Numbers overrated in Thai politics

Playing with numbers will never end the Thai crisis.

While most critics of the draft charter, which sailed through the referendum on Aug. 7, are accepting the outcome gracefully, a few have zeroed in on the relatively low voter turnout.

Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan suggested that heads must roll among election commissioners because the turnout of just over 50 percent was a far cry from the pre-referendum “boasting” that targeted 80 percent.

The undertone of the criticism from the never-say-die few in the anti-draft camp is that the referendum turnout might not give the controversial document full legitimacy.

If voter turnouts come to dominate political logic, the same critics must also acknowledge that the 2014 general election, held under controversial circumstances as the ruling Pheu Thai Party was reeling from the snowballing effects of its amnesty scheme, yielded the same, if not worse, numbers than the draft charter. Public participation in that election was low, which is intriguing because that election could be said to have been held under a “democratic” atmosphere.

But the point is we must stop applying numerical values to everything. There must be exceptions, even in countries with the most flourishing democracy. Otherwise, a popular person could easily get away with murder if their guilt or innocence depended on a public vote. There are things that must not be decided like a popularity contest, or the world simply does not need courts of law.

Thailand ran into its troubles because everything was mixed up. When certain parties fail to respect the rule of law, the disrespect can spread like a viral outbreak.

Numbers have been given too much importance. Sanctity of the law has been diluted. And this happens on all sides. The prevailing mindset has been “If the others can do it, we can too.”

Politically, playing with numbers is dangerous. For starters, if the numbers are on your side, it’s great; but it’s all over if they turn against you. However, that should be the least of everyone’s concerns.

In the big picture, obsessions with numbers can lead to lies, propaganda and oppression. Numbers become the most important thing, not virtue or justice. The bigger the crime one commits, the bigger the number people want to endorse their actions.

The concept of democracy is imperfect, which gave birth to the wisdom that wrong things are still wrong even if they are done by everyone, and right things are still right even if only you do them. But the fact that democracy is flawed must be acknowledged as a warning over the perils of getting carried away with majority support. The fact that democracy is flawed, but still better than other systems, should not be used as a shield against wrongdoing.

Democracy admittedly needs numbers, but numbers alone cannot guarantee a healthy democracy. The assumption that numbers are everything in politics will only lead to the kinds of problems that are plaguing Thailand. Smart people should use numbers smartly. Simply put, numbers should only reinforce the sense of responsibility among those backed by them. Thailand is among several countries where people have learnt that numbers should not be considered a license to commit wrongdoing.

Most opponents of the draft charter are reacting to the referendum outcome with grace. They respect the significance of the results and pay little attention to the voter turnout. That is a good sign among all the bad ones plaguing Thai politics and battered Thailand can probably start from there.

(Asia News Network/The Nation )
Editorial