The British Connection

As Thailand faces it worst political crisis in decades, The Irrawaddy spoke with Quinton Quayle, Britain’s ambassador to Thailand, about his views on the current situation. A veteran diplomat and fluent speaker of Thai, Quayle is a longtime observer of the kingdom’s political evolution.

Quinton Quayle

Answer: I have been saddened by the violence which took place recently in Pattaya and Bangkok. I hope that all sides will draw the conclusion that political differences are better resolved by dialogue and reconciliation rather than by acts of violence. Thailand’s democratic institutions provide a framework to resolve conflict, if the will is there.

Q: Many of the key players in the current conflict have strong connections to the UK. Do you think that some Thai leaders have a particular affinity to the British model of democracy?

A: We are proud that so many distinguished Thais, including current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, were educated in the UK. There is no perfect model of democracy anywhere in the world—in the UK for instance, our Upper House is not elected—but if Thailand believes that Britain can help in the development and strengthening of the Thai democratic system, for instance, through greater political dialogue with elected politicians, we would be ready to help.

Q: Prime Minister Abhisit was in London for the G20 Summit, where police acted forcefully to control protesters. Do you think he should have followed this example in Pattaya, where protesters forced the cancellation of the Asean Summit?

A: In any civilized country, there is the right to peaceful political protest; at the same time, the police have a duty to maintain law and order on the streets, if necessary, through the use of minimum force when violence is used against them or others.

Q: Do you think that elitism has played a significant part in the country’s failure to develop stable democratic institutions?
 
A: The key to encouraging political reconciliation in Thailand would seem to lie in bridging the gap between the Bangkok elite and the rural poor, especially those in the North and the Northeast.

Q: Thailand’s political crisis is hurting the country’s economy at a time when the whole world is struggling. Is the government doing enough to respond to these economic challenges?

A: Thailand has enacted a swift economic stimulus package. It is also committed to working with the wider international community to produce a global response to the world economic crisis. Prime Minister Abhisit’s presence at the April G20 Summit in London was a tangible example of this.
In Thailand, there is a clear link between economic confidence and political stability. I therefore hope that there will be no repeat of events like the recent street violence in Bangkok or the closure of the international airport last year.

Q: Thailand is the sitting chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Do you think it will be able to fulfil its responsibilities under the current circumstances?

A: I hope very much that Thailand will be able to fulfil its intention of successfully staging summit meetings in Thailand before its Asean chairmanship finishes at the end of this year.

Q: Do you think that opponents of the government will resume protests?

A: Yes. But peaceful protests are one thing; street violence is another.