The Democrats’ End Of Hibernation. And Renaissance?

The honorable Democrats, marginalized since Chuan Leekpai’s all-too-polite resignation in 1995, impressed with some wily tactics over the past few weeks. The Democrats look as feisty as I haven’t seen them in years. One pinprick after another makes a dig at the Samak government. Many pinpricks start hurting. The first real bleeding is not too far away.

Just to mention Democrat Party’s Songkhla MP Sirichok Sopha who cynically asked Samak if he’s still fiercely loyal. Fiercely loyal to the kingdom’s highest institution it is to say. Or to Thaksin/Jakrapob. Sirichok criticized the prime minister for refusing to look into the lèse majesté allegation against PM’s Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair.

Jakrapob still seems to view himself the mouthpiece of a certain silent movement. But to rebut accusations of anti-royalist undercurrents Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung had to give in to demands of the Democrats and – following the wish of the Democrats – hinted at possibly blocking 29 websites with content deemed insulting the monarchy.

Then there are the economic hardships of the people and the inability of the Samak government to change the economy’s course.

Burma’s Nargis tragedy comes as a welcome distraction for Samak & Co. to divert attention from domestic problems. The Thai government loves the chance to portray itself as a patron and promoter of humanity.

Nobody should ever dare to criticize the official Thailand’s most generous efforts to help the suffering people of its neighbor. But for themselves the Thai people expected much more from a Thaksin shadow government.

A government “limping past its first 100 days in office,” as The Nation writes.

The Democrats were quiet for a long time. We didn’t hear of the Democrats even when the people were impatiently asking for their voice. Slowly, but unmistakably, the Democrats seem to have ended their hibernation.

The Democrats are no longer wasting time as the nation sinks. They’re preparing the field, letting PPP play their self-destructive tendencies. Knowing that the only way to get back to power is to allow the Samak government to get burried slowly but steadily by more and more own failures.

The Democrats don’t have to become too proactive to enhance the PPP’s decline. So far they’re playing the perfect waiting game. They’re enough alert to point the finger at new PPP failures. And wise enough to let the government slip first.

So far the government muddles through quite professionally, in the great tradition of other Thai governments being more preoccupied by themselves than their duties. Granted, the rice crisis the government handles very wisely, knowing only too well that the loyalty of the rural masses is the key to everything. But the inflationary pressure and receding buying power are not about to vanish.

Not that the government is at its wits’ end. But the Democrats seem to finally learn that Thailand’s political landscape is made up of much rougher terrain than a gentleman’s democratic model.

Maybe they can even lower themselves to tar and feather an opponent for not playing fairly.

At the moment they don’t even have to play dirty politics. All they have to do is to continue with those pinpricks and rub some salt into the government’s growing wounds.

And wait.




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May 20, 2008 | Filed Under Politics 

Comments

6 Responses to “The Democrats’ End Of Hibernation. And Renaissance?”

  1. wisekwai on May 21st, 2008 1.24 am

    Very disappointed to see the Dems turn nasty. This is not the kind of above-the-fray opposition move that I had come to expect and respect.

    Sure, they could always have been a bit more vocal. But now they are down and dirty and getting into the muck. They are the same as the others.

    There is no opposition. No one to speak for free expression or a free exchange of ideas.

    Guess people don’t really want those things anyway.

    So much for freedom.

    It’s disillusioning and sad.

    I fear for the future.

  2. Andrew in BKK on May 21st, 2008 6.56 am

    I think reality shows that BKKDan above is right: You have to show the opposition what they are doing wrong, or else they will continue forever. Beat them with their own weapons. Especially K. Jakrapob with his spinning politics (no airtime for opposition, etc.).

    Of course Khun Wisekwai above is also right that the Democrats should not forget to find solutions for the country, and this is actually what they are (have been) doing all along since they started working as a “shadow government”. They have proposed more solutions (motions, etc.) than the coalition government who so far failed to bring up any groundbreaking mid- to long-term solutions/ideas for to the country.

    The problem is Thaksin never plans (planned) longer than a few months (short-term) ahead.

    Thailand needs a sustainable mid- to long-term PM and government, and maybe the Democrats play that clever waiting game now.

    Wishing Khun Abhisit & Democrats good luck! But don’t forget to please/convince the countryside, or else you never get those so badly needed votes.

  3. BangkokDan on May 21st, 2008 7.07 am

    wisekwai:

    It’s still a very polite form of slightly nastier politics. They can’t deny their roots! The end though justifies the means.

    BangkokDan

  4. Democrats Unveil Website Blacklist on May 21st, 2008 4.13 pm

    [...] yesterday I blogged about the new feisty Democrats. This new offensive of the Democrats, clearly aimed at shadowy circles around Thaksin & [...]

  5. oneditorial on May 22nd, 2008 4.01 am

    I had to read this post twice. It is a well-observed piece; sharply cut at the right spot at the current situation of the madness of Thai politics.

  6. Unity Government? Dream On on June 4th, 2008 6.38 pm

    [...] written here earlier, the Democrats play a clever waiting game. They’re allowing the government to be slowly pushed towards the abyss. For they know [...]

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