Does real democracy stand a chance in Thailand? | Inside Story

Summary

The video discusses Thailand's ongoing struggle with democracy, 88 years after the end of absolute monarchy. Despite democratic reforms, the military and the royal family still hold significant influence over the country's politics. Pro-democracy protests have recently reignited, challenging government actions that seem to erase symbols of democracy and history. Experts analyze the complex relationship between the military, monarchy, and conservative forces, questioning whether true democracy can emerge. The impact of COVID-19 and economic downturns add urgency to calls for change, while a new generation of activists navigates an uncertain path toward reform.

Takeaways

• 📅 The 1932 revolution in Thailand ended absolute monarchy, but the country still faces challenges in establishing true democracy.
• 🛡️ The military continues to exert significant influence over Thai politics, with 12 coups since the end of absolute monarchy.
• 🏛️ Pro-democracy protesters have raised concerns about attempts by the government to erase the history of the 1932 revolution.
• 👑 The Thai monarchy, while having limited direct powers by law, remains highly influential and intertwined with the military.
• 🛠️ Efforts to preserve democratic symbols and monuments have been thwarted, with key historical markers removed or altered.
• 🚨 Thailand is currently under an emergency decree due to COVID-19, which has further empowered the military-led government.
• 💼 The Thai economy has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, causing widespread unemployment and fueling discontent.
• 🧑‍🎓 The younger generation is leading the charge for democracy but faces challenges due to economic hardships and governmental restrictions.
• 🇺🇸 External powers like the United States have a complicated relationship with Thailand, influenced by historical and geopolitical factors.
• 🕊️ Despite ongoing protests and discontent, the path to a fully democratic Thailand remains uncertain due to the entrenched power of the monarchy, military, and conservative elites.

Q & A

What significant event in Thai history occurred 88 years ago?

88 years ago, Thailand underwent a revolution that ended the absolute monarchy and marked the beginning of democracy.

Who are the key players defining Thai politics according to the script?

The key players defining Thai politics are the military leaders and the Royal Palace, with the King being influential despite having few direct powers.

What is the current status of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha?

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is a former army general who led the military coup in 2014 and took over as Prime Minister after five years of military rule.

How many coups have occurred in Thailand since the end of absolute monarchy?

There have been 12 coups in Thailand since the end of absolute monarchy, with the last one occurring in 2014.

Why did pro-democracy activists gather in Bangkok despite the ban on mass gatherings?

Pro-democracy activists gathered in Bangkok to commemorate the event.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Pro-Democracy Protests and the Struggle for Democracy in Thailand

The paragraph discusses the pro-democracy protests in Thailand on the anniversary of the Revolution that ended absolute monarchy. Despite the establishment of constitutional monarchy, the political system remains controversial with the military's significant influence. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former army general, took over after a military rule, marking the 12th coup since the end of absolute monarchy. Protesters in Bangkok defied a ban on mass gatherings to commemorate the 1932 revolution, raising concerns about the government's attempts to erase history, including removing monuments and altering buildings associated with democracy.

05:03

🗣️ The Complex Dynamics of Thai Politics and the Role of the Military

This paragraph delves into the discussion of Thailand's political landscape, described as a 'Democratic dictatorship' due to the military's control and the current Prime Minister's background as a junta leader. The conversation highlights the military's infrastructure that allows it to maintain power and the challenges faced by pro-democracy activists. The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Thailand's economy and the government's response to the pandemic are also discussed, with concerns about the potential for a more authoritarian era emerging post-pandemic.

10:06

🌐 International Perspectives on Thailand's Political Struggles

The paragraph explores the triangular relationship between the monarchy, the military, and conservatives in Thailand, and the challenges faced by pro-democracy activists. It discusses the historical context of Thailand's political evolution, the influence of big business, and the role of external powers like the United States and China in shaping Thailand's political trajectory. The conversation also touches on the potential for civil disorder due to economic hardships and the younger generation's tactical approach to protests.

15:08

📉 Economic Challenges and the Future of Democracy in Thailand

This paragraph focuses on the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on Thailand, expecting the worst economic growth ever by the end of the year. The discussion includes the impact on employment, particularly among the younger generation, and the potential for resentment towards the government's handling of both the health and economic crises. The conversation also considers the possibility of protests growing in size and strength if the economic situation does not improve, and the role of social media in shaping the pro-democracy movement.

