Curbs on political criticism only bottle up discontent
Poking fun at politics by using satirical banners and floats is the key feature and star attraction of the annual Chulalongkorn-Thammasat university football match. This traditional rivalry has always been a channel for politically conscious students to express their views, especially during times when the country is under military or civilian dictatorship and free expression by the media and public is restricted or suppressed.
This year’s football match, on Saturday, was held under unusual circumstances with martial law still in force following the May 22 military coup.
Students in charge of organising the satirical displays in the form of floats, banners and flash-card displays were confused about how far they could go in expressing their political opinions. Nevertheless, they did their best to test the limits of the authorities.
One day ahead of the match, junta spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree said the government would not prohibit satirical displays at the match, though the students were cautioned to avoid doing anything which could fan social or political discontent.
Police and military personnel on the ground, however, acted in just the opposite way, despite those assurances.
Accompanied by the rectors of the two universities, they inspected the parade floats and sought explanations from the students about each one.
Trouble started when they shut the gate to prevent the Thammasat parade from entering the football pitch.
Many banners which were deemed politically inflammatory were seized, although the floats were finally allowed to go through — floats such as the Justice Lady statue and the 12 Core Values.
Nevertheless, some student groups managed to sneak through several more critical protest banners, one of which read “Down with dictatorship, long live democracy”.
It appeared the coordinated flash-card displays had eluded the scrutiny of the authorities as well. One display read, “We want democracy, when will you return it to us.”
Though a traditional practice, the displays of political mockery reflect degrees of measured discontent among politically conscious students, against a political atmosphere of increasing restriction of free expression and the threat of “attitude adjustment” by the military.
I only hope the authorities do not seek out the students who dared to display those bold protest banners at the stadium — and pursue them in the way they are doing with those involved in spreading the fake Royal Household Bureau’s statement about His Majesty the King’s health across social media.
I sympathise with the ASTV online news editor for unwittingly and carelessly posting the fake statement on the ASTV website.
The statement was pulled with a formal apology shortly after it was found to be false. The editor will now face arrest and possibly be denied bail.
This is prevent any accusations of double-standards by the red-shirt movement which has demanded equal treatment for one of its men arrested for the same charge but who has not apologised for his actions.
Like closing the lid of a boiling kettle, which causes more pressure to build inside the kettle, the clampdown on free expression can only lead to more discontent and undermine efforts at reconciliation.
What Prime Minister Prayut Chano-cha, the most powerful man in the country at the moment, should do is exercise more patience and tolerance towards criticism as this is part and parcel of what a government leader must face.
He must also ensure the political roadmap is followed according to schedule. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam said the other day that he expected an election to be held next January if everything goes to plan — that is, assuming the draft constitution is wrapped up by mid-April before it is forwarded to the National Reform Council, the National Legislative Assembly and the cabinet for review.
But whether or not the election that most politicians and democracy advocates yearn for will usher in a new era of politics and a new crop of more socially responsible politicians is anybody’s guess.
Personally, I do not think the political landscape will change very much as long as the key players remain unchanged.
I only hope the authorities do not seek out the students who dared to display those bold protest banners