In the theater of politics, where alliances are always shifting, we find ourselves at a crossroad, a juncture where choices made will forever echo in the annals of Thai history. As the Pheu Thai Party contemplates a strategic partnership with the Palang Pracharath Party and the pro-Prayut Chan-ocha Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, it risks more than just its identity — it risks its soul.
It would be both remiss and disingenuous not to remember the roots of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party. For in its ranks are those who once wore the mantle of the PDRC, the very individuals responsible for the ousting of Thaksin Shinawatra’s sister, Yingluck. As one casts their memory back, the theatrics of the PDRC protest stage still echo with the vitriol and contempt hurled at the Shinawatra family. The sting of words, once spoken, cannot be unsaid, nor their scars forgotten.
At the helm of the Palang Pracharath sits Prawit Wongsuwan, a man whose narrative seems to be painted with a single brush: the tarnishing of the Shinawatra legacy. For two decades, his efforts have been in dismantling the efforts and policies that Thaksin has spent his life building. It’s a dance of vendettas that stretches back years, a tango of political maneuverings and counter-maneuverings.
Yet, in this labyrinth of political gambits, we must not forget the heartbeat of Pheu Thai Party — the red shirts. These are not mere pawns on a political chessboard, but men and women who have laid down their lives in the name of democracy. In 2010, when the streets of Bangkok were stained with crimson, it was for a cause, for a belief in the potential of a nation. To now align with the forces that once stood against them is more than just political treachery; it’s a betrayal of their sacrifice.
The promise of the Pheu Thai Party has always been one of democracy, and it was this promise that led to an overwhelming majority casting their votes in its favor in previous elections. The heart of Thailand beats with hope and dreams of a democratic future. To turn one’s back on this very majority is not only to undo years of hard-won respect but to threaten the very legacy that the party has worked to build.
History has shown that power, when acquired at the cost of one’s values and legacy, is fleeting. The youth of Thailand, who once looked to the Pheu Thai Party with reverence and hope, will remember. As Salman Rushdie once eloquently said, “Names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being buried, like so many of the earth’s marvels, beneath the dust of habit.” It is my earnest plea to the Pheu Thai Party — do not let your illustrious name become just another sound, buried beneath the sands of opportunistic politics.
In this hour, as the nation watches with bated breath, the Pheu Thai Party stands at a precipice. One path leads to momentary power, while the other to the pages of history as defenders of democracy and the Thai people. The choice, as always, remains theirs.