When rumours are Ugly, it's time to worry

Continuous speculation about the military overthrowing the Samak government is an indicator of the general discontent with the current political situation

Published on May 13, 2008

The rumours circulating ever since the Samak government took power earlier this year are variations of the same theme: a certain group of military officers, worried that the continuing confrontational politics could lead to bloodshed, might consider a coup.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his Cabinet members angrily reject such rumours as mere speculation or wishful thinking on the part of their political opponents, namely the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). Military leaders, with varying degrees of firmness, rule out the possibility of another coup but urge all sides to work towards national reconciliation.

The rumours have been met with mixed reactions from media outlets, depending on their political affiliation. Newspapers or media outlets closely identified with the PAD have tended to give them prominence, which the government finds annoying. Pro-government media outlets, particularly broadcast media, are told to either completely ignore them or keep their coverage to a minimum.

The government dislikes the coup rumours because they lend credence to the notion that it doesn't have full control over the armed forces. But many people in this country appear to enjoy listening to the rumours and analyses of these rumours by academics and media commentators.

Political barometer

Although Thailand has been a parliamentary democracy under constitutional monarchy for more than three-quarters of a century, rumours continue to be an important fixture of Thai politics. Rumours serve several functions. In political good times, such as when we have a stable, popular and relatively clean government, rumours become a sideshow to provide some good-natured comic relief. But in bad times, when we have unpopular, divisive and corrupt politicians running the show, rumours take on greater significance as a political barometer.

The more vicious the rumour that the majority of people are inclined to believe as fact, the greater the level of public frustration or helplessness. Which is exactly what is happening right now. In only a few short months, the combative Samak government has managed to antagonise diverse groups of people, including the media, whom it regards with mistrust or treats as sworn enemies.

This is not healthy. A democracy is supposed to be about rational discussion of national affairs, about give and take, about the greatest good for the greatest number of people, about rule of law, sound governance, checks and balances and transparency in government decision-making.