The Christian Science Monitor
The Monitor's View
Asia's slow ride toward stable democracies was thrown in reverse Tuesday when Thailand's military took power from a popular, elected leader. The fact that the king condoned the ouster only highlights the many drags on democracy in a volatile region.
The Thai coup comes as the UN Security Council is expected to begin a discussion next week about the lack of democracy in neighboring Burma (Myanmar), where a military junta also squelched an election to hold onto power in the early 1990s. The US wants to showcase how Burma has become a threat to global security.
Also on Thailand's border, Cambodia has been failing to improve a very limited democracy under a strongman, Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former protégé of Vietnam's Communist Party and a former Khmer Rouge. He was able to hold onto power with US help despite losing an election in 1993.
And in the Philippines, a former US territory whose 1986 "people power" revolution against a dictator helped create momentum for new Asian democracies, questions over the legitimacy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's rule has led to instability and coup rumors.
In many Asian nations, democracy's roots remain shallow because poor, rural peasants are vulnerable to manipulation and intimidation by urban power brokers, whether they be rich politicians, army factions, powerful businessmen, or royalty. Personal loyalties can matter more than the merits of issues. Votes can be bought with T-shirts, and guns go a long way to keep farmers in line.
In Thailand, one reason widely given for the coup was an underlying competition in the countryside between the much-revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a constitutional monarch who has been a stable force for decades, and Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted prime minister who was elected three times by wide margins since 2001 with mainly rural votes.
Mr. Thaksin has used his business wealth and marketing skills to win the support of the mainly Buddhist Thai farmers, while alienating a much-smaller urban elite in Bangkok with his accumulation of political power, apparently corrupt business ways, and attempts to control the Army. His vision of Thai farming tied to global markets clashes with that of the king, who has worked with the rural poor to create self-sufficient, domestic markets. The king and prime minister also differed on how to deal with a Muslim uprising in the south.
With an election slated for next month, the chance of violent street protests between Thaksin's supporters and a political opposition that believed he had insulted the king led the Army to take power. Such coups were thought to have been in the past. This one seems aimed at rewriting the Constitution to elect leaders who cannot again grab so much power.
Young democracies have difficulties in creating checks and balances necessary to prevent concentrations of power. Old habits die hard, and Thailand shows that traditional power centers and big money can still skew democracy if voters are easily wooed.
The Thai military claims that it cannot allow a new election for another year. That's one year too long for a fragile democracy to wait and try again to get it right.
The Thai coup comes as the UN Security Council is expected to begin a discussion next week about the lack of democracy in neighboring Burma (Myanmar), where a military junta also squelched an election to hold onto power in the early 1990s. The US wants to showcase how Burma has become a threat to global security.
Also on Thailand's border, Cambodia has been failing to improve a very limited democracy under a strongman, Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former protégé of Vietnam's Communist Party and a former Khmer Rouge. He was able to hold onto power with US help despite losing an election in 1993.
And in the Philippines, a former US territory whose 1986 "people power" revolution against a dictator helped create momentum for new Asian democracies, questions over the legitimacy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's rule has led to instability and coup rumors.
In many Asian nations, democracy's roots remain shallow because poor, rural peasants are vulnerable to manipulation and intimidation by urban power brokers, whether they be rich politicians, army factions, powerful businessmen, or royalty. Personal loyalties can matter more than the merits of issues. Votes can be bought with T-shirts, and guns go a long way to keep farmers in line.
In Thailand, one reason widely given for the coup was an underlying competition in the countryside between the much-revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a constitutional monarch who has been a stable force for decades, and Thaksin Shinawatra, the ousted prime minister who was elected three times by wide margins since 2001 with mainly rural votes.
Mr. Thaksin has used his business wealth and marketing skills to win the support of the mainly Buddhist Thai farmers, while alienating a much-smaller urban elite in Bangkok with his accumulation of political power, apparently corrupt business ways, and attempts to control the Army. His vision of Thai farming tied to global markets clashes with that of the king, who has worked with the rural poor to create self-sufficient, domestic markets. The king and prime minister also differed on how to deal with a Muslim uprising in the south.
