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Subject: Focus on the Global South's Statement on the Military Takeover in
Thailand From: "Walden Bello" <waldenbello@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, September 20, 2006 23:46
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Focus on the Global South's Statement on the Coup in Thailand
Focus on the Global South views the recent military takeover of
government in Thailand as a most regrettable setback in the country$BCT(B
democratization process.
The rationale for the takeover – that Thai society has become divided as
never before in the nation$BCT(B history, and that the threats of violence
require measures to maintain peace and security – may be an accurate
reflection of the current political and social situation. Undoubtedly,
corruption and arrogance on the part of the Thaksin Shinwatra government
undermined democracy and the Constitution, and it led people to challenge
the legitimacy of the regime. However, the usurpation of power and
trampling of rights and liberties by a group of officers calling
themselves the Democratic Reform Council is in no way justifiable. Indeed,
before the coup, there were already attempts to resolve the political
crisis by democratic participation within the framework of the
Constitution These were forestalled by the military intervention.
As faithful advocates of participatory democracy, we demand respect for
the 1997 constitution. This constitution was derived through the process
of extensive consultation with all sectors of society, and is the only one
that could be rightly called the people$BCT(B constitution. Thus, we join most
of the Thai people in demanding the expeditious and complete return of
democratic rights to the Thai people and an immediate restoration of the
people$BCT(B basic rights to freedom of information.