Thailand's Supreme Court has done its Solomonic best in the trial of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In ordering the seizure of a little more than half his assets, the court has punished the exiled leader without making him a martyr.
Splitting the difference may make political sense, but it does not address the real issue — the profound sense of alienation felt by the former prime minister's supporters. The failure of the Bangkok government to recognize their grievances and address them means that the chasm in Thai politics will only deepen.
Mr. Thaksin was ousted from power in a military coup in 2006 on charges of corruption. A junta ruled for a year then rammed a new constitution down the throats of Thai voters that would ensure that the military and its allies among the Thai elite would retain their grip on power.