As previously reported by Nick Nostitz here on New Mandala, a phenomenon in Thai politics that has been drawing much attention during recent weeks has been the emergence of the “White Mask” group. In this piece, I discuss the prospects for this group’s movement against the current government, and also give a reflection on what it indicates about the present condition of the anti-Thaksin movement in Thailand.
Source: V For Thailand Facebook group
Declaring the goal of their group as “overthrowing the Thaksin system”, the White Mask group is hardly a new player. The group’s members, as Nick reported, are predominately drawn from among those have previously joined the Siam Samakhi and perhaps Pitak Siam rallies. The group’s own webpage can be found here. The group have been staging their “weekly meeting” in several locations, both within and outside Bangkok. Their main gathering point in Bangkok has been at the Rachaprasong Junction.
A report in Matichon suggested that the number of people who joined the group’s protest at Rachaprasong had multiplied very quickly during the past two weeks. From the small number of around 200-300 in their first few days of gathering, to the latest number of 2000-3000 on 16 June 2013. This rapid rise in the number seems astonishing. It was explained, however, that such a sudden rise came on 16 June because the White Mask group was joined by “the Thai People Network”, another anti-Thaksin group which has been staging their protests at Sanam Luang. A major component of the Thai People Network is the unique “Royalist Communist” group, who recently staged a march to the Royal Palace to ask for a Royally-appointed Prime Minister. The Thai People Network joined the White Mask on their latest staged protest at Rachaprasong as the group’s guards, and at the same time were seen wearing the mask themselves. For the Royalist Communists, this resulted in a peculiar combination of “Royalism-Communism and Guy Fawkes” as their symbols of identity.
The past and present leaders of anti-Thaksin factions seem to hold a positive outlook for the emergence of the White Mask group. As reported in Prachatai, Sangsit Piriyarangsan, the Dean of the College of Social Innovation, Rangsit University (nowadays a gathering point for anti-Thaksin academics), portrays the White Masks as an “independent movement” joined by “a new generation of educated people”. Suriyasai Katasila, a People’s Alliance for Democracy leader, argues that the White Mask represents an “intelligent” move to “internationalise” the meaning of the movement, allowing foreigners to easily understand the movement as a fight against authoritarianism. The main message that these anti-Thaksin leaders try to present is that the emergence of the White Mask group could be seen rather as a “sign of progress” of the movement against Thaksin and the present government. This is why they have tried to attribute to the group what they see as the “signs of quality” of social movements. These attributes include, for example, the quality of being autonomous, independent, and educated.
To me, however, the White Mask group does not seem to have better prospects than its predecessors, Siam Samakki and Pitak Siam, which faded after months of activities. There is an apparent confusions surrounding the goal of the movement and the use the White Mask, or the “Guy Fawkes” mask, as the anti-Thaksin symbol. The groups’ supporters claim that their uses of the Guy Fawkes mask is inspired more by the movie V for Vendetta, and similar uses of such a mask in the internationally recognised Occupy movement. Nonetheless, the Thai White Mask movement cannot easily follow in these footsteps. If adaptation of the mask is in order to be more “internationally aligned”, holding a banner supporting Thai Nationalism and the King at the same time introduces a sense of contradiction and irony.
An even more serious problem for the success of the White Mask group seems to rather lie in what the symbol “fails” to represent. The uses of the White Mask, more than anything, signifies the an effort to move away from set of the “old symbols” mobilised by the anti-Thaksin movement. It is worth remembering that the symbols previously used were all associated with Thai nationalism. Movements against Thaksin have long been relying on the “conservative” forces in Thailand, and aligning with such a force has been crucial to their past success. To depart from using this, as perhaps done by the White Mask group, is indeed a risky path to take. It allows the movement to portray itself as a fresh one, but at the same time also reduces the power of their most powerful weapon against Thaksin. A sign of the problem it can bring about for the anti-Thaksin movement is evident in the following comment by Thepmontri Limpayom, an academic who played a central role in the protests on the Preah Vihear temple issue.
