Use of force, not violence

EDITORIAL

For the first time since major street protests began seven years ago, police took control of the political rally on Saturday. There is certain to be crocodile tears shed, and half-sincere investigations held. In the end, however, the national police force did what was necessary to protect public order. Their actions prevented yet another victory for anarchy on the streets.

The Pitak Siam rally was ill-advised from the start. Boonlert Kaewprasit misread the mood of the country. It was not sensible to call for the violent overthrow of the government by military force. He only compounded this risible and dangerous stand by adding a demand to "freeze" Thai democracy and political development, to replace it with a five-year tyranny of supposedly excellent elders.

He got his answer on Saturday about whether the country supported his dual calls for the use of force against Thai citizens. But as his rally collapsed around him, Gen Boonlert had the gall to complain of excessive use of force by police against his supporters. Unable to match even the turnout of his October rally at the Royal Turf Club, Gen Boonlert attempted to turn his own series of failures on the police.

The political failure of Saturday's rally falls completely on Gen Boonlert. He promised a peaceful rally, but by mid-morning hundreds of his followers were attacking police. It is possible to argue that the rally's rules were too tough. But it is impossible to defend the dozens or hundreds of people who set about attacking police lines simply because they were directed to another entrance to the rally.

The anarchic charging of police lines was doomed from the start _ and rightly so. Police made a large show of force before the rally, and made it clear they intended to enforce order at the rally site. As usual, there were numerous post-skirmish interviews and press conferences, with heated exchanges over what happened. But protesters appear to have it wrong when they claim police used violence. The two clashes at the Makkhawan Bridge and the Mitsakawan intersection involved police using force, but not unwarranted violence.

To put the police aggression in perspective, a quick look at the news on Saturday was instructive. Bangkok protests swirled, and choking tear gas filled the Makkhawan area. But the rest of the world was not exactly peaceful. In Cairo, police fired tear gas at anti-government protesters in historic Tahrir Square. Jakarta police fired tear gas at 200 anti-US demonstrators. For the second day in a row, Paris police fired tear gas at squatters protesting against a new airport. In India, Kenya, Turkey, Jordan and Bahrain, police dealt with local protests and demonstrations by replying with tear gas. In California, police fired tear gas into a house where a disturbed man had barricaded himself.

As in Thailand, there were no deaths in any of these incidents. Police resorted to force to move a sticky situation forward. But outright violence was quelled by the police action, not caused by it. Nor, despite Gen Boonlert's lack of introspection, was there suppression of freedom of speech. The next anti-government group to call a public protest should ensure there is a loud, clear call for followers to stick to peaceful means.

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2012/11/26/use-of-force-not-violence/