With an election slated for next month, the chance of violent street protests between Thaksin's supporters and a political opposition that believed he had insulted the king led the Army to take power. Such coups were thought to have been in the past. This one seems aimed at rewriting the Constitution to elect leaders who cannot again grab so much power.
Young democracies have difficulties in creating checks and balances necessary to prevent concentrations of power. Old habits die hard, and Thailand shows that traditional power centers and big money can still skew democracy if voters are easily wooed.
The Thai military claims that it cannot allow a new election for another year. That's one year too long for a fragile democracy to wait and try again to get it right.
6 comments:
USA must be shamed to be the supporter of Hun sen regime. Cambodian are crying for democracy lured by the USA but this USA is only working with dictator and corruption government instead of helping the whole world for a real democratic. Cambodian people are now broken heart for second time.
Successive U.S. governments are not always on a good term with Sihanouk, because he expelled them in the 60s and he also claimed that the CIA had tried to get rid of him. Whatever the real reason, the U.S. government still does not seem to have a good relation with the Cambodian monarchy. And, Hun Sen also does not like the Cambodian monarchy. So, it may be the case of "an enemy of my enemy is my friend" perception on the U.S. side.
The arrogant attitude of the leading members of the Monarchy, such as Ranariddh, also does not help improve this relation. His chief of cabinet has been known as the "Bitch" in the national and international circles. Hun Sen and CPP no longer declare themselves as communists and work hard to stregthen their relation with the U.S. in spite of their doubt. Hun Sen and CPP also work hard for a close tie with China and France.
What does Funcinpec do to improve their international relation besides quarrelling among themselves? The SRP also works hard to improve their network and relation with other important countries, but they often get entangled with Funcinpec who brings them down again.
Once cannot expect a free meal in the international relation. We must work hard to help ourselves and to gain credibility before we can ask others to support us.
Now Cambodia stuck with Mr. Strongman Hun Sen with primary education. Mr. HUN SEN had fashioned himself to be man who wears many heads and he answers to no one! He is the assassin,the dictator,the pimp,the CEO,Prime Minister,and even the King! I can't blame Mr.HUN SEN and Cambodian people should thank Uncle Sam for opening the door and showing him the way!
I heard alot of Cambodian people said that Mr. HUN SEN is very smart and from what I had noticed is that he is smart for himself especially the greed for power!
Cambodia is still very poor,very undemocratic and don't have any rule of law and again Cambodian people should thank Uncle Sam for shaping Cambodia into the most dysfucntional nation on Earth!
Mr. Anonymous 6:21 PM. Thanks for international view of US the father of democracy. US will act if she gains something even to be friend with Sadam, Bin, China, KR, HS, now Viet as long as she benefits something. Look at China for example there are so many serious human right violations. US still sticks to enrich this nation. Does US care about Tibet or Tinaman sqare? Don't forget she walked away from Lon Nol in 1975 leading to 60k + 1.7 millions killed. What does US do now in helping SRP? Good luck to all the democracy leaders in the world.
THE LON NOL COUP OF 1970 WILL REPEAT SOON AGAIN
YUON XEN GETS READY TO ABOLISH THE KHMER MONARCHY.
PROCLAMATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY
ON...........2006 AT..., THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN CONVENED AND HAS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO REMOVE NORODOM SIHAMONI AS A KING OF CAMBODIA, ABOLISHING THE MONARCHY AND DECLARING CAMBODIA A REPUBLIC WITH YUON XEN, WHO IS CURRENTLY PRIME MINISTER, AS THE PRESIDENT FOR LIFE WITH GRANTED EMERGENCY POWERS..
KHIEU KANHARITH, government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith
DO MAI AH SAKER
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