I don’t care and disagree with the “Westerners’ Mask”…I never stop you from doing anything. But I disagree with this. Anything that contradicts the Thai culture, and is just a fashion, cannot be sustained.
In sum, what I see from the emergence of the White Mask group is not the sign of progress, but rather the sign of regression among the anti-Thaksin movement. Its emergence is a reflection of the movement’s current state of disarray, and the decay of the effectiveness in their old “nationalist” frame for mobilisation. In addition to being in a highly fragmented state, with the absence of a strong leadership, they are also clearly lacking a new unifying symbol. Yingluck’s premiership might currently be facing a difficult “mid-term” period. Yet, it seems that her opponents on the street may not be doing any better.
Thorn Pitidol is a Thai academic at Thammasat University
I agree with Khun Thorn. The Guy Fawkes mask is THE symbol of the Occupy movement, seen recently in the mass protests in Turkey and Brazil, which is by nature populist, anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist, AND anti-monarchy. The White Mask movement people are deeply confused if they think they can lift this symbol of the Left for their reactionary cause, which seems to be advocating nothing more than the overthrow of the government by another military coup, the same old message of the Yellow Shirts, the Multi-colored shirts, Siam Samarkhi and Pitak Siam.
It can’t help that this morning it was front page news that two men wearing Guy Fawkes masks robbed a local convenience store, stealing around 1600 Baht from the register and two bottles of whiskey. They dropped and smashed one of the bottles on the way out. The White Mask movement needs to be more careful about who they give out the masks to, as there are some who are willing to sully the cause for very petty gains.
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Thanks for this post and also for Nick’s earlier post. In relation to white masks, I also found the two related posts at PPT of interest: http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/white-lies/ and http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/who-is-sonthiyan/
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Both the Thai political prisoners links appear to be blocked by that shitty URL w3.mict et. al. Thanks xxxxxxxx.
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Mirror site here:
http://politicalprisonersofthailand.wordpress.com/
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Perhaps the symbol (V mask) is wrong, but the objective: to oppose/eliminate the lingering growing Thaksin corrupt/corruptive system, is noble.
Could a rice sack riddled with holes be a more apt symbol?
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I find it quite interesting that even though their attempt of giving themselves a more international image, still patriotic songs such as the infamous “Nak Paendin” ( http://www.newmandala.org/2007/09/11/scum-of-the-earth/ ) are a regular feature of the White Mask protests. The same song has also been a regular feature at the “multicolored” protests.
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So sad for Thailand. Right now it is the battle between two evils, in which supporter of each evil believes their ‘preferred evil’ is less evil than their opponent’s “preferred evil”.
True, Thaksin is not a god. In fact, there are many ‘not so noble’ qualities about him…which are not difficult at all to find out, if one really wants to find out. But is he “more evil” than the Thai elites (ie. the military, the Privy Council, and the Royal Family)?
Perhaps he might be, if he has equally as much opportunities to commit such atrocities that the elites currently have. But that is just pure speculation.
The truth is, as of current, the elites are way more evil than him. The atrocities they have committed so far render their actions unforgivable for many people who have realised of their atrocities (which they have tried so hard to hide).
But I am too busy to care about the fight between two evils. Thaksin is not someone I would be fighting for. Nor would I care about the Thai elites. Whatever would happen in the future would be interesting to predict. I just hope that my prediction would be right.
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When symbol lost their symbolism.
Guy Fawkes mask use to support monarchy and for appoint dictator.
Red shirt call for election and democracy, instead of communism.
And communist in uniform support monarchy.
What’s next? A picture of Che and Mao on a capitalist, mass produce T-shirt?
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“I am the symbol of Thai democracy” Thaksin did say that. Is Thaksin as the symbolism of Red Shirts democracy an ‘honest’ or ‘dishonest’ mistake?
