with limited violent. When something goes wrong, there are investigations to find what went wrong and who are responsible for it so that appropriate actions can be taken (It is not perfect by any standard)

In the People Republic's of China, Burma, and the totalitarian states, no one are allowed to protest, period.

In South Korea, Taiwan, The protesters can often be violent and bloody, as well as the government respond in which sometime they are heavy handed but effective. (A former South Korean Prime Minister actually resigned because of the mishandling of the protest, imagine that in Thailand)

I don't know much about our neighboring countries of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, The Philippines, but I'm pretty sure that their governments have effective ways of dealing with the prolong protesters.

So, why can't Thailand actually follow any of the countries above? That is quite easy because NO politicians and officials in power ACTUALLY CARE about Thailand. They are busy protesting their interests and getting rid of anyone who are against them.

This is a reality of Thailand that I accept it gracefully now that I'm working and living in this country. Do I have a choice to go elsewhere? Yes, I do but I choose to be here.

(PS., btw, do any of you know any objective discussion of current Thai situation website? The ones in Thai are just too dramatic and too emotional for my liking)

(PPS. I promise the Thai version coming out by the end of next week, so that more people, especially the lovely politically inclined ladies can offer their very interesting ideas to it)

[CiaranM]

interesting points Dan .... but breaking up or containing a relatively peaceful demonstrations needs a properly trained, motivated and professional police force !! something thailand is sadly lacking !!

as someone who grew up in northern ireland in the aftermath of bloody sunday going in all guns blazing is not always the smart answer !!

but good post .... surprised it didn't get much of a reaction !!!

[dan_bkk]

I'm sure that will gain more attention now that you has post a respond to it

[Admin_2]

I can't see them using force like they used to. Thailand has seen some pretty bad days where the military/police were forced to intervene. Thailand has learned from those days that there are other methods to get through these issues, but it all stops there. They know that it's possible to settle this without bloodshed, but they haven't a clue as to how to go about doing it!

The police force could use a course in non-lethal crowd disbursement (water canons, rubber bullets, tear gas that won't blow someone's leg off). It really feels like the authorities are afraid of the mobs, when it should be the other way around.

It is the Thai government not wanting to lose its international face by having bloodshed, but they are still losing face in a much more slow, painstaking manner. Bring out the water cannons and start songkran early!

[CiaranM]

Bring out the water cannons and start songkran early!

ehhhhhhhhh .... can u wait until i get home !!!