Inequality and Injustice cause the political crisis in Thailand.

By Pimsiri Petchnamrob

Thailand was known as one of most stable country in South East Asia region both economically and politically.

Now the international community realises that it is just an illusion. Thailand seemed to be peaceful because many conflicts have been covered under the beautiful mask.

Since the cold war ended in early 1990s, economy of Thailand expanded dramatically along with the gap between rich and poor. The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) indicated on November 2009 that, the bottom 10% of population of the population only gets less than 2% of GDP, while the richest 10% gain up to 40% of GDP.

When Mr.Thaksin Shinnawatra was elected to be Prime Minister in 2001, he provided a lot of populism policies for poor like 30 baht (0.7 Euro) healthcare and cheap loans for peasants in rural area. It was the first time in Thai political history that poor benefited from concrete policy. Even though those policies were not social welfare from progressive tax and even though he violated human rights in war against drug - one of his successful policies, poor in rural and urban still have appreciated him so much.

After coup d’etat 2006 which overthrew Former PM Thaksin Sinnawatra, Thailand has been operated by elite and military under the so-called democracy. The current government under PM Abhisit Vejjajiva has not stepped into power by electoral process but military support.

Many people felt angry that their beloved PM was ousted by coup. They felt that their major votes were meaningless. Taxi driver, Nuamthong Priwan, crashed his car against tank and then hanged himself to protest the military coup.

Current situation

• UDD (United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship) or Redshirts started demonstration demanding for the parliament resolving and new election since 1 month ago.
• The Government has announced the state of emergency to control the situation and use the emergency act to close many websites and a television channel.
• The CRES (Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation) has threatened political activists and people by lès majesté law.
• The crackdown on 10 April 2010 caused the death of 20 civilians, 5 soldiers and injury of 834 persons.
• There was bomb blast at sky train station in the city centre on 22 April 2010, caused the death of 3 civilians and injury of 75 persons.
• 28 April 2010, there was clash between troops and red shirts, caused the death of 1 soldier by friendly fire.
• 3 May 2010, PM Abhisit declared that the government will hold the new election on 14 November 2010.

Resolution

About inequality, reforming tax payment system and creating effective state welfare system will be the best solution in long run to reduce gap between rich and poor in Thai society. Social welfare without tax system reform is just a short-term populism.

About injustice, Democratisation is the only way to resolve this problem. Military and elite must respect democratic process and not intervene in all cases.