Suthep’s fall from grace gathers pace
Whether it’s an illusion of grandeur or self-sacrifice is yet to be seen but the return of veteran politician Suthep Thaugsuban to the streets is certainly a classic example of how to lose your political support in no time.
Five years ago, during the 2013-2014 anti-Yingluck Shinawatra protests, Mr Suthep stood taller than any career politicians could ever dream of. As secretarygeneral of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), the former deputy prime minister commanded the support of millions.
His tactics were controversial. The “Bangkok Shutdown” blockage of major streets in the capital and violent confrontations that ensued have been largely condemned while his demonstration mantra asking for reform before another election is now derided as only an attempt to pave the way for the May 2014 coup.
Despite the provocative edge, Mr Suthep achieved his goal in bringing down the Yingluck government. He could have retired then, as he previously promised. He would still be condemned by anti-military, anti-PDRC people but he would have been seen as leaving on a high by his supporters.
But he didn’t, not even after he entered, then quit the monkhood in his hometown of Surat Thani. Had he done so then, the saffron robes would have given him the expedient cloak of having risen above mundane matters. Instead, Mr Suthep helped launch the pro-junta Action Coalition for Thailand (ACT). His campaign-style walkabout, which marked his return to the streets after the tumultuous protests five years ago, was to recruit members for the new party.
Alas, “Suthep: The Return” is like one of those sequels that flop. His story has degenerated from that of a political phenomenon, no matter how contentious, to a titan-turned-buffoon. It is a textbook example of what not to do in Thai politics. Yet, it continues to play out as if no one realises that political lessons, or remnants, are best kept in museums and not paraded as somebody else’s cheerleader.
Mr Suthep’s first transgression was to go back on his word.
Fondly called Lung Kamnan or “Uncle Headman” while he led the protests to topple the Yingluck government, Mr Suthep knew he had to distance himself as far as possible from career politicians.
As a veteran of the game, he knew it was best to play the us-against-them card to bring down a democratically elected government. That is why he rebranded himself from the more formal “ex-deputy prime minister and MP” to the humble, community-based kamnan.
That is why he vowed he would never return to electoral politics after taking to the streets to oust an administration that came to power through legitimate channels despite it being branded as corrupt.
He tried to show his sincerity, his “genuine’’ desire to protect the country, by sacrificing his own career. It must have seemed like a moving gesture to his supporters at the time. And it worked because it fit the political script — the selfless champion of the people who abandons everything after toppling a “corrupt” government.
But Mr Suthep evidently didn’t want to stick to the script, or found a more powerful calling. No matter how he spins it, his role as a co-founder of the ACT Party and his attempt to promote it to the public is an act of deceit. He deserves neither favour nor respect for this crass turnaround.
Mr Suthep’s second mistake is to exploit the public, using their aspirations as a vehicle for his own agenda.
Progressives may brand people who joined the PDRC as pro-coup or politically naive groups out to protect the status quo, but it is fair to say that a large number of Mr Suthep’s supporters at that time really wanted to see national reform.
Now that it is evident that neither Mr Suthep nor his movement care as much about the country’s reform as they do about who will control state power, faith in the movement has inevitably eroded.
The decline in Mr Suthep’s popularity was only reinforced by his attempt to label those who booed or shunned him during his grandly named “paying tribute to the land” walkabout as paid hecklers or members of opposition groups.
Admittedly, it is hard to come to terms with a fall from grace. Yet, when it comes to politics, being out of touch with reality is the fastest way downhill.
Despite the lukewarm welcome, Mr Suthep and his party said they will carry on with their publicity walks. Whether he is ultimately be seen as a fool who did not know when to quit or a man who sacrificed himself for the good of the people, the results have been dreary so far.