The Stockholm Syndrome & Kraisak Choonhavan’s Letter To ACHR

One of the most amazing observations these days is the hardening of hearts and minds. Have to find yet a red shirt supporter or an opponent of the red shirts who changed to the other camp. Yes, there was a coup once, but we were way beyond that. And no, Thaksin is absolutely not out of the picture.

The unwavering support for and of the red militias is the more astonishing as facts and events would suggest who’s rather the aggressor and who rather not. But no, people die senseless deaths and many, more radicalized than ever, stick to their guns. Stockholm Syndrome anyone?

“In psychology, Stockholm Syndrome is a term used to describe a paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express adulation and have positive feelings towards their captors that appear irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims.”

One might add: “… have positive feelings towards their heros who appear irrational in light of the deceit endured by the victims.” Think again what was really happening these days. Whatever side you’re on, here is a good account of what has been happening here in Thailand, a letter by the Democrats’ Deputy Leader Kraisak Choonhavan to Suhas Chakma, director of Asian Center for Human Rights ACHR:

May 15th, 2010

Dear Mr. Suhas Chakma,

I acknowledge your concerns on the issues of human rights violation during the current political crisis in Thailand.

As you stated, it is extremely unfortunate that the talks collapsed. However, it is even more unfortunate that the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has failed to continue to cooperate with the Government and to decline the Prime Minister’s proposal.

Their rallies thus transformed from what was peaceful assembly to unlawful action beyond the limit sanctioned by the Constitution, causing serious disruption to the daily life of the general public, as well as having a severe economic and social impact upon the country.

It must be stressed that the actions by the UDD in the area of Rajprasong since April 2010 is unlawful. Not only the protesters have occupied the business district, they have blocked roads, stormed into the Parliament building and public and private hospitals, while defying efforts by the authorities to enforce the law.

If you have followed the news closely, the Government has exercised utmost restrain and flexibility in enforcing the law to avoid any damage to property and loss of life, but the demonstrators have shown disregard for the law and no sign of ending the demonstrations. Prime Minister Abhisit has stayed within the law and avoided the use of armed force against the protestors.

On May 3rd, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva publicly proposed a five-point Reconciliation Roadmap for resolving the current political situation. The Roadmap comprises of five key elements, which, he hoped, with public cooperation, would enable peace and normalcy to be restored to Thai society. However, the protesters refused to accept the proposal.

It is clear that the protesters are not operating in peaceful manners as you can see from the incidents on April 10th. On that day, they seized heavy weapons from the military officers. Prior to the incidents on April 10 and 22, there were other incidents involving such weapons, including sporadic grenade attacks and firing of an RPG rocket at an oil reserve tank. Hence, it is also clear that the protesters have possessed lethal weapons which they have proven ready to use indiscriminately.

UDD supporters have also committed numerous violent acts against civilians as stated in Human Rights Watch’s report “Thailand: End Street Battles in Bangkok”.

“On April 28, UDD leader Kwanchai Praipana led more than 2,000 “red shirts” on motorcycles and trucks from Ratchaprasong intersection to attempt to break the CRES roadblock on Vibhavadi-Rangsit highway. The security forces used road barriers, razor wires, teargas, and rubber bullets to stop the protesters from going beyond the National Memorial site near Don Muang Airport. With their way blocked, the protesters initially hurled stones, fired slingshots, and launched homemade rockets at the soldiers and police. Video footage and photos taken by foreign journalists, as well as witnesses interviewed by Human Rights Watch, confirm that some of the protesters then used guns and homemade grenades to attack the security forces.”

(Source: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/04/30/thailand-end-street-battles-bangkok)

The protesters have also violated human rights of patients and medical service units which your organization shall be aware and take their actions into account.

For your information, please note these Physicians for Human Rights (PHR)’s report, the Account Details Violations of Humanitarian Principles by Protesters at Bangkok Hospital. Their independent accounts all detailed the occurrence of many humanitarian violations in or around the hospital during April 2010. Among the incidents related to the PHR team by hospital personnel:

(Source: http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/library/briefing-paper-2010-05-04.html)

Therefore, from the Government’s point of view, this is a pressing problem and there is no alternative but for the authorities to enforce the law in accordance with the principle of the rule of law. The Government has stretched to the limits of tolerance to ensure that ordinary citizens can exercise their right to peaceful protest.

The Government’s position is clear that people can hold peaceful demonstrations within the bounds of the law as part of the exercise of their constitutional rights.

The use of the Internal Security Act remains necessary as to ensure peace and order, given the large number people participating in the political rallies. The Government has the duties to facilitate and protect the normal way of life for the people, as well as ensure public safety, including that of the demonstrators. The use of the ISA would enable security officers to integrate their effort and work efficiently under the law. Measures under the ISA have not and will not inhibit the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in accordance with the Constitution, nor will they affect the normal way of life of the people.