Why should we now fault the Thai White Mask group for using the V-mask as their symbolism? These people are fed up with the corruption and divisive Thaksin-style democracy. Their anger could perhaps be likened to the finale of that movie “V for Vendetta” in which a whole movement of discontents wearing Guy Fawkes costumes watch the fascistic Houses of Parliament burn.
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@Vichai N
and then? ? ?
Then we perform officially the absolute monarchy again ?
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” … and then?”
We stop Thaksin Bernd and we succeed to give Thailand’s democracy a very good chance at fully developing towards “government of the people, by the people and for the people”, rather than a government “of Thaksin, by Thaksin and for Thaksin & family”.
History teaches us that monarchies of the world are quite capable of self-destruction. Could Thailand’s monarchy continue to succeed to keep the institution relevant to Thailand’s future and progress?
That question had been asked a hundred times at the New Mandala forums.
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@ Vichai N
A GOVERNENT OF THE PEOPLE- BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE – BRAVO!!
You have the with a absolute mmajority of the people elected government Thaksin
– removed with a military coup
– against the will of the people
You guys have a military government used
– not elected by the people
You then have the elected by the people government removed by a legal coup
– against the will of the people !
You then ruled without the will of the people
Then you have finally admitted elections and the people have elected a government
– and you also want to overthrow this government again …
G R E A T ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
a great step towards ! !
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Oh well … here we go again … Bernd W crying a river for Thaksin.
“I am the symbol of Thai democracy” Thaksin said. And Bernd W. and company agrees.
Hep hep hurray.
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Vichai you seem to have a rather curious idea of what constitutes “democracy.” I am no Thaksin fan, I will admit that right off the bat. But he wins the most votes. Democracy is about electing the person who lead the government through the demonstration of the will of the people through a voting process.
Let the elected government run its course. Force it to compete with the other parties on the strength of its policies. Maybe we will find it to be true, Pheau Thai cannot effectively run a government and the Democrats have a viable policy alternative. Won’t Thailand be better off if each party knows that its hold on power is based on its ability to effectively run the government? If instead extra-electoral means are used to unseat the current elected governement, Thailand’s democracy and national unity will be significantly weakened, as has been demonstrated over and over again in Thailand’s modern history.
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Obama just reminded Egypt’s PM Morsi hat “democracy is not only about elections” .
That point strikes at the heart of Thailand’s divisive politics. The ruling party Peau Thai implements suspicious policies and deliberately evade transparency and accountability. Yingluck’s priority remain getting her brother Thaksin amnestied and all others are secondary or distractions. But half of Thailand believe that Thaksin should face his accusers and be subject to judicial processes on every single criminal case pending against him. Thaksin should emulate Nelson Mandela and make a courageous effort to submit himself to Thai justice to demonstrate that he heeds Thailand’s rule of law
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Sri – you make a good point.
However, the alternative – an unelected government – is inherently unaccountable even in the unlikely case that its policies were to be transparent and lacking suspicion.
If the Thai people believe that the Pheau Thai government deliberately evades transparency and are sufficiently bothered by this fact, then this should be reason to bring in a new government at election time.
I cannot believe that it will be good for either Egypt’s or Thailand’s democracy for the military to stage a coup. Instead, the sitting governments need to be removed through the electoral method. If the incumbent leaders fail to leave after an election or prevent a fair (enough) election from being held, then extra-electoral means of changing power may be necessary. But as of right now those conditions have not been met and the ruling parties (in Egypt and Thailand) do not fundamentally threaten democracy as much as the potential for an unelected military government does.
Thaksin is no Mandela, and I do not expect him to act like Mandela. It seems a little ironic though that Thaksin’s opponents simultaneously call for him to heed the rule of law while backing extra-legal means for removing elected governments from power.
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Daniel: Egypt’s Morsi won’t resign in the face of millions of protesters and escalating violence. You still suggest that Egypt’s Morsi should NOT back down … on constitutional principles that he was the legally elected choice of the people (then).