20:08

🔮 The Path to Democracy and the Role of the New Generation in Thailand

The final paragraph of the script discusses the potential for democracy in Thailand, with a focus on the role of the new generation and their use of social media. It acknowledges the democratic space in the lower house of Parliament but also recognizes the limitations. The conversation concludes with the idea that the future of Thai society lies in the hands of the younger generation, who are learning and will eventually decide the direction of the country, with the economic crisis being a significant factor influencing their decisions.

Keywords

💡Pro-democracy protests

Pro-democracy protests refer to public demonstrations advocating for democratic principles and reforms. In the video, these protests are significant as they symbolize the struggle for political change in Thailand, particularly against the backdrop of a history of military rule. The script mentions that protesters in Bangkok defied a ban on mass gatherings to commemorate the events of 1932, which ended absolute monarchy, indicating the ongoing fight for democracy.

💡Absolute monarchy

Absolute monarchy is a form of government where the monarch holds supreme authority without any legal or constitutional constraints. The video discusses the end of absolute monarchy in Thailand with the Revolution of 1932, which transitioned the country towards a constitutional monarchy. This historical event is central to the video's theme, as it sets the stage for the current debates on democracy in Thailand.

💡Military rule

Military rule refers to a government led by the military, often through a coup d'état, where military leaders assume political power. The script highlights Thailand's history of military coups, including the 2014 coup led by General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who later became the Prime Minister. This concept is crucial for understanding the video's narrative on the struggle between military influence and democratic governance in Thailand.

💡Constitutional monarchy

A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as the head of state within the parameters of a written or unwritten constitution. The video discusses the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Thailand post-1932 Revolution, where the King's powers are limited by law, yet the monarchy remains influential. This concept is key to understanding the complex interplay of power between the monarchy, military, and democratic institutions in Thailand.

💡Democracy

Democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or through elected representatives. The video's central theme revolves around the struggle for democracy in Thailand, with discussions on the country's journey from absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy and the ongoing challenges in achieving a fully democratic system.

💡Coup d'état

A coup d'état, or simply a coup, is the sudden and often violent overthrow of a government by a small group, often the military. The video mentions Thailand's history of military coups, with the 2014 coup being a recent example. This term is essential for understanding the recurring interruptions to democratic processes in Thailand.

💡Pro-democracy activists

Pro-democracy activists are individuals or groups advocating for the establishment or strengthening of democratic principles and institutions. In the video, these activists are highlighted for their efforts to commemorate the 1932 Revolution and their concerns about the government's attempts to erase historical symbols of democracy, indicating their role in preserving Thailand's democratic heritage.

💡Economic recession

An economic recession is a period of negative economic growth that lasts for at least two consecutive quarters. The video discusses the potential for economic recession in Thailand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which could exacerbate existing political tensions and potentially fuel further demands for democratic reforms.

💡State of emergency

A state of emergency is a government-declared situation in which normal legal processes are suspended, allowing for extraordinary measures to address urgent crises. The video mentions Thailand being under a state of emergency due to COVID-19, which has implications for the ability of citizens to engage in protests and other democratic activities, reflecting the government's increased control during this period.

💡Monarchy

A monarchy is a form of government in which a single individual, usually a hereditary ruler such as a king or queen, holds supreme authority. The video discusses the role of the Thai monarchy as an influential institution, particularly in relation to the military and democratic processes, highlighting the complex dynamics between traditional power structures and modern democratic aspirations.

💡Constitutional defense monument

The Constitutional Defense Monument commemorates the defense of Thailand's constitution and democratic principles. The video notes the removal of this monument by security forces, symbolizing the erasure of democratic symbols and history by the current government, which is a point of contention for pro-democracy activists.

Highlights

Pro-democracy protests in Thailand mark the anniversary of the 1932 Revolution, which ended absolute monarchy but left a controversial political system dominated by military influence.

The military has staged 12 coups since the end of absolute monarchy, with the latest in 2014, leading to current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's rule, raising concerns about the democratic process.

Protesters in Bangkok defied a ban on mass gatherings, laying down a replica of a missing plaque commemorating the 1932 Revolution, symbolizing resistance against government attempts to erase democratic history.

There are efforts by the government to alter or remove monuments and buildings that celebrate the 1932 Revolution, which critics see as an attempt to undermine democratic symbols and history.

The Democracy Monument in Bangkok, inspired by the Arc de Triomphe, remains a focal point for the pro-democracy movement despite growing concerns about its preservation.

The removal of significant democratic symbols, such as the People's Party plaque and the Constitutional Defense Monument, highlights ongoing tensions between pro-democracy activists and the military-led government.

Pro-democracy activists argue that the military and the monarchy's influence hinders the development of a true democracy in Thailand.

The current government's handling of COVID-19, while successful in health outcomes, has led to severe economic repercussions, exacerbating public discontent and fueling the pro-democracy movement.

The younger generation in Thailand is increasingly disillusioned with the government's inability to address economic issues, which could lead to a surge in pro-democracy activism.

The relationship between the monarchy, military, and conservative forces creates a significant challenge for pro-democracy activists seeking to establish genuine democratic governance.

Thailand's history of military coups and the complex relationship between the monarchy and military continue to shape its political landscape, complicating efforts to achieve true democracy.

The U.S. and EU's focus on geopolitical stability often leads to tacit support for the military-led government, which complicates international support for Thailand's pro-democracy movement.

There is a growing tactical sophistication among younger pro-democracy activists, who are increasingly utilizing social media and other non-traditional means to challenge the government's authority.

The economic downturn due to COVID-19, with rising unemployment and the collapse of tourism, poses a potential trigger for widespread civil unrest in Thailand.

The current Thai Parliament's lower house offers some democratic space, but the broader system remains heavily skewed in favor of the military and monarchy.

Transcripts

pro-democracy protests in Thailand on

the anniversary of the Revolution which

ended the absolute monarchy but almost

90 years later the political system

remains controversial with military

leaders calling the shots behind the

scenes in government does real democracy

really stand a chance this is inside

story

[Applause]

[Music]

hello and welcome to the program I'm

Peter Dobie it is 88 years since the

revolution in Thailand which was the end

of the absolute monarchy and the start

of democracy but it's the army and the

Royal Palace which define much of Thai

politics the King by law has few direct

powers but he is very influential

the Prime Minister is elected but many

Thais question the democratic process

Prime Minister Prayuth chan-ocha took

over last year after five years of

military rule he's the former army

general who led the last military coup

in 2014 it was the 12th coup since the

end of absolute monarchy the military's

control on society alarms pro-democracy

activists protesters in Bangkok have

defied a ban on mass gatherings because

of coronavirus they did fight briefly

with police as they were rallying all to

commemorate the events of 1932 well

pro-democracy activists have also raised

concerns about what they say a

government attempts to erase history

monuments and buildings celebrating

leaders and events of the 1932

revolution are being taken down or

altered Scott Heidler sets up a

discussion today from Bangkok early

morning 88 years after the Revolution

that brought constitutional monarchy to

Thailand protesters gathered at the

nation's monument to democracy despite

police warnings they projected

historical footage of the People's Party

from 1932 as the revolutionaries read

out their democratic manifesto ending

absolute monarchy they also laid down a

replica of a missing plaque that once

marked the spot where the revolution

began there are attempts to delete

history by getting rid of items like the

People's Party plaque or any Democratic

symbols this shows that the government

wants to devalue the Revolution in 2017

the plaque was removed from Royal Plaza

without notification it was replaced

with one bearing a pro monarchy message

the area was heavily guarded on the

anniversary journalists prevented from

filming nearby Racha damnum Avenue is a

historic district directly tied to the

1932 Revolution

with Art Deco buildings constructed

after the transition to a constitutional

monarchy the style was meant to

represent the modern era or democratic

architecture but in what's seen as a

growing effort by military Royalists

conservatives to remove monuments and

reminders of democracy the crown

property Bureau announced a renovation

project they will replace the Art Deco

facades with a neoclassical style to

appear more thai people have been using

these historical sites as a political

tool the government is becoming more

worried and views the architecture as a

threat to their ideology democracy

monument here is the crown jewel of the

Art Deco district designed after the Arc

de Triomphe in Paris to serve as the

focal point for the Grand Avenue it was

completed seven years after the

Revolution the same year the name of the

country has changed from Siam to

Thailand officials say they don't plan

on altering the monument but some

conservationists are skeptical it's not

just Raja Dunham's Avenue where

reminders of democracy are being erased

two army camps bearing the names of

revolutionaries were recently renamed

and in 2018 in the middle of the night

security forces removed the

constitutional defense monument from

this traffic circle in Bangkok

unfortunately there is a group of people

in this country and still powerful one

to forget about a pass a short distance

from where the Constitution Defense

Monument once stood there's a Buddhist

temple built to celebrate Thailand's

democracy the ashes of the revolutionary

leaders are interned on the grounds a

place of worship that is so far been

untouched by the attempts to revise the

nation's history Scot Heidler al Jazeera

Bangkok

okay there we are here we go let's bring

in our guests today here on inside story

from the Thai capital Bangkok we have

private Regina crook political analyst

and columnist at cross sword English

calmness a news website from Kyoto in

Japan we are joined by Pavan ChaCha Val

penguin he's the founder of the

pro-democracy organization foresee and

associate professor at Kyoto University

and from sriracha dominic Valda

associate editor of the financial

newspaper the Nikkei Asian reviewer

welcome to you all at private in Bangkok

if I can come to you first

your country's being called a Democratic

dictatorship where we are right now is

that a fair description I would say

that's a fair description although I

mean there could be other words that one

might deployed in describing to describe

the state of Thai politics and democracy

or the lack of democracy others might

call it hybrid hybrid democracy and

that's partly to do with the fact that

the current prime minister was the junta

leader who staged the coup back in 2014

and then he appointed the draft of the

Charter drafter which sets the rules

that enable him to return as Prime

Minister so I would say that's a fair

assessment

Pavin the military junta has been very

good it seems to me at making the right

noises but for some reason it doesn't

want to go any further than where it is

at the moment why is that well first of

all I have to agree with the previous

speaker about the current state of Thai

politics and they are not to to say to

discuss and even to criticize the

current Gossman

it seemed like they already have put the

infrastructure in place so that the

current Goffman you know or the former

who would be able to stay here you know

for quite some time

these together with the the monarchy

which is another issue which we need to

discuss because this is very critical

or the visual tile and I think they're

together has been dominating high

politics you know for by some time and

that was sort of challenge to the

monetization process and also democratic

movement island right now would you

agree with that analysis Dominic that

the military really represents the

biggest challenge or perhaps to

fine-tune it the relationship between

the military and the royal family well I

think you're gonna have to jump back a

little bit here today's the anniversary

of the 1932 coup which found absolute

monarchy in Thailand we've had probably

twenty coos since then thirteen

successful the last one was in 2014

which is was correctly pointed out

beforehand brought in General Prayuth

chan-ocha as Prime Minister he pushed

through a constitution that was drafted

by the military and has been elected or

he is now the head of a coalition

government was produced by that

Constitution and has a Senate that is

completely dominated by the military so

it's a very lopsided system it's very

complicated outsiders who come in and

look at it or you know often very

bewildered by what's going on today in

these rallies that we sought or there

was a demonstration on the could really

be called a demonstration outside

Parliament calling for reform in

Constitution and establishing today as

the national day because it was it was

once the national day and that was

changed in 1960 so you know these are

very complicated things but there is no

question about is that the military is

very very powerful in Thai politics but

something that's important to point out

at this juncture is that we are in a an

exceptional period we've just come

through but we're not being through with

going through the coded nineteen crises

and this government is now ruling under

an emergency decree which gives the

General Prayuth more power than before

so he's almost gone back to the last

government and so the real question

today in terms of politics is getting to

the end of that emergency decree and

getting back to the

of quasi democratic whatever you want to

call it that we had prize decoded 19

thing

Kovac 19 is has been absolutely

devastating globally it's done a lot of

damage to the Thai economy and you know

there are great concerns now that it may

assure in a more authoritarian era

because simply because people are being

monitored for medical reasons so as I

say it's a very complicated picture

private Rajan a Farook they're in

Bangkok as well given coronavirus and

given these extraordinary powers that

are being deployed against the people of

Thailand under the umbrella of we're

doing the right thing by you does that

mean that the military in Thailand can

carry on doing pretty much what it's

done for a generation now which is

behave like a citadel almost like a

state within a state I do not think so

as the previous speaker have mentioned

the negative impact on to the Thai

economy has been immense we're talking

about actively expecting the worst

economic negative growth ever by the end

of the year so that a lot of people who

are losing jobs we're talking about

millions and that would be very

difficult for the governments to carry

on putting a lid on it and what we're

seeing today partly has to do with this

anxiety about the prospect of the

economy as well and not just democracy

particularly among the younger

generation who will find it very

difficult to be able to secure decent

employment now the younger generation

millions of them I think they're looking

towards a prospect of underemployment at

best for the majority of them so I do

not think they will be able to succeed

they would try but I think there's a lot

of resentment as to how the government

had handled the kovat 19 on the health

front it's been near

exceptional we are one of the you know

least infected nations on earth as it is

we only have I think less than 60 deaths

so far with just three thousand plus

being infected at least officially but

the economy it's been a devastations

over the past treatment perhaps of

Bangkok are still not even being able to

recover since they're so dependent on

the tourism industry basically there's

no foreign tourists to Thailand and that

amounts to 20 percent of the Thai

national taiji okay understood

let's go back to Pavan in Kyoto there

seems to be this triangular relationship

between the monarchy the military and

conservatives with a small C can the

pro-democracy activists in Thailand

secure or guarantee for the voters

proper democracy if that relationship

stays in place well that is that is a

main struggle in fact this this is

something that Thailand has experienced

throughout you know 88 years exactly

today is a day someone would be

mentioned about the abolition of Casa

Pune in 1932 that has been a long

struggle during this past a decade you

know as we have seen the working

relationship between the monarchy and

Dimitri together they have been able to

create a network that would also in war

you know conservatives you know

especially among the the Bangkok

resident and this also as I said earlier

you know going to the decide of a kind

of politics it's come to a point also

that pro-democracy movement in Thailand

has been weakened over time these could

also be because we have a weakened

Democratic institution we have a certain

type of party in the past that might not

be you know willing to to go a bit

further I refer to you know for example

okatee of former prime minister Thaksin

Shinawatra know he could have done a lot

during his term but obviously i think

what what we have seen you know during

during those days in fact Carson wanted

to reconcile with the conservative power

rather than to push something seriously

seriously about democratization process

so what I'm saying is that we have-we

democracy institution we have a we

democratic movement and as every time

today there's number protests in Bangkok

a demonstration I would say that you

know so happen to be less than fifty

people going out there but yet at the

same time people talk so much about

wanting to change you know you talk you

take a to Twitter sometimes you know on

some day you know they basically express

their discontent against the kauffman

even against the monarchy through

Twitter up to some some come a million

time you know on Twitter but yeah you

know when it comes to tangible outcome

you hardly see anyone on the street so I

think that is the real struggle at the

end of the day I think they use kind of

like very experienced in doing some kind

of protest or properly understand you

know either type okay good collapse key

okay let me if I can distill that down

and nudge the conversation towards

Dominic in a way Dominic we seem to be

saying that this asymmetric relationship

between the monarchy and the military

needs to be got rid of but if you've got

the current junta signaling very clearly

to the United States and the EU we're

heading in the right direction and the

United States is more worried about

China's growing influence in this

country in this region people outside

the country are reacting to what they're

being told by the junta as opposed to

reacting to what's actually going on

well that's quite a question Peter so

let's go back to 1932 and look at the

contradictions the military got rid of

the monarchy so that should be

remembered now it was clamoring for

commemoration of what happened in 1932

if you go forward to the 1960s the Cole

or the monarchy was reestablished in

Thailand and it went up from their

owners to the reign of the king the

present king's father king bumi bond and

what we never had in thailand genuine

parliamentary democracy we've had little

patches of it in the mid 70s to late 80s

it was democratically elected the 90s

were a kind of golden period because a

new constitution that was was

progressive and liberal and that was

abolished by a coup in 2006 and

amazingly we had another coup in 2014

now you talked about little but people

being conservative with a little see the

the group that we're really looking at

is the relationship between monarchy the

military and big business and it's big

business that has done extremely well

since the 2014 coup and since the 1960's

is when I say that the military came

back what happened was that the military

built this this protective image that it

was there to insure that the monarchy

was always preserved and protected and

basically that's fine as long as you

have in terms of peace and stability as

long as you have a United military if

you have a military that starts getting

going in different directions then it

becomes quite dangerous and we had two

failed coos in the 80s where the

military was factionalized today I think

it's it's fairly unified the question of

the relationship that the

self-justification of the military this

constantly saying that people other than

the military are not good are not to be

trusted that political parties are

dangerous this is all very toxic stuff

okay and it's it's not taking the

country forward okay we'll get on to the

toxic aspect of it in just a moment

let's go back to private Regina Farooq

in Bangkok but when we talk about other

countries who have a relationship here

US government policy when it comes to

Thailand is the relationships between

Washington and other countries in the

region including Thailand should be

government-to-government should that

actually be inverted and should the

relationship be one where the u.s. say

in

it's an atmosphere of improving and

encouraging civil society ie putting

down the foundations for real democracy

yes but there's a deep-rooted distrust

towards America and that's partly

because of the role of the United States

during the Cold War where the u.s.

