Historic Thai Protests Dwarfed by Shopping Mall Democracy

New America Media, News Analysis, Pueng Vongs, Posted: Feb 17, 2006

Editor's Note: Thai citizens are trying out new democratic methods in the recent mass protests against their government. But will it trump the greater democratic pastime embraced by the Thais: shopping for Western products? Pueng Vongs is a Thai-American and an editor at New America Media.

BANGKOK--Thai citizens in the past few weeks have mounted the largest anti-government mass demonstrations seen in 14 years. Unlike the violent uprisings in the 1970s, however, these protests against the once all-popular Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been markedly peaceful and democratic. Some 100,000 protesters in two successive weekends gathered on the grounds of former royal palaces, wielding signs, cheering on incendiary speakers and chanting for Thaksin's ouster.

It still remains to be seen whether this gentle approach to political reform the Thais are embracing as enthusiastically as they do the deluge of global brand names -- from jeans to portable audio players -- will make a real impact in the kingdom.

Shinawatra, a tycoon-turned-populist leader took office five years ago on a platform of weaning his economically troubled country off foreign loans and aiding the masses of poor rural farmers. His party, called Thai Rak Thai (Thais Who Love Thais) promised universal health care and cheap loans for farmers. In the election for his second term, Shinawatra garnered a record-making 19 million votes. His party also won an overwhelming majority in Parliament, controlling 375 out of 500 seats.

But during his second term, Shinawatra has been accused of repressing the press, using his influence to garner profits for his own businesses and undermining the country's mainstays in agriculture and communications by selling assets to foreign companies.

Growing resentment of Shinawatra reached a peak after the recent sale of his family-owned telecommunications business, Shin Corporation, to Temasek holdings of Singapore. He has been accused of tax-evasion and pocketing $1.87 billion in profits from the sale. Sondhi Limtongkul, media mogul, gathered a petition with some 50,000 signatures, asking King Bhumibol Adulyadej to force Thaksin's resignation.

One of Limtongkul's charges is that after the government launched its $1 billion program to aid villagers, the cell phone company AIS, then owned by the prime minister, quickly installed sales sites in the provinces. He said villagers were lured into borrowing from the village fund to buy mobile phones. "In the end the premier's family businesses profited from his government's own policies," Sondhi's petition read.

Revelations of Shinawatra's wrongdoings have sparked outrage among the outwardly calm population, 95 percent whom are Buddhist, and whose deeply patriarchal social structure commands respect for authority figures. Among the harshest critics are the urban middle classes. Wannee C., a business owner in Bangkok says, "Thaksin used taxpayer money to help pay for his own projects and pocketed the money."

"I wish to have the old Thaksin back," says a public relations manager.

Thailand has undergone a transformation during Shinawatra rule. This city has rapidly become Westernized, with women wearing fashions straight from the streets of New York or Los Angeles, showing bare shoulders, legs and other body parts that used to be carefully covered.

They tout Prada and Gucci handbags easily bought in the recently opened Paragon mall, the largest in Southeast Asia and perhaps the most upscale, with stores such as Hermes, Chanel and Ferrari. Thais crowd into the hippest hangout in town, Starbucks, for lattes and mango frappucinos. The cost of one cup could buy six meals for the average Thai.

Organic foods are the latest craze, even though one can buy free-range meats or freshly grown produce for a fraction of the cost on most street corners. On television, state-of-the-art computer graphics depict a Thai cloud-spirit trying chase down a Ford car.

You can see the changes in the air. Pollution is once again choking Bangkok. The tropical skies are heavy with exhaust as the number of cars double or triple every year, despite the fact that the country's GDP is contracting. Look inside the wallets of many Thais and you'll see three or four credit cards. Banks lure people into opening accounts by offering them flashy gifts like ipods. Over the past four to five years personal debt has increased from approximately $2,000 to $3,500.

Criticisms aside, Shinawatra's business dealings have paved the way for this new global lifestyle embraced by young professionals. Many say their favorite pastime is to shop. The shiny marble floors, trendy stores and cool air-conditioning of the new luxury malls are a welcome respite from the traffic, heat and chaos of Bangkok.

Although they do not agree with many of Shinawatra's tactics, some professionals, like Isarah S., a university professor, admits fearing that if Shinawatra left, no one could replace him. "The last prime minister got Thailand in so much IMF debt that we thought it would take 100 years to repay." Shinawatra paid it off in two years.

Thailand is also dealing with the crippling threat of bird flu, the tsunami aftermath and Muslim unrest in the south. Political instability could wipe out its tenuous economic foothold. After the Thai constitutional court ruled this week that Shinawatra would not be tried for corruption, Thai stock market shares rose slightly.

Shinawatra has said he will not step down unless ordered by the king, who is not likely to get involved in the political matter. Supporters are also staging demonstrations in favor of the prime minister. When confronted with protests, Shinawatra frequently mentions the 19 million votes that brought him into office.

The next mass protest is being planned by the prime minister's critics on Feb. 26 in Bangkok, but the result likely will be the same. As tens of thousands gather to show their disgruntlement, a greater number will crowd into the malls across the city for their own display of democratic action: shopping.

Page 1 of 1

Printable Version Return to Normal Version Send Page to Friend Subscribe to NAM Newsletters