Thaksin gives in

It's over. The supposedly immovable object that was Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra finally gave way to the irresistible force of protests and last night he announced tearfully that he was giving up. The report came as breaking news over TV last night, and dispatches from the international wire syndicates later said that Thaksin wept on the shoulders of his two daughters while his wife put an arm around them after he announced his resignation.

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Because of the lateness of the hour, there weren't too many details about what had led to the decision after weeks of stonewalling. Just yesterday, newspaper reports were saying that he was seeking reconciliation with those opposing him, but obviously, they would have none of that. They really wanted his head. And that was what they got. Maybe it was a mistake for him to have the snap election? Our own not too distant history had also shown that snap elections tend to disappoint those who rely on them to bolster their hold on power.

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Unlike our late President Ferdinand Marcos, however, the snap election was Thaksin's own idea, he was not cornered into it by a popular American television host. In fact, in Thailand, the protestors even boycotted the election. But the rural votes that Thaksin had relied on so strongly were not enough to give him a resounding win. Even his own men's claim of a 57 percent lead was not satisfactory.

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But that was no all that had forced the PM into the decision. Reports also said that he had sought for advice from the beloved King Bhumibol, before deciding. What the highly respected monarch told him has not been revealed, but, from the results, one can conclude that he did not express his full support. Well, Thaksin was also quoted as saying that he did not want the unrest to continue because, in about two months more, the King will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of his ascent to the throne. How can it be a meaningful and memorable celebration with protestors still marching up and down the streets, and possibly directing their appeals to their king?

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In the Philippines, meanwhile, our own president is marking her birthday today but the irreverent oppositionists do not seem inclined to cease their salvos against her administration. The atmosphere is not being calmed by her own men, either, who seem to be at cross purposes themselves even while attempting to defend her. When will they all learn to sing the same song and with the same tune?

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Last week there was the new Comelec Commissioner Romeo Brawner who bravely said that the people's initiative matter was not legal and that they will dismiss the petition for it as soon as it is presented to them. The next day, he was singing another melody, even hinting that he was misquoted or taken out of context. Then on Monday, one of the senior commissioners of the same office was seen and heard, also on TV, saying that there were evidences to show that massive cheating had taken place in the 2004 election. Yesterday, the Top Gun of the Comelec himself, came out, saying that what Commissioner Resurreccion Borra had said was that cheating had always been there, as a historical event.

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Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, pointing out that he has truly been around, having been a lawyer, a fiscal, a judge, a mayor, before becoming head of the election body, told the public that those who have evidences of cheating can bring them to his office and they will investigate. But do not expect to get relief or rewarded, because, he also said, "Nothing can be done after the proclamation". If you are able to prove you won, sorry na lang, the proclamation is like a referee's decision, it's final. You can have the object of your protest prosecuted - and spend more money on lawyers and whatnots in the process.

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In the meantime, it is so appropriate that a Filipino was declared winner in the International Horror Festival of Fantastic Films in Brussels, Belgium late last month. We do have a lot of horrible thing to contemplate out here. The name of Yam Laranas' film was "Sigaw" - no, not "Sigaw ng Bayan". It is going to be refilmed in an English version called "Echo". Will it echo the cries and protests we hear everyday?*

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