A BAD ATTITUDE PROBLEM

The expansion of the attitude adjustment programme and the regime’s granting of vastly expanded police powers to soldiers appear to be the latest step to reduce the people of Thailand into a state of complete submission to the whims of the NCPO headed by General Prayut.

I’m scratching my head and wondering what exactly does an attitude adjustment session entail? I’ve never heard anyone who has attended one offer details of how the regime — in practical terms — adjusts peoples’ attitudes. It sounds like a good idea for a Monty Python sketch but this is no laughing matter, it’s a very scary reality.

Moreover, reports always say that such-and-such was “summoned” for attitude adjustment but this doesn’t seem to be the case as a number of reports have stated that security forces have showed up at someone’s residence and forcibly taken them to be held against their will despite having committed no crime, and with no access to legal representation. This is tantamount to abduction and enforced captivity.

A front-page report in the April 2 edition of the Bangkok Post paraphrased Prayut as saying out of 70 million Thais, only a few of them are complaining about human rights and democracy. Perhaps because anyone who complains or criticises can expect the above, and now for up to one month. Is Gen Prayut unaware of the difference between respect and fear? A good leader inspires the former, even in his opponents, a bullies and tyrants rule with the latter.

I am also curious as to why I have not seen more letters in recent days responding to this, not to mention more critical reporting by the Bangkok Post. Is it the same reason almost 70 million Thais — as Gen Prayut assures us — are keeping their mouths shut?

I think it would be appropriate to end this letter with a quote from the Irish statesmen Edmund Burke: “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”

Steve T