“80 years without democracy” was the slogan of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship when marking the 80th anniversary of the change from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy last Sunday, June 24.
Is it true that there has been no democracy in Thailand over the past 80 years? If democracy means rule of the majority, by the majority and for the majority, but with respect for the rights of the minority too, then the answer is that we may not have democracy yet. Hence, the "democracy" we have had was, at times, described as half-baked democracy and half-sail democracy.
So what kind of democracy do the red-shirts want or have in mind? Is it the kind broadly outlined by Adisorn Piangket, a red-shirt co-leader and a member of "No 111 House", this past Sunday?
Adisorn Piangket (Photo by Surapol Promsaka na Sakolnakorn)
"Democracy means rule by the majority. Do not give a damn to the minority if they try to strangle us. Do not give them [the minority] any attention if they do not want to change the constitution. We must make use of our majority voice for our benefit," Adisorn declared.
To sum up Adisorn's definition of democracy -- the rule of the majority with complete disregard for the voice of the minority. And the only way to attain this type of democracy is to rewrite the constitution, which is exactly what the Pheu Thai Party is in the process of doing. Unfortunately for them, there has been a hitch.
The Constitution Court issued an injunction, suspending the process, pending an enquiry into an allegation that there is an attempt underway to overthrow the constitutional monarchy through a charter rewrite.
If Adisorn's vision of democracy reflects that of the UDD, it is a recipe for trouble because the minority, who happen to number several million (if the constituents who do not vote for the Pheu Thai party are regarded as the minority) will not accept this notion of democracy, if their voices are not to be heeded by the majority and they are denied any role in determining the fate of the country.
And if the minority also means all the independent organisations such as the Constitution Court, the Election Commission and the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which the red-shirts hold in deep contempt, then will the UDD seek to dismantle or neutralise all of these organisations, which act as a check-and-balance mechanism against excess or misuse of power by the executive branch.
Former UDD leader Veerakarn (formerly Veera) Musikhapong on Sunday told red-shirt followers to be prepared and to brace for a new round of warfare in August. That is when the parliament is to resume in new session and the topical issue to be debated is the constitutional amendments bill. By that time the Constitution Court will have ruled on the constitutionality of the legislation. Hopefully, the court will approve the bill and the rewriting process will continue.
But the red-shirt people, the Pheu Thai Party and the proposed charter drafting assembly which is to be formed after the passage of the bill must bear in mind that if the new constitution is written in such a way that the voice of the minority is to be ignored or all the independent organisations are to be dissolved or neutralised, or the provision regarding the monarchy is changed, there will be strong protests and perhaps chaos.
The red-shirt group and Pheu Thai cannot have the cake and eat it all, without sharing with the others, simply because they won the general election and have the majority of votes in the parliament.