Winter 1996

Apathy for Thai Politics
by Annie Yangeksakul

Thailand is no stranger to political turmoil. Corruption in Thai politics is so widespread that often the person elected to office is not the most qualified. The current prime minister, Banharn Silpa-archa, is no exception: from the beginning of his political career, he was accused of vote-buying, of forging his Thai citizenship, and of plagiarizing his master’s thesis. In this sense, Banharn’s premiership has been reflective of Thai democracy in general. The public does not have a lot of confidence in its politicians.

On September 21, Banharn announced, after being grilled in parliament on a no-confidence vote, that he would resign within seven days and choose a new prime minister for the country. On September 27, he dissolved the parliament, thus retaining his position as prime minister and setting the stage for a nationwide election, fraught with more illegal vote-buying, on November 17. The Election Watchdog, an organization with multi-million dollar budgets, does not command enough power to effectively prevent the vote-buying and use credible threats against offenders. Most vote-buying takes place in the rural areas, where civilians depend on subsistence farming. Thus it is extremely hard to cast a watchful eye over the democratic process. Not surprisingly, the country is governed by the same individuals, whose primary role is to buy votes for their party: It is almost impossible for a new person to enter politics under the established system.

The public is often indifferent and merely hopes that a mysterious power will offset the undesired candidate’s victory. In 1992, that mysterious force was nothing less than a military coup.

The Thai public, especially the educated elite, must take serious actions against the ineffective democracy and vote-buying that is taking place in politics. It should fight for the introduction of new faces and the purging of old, corrupted politicians. In addition, it should support organizations which aim to control vote-buying, and sponsor programs to educate the impoverished half of the population. The educated population’s mentality regarding politics must change. If reform is not taken soon, the country’s political system will spiral downward, with the economy and Thailand’s international status following closely behind.

Democracy in Mongolia
by Chris Conway

In a stunning upset of the incumbent party in the elections held on June 30, the Democratic Union catapulted to the head of the first noncommunist government in Mongolia in 75 years. The young upstart party displaced the ruling Marxist Mongolian Revolutionary Peoples Party (MRPP) by winning 50 out of the 76 parliamentary seats despite holding only six seats after the previous elections.

Though free elections occurred shortly after a democratic revolution in 1990, the Stalinist-style Communist party clung to power while dragging its feet in the transformation of the government. The country was beset by bureaucratic inefficiency and economic stagnation in recent times, prompting the Democratic Union to begin an immediate overhaul of the system. The inexperienced party rose to prominence based on a contract with the voters, which included over 200 promises ranging from privatization of 60 percent of state property to a reduction of the marginal tax rate by 20 to 30 percent. Voting occurred primarily along age demarcations, with younger voters opting for faster and greater economic liberalization.

The promise of a responsive government brings new hope to the nation of nomadic herders, many of whom rode horseback for miles simply to vote. The per capita income of the 2.4 million people living in Mongolia lies at a meager $350. The Democratic Union wants to provide the people with the ability to take charge of their own lives and to find a way to make money. By focusing on decentralization, the party anticipates elimination of the inertia, corruption, and unnecessary bureaucracy that plagued the state-controlled economy. As for the government’s immediate plans, voters can expect inflation of essential goods to promote competition, a broader tax base, an improved infrastructure, and fiscal reform to rescue the beleaguered banking system.

The unfolding situation in Mongolia represents an excellent model for the peaceful transition from communism to democracy. In an age when violence is accepted as commonplace in transitional periods, Mongolia offers a dramatic moral victory for communities struggling to adapt to the New World Order.

In the Name of Religion
by Thowaiba Makki

In September, Taliban militia forces took over 70 percent of Afghanistan, declaring it an Islamic state. Although this new government brought peace to a country afflicted by 18 years of war, it has issued extremely strict decrees meant to abide by Islamic teachings. Television, music, and Western clothes have been banned; everyone is required to pray five times a day; and men are ordered to grow traditional Islamic beards.

Restrictions on women and girls have been especially harsh. Women are no longer allowed to work outside of the home and girls’ schools have been shut down. All females must cover themselves entirely - hands and face included - when in public. Those who violate the dress code are allegedly beaten. At a news conference, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Taliban government assured that the restrictions on women would be reexamined once the Taliban had control of Afghanistan.

Yet, there is no legitimate reason for these restrictions to have been issued in the first place. Tlaiban leaders argue that their regulations follow eternal Islamic principles and thus cannot be changed. However, their tyrannous restraints on women are far from consistent with Islamic standards. For over a millenium, Muslim women have had the right to vote, to work, to own property, to keep money, to divorce, and to become educated.

The new Afghan government is violating Islamic teachings by enforcing what, it claims, are Islamic teachings. Forcing people to act against their will is not only unjust, but specifically criticized in Islam, for the Quran states that "there is no compulsion in religion." Thus, either the Taliban have not true understanding of Islam, or they are not really who they claim they are and supported by outside anti-Islamic sources. Whatever the case, the Taliban need to understand that mistreating women is not only unrighteous, but that doing so in the name of religion is a disgrace.

An Untenable Peace
by Anastasia Tavoulareas

Terrorists struck once again in Northern Ireland on October 8, detonating two car bombs inside the British Army’s heavily defended headquarters, marking the most recent display of violence in the :guerilla war for independence." Questions are being raised as to whether the province will again become a battleground between Republicans and pro-British paramilitaries. Some people are asking whether it is not time for the UN to come to grips with the re-escalating conflict in Ireland.

The IRA bombing in London’s financial district in February did more than kill two people. It formally ended an established peace process between the opposing sides and a cease-fire that had been in effect since August 1994. One thing, in light of all of this, is obvious: something new needs to be tried. Under current policy, as stipulated under the Anglo-Irish Agreement established under Margaret Thatcher in 1981, the Northern Irish may vote themselves out of British control. In order to vote, however, citizens of Northern Ireland must be property owners, and in those households that do qualify, only one member may vote. Thus, in areas such as Falls Road, where over 80 percent of Catholics are unemployed, the criteria for voting render them politically impotent, regardless of how strongly they feel about independence. The desperation felt by many Northern Irish is apparent, and, as a result, violent terrorists have on occasion become martyrs, hailed as heroes by otherwise nonviolent people for having the initiative to react.

One possibility for accelerating peace would be to allow Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA, to be included in the peace process. Suspicion and hostility towards IRA embers continue, but the importance of their presence cannot be denied. If not acknowledged on a very immediate level by political leaders in the peace-talking arena, the IRA will keep using violent methods to express itself.

Why has the UN thus far virtually ignored the situation in Northern Ireland? Simply because the UN cannot and will not intervene in a situation not officially labeled a "war." But what drove Yeats to write in 1919, "Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart," was nothing short of a war. As of now despair has replaced hope for peace in Northern Ireland.