On 19 September 2006, a military coup replaced Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister of Thailand. Isis International-Manila spoke to Pawadee Tonguthai, Vice-President for International Affairs of the Thai Women Watch and co-convenor of the Asia-Pacific Women Watch, to get her views on the regime change and what it bodes for human rights and women's advocacies in the country. Her interview is particularly critical as she mentions the women's movement's expectations of the proposed new constitution, which will reportedly be revealed the public by 30 September, while a new Prime Minister will be named the following week.

Isis: Which democratic processes and human rights were threatened under Thaksin's rule?

Pawadee Tonguthai (PT):

Under Thaksin’s rule, democracy existed only in name but was authoritarian in practice. Both executive and legislative powers fell under the control of just one party, or rather, one man. Censure debate or even routine parliamentary questioning of executive policies/measures were denied, cabinet ministers did not show up to respond to the motions, and were ‘too busy’ to attend parliamentary committees.

Thaksin wanted to escape from questioning regarding the legalities in the sale of his family holdings to a Singapore firm reportedly for about US$2 billion, tax-free. The previous election? had just given the opposition enough Members of Parliament to call for the debate, so he dissolved Parliament and called for a snap election in April 2006. With the certainty of a landslide win, as evidenced by blatant violations of election law and vote-buying, he cleared himself.

Media freedom was strangled through near-monopoly power over the press, especially television and radio, allowing the government to cancel programs critical of its policies, revoke licenses or cut off their life blood—advertising revenue.

Human rights violations were also numerous during Thaksin’s administration that Thailand’s top human rights advocates did not condemn the coup. The Head of the National Human Rights Commission Saneh Jamarik said that although in principle he does not support the unconstitutional taking of power, “the constitution has already been torn up by the Thaksin’s government.”

The leading human rights lawyer and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Thongbai Thongpao, viewed the coup as “a much needed solution.”

Both of them urged the people to monitor the coup leaders’ actions closely and asked the coup leaders to take it as an urgent mission to return sovereignty to the people.

Other examples of the human rights violation by Thaksin’s government are the mishandling of the southern Muslim provinces insurgency, where the heavy-handed approach led to escalating violence and deaths; the police’s failure to take action against the offenders during clashes when supporters of the PM attacked and injured the opposing groups who were arrested instead; and the “war on drugs” which gave license to security forces to kill suspected dealers without trials and without a presumption of innocence. About 2,000 died in that operation.

Isis: What are women's organisations' perspectives on this coup? If there are diverse opinions, please do share them with us.

PT: So far, one week after the coup, no women’s organisation has come out and declared whether it is for or against the coup. Several women activists said they certainly do not condone the military coup but refrained from making harsh criticism and focused on urging the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) to bring in honest, courageous, and moral people who sincerely work towards bringing back a democratic system and that the CDRM open the reform process to participation by ordinary citizens.

They recognise the vital need for unity at this critical point; the current stability is very fragile and so far there is no sign that this is a self-serving struggle for power and has been peaceful—even joyful for a majority of the population.

Still, they will insist on the coup leaders to keep their pledge and return the power to the people through a free and fair general election as soon as possible, certainly within the declared time frame of one year. This is the first coup that specifies an exact time frame for its existence.

A women’s group that has been at the forefront of promoting women in politics and decision-making (WeMove—formerly known as Women and Constitution Network) decided to show their position by not pushing to have women in the interim cabinet.

Isis: What about Thai Women Watch’s perspective?

PT: The coup is undeniably unconstitutional, but is it really a step backward for democracy?

If the situation in Thailand prior to 19 September was like standing at the edge of the cliff, the step backward is necessary, but must be followed by the search for a new direction, that is, towards true democracy. Thai people’s rights and freedom have been suppressed for five years, so if we are to lose the constitution―the symbol of democracy―for a year or so, with the hope of having peace and stability under a moral government in the long-run, that is a price we should be willing to pay.

Isis: What are women's organisations' perspectives on the current leadership? From our readings, we understand that General Sondhi Boonyaratglin is considered a mediator and able to bridge the country's diverse faiths and minority groups.

PT: You are correct; his background indicates that General Sondhi is an honest and professional soldier. In fact, if he does leave in two weeks, many may regret to see him go, especially if he is replaced by someone who maybe more internationally known, has more financial expertise, etc., but who may have other flaws in the background.

Isis: What is his position on women's issues or women's rights? What are some of your expectations from him and the CDRM?

PT: So far, General Sondhi has given only one interview.

Given the excitement of the moment, and especially the two weeks’ time-frame the CDRM has declared for itself before passing on the power to the civilian PM, it is understandable that the media has not questioned him on any detailed, long-term issues, including women’s rights.

In fact, given the recent violence in the South (e.g. simultaneous bomb explosions at 20 banks, which have not been solved), the fact that he is the first Muslim to hold the post of an army commander, and that he is widely regarded as the only person who can handle the southern insurgency peacefully, no one even bothers to ask him how he is going to deal with the southern situation now. So we can understand why the question on women’s issues has never come up.

However, CDRM has surprised the women’s movement when the nine newly-appointed members of the highly powerful National Counter Corruption Commission included one female member―a senior judge. This commission is tasked with the investigation of corruption charges of senior officials and politicians.

Isis: In the upcoming Constitutional changes, what is the women's movement expecting or asking for? What are your non-negotiables?

PT: The women’s movement spent a great deal of effort to ensure that gender equality is addressed successfully in the abolished (1997) constitution.

For example, article 30 spelled out that “men and women have equal rights; discrimination on the basis of sex is not allowed; any measures adopted by the state to eliminate obstacles or enable persons to enjoy their rights and freedom equal to others, are not deemed to be discriminatory.” There is also article 80 which specifies that the state must promote equality between women and men.

Our non-negotiables are that those articles relating to equal rights for men and women in the 1997 constitution remain intact.

Other expectations are that the new government will continue the work on the gender equality law.

Serious concerns must be paid to the possible impacts of free-trade agreements on women, particularly women workers.

Isis: Given Thailand's history of multiple changes in government, what kind of democracy is envisioned?

PT: We envision a kind of democracy that ensures that the government will always uphold the constitution and human rights; ensures that the same rule of law applies to all; and that the population is sufficiently informed, can defend their own rights and freedom, and have access to an easy channel to monitor politicians.

Isis: How will the Thai women's movement engage with the process of transforming democracy?

PT: This is still to be discussed, I will let you know our plan later but I expect the women’s movement to be actively monitoring and influencing the constitution drafting process, as they had been doing so throughout the one-year drafting of the 1997 constitution and finally succeeded to put in gender equality issues as mentioned above.