April 4th, 2010, 04:31
Letters
SIR тАУ Struck by the interest The Economist has shown in ThailandтАЩs monarchy, I am obliged to set certain facts straight (тАЬAs father fades, his children fightтАЭ, March 20th). The Thai monarchy is above politics. Portraying it as a partisan actor is simply wrong and misleading. While some groups may advocate their cause by claiming royal support or advancing the notion of the palaceтАЩs involvement in politics, The Economist should not fall into this trap, let alone perpetuate the same misperception. It is too simplistic to pigeonhole these groups, as both have supporters and detractors who do not fit neatly into the тАЬrich versus poorтАЭ or тАЬurban versus ruralтАЭ divide.
Succession is a difficult issue for Thais, but this is not because of the l├иse-majest├й law. Having had such a father figure as monarch for so long has meant that change is unsettling and it is normal for people to be apprehensive. To express doubts about the heir apparent based on rumours and wild conjectures is not the way to initiate debate about the issue. ThailandтАЩs monarchy has been continuously evolving for more than 700 years and will always remain one of the kingdomтАЩs main institutions holding the country together.
Finally, the present administration did not assume office through a тАЬparliamentary fixтАЭ. Abhisit Vejjajiva was voted in as prime minister in the same House of Representatives and through the same provisions under the constitution as were his two predecessors. As in other parliamentary democracies, it is not uncommon for coalition parties to switch their support as dictated by pragmatism, something you think is now lacking in Thailand.
Vimon Kidchob
Director-general
Department of Information Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Bangkok
SIR тАУ Struck by the interest The Economist has shown in ThailandтАЩs monarchy, I am obliged to set certain facts straight (тАЬAs father fades, his children fightтАЭ, March 20th). The Thai monarchy is above politics. Portraying it as a partisan actor is simply wrong and misleading. While some groups may advocate their cause by claiming royal support or advancing the notion of the palaceтАЩs involvement in politics, The Economist should not fall into this trap, let alone perpetuate the same misperception. It is too simplistic to pigeonhole these groups, as both have supporters and detractors who do not fit neatly into the тАЬrich versus poorтАЭ or тАЬurban versus ruralтАЭ divide.
Succession is a difficult issue for Thais, but this is not because of the l├иse-majest├й law. Having had such a father figure as monarch for so long has meant that change is unsettling and it is normal for people to be apprehensive. To express doubts about the heir apparent based on rumours and wild conjectures is not the way to initiate debate about the issue. ThailandтАЩs monarchy has been continuously evolving for more than 700 years and will always remain one of the kingdomтАЩs main institutions holding the country together.
Finally, the present administration did not assume office through a тАЬparliamentary fixтАЭ. Abhisit Vejjajiva was voted in as prime minister in the same House of Representatives and through the same provisions under the constitution as were his two predecessors. As in other parliamentary democracies, it is not uncommon for coalition parties to switch their support as dictated by pragmatism, something you think is now lacking in Thailand.
Vimon Kidchob
Director-general
Department of Information Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Bangkok