Abhisit’s “truth” on Thailand

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has appeared on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Road” Power Breakfast, speaking on the topic of “Is it Thailand’s Time to Shine?” His speech is here. PPT comments on some aspects of his speech, with our comments in italics:

… I’m sure you will more or less agree with me that, despite the recent unrest, Thailand and the Thai people, including foreign business people who live and work in Thailand, have already shown strength, resilience, and readiness to move away and beyond the demonstrations, violence and disunity that we have seen on the television and read about in news reports. Already, this country is reclaiming its image as a vibrant and fascinating place you all are familiar with. So, my answer is … it is a very clear and firm and strong “yes”, and I will tell you four reasons why.

Abhisit has made this point several times before. It is a statement about international image and lacks much connection to real political events. Abhisit might be on strong ground in speaking of the economy, where despite his own government’s dire warnings during the March to May red shirt rallies, the economy was not badly hit. However, as events as late as 19 September show, the political struggle is not anywhere near finished. Abhisit himself needs to take responsibility for the military’s violent actions and should allow a transparent investigation of events that left 91 dead and thousands injured.

First, … [t]he Thai people, with their compassion, tolerance and patience, have proven for centuries that they are capable of overcoming challenges and achieving success. The Thai nation has been guided by His Majesty the King, who continues to serve as a source of strength and unity, and instills in us the will to succeed and the conscience to progress. For the business community, you would know that my Government is committed to building an open economy and a dynamic business sector.

Abhisit’s call to cultural characteristics can be debated. The Abhisit regime has shown little compassion, tolerance or patience. It has blood on its hands as it has protected the royalist elite.

Second, …  Our economy has pulled through and remains strong…. Both as a country and as a people, we have demonstrated time and again our remarkable resilience. Every time we face a crisis, which I see as a part of our growing pain, we learn how to better build a more stable and solid future. Look at Thailand today, and you will see that we are charged, we are confident and we are alive.

PPT can’t agree. If “Thailand today” and the collective “we” means the ruling elite, then it seems that they learn nothing from crises, economic and political. Economically, Thailand is regressing in its strategy, seemingly wanting to re-emphasize a cheap labor strategy and barely building a productive and research capacity like the East Asian economies. In politics, the ruling elite continues to relied on the armed forces to maintain its rule. Constitutions continue to be thrown out and repression rules while election results are treated with disdain. If their is resilience, then it is to be found in the working and rural working classes who have had to put up with repression and exploitation.

Third, … My Government has worked on building social cohesiveness, while addressing issues related to poverty and social inequality, such as health and education systems.

This is probably the most misleading comment in the speech. Abhisit is responsible for 91 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries. He has locked up hundreds of political prisoners. The war in the south is intensifying. There is less “cohesiveness” now than for many years.  Poverty and inequality remain significant issues driving political conflict.

Fourth, we are very focused on … our Creative Economy, where innovation is key….

A creative economy is unlikely to be built on the base of censorship and repression that Abhisit’s government has embedded.

I … will restore the country’s image and political stability. We are determined to achieve reconciliation, and to make sure that democracy continues to mature in Thailand….

There is no reconciliation and this government has done more to embed authoritarianism than any regime since the 1977 and the royalist regime under Thanin Kraivixien.

Abhisit prides himself on being able to talk with foreigners and to be able to “sell” Thailand’s image overseas. PPT believes that this marketing is failing; it certainly means little in Thailand where even his powerful backers are now reportedly questioning Abhisit’s usefulness.

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