Asia dumps its dictatorships<\/p>\n
By Kavi Chongkittavorn<\/p>\n
BANGKOK: As expected, the local media head-lined the outcome
\nof the \"trial of the century\" in South Korea recently as if they
\nall had one thing in mind; that is, to send a direct message to
\nThailand's leaders who have continuously abused their power in
\nthe past decades at the expense of the people.<\/p>\n
Military dictator Chun Doo-hwan, who ruled from 1980 to 1987,
\nwas sentenced to death, while his friend Roh Tae-woo, a former
\npresident whose reign lasted from 1988 to 1992, was given a
\ntwenty-two-and-a-half-year prison term.<\/p>\n
Given the context of Asian history, the handing down of the
\ntwin verdicts against two former leaders of South Korea stands
\nout as one of the most remarkable events that have transpired
\nthis decade.<\/p>\n
So many Asian leaders have come and gone, with some having
\nstayed in power longer than others. And many of those who took
\npower illegally, or remained in power beyond what was mandated by
\ntheir country's laws, were not prosecuted for their sins.<\/p>\n
But the situation is not expected to remain this way,
\nespecially considering the current tide of democracy sweeping
\nAsia.<\/p>\n
What happened in South Korea was not unexpected. In fact, in
\nthe past two decades, efforts have been undertaken in various
\nparts of the world to prosecute leaders who tolerated corruption
\nand lied to the public.<\/p>\n
Punishing dictators, even though some of them are eventually
\npardoned or granted immunity from further prosecution, is fast
\nbecoming a raison d'etre for emerging democratic societies and
\ndynamic economies. In Latin America, both Argentina and Chile,
\ntwo countries whose economies have shown remarkable improvements,
\ntook steps to prosecute their former military leaders after
\ndemocratic civilian governments took over. These two countries
\nare trying, in their own ways, to come to terms with the fact
\nthat thousands of innocent people disappeared or were killed in
\nthe late 1970s and early 1980s.<\/p>\n
A special commission was established in Chile to come up with
\nthe names of those killed during the dictatorial rule of former
\npresident Gen Augusto Pinochet. Those who were found to have been
\nresponsible for the disappearances and\/or killings of innocent
\npeople during this period have been meted punishment.<\/p>\n
One of the most famous dictators, former East German strongman
\nErich Honecker, was also put on trial because he ordered the
\nshooting of people who tried to escape to then West Germany.<\/p>\n
Former Polish president Gen Wojciech Jaruzelski was
\nquestioned by a parliamentary commission on the crackdown
\nconducted over pro-democracy movements in the early 1980s.<\/p>\n
In Asia, South Korea has set a very good example for the rest
\nof us, that a democratic, civil society can be established in an
\nAsian environment. It is not as alien as some of our leaders
\nwould want us to believe. In the past, when Asian dictators, most
\nof whom were allies of Western leaders, were toppled from power,
\nthey ran away with their stolen wealth and respective entourages
\nto the West. Some of the infamous Asian dictators are still
\nliving in North America and Europe.<\/p>\n
Apparently, as Asian countries, in particular Southeast Asian
\nstates, move toward democracy, they all want to ensure that the
\nold-style dictatorship will never return.<\/p>\n
South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines have also shown that
\npolitical openness, through peaceful means, can go with economic
\nprosperity. It is not a zero-sum game as perpetuated by some
\nAsian leaders.<\/p>\n
Thailand is a special case -- our system is neither democratic
\nnor dictatorial. We are free and yet no so free. We are
\ndemocratic and yet not so democratic. We are in a state of
\nperpetual ambiguity. In fact, the Thai peoples' greatest
\nfrustration is the weightless ambience that surrounds and wraps
\nus like a giant cocoon. Better still, we describe it as a gala
\n(coconut shell) culture.<\/p>\n
At best, we are a country in search of our destiny. We fail to
\ncomprehend our history and find ways to reckon with past
\nmistakes. Rulers of this country live, speak and act as if Thai
\nhistory occurs in parallel with their existence. None of the
\nleaders see history as a linear development and a continuation of
\npast things. To them, history is something that has happened and,
\ntherefore, is to be forgotten. And as such, it is their belief
\nthere won't be any lessons that can be drawn from it.<\/p>\n
But it is heartening to know that many countries, as they
\nprogress, are attempting to understand their history. They are
\ntrying hard to right the wrongs and search for past truths that
\nwill eventually serve as a guide to present situations.<\/p>\n
Thailand has not yet tried anything like that. Our history is
\nfull of lies, untold stories and unfinished descriptions by
\nuntruthful historians. We must be truthful to ourselves. For
\ninstance, one of the most traumatic experiences of our time was
\nthe Oct. 6 massacre. But so far we have treated the 1976 tragedy
\nas an aberration. We have not tried to seek an explanation as to
\nwhy it happened. It is as if we are in a void, preventing any
\nlinkage of it to the present.<\/p>\n
Maybe we can learn a few things from South Korea and from the<\/p>\n
aeps taken by President Kim Yong-sam and his government to try
\nand heal the wounds of the nation's past. It is important to note
\nhere that military officers who were responsible for the massacre
\nin the southern city of Kwangju, which resulted in the deaths of
\nabout 200 civilians, have also been prosecuted.<\/p>\n
If a democratic and civil society has its way in Thailand, as
\nI believe it will, all Thai dictators, military or civilian, who
\nhad or are abusing their power and robbing the nation, will be
\nbrought to justice sooner rather than later. It could take a
\nlittle longer because our nation is influenced by a short-memory
\nsyndrome and a \"forgive and forget\" attitude that is difficult to
\nexplain. But in the end, the truth shall prevail.<\/p>\n
-- The Nation<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asia-dumps-its-dictatorships-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }