re: "Pheu Thai must size up its options" (BP, Opinion, May 15, 2023)
Dear editor,
Veera Prateepchaikul offers, of course, not a shred of evidence to support his claim that "there are many among the silent majority who may feel offended and rise up if their revered institution is desecrated." The nationwide poll conducted on Sunday, May 14 suggests otherwise. It is clear that those who voted for the happily popular Move Forward have no such concerns. It is not at all clear that Pheu Thai voters feel differently on the issue. It is credible that those who voted for Palang Pracharat do to some unknown extent feel as Veera suggests, but they are a minority. It is fairly certain that United Thai Nation voters do indeed feel as Veera speculates, but they are clearly a small minority of Thais, nothing remotely like a "silent majority".
This being the situation on the ground, Pheu Thai might sensibly reconsider its views and opt to work with Move Forward in bringing about the long overdue reform that an increasing majority of the Thai people apparently want for their nation. Acting contrary to the groundswell shown by yesterday's poll will not win Pheu Thai, or any other party, more votes in elections to come. It would be prudent to respect the evolving will of the people.
Nor does any party, least of all Move Forward, have any desire to "desecrate" a revered institution as Veera somewhat hysterically describes it. Amending unjust law that contradicts democratic principle cannot itself be a desecration of any institution that itself values justice and democracy. Veera has no grounds for concerns about protests on this score, unless a tiny, non-silent, self-serving minority who might oppose both democracy and justice were to act to violate what the available evidence now suggests is the clear will of the Thai nation.
Felix Qui
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The above letter to the editor is the text as submitted by Felix Qui to the Bangkok Post.
The text as edited was published in PostBag on May 16, 2023, under the title "Reform mandate" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2571542/hearts-and-minds
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