[fse-esf] Fw: Focus on the Global South's Statement on the Military Takeover in Thailand

[Alex Callinicos]

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's
democratization process.

The rationale for the takeover - that Thai society has become divided as never
before in the nation's 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's 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's basic
rights to freedom of information, freedom of expression and freedom of
association.

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