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An unending crisis

Thailand’s Parliament has been convened for December 15 to elect a new Prime Minister — third within a year. However, it remains to be seen if the current political crisis can be resolved in the House. The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters paralysed the country for a week by laying siege to Parliament and the national and domestic airports. Tens of thousands of tourists were stranded, and the government as well as the economy took a heavy b eating. The credibility of the country in the international fora was shattered. What pulled Thailand from the brink was the Constitution Court’s verdict disqualifying Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and a few other political leaders for electoral fraud and dissolving the three political parties that made up the ruling coalition. The judicial determination partly answered the demand of the PAD that the electoral verdict of December 2007 be annulled. Understandably, the PAD is claiming victory for the ouster of Mr. Wongsawat, whom it dubbed a “proxy” for the party founder and “fugitive in exile,” Thaksin Shinawatra who happens to be his brother-in-law. Mr. Wongsawat may have been thrown out of power. But the ruling People’s Power Party is all set to begin another innings in the name of ‘Puea Pandin Party’. Its two allies also have taken the cue. Over 200 Members of Parliament belonging to the ruling party have joined the new political bandwagon. Even the new party appears to be split and reports from Bangkok speak of military pressure on the factions to back a coalition government headed by the opposition Democrat Party.

What Thailand, and the PAD in particular, should realise is that the previous election in 2007 was held under a military-imposed Constitution, which for that very reason has not given democracy its due. The much-revered King Bhumibol Adulyatej remains the uniting factor. It is for him and the principal political parties to hammer out — taking the military leadership also into confidence — a national consensus on the way forward. First of all, the rule of law has to be restored. Secondly, a democratic and stable constitution must be put in place and a fresh election held under the new statute. Until that process is gone through, the pro-democracy activists need to ensure that Thailand’s polity and economy, which have come under severe strain, do not suffer yet another serious setback. The history of Thailand is marred by frequent military coups and quick turnover of democratic governments. A fractured electoral verdict — a common feature — inevitably resulted in hotpotch coalitions and toppling games. The country is crying for a new constitution that would pave the way for stable democratic governance.

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