Even with the Emergency Decree, security forces – police, military and civilian – have clear, step-by-step standard operating procedures. In addition, the Government has maintained continuous coordination with the demonstrators in order to avoid misunderstanding or any incidents which could cause tension. There have been neither mass arrests nor the mistreatment of protestors on the streets.

Investigations are being conducted into what actually transpired. In addition to the investigation conducted by the authorities led by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Prime Minister has established a fact finding commission to look into the incidents. The Government also stands ready to cooperate with similar efforts by independent agencies such as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which has already initiated an inquiry process of its own.

Kraisak Choonhavan

Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party

Chairman of Committee on Development of Politics, People’s Participation and Mass Media




Sphere: Related Content

Related posts on absolutelyBangkok.com:

  1. The Vongthip Letter May ‘10
  2. Bangkok’s 9/11
  3. The Vongthip Letter Apr ‘10
  4. Alarmism: An Open Letter
  5. The Vongthip Letter Feb ‘10
  6. The Vongthip Letter Dec 09
  7. The Vongthip Letter Oct 09

May 18, 2010 | Filed Under History, News & Media, Politics, Society 

Comments

15 Responses to “The Stockholm Syndrome & Kraisak Choonhavan’s Letter To ACHR”

  1. Leopold on May 18th, 2010 12:25 pm

    IF there is to be a cabinet reshuffle by the current coalition in the future, I really hope Kraisak would replace Kasit.

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  2. Occasional Poster on May 18th, 2010 3:59 pm

    I hadn’t seen the HRW document that Kraisak links to. Thanks for that.

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  3. Tha-Tha on May 18th, 2010 8:01 pm

    Hu, I kind of expected something else from a “good and balanced” account.

    Yes, the letter makes some valid points. The protests are violent, in many ways not helpful and not lawful.

    However, it ignores a crucial point: a government simply cannot send the military on the streets and shoot protesters. Even if protests are not within the law, you don’t simply kill the people.

    Remember Greece, for example? Protesters throwing a Molotov cocktail in a bank killing three people – shame on these protesters. However, the Greek government didn’t send in the military to shoot protesters. Any account that doesn’t acknowledge that the Thai military is a central part of the crisis and Thailands unstable political system is truly beyond simplistic,

    “No alternative but for the authorities to enforce the law in accordance with the principle of the rule of law.” Oh my …

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  4. Chunkton on May 18th, 2010 8:43 pm

    Read that Abhisit’s government has to date gunned down 66 people (check the international as opposed Thai videos), mothers, sons, daughters, fathers etc, perhaps more than the previous student massacre! Congratulations are certainly in order!

    At this rate he should be able to get a maiden century before the end of the week and be embedded in Thai history as killing more unarmed civilians than any other previous dictatorial thug. And to think there were those that thought he wasn’t up to it. Hey, this is better than the Gulf War, who would have thought, deaf Muslims are fun but hey, dead dark skinned peasants are even better.

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  5. BangkokDan on May 18th, 2010 9:36 pm

    Tha-Tha / Chunkton:

    Certainly every innocent life taken is a tragedy and has to be investigated.

    Asked the other way round: how many lives can be saved by stopping maniacs who’re not stopping at anything, who are destroying innocent people’s livelihoods and properties and future. You’d be surprised how many ordinary men and women around here, Thai people, think the government is much to lenient. Upcountry folks too. How about protecting the few million people of Bangkok against the rage of a few?

    Just to mention the Facebook/CNN campaign. Oh many of those silent people are angry, and not for no reason. Read their arguments. But have to defend Dan Rivers, think he does a good job considering the dangers and pressure.

    The Greek comparison is very weak. Greek authorities would never tolerate a mob occupying and terrorizing people for more than a few days. Greeks were all shocked after the deaths. Certain Thais even donated liters and liters and liters of blood because there wasn’t any blood yet. Greeks are not as patient as Thais.

    Get real. Go home. Do your work. Take care of your family. Engage in debate. But don’t fall for the demagogue promising shortcuts.

    BangkokDan

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  6. JJ on May 18th, 2010 10:38 pm

    Better safe than red.

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  7. Leopold on May 18th, 2010 10:45 pm

    Chunkton, for your information, under Thaksin’s government, 70 muslims were killed in the Tak Bai crackdown. I’m sure they had families, too.

    (BD: Don’t forget the Krue Se massacre.)

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  8. Chamlong on May 18th, 2010 11:48 pm

    Two quotes, two questions and two observations.

    “Senior hospital officials told PHR that they contacted police and military officials within the first few days of the UDD protests to express concern about hospital access and patient safety, but were told that additional security would not be provided. The hospital administration’s request of the Thai authorities comports with humanitarian principles and international standards on medical ethics, which require that medical personnel be granted necessary protection to carry out freely their responsibilities.”

    (Hospital Staff Upholds International Medical Ethics During Unrest in Bangkok, 1)

    “Following this incident (26 April red shirt “invasion” or “search”), senior hospital administrators contacted government officials to express their concern for the safety of approximately 1,200 patients, but were told not to expect any further protection. This decision constitutes a second instance in which Thai security forces refused to give medical personnel the protection they needed to carry out freely their ethical responsibilities to care for patients.”

    (Hospital Staff Upholds International Medical Ethics During Unrest in Bangkok, 2)

    1. Why was Chulalongkorn Hospital left so exposed to the red shirt mob by the Thai government in early April?

    2. Doesn’t the aforementioned report suggest that the Thai government was negligent in its duty to provide protection and security to the personnel and patients of Chulalongkorn Hospital?

    A careful read of the PHR briefing paper definitely leads one to raise more queries about the role played by Chulalongkorn Hospital in the initial stand-off between the government/CRES and the red shirts in the Ratchadamri/Silom/Rama IV intersection. It was strategic turf for both the security forces and the red shirts to occupy and to control. And especially intriguing was why it took the hospital administrators such a long period of time to decide on evacuating patients to other hospitals when an imminent threat existed.

    As for Kraisak Choonhavan, Deputy Leader of the Democrat Party (does anyone recall how this political organization rose to such prominence in 1946?), he is the premier example of a Thai politician. The Democrats enticed him with a title, a respectable position that suits his pedigree and a living wage commensurate with his lifestyle. Kraisak had been recruited by the Democrats to give them a foothold in the Northeast as he had been a former senator of Nakorn Rathchasima. However, he has not been very effective in winning Isaan hearts and minds and after all the fratricidal bloodletting of the past month in Bangkok I do not see Kraisak able to do any future campaigning for the Democrat Party in the Northeast. Unless he wants to face Seh Daeng’s fate.

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  9. Tha-Tha on May 19th, 2010 12:54 am

    @BD “You’d be surprised how many ordinary men and women around here, Thai people, think the government is much to lenient.” No, I’m not – to me, the appeal of authoritarian “resolutions” is the most troubling aspect of the conflict. Because of the “higher good” it becomes somehow ok to put the military in the very center of the country and to gun down people. As always, the government loves the people but the military is necessary to “take out these dangerous elements.”

    Of course, you get this line of argument from every authoritarian regime in the world and this is why most democratic societies strictly prohibit to use of military against the people. Thai society is still different because the military has far too much power – but frankly I’m shocked how many foreigners accept this line of thought. Gunning down protestants is not homeland security on steroits, its the moral bankruptcy of democracy.

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  10. Hobby on May 19th, 2010 7:28 am

    To correct Dan’s editorial spin above:

    From Wikipedia re Krue Se massacre:

    “It was revealed that Pallop’s order to storm the mosque contravened a direct order by Defense Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to seek a peaceful resolution to the stand-off no matter how long it took.”

    Tak Bai was a military operation (bungle): I agree Thaksin handle the aftermath poorly – he should have been much more scathing on the military, but Dan know’s the fine line Thaksin was treading and what he was up against.

    (Read Jakrapob’s “State within a State” for an insight.)

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  11. GeGee on May 19th, 2010 9:45 am

    Hobby, I think you might need some “de-programming” when this is all over, if your points of refence are people like Jakrapob. And be very careful, you are also starting to look like a “Thaksin apologist.”

    But of course I won’t bring his name up, because as you claim, I shouldn’t, because this is no longer “about Thaksin” … really?

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  12. Mithran on May 19th, 2010 11:13 am

    I don’t think Stockholm Syndrome really works here, the hostages are who?

    Mind you, the internet provides it’s own little hothouse world, no doubt about that. The farther you are from the consequences of violence, the easier it is to propose violence as a solution.

    (BD: So you’re implying the leaders are far away from their own people.)

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  13. GeGee on May 19th, 2010 12:14 pm

    Mithran does have a point. Let’s split hairs and call it the “Bangkok Red Syndrome.”

    After all I cannot think of any other major world city where people have camped out on a road for so long and listened to so much propaganda from their “leaders.” They must have been uniquely indoctrinated – not?

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  14. Surie on May 19th, 2010 1:10 pm

    ACHR should also be informed about reds policy to use human shields, the latest attempt revealed red guards luring women and children sheltering in Wat Pathum Wanaram back to protest site by lying that the situation at protest site was normal.

    From The Nation’s event updates:

    “11.35 am – Reds shirts guards urge protesters taking shelters in Pathum Wanaram Temple to leave the temple and re-join the rally at Ratchaprasong rally site.

    A TV9 reporter quoted the guards as telling the protesters that situation at the rally site return to normal. Some agree to leave while some others refuse to do so.”

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  15. Mithran on May 19th, 2010 2:02 pm

    BD, er, no, “farther you are away from violence” refered to keyboard warriors cheering on revolution from abroad.

    (Or rich blokes in Dubai, for that matter.)

    Quality comment? Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

Leave a Reply