Today Hero, Zero Tomorrow

I WOULD not want to lead the life of head of state if I were unfortunate enough to be born somewhere south of Baghdad, north of Bangkok or East of Egypt or anywhere west of Pyongyang.

Why? Whence one these chief executives held exalted positions leading their respective nations, today (and for some, merely yesterday) they face(d) public opprobrium and worse, the threat of being executed or hanged (or having already made to walk the plank).

These one-time Presidents or Prime Ministers (okay; a dastardly few were actually dyed in the wool dictator) have been held accountable for the countless deaths of protesters in police action to quell riots or massed protests that the government of the day deemed illegal. How quickly fortunes change. On the other hand, for the long-suffering populace who labored under the yoke of dictatorship, revenge must be oh so sweet. Nothing beats the sight (squeals) of one’s former jailhouse master on bended knees begging for mercy from a one-time victim.

Let’s look at the examples of some modern-day leaders who are facing such ignominy. We hasten to add that far from pronouncing judgment on their perceived sins, this writer has not got the wherewithal to pronounce guilt or otherwise of the subjects facing the ultimate capital sanction – death by popular decree!

Our Thai brethren up north know a thing or two about peasants being revolting – and that is not a mere apt description of their perpetual state of disheveled dress. Nor the nostril assault from the stinging odor of au de toilet they communally exfoliate.

Abhisit Veijajiva, that urbane former PM of the Land of the Elephants and exotic massage that begins lustily under foot used to lead a nation of 64 million Thais. During his premiership, the world was stunned – as did the majority of Malaysia ministers – that Thais could speak English!

Having picked up more than just rugby during long cold winters and the ability to distinguish a yorker from a bouncer from the cricket pitches of Eton, he transformed the world’s notions of his countrymen in the eyes of the world’s polyglot.

Where once Thais melted into the background in cocktail parties on account of not wanting to engage in decent, coherent diplomat chat, here was someone with plum patois – above all, in discernibly comprehensible English, public school accent and all!

Alas, an ungrateful section of the Thai masses regard him as a murderer. He is being held responsible for the deaths of protesters who took to the streets when he was premier.

In the process of trying to govern, and restore order during riots in 2010, scores were left dead in the resulting military crackdown. The PM was held responsible for action to clear the streets of Bangkok of protesters where shots were fired by the army.

Now that he is no longer Thai CEO, he has been indicted for – their murder!

Travel further north-westerly and welcome to Bangladesh. This nation of many million mouths – at times more like billions – which just executed opposition politician Abdul Quader Molla who was found guilty of committing war crimes which dates back to 1971.

I came to the office recently and found at least one of our diligent janitors from Chittagong down in the dumps. Always found either polishing or wiping something constantly, he actually took a little time off to mope, not mop this time. He almost wailed when video images of the execution flashed on the video screen in the Awani reception area and tried to convince me this was injustice in his lifetime !

History, it is said, is always written by the victors. Not too difficult. Pick up most history books and place yourself in the shoes of the various displaced peoples. Read about how the rise of some nations or institutions are attributed solely to the efforts of one person and not the other. Or that the contributions of others are shunted to one quiet corner.

That, to me; is a crime as heinous as any – nay; it is murder in any language!

So where then does responsibility lies and accountability ends?

Indeed, one local politician-cum-administrator (there’s just so many of them in this country who think they are adept jugglers, but then invariably fail and fumble) famously pronounced that he was responsible; but not accountable when confronted to explain some infamous fiasco.

Now if both the hapless Abhisit and the dearly lamented Moulla could be equally brazen, perhaps their fate would be less terminal.

Ends.