Now the healing process can truly begin

BANGKOK: After eight long years the truth about the slaughter of innocent Thai citizens in the May 1992 uprising has finally been revealed. It marks another watershed in Thailand's march to a civil society and the all-important pillars of democracy: openness, transparency and truth, which are part of the process of coming to terms with our chequered history.

The government and the new generation of military leaders must be commended for their openness -- although it did not come about without further struggle by the public and relatives of the people who were killed during the pro-democracy protests.

We must also recognize the power of the new Constitution which has provided a mechanism, through the freedom of information act, to cut a legal path through the normally unpenetrable bureaucratic maze, thus allowing almost full disclosure of the investigation report, written by a committee headed by former army Gen. Pichit Kulavanijaya.

Under the old constitution, the report would have stayed buried in a vault for another five years or more.

It should be remembered that the new Constitution was a child born of the bloody events of May 1992. In the ongoing struggle to achieve total democracy, it was designed to propel greater openness, promote public participation and tackle issues of abuse by the bureaucracy, the military and politicians, among others.

Last Wednesday's release of the investigation report is as much due to the new Constitution as other forces surrounding it.

So, what's next?

Thailand's sad political history -- which has done as much to retard a civil society as it has to promote it -- is not just about May 1992. There is a string of events going all the way back to the end of absolute monarchy in 1935.

Thailand has witnessed many tragic events, like the October 1973 and October 1976 bloodbaths, and lost the input of lots of respected leaders such as former prime minister Pridi Banomyong and Dr Puey Ungphakorn.

In the absence of true transparency, Thailand's modern history has been distorted and many events have either been hushed up or treated as taboo subjects.

Our society has for too long been suppressed to the extent that we are said to live in a world of illusion and are unwilling to come to terms with the truth.

As a nation, we often do not tackle problems square on, while people with new ideas and thinking -- essential for the development of the country -- are often subject to repression.

Politicians, bureaucrats, mafia-like figures and the rich and influential prey mercilessly on the helpless and lie and cheat their way through life at our expense.

So, the disclosure of the report ought to be an important step in cleaning out many of the evils in our society. It cannot be stressed enough that Thailand's recorded history since 1935 must be rewritten to reflect the truth.

When that is done, we can come to terms with the past tragedies, learn from them and avoid any repetition. Then and only then can we think with civility and thrive as a society, and eventually become a leading member of the international community. This is the greatest of all reforms.

It means that the remaining undisclosed details of May 1992 must be revealed. Fact-finding and a proper record of the various tragedies since the 1935 should be encouraged, debated and scrutinized without being subject to continued repression.

As the military is witnessing, the disclosure of the report (subject to further scrutiny of the facts) does not paint May 1992 in terms of black and white. Allegations were also made against two political parties, Palang Dhama and New Aspiration.

They, too, must provide answers about why they wanted to create a "situation" that led to the shootings.

The soldiers involved and their commanders, right up to former prime minister Suchinda Kraprayoon, have all been pardoned. But their names have not been disclosed.

This should be done immediately, not for reasons of condemnation but so that they can meet the relatives of those who lost their lives. That will allow for the healing to continue. The Thai way. The Buddhist way.

Thais are happy that the Army is being rigorously restructured and reformed in order to eradicate corruption and end its inherent influence on civilian politics, making it more professional and dependable.

But this should not blur or overshadow its hidden history since 1935. The truth must come out so that we can come to terms with it. If the Army and the Defense Ministry want the people to see them as truly professional soldiers of the future then they should encourage research and provide true evidence of their involvement in Thailand's history.

Then we will be able to say that a new era has really begun.

-- The Nation/Asia News Network