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Published on December 31, 2007

The December 23 election saw the former voting for the pro-Thaksin People Power Party (PPP), while the latter voted for the pro-aristocratic and junta-friendly Democrat Party.

Fifteen months of "re-education" or propaganda forced down the throats of the populace by the military junta who staged the coup in 2006 has not succeed in convincing the rural and urban poor to stop supporting ousted premier Thaksin.

The divide could get even wider if neither of the two sides learns how to co-exist with mutual respect. Continued self-righteousness amongst the middle class and the elite could possibly lead to a nasty and prolonged schism between the classes.

What needs to be done to bridge the gap ought to be fairly obvious.

However, the middle class and the elite appear to be too content with the status quo. They must recognise that as much as the military has proven itself incapable of running the country successfully over the past 15 months - with the GDP growth falling behind even countries like Bangladesh - Thailand will not be able to prosper. There will be no peace or development if the majority of the population is left behind with no active role to play in shaping the Kingdom's political and economic future.

Here are a few (perhaps onerous) suggestions, made in the belief that not all in the middle classes or the elite are the same. It is to be hoped that some are more willing to step out of the confines of their class background and self-imposed prejudice than others.

1 Listen to the poor, to their aspirations, and stop patronising them.

While there is no doubt that vote-buying and vote-selling is still an issue, the huge support for the PPP shows that there must be something beyond mere electoral fraud that has taken place. Many of these voters may be sending a message that they need a government that is responsive to their needs, and not just one that will cater to the well-to-do in Bangkok and other big cities.

And since they make up majority of the voting population, any future electoral campaign can no longer ignore their rights and aspirations.

It is patronising and shallow to say that because the PPP won big time, its supporters are not ready for a democracy - especially when this sentiment comes from the so-called educated middle class and the elite who nonchalantly and without hesitation supported the unlawful overthrow of a government through a coup which has caused much damage not only to Thai democracy but the economy as well.

2 Do away with double standards and prejudice.

Anti-Thaksin groups can't bear the thought of the 111 banned former Thai Rak Thai party executives being granted amnesty by the PPP, but at the same time they have no problem about the generals granting themselves amnesty for having staged the coup.

How about another example: the middle class despises vote-selling by the rural and urban poor and regards these people as stupid and hopeless, however when they engage in offering tea money to get their kids into famous schools or to win a business contract, they see it as a pragmatic and even smart decision.

By the way, vote-buyers are from that upper echelon of Thai society too.

3 Forge a new type of relationship with the poor in a way that goes beyond one based on class and economic relations. Such hierarchical relationships based on power are one dimensional and rooted in a culture of patronage. Attempts must be made to create other venues and means for people to meet and relate as fellow citizens.

Better educational access for the majority of people must be supported. Basically, any move that helps to lessen economic disparity is also needed.

None of these can be realised if the middle class and the elite do not recognise the importance of stepping outside of their prejudices.

The middle class and the elite should realise that this would be good for the whole of society, themselves included. A semi-feudal society cannot become democratic and more competitive economically.

Twenty per cent or 30 per cent of the population alone, who constitute the elite and the middle class, cannot by themselves propel Thailand into becoming a democracy and a prosperous and peaceful society.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation