Pre-emptive moves complicating matters

The animosity between the government and the People's Alliance for Democracy has proved insurmountable. The rival camps have further complicated the situation by making the pre-emptive move for the anticipated next step of the other side.

In other words, the government and the PAD are not fighting based on their respective assessments of the present circumstances but gearing up for the imagined circumstances, if the other side has its way at a given juncture.

The rival camps are too preoccupied with their respective imagining of a worst-case catastrophe, which may or may not materialise, to mutually see the havoc caused.

By indulging in the flight of fantasy, the government-PAD rivalry is bound to escalate. Society is descending into a bottomless pit of mayhem.

If the conflict is allowed to persist, then the damage incurred by the airport blockades at Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi will pale in comparison with future destruction.

Thailand is not on the brink of ruin. It is already on the ruinous path with no end in sight.

In a recent turn of events, the government refuses to step down either by resigning office or by calling a snap election.

The PAD, meanwhile, insists on two things - holding on to the two major airports and threatening to terrorise the country with harsher measures if protesters are forced to disperse.

What seems to be a fair and easy-to-implement solution - government to exit in exchange for the PAD to stop street protests - has gone unheeded by the rival camps.

Why are they so stubborn without rhyme or reason?

This is because the government and the PAD have allowed their imagination to run wild.

The PAD keeps on visualising the political evil if politicians from the People Power Party remain on the political scene. Its main goal is to completely wipe out ideas and politicians leaning toward former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

It is portraying itself as spearheading a movement similar to the French Revolution. If history is any indication, then there has never been a revolution or a forced change that can suppress ideas and aspirations.

It is unrealistic and unjustified for PAD leaders to dream on about political utopia that can be achieved by an uprising. Politics always evolves and the beauty of democratic elections is to allow changes by peaceful means.

Forcing changes and ideas in people's heads is fascism, which should not be confused with the advancement of democracy.

The government too should stop indulging in the fantasy that it is the one and only vanguard of democracy.

The only way for democracy to thrive is for all sides to fight fair and square through the electoral process. The predicament persists because the government and the PAD are equally vicious in manipulating the rules instead of playing the game.

Government leaders should cease to invoke their election victory as a shield to cling to power.

There is no shred of evidence to suggest a grand conspiracy to disrupt the elections as has been speculated by pro-government activists, such as Veera Musigapong.

Should the government decide to step down or to carry on its work, it should draw conclusions based on how best to serve the public and not by some fictional and unverified scenarios.

Veera has claimed it is imperative for Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to cling to office because his resignation might mean an end to democracy.

For about a month, speculation has spread that the PAD and its backers would try to install an appointed government led by Privy Councillor Palakorn Suwannarat.

A similar allegation was circulated before the downfall of Thaksin but did not materialise. At the time it was meant to unseat the government. A rehash of the allegation is ironically designed to save the Somchai administration.

If the government and the PAD find it impossible to disengage from their fight, the least they can do is to stop rousing the crowds to inflame the situation.

Thai citizens should not have to put up with lies and half-truths designed to manipulate the outcome of the power struggle.

Should it be unavoidable for society to perish, let it happen in a dignified manner.