Reconciliation, unity are vital

General News - Tuesday December 11, 2007

EDITORIAL

Reconciliation, unity are vital

As speculation mounts concerning which parties would form the next coalition government, deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra's call last week for a national unity government has switched the focus to the government's mandate after the Dec 23 election. National unity governments are broad coalitions comprising all the major parties that are usually formed in times of war or national emergency.

The idea of the People Power party and the Democrats linking up after the election seems both impractical and unnecessary. The election should proceed as scheduled, and the winning party should have first crack at forming a government. Still, reconciliation is clearly needed after two years of infighting and political instability. His Majesty the King made this very clear last week, when he said the country could collapse if Thais do not stay unified.

What does unification mean in practice? Contrary to what some want to believe, unity does not mean the whole country should agree on every issue unanimously. Everyone knows this is impossible. It would be ludicrous, if not fascist, for a government or bureaucracy to attempt to make everybody think the same way.

The beauty of democracy is that it celebrates diversity of thought. By no means is it a perfect system; certainly the rich will always have an advantage and corruption will still exist and it will produce some leaders that may steer the country down an undesirable path. Democracy, for all its faults, is still the best mechanism to allow for peaceful transfer of power. But democracies are only as strong as the institutions that support it.

This is where unity and national reconciliation come into play. As the country celebrated the 75th anniversary of the country's first constitution yesterday, everyone must take stock of why Thailand has seen 16 constitutions since that day. The constitution is symbolic of more than the simple rules of governance; it is a testimony to the strength of our institutions. The myriad of coups and constitutions over the years has institutionalised a disrespect for the rule of law.

The country needs to agree on the system of government, and defend that system to the end. This especially includes all those entrusted with state power.

Everyone has a role to play in upholding the system and unifying the country around it, including by calling out those who aim to exert power undemocratically. For example, all of society should condemn a politician that seeks to subvert the checks and balances written in the constitution; all of society should condemn the military using force to seize power; and all of society should condemn judges who make rulings based on politics rather than law.

By the same token, all of society should respect the sovereign will of the people and rally around that party. If opposition parties and protest groups don't accept the results or if the army threatens to seize power with guns or if the Election Commission looks to dissolve the winning party based on dubious evidence, then the country will become even more polarised.

When the military seized power in September 2006, they promised us a better democracy. It is clear they have not delivered on those promises. The mission of the next government, therefore, should be to reverse provisions in the constitution that take away power from the people.

Finally, all those who hold state power must respect the public's will when it comes to policy decisions. If the country elects a party that wants to spend more money on education and health care than on new submarines, then those decisions should be respected. After all, politics is essentially about how to spend taxpayers' money. If the policies don't prove successful, then it's unlikely that the winning party would be able to win another election.

Thais will always think differently about how to run the country. This should not be seen as a threat, but as a strength. It is only when our country's leaders start accepting, respecting and even celebrating diverse opinions and critical thought, that the country will be truly united.

By : Bangkok Post