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Updated Monday, March 15, 2010 5:05 pm TWN, The China Post news staff

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Unrests tarnishing Thailand's allure

After Chen was accused of corruption, hundreds of thousands of red-shirted protesters took to the streets demanding Chen's ouster.

While the conflict did not result in our airports being overrun or excessive violence, the unrest wreaked havoc on our social stability, bringing down stock prices and discouraging foreign investment.

Fortunately, the crisis eventually died down and Chen left peacefully when his term of office expired in May of 2008.

Ironically, Chen is now sitting in prison after being convicted on corruption charges following an unprecedented investigation into his and his family's finances.

The situation in Thailand is different from that surrounding former President Chen.

Anyhow, whether Thaksin's overthrow was right or wrong is a matter for the Thai people to decide.

However, weeks of protests following his ouster have turned into months and years. It is now early 2010, some four years after he was removed from power, and the clashes are still going on with no end in sight. The people of Thailand have been polarized, pitting urban and rural residents against each other. If the Thai people on both sides of this conflict are serious about restoring honor and glory to their country, they must meet and reach a workable compromise.

Even if both sides cannot leave the negotiating table happy with the result, they should try to work something out that they at least can accept so that life can move on. Media reports from Bangkok have suggested that a towering figure respected by both sides is needed to start the healing process.

One obvious candidate for the job would be Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who remains the most respected figure in the country.

Even if no central figure emerges to start the healing process, political and social leaders would be wise to start gradually backing down from their adversarial stances. Everyone needs to realize that if these conflicts continue to go on with no end, tourists and investors will gradually give up on Thailand and go elsewhere.

That would be sad since Thailand remains a great place to visit, invest and do business in.

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Comments

March 15, 2010 stephanboa191@

In response to your Wen-article, in which he states (and for which you have disabled comments)“Negotiations are complex, but differences between brothers cannot sever blood ties. Problems can always be solved,” he said.

Wen has missiles pointed at my family here in Taiwan. For him to state we are "brothers" is interesting. He must be referring to a "nuclear" type of family.

March 15, 2010 johnny.brian@

Try not to install back the crooked ex-Pres. Chen into power or else steal again from Taiwanese people. Ex-pres. pretended to clean, now no more. Taiwanese people are wise, but beware of the election tricks or you will suffer in the long run.