Thai elections: Free and Unfair
The Thai elections that are being held today, offer a perfect case-study of elections that are free, but anything but fair. Ever since the first military coup that wrested power for the lawfully elected Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006, the military have cast a grim shadow on Thai politics. They have done so under the aegis of the monarchy and have behaved as an edgy driving instructor that keeps taking control of the steering wheel at every turn.
Shackled democracy
Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister, Yingluck, who was also ousted form power, in May 2014, are both living in exile now. They are accused of corruption and irregularities, respectively, and could face prison sentences should they return home. Their successors have not had an easy time, either. Even King Maha Vajiralongkorn's sister, Princess Ubolratana, who tried to stand for the Thaksin-linked Thai Raksa Chart Party, was bullied out of it. That order came directly form the king. One of the criticisms levied against the Shinawatras and parties linked to them is that they buy votes. This is because they supported Thai people in poor and rural communities. The same could be said of any programmes that benefit voters. Whoever is elected the dice are loaded in favour of the military, so we cannot expect full democracy to move in very quickly. This clip is worth watching as it explains the situation clearly and concisely:
The Thai elections that are being held today, offer a perfect case-study of elections that are free, but anything but fair. Ever since the first military coup that wrested power for the lawfully elected Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006, the military have cast a grim shadow on Thai politics. They have done so under the aegis of the monarchy and have behaved as an edgy driving instructor that keeps taking control of the steering wheel at every turn.
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| A view of the Royal Palace, Bangkok |
Shackled democracy
Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister, Yingluck, who was also ousted form power, in May 2014, are both living in exile now. They are accused of corruption and irregularities, respectively, and could face prison sentences should they return home. Their successors have not had an easy time, either. Even King Maha Vajiralongkorn's sister, Princess Ubolratana, who tried to stand for the Thaksin-linked Thai Raksa Chart Party, was bullied out of it. That order came directly form the king. One of the criticisms levied against the Shinawatras and parties linked to them is that they buy votes. This is because they supported Thai people in poor and rural communities. The same could be said of any programmes that benefit voters. Whoever is elected the dice are loaded in favour of the military, so we cannot expect full democracy to move in very quickly. This clip is worth watching as it explains the situation clearly and concisely:
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