On Sunday, July 3, Thailand goes to the polls. With both sides all but saying that they will not accept a decision that goes against them, the post-election scene promises to be as fractious as the run-up to the poll. More violence seems a given. The military, which deposed a democratically elected government a few years ago, is meddling again. The following letter, which was published in one of the country’s leading dailies, remains as relevant to Thailand, as for the country it originally referred to.
The dictator has gone. Long live the dictatorship!
The revolution in Egypt is only a partial success. The front man will be replaced with another front man. As long as the military is in control, nothing will really change. For the Egyptians to realize their aspirations they will not only have to send the soldiers back to the barracks, but ensure that they stay there.
Beware. When generals promise general elections, only generals get elected.
(Published in Bangkok Post, 15 February 2011)
Wow Laos 