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The Thai experience

Self-sacrifice is a virtue that all leaders should possess as this is will ensure that the interest of the people will always be above the interest of certain political groups and individuals.

Recently, Thailand’s Thaksin Shinawatra proved this point — leaders should be willing to sacrifice their political position for national unity and interest of the people. Thaksin got the ire of the people for his alleged graft and corrupt practices as well as electoral fraud. He resigned after a series of mass protests. His resignation is not necessarrily an admission of guilt. It was done to solve the growing political crisis and avert any economic crisis brought about by the public unrest. He resigned to protect and promote Thailand’s interests even if it leads to his eventual arrest and trial.

In the Philippines, self-sacrifice is slowly becoming a virtue for the books and the government is keen in ensuring that it will remain simply an idea and a thing of the past. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the highest “elected” official in the country, is setting a bad example for the youth as she continues to promote her vested self-interest by holding on to power in the midst of growing public clamor for her to step down. She and her allies are throwing everything to hide the truth regarding the alleged electoral fraud, graft and corruption of the first family; to suppress the legal anti-Arroyo groups; and ensure GMA’s continued stay in Malacañang even if it means trampling on the democratic rights and interests of the people. In the end, GMA is telling the youth to forget about the virtue of honesty, to respect human dignity, to respect and promote the will of the people, and eventually self-sacrifice.

Lastly, the experience of Thailand shows that a parliamentary form of government is not the solution to political stability as opposed to the belief of GMA, Jose de Venecia, Fidel V. Ramos, and other proponents of parliamentarianism in the country. Thaksin stepped down because of the continuous and increasing street protests and not because of the vote of no confidence from the Thai parliament. This only shows that in a parliamentary government, political power will only be concentrated on the majority party and is not an assurance that the majority party will always promote the will and interest of the people. And if the Philippines shifts to a parliamentary government, political power will be consolidated in the ruling party, GMA’s party, and this will be very dangerous for Filipinos as GMA has shown her dictatorial tendencies. #

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