A panel of activists and academics has warned that just like at every other time in Thai history, public support for the recent coup will wane, and elections, not military rule, represent real Thai democracy.

Giles Ungpakorn, Chulalong-korn University's political scientist, addressing international journalists on Thursday evening, expressed dissatisfaction with those promoting the coup as inherent to Thailand's approach to democracy. "People call this a Thai-style coup, or Thai-style democracy. I find this insulting, especially to those who stood up against the dictatorships in 1973, 1976 and 1992," Giles said. "Saying they are for democracy is like George Bush and Tony Blair saying there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."  Pokpong Lawansiri noted that people were very much in favour of the 1991 coup, before things turned bloody, and that there was also widespread support for Thai Rak Thai early on as well. "We'll have to measure the junta by what they do in the next year," he said.

Jiranuch Premchai-porn, manager of alternative news website Prachathai.com, said the objective of bringing about unity among pro-Thaksin and anti-Thaksin groups was both unrealistic and undemocratic. "They say they are for unity, but in real societies people think and act differently. They don't try to create unity by a coup d'etat," she said.

As she and other panellists pointed out, controls on the media remain in force, with a lot of self-censorship in place. While her website remains operable, she and her colleagues are working 20-hour days to monitor the only Thai-language Web-based political discussion forum.

Somkiat Tangnamo, whose Midnight University website has been blocked, and has recently petitioned the Administrative Court to allow him to return to operations, said that the only way forward is through elections.

"The interim government's job is to organise the fairest possible election and then haul their asses out of here. We can draft our own constitution," he said.

While no one on the panel supported the previous Thai Rak Thai government, they argued that elections offer the only viable path to change. 

 Giles added that just because the Democrats or other parties could not launch a viable strategy to challenge the Thaksin regime, it did not mean it could not happen. "You can go out and create a new party, and if you don't win, you can do it again and again in the next election."

Giles himself has started his own party, the People's Coalition Party, which now has nearly 200 members.

Promoting elections is also the principle theme of the September 19 Network. The network had a number of supporters in attendance on Thursday night, donning "Coup-Busters" T-shirts. Others had "One year interim not necessary", "Military get out", "Restore 1997 Constitution" and "Election now" emblazoned on them.  

"No military-controlled constitutional drafting process can provide adequate public representation. Only after a general election can a legitimate constitution be created," said a network member. 

In commemoration of the October 14 uprising in 1973 today, the September 19 Network will be holding a mock election at Thammasat University.

"The country was supposed to have a general election on October 15 anyway, so we're just going ahead with them one day early," said a network member.  

Nantiya Tangwisutijit

The Nation