Thursday, February 8, 2007

The thin line of Thai democracy



INQ7.net
Last updated 05:08am (Mla time) 09/27/2006

IT HAS been a week since Thailand had its coup, a successful albeit bloodless toppling of the Thaksin regime. Its success is traced to its having the blessing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who commands the loyalty and allegiance of the Thai military.

While some in the Philippines are mulling over ways to oust Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a successful military coup would be most unlikely unless it had the blessing of a higher power: the people. That does not apply here in Thailand, where the military responds to the King first and foremost.

Let us all remember that in terms of democracy, the Philippines is still the most democratic of nations in Southeast Asia. What makes its democracy fragile is that the people and the government aren't up for the job. Too much democracy is anarchy. We need a shift in the form of government, to a parliamentary one.

No comments: