The content in this page ("Middle class, elite must take the blame for country's ills" by Pravit Rojanaphruk, The Nation) is not produced by Prachatai staff. Prachatai merely provides a platform, and the opinions stated here do not necessarily reflect those of Prachatai.

Middle class, elite must take the blame for country's ills

Deep distrust towards the less educated and rural poor is prevalent among the middle class and elite who, to the detriment of society as a whole, fail to see themselves as a big part of the problem, especially the absence of genuine democracy and equality in Thailand.

Last week, encountering what they perceived to be an existential threat to the Interior Ministry's system of appointed provincial governors and village headmen, senior members of the influential Governing Officer Association of Thailand, composed mostly of ex-governors, went ballistic and denounced the decentralisation plan proposed by the National Reform Commission by perpetuating the long-held belief of their moral and intellectual superiority.

Rural folks, they argue, are, "uneducated", "naive", "politically immature", "subject to manipulation", "corrupt" and thus not fit to elect their own governor or even village headman.

"There's so much corruption at the local level. Everyone is seeking to benefit himself and I don't think they can take care of themselves," said Kamol Prachuabmoh, president of the association and a retired governor.

"Have the people really achieved that [level of maturity]?" asked Prasarn Suksang, another member and former governor of Angthong.

These retired senior bureaucrats are not alone. Such an attitude is common among the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). They don't trust the majority of voters who are poor and less-formally educated. The PAD had supported the 2006 military coup that ousted Thaksin Shinawatra, and is currently calling for a royally appointed prime minister and is campaigning for a "'No' vote" in the upcoming election. If everything fails, the PAD's support for yet another military coup cannot be ruled out.

Top Army brass also think the political landscape must be "cleansed" whenever the majority of voters appears to have been "bought" or "manipulated into voting for the wrong political party". As of today, even though the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva has assured us that a general election is around the corner, Thais continue to be nervous about another possible top-down "political solution" provided by the Army through a military putsch.

We, and the PM himself, were frightened by the recent satellite glitch that caused a television blackout, sparking speculation another coup was in the making. And we closely watch and interpret whatever Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, a man with coup-making experience, has to say on a daily basis.

These self-appointed elite, through the power of their wealth, senior positions, university degrees, or guns, seem to think they know what is best for Thailand and will not hesitate to shut the mouths of millions of the rest.

They are so used to their self-righteous ways and their supposed moral as well as intellectual superiority that they fail to recognise themselves as very much part of the current crisis.

The middle class and elite should ask themselves how, if they are so committed to democracy, could they have supported one disastrous military coup after another over the past decades?

Aren't the politicians, who buy votes or engage in fraud, themselves part of the well-off, and even well-educated, elite? If so, why are they morally corrupt?

What about the widespread inattention to corporate good governance, the pervasive practice of giving "tea money" and "facilitation money", in order to win business contracts and state concessions?

When are people going to recognise that it is this very top-down, centralised and paternalistic political structure and a sense of superiority that guarantee rural areas remain weak and backward?

The backcountry-to-Bangkok brain drain, the exploitation of natural resources, the blue-collar exodus to urban centres ensure that rural children are not properly cared for, and the inequality and oppression continues.

In the end, the continued superciliousness among some members amounts to a self-inflicted tragedy for our whole society.

Source: 
<p>http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/05/04/national/Middle-class-elite-must-take-the-blame-for-country-30154531.html</p>

Since 2007, Prachatai English has been covering underreported issues in Thailand, especially about democratization and human rights, despite the risk and pressure from the law and the authorities. However, with only 2 full-time reporters and increasing annual operating costs, keeping our work going is a challenge. Your support will ensure we stay a professional media source and be able to expand our team to meet the challenges and deliver timely and in-depth reporting.

• Simple steps to support Prachatai English

1. Bank transfer to account “โครงการหนังสือพิมพ์อินเทอร์เน็ต ประชาไท” or “Prachatai Online Newspaper” 091-0-21689-4, Krungthai Bank

2. Or, Transfer money via Paypal, to e-mail address: [email protected], please leave a comment on the transaction as “For Prachatai English”