itself played a instrumental role in

fostering Thai military dictatorship in

the 1960 onward and referring to Field

Marshall to norm a certain era and

subsequent literary leaders so you know

this is and all wounds that always has

been exploited by the Thai conservative

saying that well you know the Americans

actually doesn't really care about

democracy in this region we're just not

important enough if we could be used as

a pawn say during the Cold War they will

use it and now it's quite complicated

because on the other hand you have China

which is by far a democratic country

extending its clout and influence into

Thailand

so we I think Thai pro-democracy

movement don't really feel that they

have any genuine allies perhaps the EU

are more agreeable but at the end of the

day if they can work things out with the

military junta or previewed the current

say my democratic government then that

will be the case okay III think yeah

that's that's okay that's our open gun

in Kyoto there are now as of today

demonstrations in 12 provinces in the

country so the desire for real democracy

is clearly there how combustible is the

situation right now had it not been

because of Kovach 19 I would have

thought that you know the demonstration

would have grown bigger but because of

Kovach Nike and also Thailand is still

under the state of emergency so going

out

to do protest you you already violate

the state of emergency that's why I

emphasized earlier about the low number

turn out today but I mean if this trend

continued and as we said about the the

the the inability of the Kaufman to

solve you know the problem with that can

be Kovac and also the economic recession

that had been so bad I would expect that

you know the the number of the people

who come out you know to protest against

the cost men would would grow bigger and

become stronger I mean for a long long

time the protests in Thailand usually

based on protocol discontentment but

again this time I might have to agree

with again who provide that the the the

economic reason could become a main

drive you know for younger generation

you know for a proton cracy movement use

this as you know a good reason in order

to motivate other people who have been

suffering from the bad economy croci of

the common and also again Kovach not

even let me stop you there because we're

heading towards the end of the program

now Dominic folder there in sriracha the

people of Thailand this time around have

waited what five five and a half years

for democracy how much longer

just God I want to come back to

something you said about this leadership

from the US I think it's a real red

herring nobody in Thailand is looking to

the US for political leadership and

given what's going on there and the

swing away from the US has gone cut gone

all through this century the Alliance

the greater interest greater influence

of China is based on its economic

success you know the Chinese have

performed very well you talked about

combust ability in Thailand we had

political bloodshed in 1973 76 92 2010

very serious stuff I don't think we've

got that moment because one of the

reasons is that the younger generation

are much more tactical and smart and

they are not going to let themselves go

out on the streets and become easy

targets for the military again they

become much more sophisticated and they

are feeling their way through it so this

idea that they're looking for outside

leadership we're living in a leadership

less world at the moment

and the ties I think will fumble their

way to some kind of of better day if

you're looking for something that would

crypt trigger serious problems here it's

the economic situation and I think some

of the desperation with the worst

unemployment in Thailand since the end

of the second world war that could lead

to civil disorder and it'd be much more

than nuances in the Constitution and

who's popping up who okay last point in

a minute or two private there in Bangkok

some analysts say there is some

democratic space in the lower house of

the parliamentary set up the lower house

of the Parliament is that the kernel of

hope so that you might be on track to

get a full democracy yes and no yes

there's some Democratic space and there

are some MPs and parties that could be

rely to a point to deliver and be the

voices of the electorate's but I don't

think that's sufficient but what we are

seeing is that a new generation is

coming of age politically speaking and I

think it's in their hands now we're

talking about the the people on social

media that example Wynn was complaining

about I think we will need to give them

some time they are learning it's a

learning curve and it's day who will

inherit Thai society and now within the

coming years they will have to decide

what they would want to do and it's not

just again about the lack of genuine

democracy but the terrible economic

problem is that that's already affecting

millions and will affect many mores in

the months ahead gentlemen we will have

to leave our discussion there Thank You

private Pavan and Dominic thank you I

guess they were private Rossano Farooq

Pavan cha-cha vulpine goon and Dominic

Felder and thank you too for watching

you can see the show again any time via

the website aljazeera.com the address as

ever

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as well i'm hat

peter dobby what for me Peter Davi and

everyone on the team here in Doha thanks

for watching I will see you very soon

for the moment