Wild speculation

re: "Pita's PM hopes hang on a miracle" (BP, Opinion, July 10, 2023) 

Dear editor,

It would be rash to dispute the Bangkok Post's Veera Prateepchaikul when he says of the Thai people, who are the Thai nation, that "most are fed up with the current administration, led by the three 'Por' generals (Prayuth, Prawit and Anupong, aka Pok), and want to see changes for the better." Far less certain is his claim that "It is doubtful that many were aware of the essence of Move Forward Party's bill to amend the lese majeste law or Section 112 of the Criminal Code." 

On the contrary, many, if not most, and perhaps even all, might have voted for Move Forward precisely because that one policy towers above all others in clearly demonstrating the party's loyalty to democratic principle for the sake of the Thai nation. Veera does not know any more than I do what part well-informed knowledge of its proposed amendments to the lese majeste laws prompted Thais to vote for Move Forward. It would be extremely useful were NIDA or some similar body to conduct a series of polls to replace with precise percentages the traditional wild speculation on these issues, about which we are all equally guessing wishfully in ignorance.

Every detail that Veera goes on to list regarding Move Forward's proposed amendments to the lese majeste laws, none of which are secret, is fully in accord with justice and democratic principle. Who who values democracy and justice would not therefore vote for the party that promises such long overdue reform of indefensible law? Veera did not attempt any defence of the existing law, presumably because he knows there is none that holds up to even the most cursory critical scrutiny.

He did, however, point out the senate's sole reasons for failing to honour the mandate of the Thai nation, as expressed through the coalition of pro-democracy parties, is that hoary old slogan "allegiance to the three pillars of the country, namely the nation, religion and the monarchy." But this cannot hold. To the extent that it is anything more than a legal creation, the nation simply is the Thai people. Allegiance to the nation therefore requires that the senate vote for Move Forward's Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister, he being the nation's choice as properly determined by the people through their elected representatives in parliament. 

 Felix Qui 

_______________________________

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 July 11, 2023, under the title "Wild speculation" at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/postbag/2609718/incompatible-views