What happens when you mix red and yellow? Usually a shade of orange. And orange, it is said, is the happiest color.

But in Thailand, there is no joy when these two colors collide. In fact, the consequences of a clash between the red-shirts of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and their nemesis, the yellow shirts, has been disastrous for the once great democracy.

Since Thaksin was ousted in a coup four years ago, and the tense elections three months later, the yellows and reds have paralyzed the nation no less than four times, as one mass rally follows another. The Thai government is crashing at a time when the country, one of Indonesia’s best and closest friends, should be focusing on regional economic integration and the challenges of an evolving Southeast Asia.

For the past five days the red-shirts have slowly been escalating their demonstrations. Thus far, a series of colorful rallies, loud speeches and creative protest symbols such as blood donations splattered on government buildings, have highlighted the demonstrations.

But as fatigue sets in and patience thins, a minor spark could see the peaceful protests turn to mayhem. If and when that happens, the military green-shirts will have to step in by imposing the internal security act, as has historically been the case in Thai politics.

All sides claim the side of democracy. The reality is, populism has gone awry.

We in Indonesia, observe with solemn sadness the events in Thailand. We grasp from our own experience that democracy is often cacophonous. Yet functioning democracies are self-correcting and relenting to common sense at the very brink.

Thailand has lapsed beyond that point several times over. It is already half down the spiral of further political anarchy and more coups bedeviling the name of order, stability and democracy itself.

We do not believe that any sudden change of government at present will resolve this impasse. As violence begets violence, the legitimization of non-democratic means empowers all to do the same, as the case in Thailand shows. A cycle of counter coups, military or otherwise, are an accepted tool in Thai politics.

We urge the military to refrain from complicity, and urge the public to vent peacefully so that chaos does not become one of the most fabled capitals in Southeast Asia.

Despite the resistance of incumbent Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to hold elections, realistically there is no recourse other than the ballot box to return the nation to its proper course. Not immediately, yet not too long either, as legitimate elections are the only means to produce lawful government.

While this matter is truly a domestic matter that needs to be settled by the Thais alone, the good offices and sincerity of Thailand’s friends and neighbors, not least Indonesia could be utilized to ensure the validity and fairness of the elections.

We implore our Thai friends to redirect their energy to a political solution rather than one conspiracy after another. For Indonesia, a democratically functioning Thailand is the best anchor of a stable region.

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