In Divided Thailand, Some Voices Driven to Silence

December 17, 2013, 7:05 AM

In Divided Thailand, Some Voices Driven to Silence

By Nopparat Chaichalearmmongkol

BANGKOK—Amid political protests that have divided Thailand into two opposing camps – those in support of the government and those against it – a third voice is being silenced for trying to remain neutral.

These “Silent” or “Indifferent Thais,” as they’ve been dubbed by both sides, have chosen to stay out of a battle that has seen protesters opposed to the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra take to the streets in ever larger numbers over the past few weeks.

As the situations escalates, Thais who have tried their hardest not to get involved say the divisions in the country are making their lives harder.

“Talking politics in daily life is difficult these days as it could easily lead to fierce arguments,” said 41-year-old Dome Promayorn, a sales manager for a consumer good’s company in Bangkok.

He has chosen not to join the rallies because he says the protest leaders lack “vision,” but his wife has regularly been attending the protests without him.

So far the couple’s differing views on the country’s politics have only led to minor bickering, but many who’ve chosen to stay neutral say they’ve kept silent to avoid criticism or pressure from friends and family.

“It is not that I have no opinion about the current political turmoil,” said Thiranart Napapruekchart, 27, an investment analyst in Bangkok who explained that her family has questioned why she won’t join the rallies when everyone else has. “I just don’t like what either the government or the protest leaders are doing.”

Wim Manopimok, a 42-year-old business owner, has also chosen to forego the rallies because he sees them as ineffective.

“I don’t see what the country will gain from people going out to protest now,” he said on Monday.

The present political upheaval is the largest since 2010, when anti-government protesters, mostly supporters of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms. Yingluck’s older brother, were seeking to get rid of prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban.

Mr. Abhisit is now the leader of the main opposition Democrat Party, and Mr. Suthep is leading calls against Ms. Yingluck, pushing a parallel government and rallying crowdsthat have numbered up to 200,000 on the streets of Bangkok.

The protests first began in early November, when the government was debating a bill proposed by Ms. Yingluck’s Pheu Thai Party that would have paved the way for Mr. Thaksin, who has been living in self-imposed exile, to return to Thailand without having to face a corruption conviction that he argues was politically motivated.

After the bill was scrapped by the Senate, the movement transformed into an attempt to remove Ms. Yingluck and end the Shinawatra family’s influence over Thai politics.

“Under the current circumstances, I feel there is not any exit in sight,” said Mr. Wim.

An attempt by Ms. Yingluck to calm tensions last week by dissolving parliament and calling for fresh elections on Feb. 2 failed to appease protesters, who are now demanding she resign from her interim duties.

The Democrats have not announced whether they will participate in the February poll, but Mr. Suthep has vowed to do everything in his power to prevent the elections from going ahead.

With the conflict likely to continue, demonstrators say the silent Thais will need to choose a side.

“Those who have been silent or indifferent should decide who they are supporting by now,” said Paveen Wongchotiwat, a business owner and frequent rally attendant.

Mr. Wim, however, is convinced otherwise.

“I believe that many people have been fed up with the present situation like me, and they have chosen not to speak up as well,” he said.