Pie in the Sky

I probably should be going out more. My friends that haven't fled the country are still hanging around Silom and DJ Station. They're hanging out with the same guys, trying to pick up some new ones, or offing money boys from a go-go bar. Some have asked me to go down and hang out, but I've been pretty lazy after teaching a full load of classes. I have 28 hours per week in the classroom this semester, with Saturday classes too :-).

I've been staying in then, and that means I have alot of time for Thai politics. That might not be a good thing?

As I've said, the latest government movements seem to center on emphasizing the 'road map to reconciliation' and prosecuting opposition figures both in court and the press.

This 'road map' is always a source of interest for me. Prime Minister Abhisit says he is confident that it will assist Thailand in the 'healing process,' but will only happen, says Mr. Abhisit, if 95 percent of Thai people buy in to this plan. That number, he admits, will be difficult to achieve, but he does say the plan will work.

Of course, I'm not sure that anyone really knows what the 'plan' entails. I've seen no draft released to the public; I know only that it is a five-point plan designed for 'reconciliation,' whatever that means. To me, it certainly seems difficult to achieve 95% support for a plan that no one really understands, so perhaps Mr. Abhisit believes this strategy provides him plausible deniability. If the long view (history) does actually evaluate Mr. Abhisit's performance, perhaps they will see that he at least 'tried' to gain consensus with a plan, albeit one that no one understands and supposedly requires 95% support from a population that, as a whole, probably does not support his party.

There might be another method to Mr. Abhisit's current tack. As he continues to press for 'reconciliation,' his government continues to pursue terrorism charges against opposition leaders and their associates. By silencing opposition to the current government, Mr. Abhisit can gain control of public opinion, perhaps paving the way for further salesmanship. If the Prime Minister controls the public forum, he can sell his new plan and his version of events, explaining to the Thai people what 'really' happened the past two months.

I just saw a story today that reinforced this idea, as it looks like Mr. Abhisit has requested the government pay whatever is necessary to control tv satellites, which previously broadcasted the opposition's message. Mr. Abhisit says it's a matter of national security: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/38817/govt-warned-thaicom-a-trap. A matter of national security or the security of his party?

I know I've been spending too much time at home, but I can't help myself. It's too interesting; I have to read more :-). Maybe I should go to DJ Station this weekend....