October 25
Aljazeera English

I would agree with the report on one thing. Thailand does need stability.

I think Thailand is entering a new stage of politics. The people are fed up with the old politics – and I’m not referring to any specific sides. I’m talking about the country’s political structure as a whole. This parliamentary political system is not working right for the people. In Britain, it calls for the unity of within the party dominating the parliament. In Thailand, it fosters “gang politics.” The bottom line is the culture. Cultural differences between Britain and Thailand gave birth to two different style of parliamentary systems. And to be honest, I do not think Thai culture is quite compatible with the British parliamentary system. I don’t know what our ancestors were thinking when they adopted this system; it needs to be changed.

So, for me, this instability is signaling that change. I’m not saying that the political structure will shift from a parliamentary system to a presidential system in the future; that I cannot foresee (although the presidential system might lessen this “gang politics” that’s so deep-rooted in the society. I think it’s a big mess. People should vote for whom they think would help them advance in life and help Thailand advance in the global community. For both – not one of the two. Because people are voting solely for themselves, they are not thinking about the country. And that’s why Thailand is still swimming in a pool of political disease.

Bangkok Diaries talks about how the Tourism Authority of Thailand is trying desperately to bring more tourists into the country despite this political instability. And I would like to confirm to tourists out there who wants to visit Thailand that there’s nothing to worry about. Seriously, I would consider myself lucky if I am stuck at the airport watching people protesting. Why? Because I can get a first-hand experience of what people actually think about the issue – not those distorted reports from the media. Hence, the guy in Aljazeera’s video who’s standing among the red-shirts will learn so much more than those who avoid Thailand just because of this turmoil.

And just a food for thought: how much of this decrease in a number of tourists is affected by the global economic slump? I wonder.

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