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| Reference Material |
| How the Crises in the Philippines and Thailand Differ By Maj. Gen. Fortunato U. Abat, [email protected] April 07, 2006 Common charges of corruption, cronyism, poor governance, and the propensity to use strong-armed methods to stay in power have triggered the crises in both Thailand and the Philippines. What is different is that in Thailand the military and the police have talked out Prime Minister Thaksin from taking a hard line against anti-government militants and to consider voluntarily stepping down. Here in the Philippines, the military and the police conspired with President Arroyo to take a hard line against anti-GMA militants in order for her to stay in power. In Thailand, the military and the police uphold the sovereignty of the people. Here in the Philippines, the military and the police refuses to realize that the true Chain of Command starts not from a Commander-in-Chief but from the Sovereign People that created it. In Thailand, the military and the police value honor more than any other in the exercise of their profession. Here in the Philippines, the military and the police value their profession as livelihood more than the honor of being in the profession of arms. In Thailand, the top military and police leadership express their anti-Government sentiments openly without fear of being relieved and charged for inciting to sedition. Here in the Philippines, the top military and police leadership are muzzled by the fear of being relieved of their livelihood and charged for violation of the Articles of War. In Thailand, protesters are not prevented from rallying around the Government House of Prime Minister Thaksin. Here in the Philippines, President Arroyo, because of her feeling of insecurity and paranoia, has fortified Malaca�ang and barricaded it to the extent of cracking down on peaceful protests in every nook and corner of Metro Manila. In Thailand, the King serves as the respected body that oversees governance and promotes harmony and unity of contending political forces in the country. Here in the Philippines, the People as the Sovereign is unfortunately fragmented and muzzled by government threat of repression to be able to effectively unifyand harmonize governance for the good of the nation. |