Reading and muay Thai are my two favourite hobbies. One is good for the mind, the other for the body - both are good for the soul. On a recent afternoon I walked into my muay Thai camp in Suan Lum Night Bazaar, ready to be abused and battered for the next hour, but found all the trainers and a Japanese fighter sitting in gloom, wearing long faces.
Why the long faces? They normally are the happiest people I have ever known, always smiling and joking about.The only time they get serious is when I'm down on my knees, weary and exhausted in only the third round, feeling the effect of the previous night's decadence.
"I'm dying!" I would moan."No,you're not! Get up!" they would yell.Muay Thai, it builds character and keeps you humble, especially after a scrawny 16-year-old kid who weighs 100 pounds whoops your behind.
Why the long faces? The camp brought in the Japanese fighter to compete at Lumpini Stadium. The Japanese fighter's fan club was to also fly in to support him. That means a horde of screaming and squealing Japanese girls.Plane tickets were bought and plans were set. But alas, all the fan club cancelled their tickets. Their hero was to fight without the presence of his fans.
Why did they cancel? The trainers said they heard news of the red shirts rallying, so they cancelled. They wanted to come see violence in the ring, but not to be in the midst of possible violence in the streets. As well, the camp profits from fighters from camps abroad coming in to train, mainly from France and Japan. But many have cancelled due to Thailand's political instability.It hasn't been an easy time for the working people of Thailand.
Yesterday was the third anniversary of the military coup that ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.Three years later, we are a country in constant danger of anarchy in the streets, with the Songkran incident earlier this year as the most recent reminder. Every time there's a rally,there's talk of possible violence. Every time someone mentions the military,there's talk of a possible coup.
Why are we in such constant danger of anarchy? Because we have given up on the democratic process and embraced force as the means to solve national conflicts. Three years ago when tanks rolled into the capital, it wasn't the worst thing for Thailand's democracy. The worst was that we, the people,met the tanks with flowers, smiles and open arms. Democracy has failed. Long live the use of force. That's the message that was sent.
No kidding, the yellow shirts concluded it was right to march with armed men and lay siege to Suvarnabhumi airport. No joking, the red shirts believed it was proper to chase out Asean leaders and make war in the streets. These are the consequences of us giving up on the democratic process in favour of force. Meanwhile, in the midst of the political tug-o-war, it's the people like those at my muay Thai camp who truly suffer - the ordinary people of Thailand.
On the Bangkok Post's television news talk show Postscript , Wassana Nanuam - our veteran reporter,18 years on the military beat and a foremost expert on the Thai military - gave some insights into the military's mindset.
She said the military does not want to stage coups, including the last one;that it prefers to stay out of civilian affairs. But the tanks will roll in, if the military feels that civilians cannot resolve their affairs. This is because the military believes it is their duty to "set things right". That it's their duty to protect the Institution, if the military feels that the Institution is being threatened - a feeling that is highly subjective, if I may add. Most importantly, the military may feel that we, the people, want the military to intervene,as was shown on Sept 19,2006.
If these insights are indeed true, isn't itdisconcerting that protecting Thailand's democracy seems not to also be on the top of the military's agenda? Isn't it worrying that the military does not see itself as a part of the democratic process, but rather the giver and taker of democracy. Doesn't this demonstrate a fundamental flaw in the military's role within a democracy?These indeed are disconcerting insights.
We must understand that the people who embraced tanks - and those of the yellow and red shirts who resort to force - are only the few. Hence, it is only the few who have given up on democracy. Though we must also be honest and admit that the masses don't have an idea what democracy is. As such, all it took was for the few to give up.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions, as the saying goes. There are times when we do not realise the consequences of our actions.
The military rolled their tanks in with good intentions, for what they believed would resolve national conflict.But in doing so they have also trampled on the democratic process. The people who welcomed the tanks with flowers,smiles and open arms did so with good intentions, because they were happy to be rid of what they believed to be a corrupt government. But in doing so they sent a message that the people of Thailand have given up on the democratic process. Both acts set a precedent that the use of force is preferable to the democratic process.
The yellow shirts, armed with weapons, laid siege to the airport with the good intentions of pressuring what they believed to be a nominee government of a corrupted fugitive to step down.But in doing so they have thumbed their noses at the democratic process.The red shirts made war in the streets with the good intention of pressuring what they believed to be a nominee government by the military to step down. But in doing so they have made a mockery of the democratic process.
Over the past three years, a lot of people have fought for what they believe in, but none seem to believe in democracy.
Sept 19,2006, was the day Thailand gave up on democracy. Three years on, it's time we stopped blaming each other. This isn't Thaksin's fault. This isn't Sondhi's fault. This isn't Abhisit's fault. This isn't the military's fault. And,for a change, this isn't even the devilish foreigners' fault. We are all accountable for what is happening to our country no matter which side we are on, including those of us who are supposedly innocent bystanders who sat idly by and let this happen.
If one were to choose a side, then choose the side of Thailand. Thailand isn't one man. Thailand isn't a political faction. Thailand isn't the elite. Thailand isn't the military. Thailand is 65 million people and those 65 million represent democracy. That includes members of the military, who are also Thai people,no different from anyone else. We are all parts of a whole.
If one were to believe in something,believe in democracy. Why? Democracy is a political ideology for the people and by the people. That's you, me and 65 millions of us, including the military.Democracy is human rights and liberty,freedom and opportunity.
Believing in democracy is simply choosing Thailand, being on the side of your neighbours, your brothers and sisters, your countrymen, in uniform or civilian clothes. Don't they teach that in schools? Perhaps they should.
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