And why do you Daniel presume that people who criticize Yingluck or her suspicious policies or her ‘tactics’ to get her disgusting brother Thaksin amnestied, are ‘undemocratic’?
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Vichai – I cannot say whether or not Morsi should step down from a moral level to prevent violence. What I can say is that it is quite possible that Morsi retains support from the majority of Egyptians, and that removing him before election time is unconstitutional and harmful to fostering a strong tradition of democratic regime change in Egypt. I fully support removing Morsi from power, but it has to be done in an election. Otherwise Morsi still retains democratic legitimacy.
Simply opposing the Shinawatra’s leadership is not undemocratic. But suggesting that a coup may be called for, or that in some way the will of the people expressed through the electoral method should be invalidated is indeed undemocratic.
If Thaksin gets amnesty… he would be the newest member in a large and prestigious club of Thais.
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Well Daniel, if Morsi chooses that path you suggest … risking near ‘civil war’ (and blood on the streets) to ‘preserve’ his ‘legitimacy’ because he is ‘the elected’, then Morsi by that very action will be inviting a ‘coup’ if only because those generals believe a ‘coup’ is what will prevent civil war.
The Egyptian situation is an potentially explosive and bloody crisis … and elected fools should not keep clinging to their ‘I am the elected one’ nonsense.
Morsi should resign and submit to another election to restore calm and to defuse very explosive political tensions.
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One thing, at least, that Egypt & Thailand have in common is the “Deep State”.
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Vichai – I do not know what Morsi should do, as I said in my previous post. What I am saying is that mob-style protests to remove an elected leader before allowing a chance for reelection are undemocratic.
There has been a coup in Egypt. The constitution has been suspended, law is issued by decree. The Muslim Brotherhood’s TV channels have been cut. How can you think that this resembles democracy?
A critical part of democracy is that when the wrong guy wins, you deal with it and try to win next time.
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“Morsi should resign and submit to another election to restore calm and to defuse very explosive political tensions”
It’s a bit late now, but I agree with you Vichai – that’s also what Abhisit should have done, but instead he chose (or possibly was forced) to become the Butcher of Bangkok.
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That aggressive combative minister with the pink Bentley – DPM Chalerm Yubamrung, what does he symbolize in Thaksin’s democracy? Should Chalerm somehow manage to be Thailand’s Prime Minister (he gets very high 70% approval rating and is the 4th most admired minister), will that be the ending … or the new rebirth of Thai democracy (after V-masks literally burn Thai parliament, that is ….)
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After red shirt success in hi-jacking red’s color for democracy and yellow shirt’s anarchy fist on their flag, the issue is no longer the symbol. It is the power of the group to convey their message over the original symbolism.
So can the white mask group convey their pro-monarchy message over their original anti-monarchy symbolism? Or will it continue to be an estrange, copy-cat polar-opposite brother to the Occupy movement?
It’s kinda like preaching about sufficiency economy while using IPhone and IPad. Yes, you might get the message a cross, but not the respect it deserve.
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Whenever the opportunity arises, Thaksin will a grab and a stab at the limelight to highlight what the Thaksin symbolism should be. Like Fall commented ” … he might get a message across, but NOT the respect …” nor credibility he might wish. Because just two days ago Thaksin posted a picture of himself beside the great Nelson Mandela (Invictus!) with his blah and blah and blah …
This is dedicated to Thaksin Shinawatra, (with my apologies to poet William Ernest Henley for taking liberties with his Invictus poem):
—————-
Convictus
Beyond Bangkok wraths and wrecks
Safe at Dubai of opulent shade,
Siam judges or generals won’t touch me
The Siam way there’s always a way
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have winced and I whined (or wined?)
But am I not Thailand Democracy?
Why I could even be the“Thai Superman”
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
No one will dare touch me!
I am above the law, I am the master
AND I am the captain of the Shirts in Red
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Several videos and pictures on the internet shows a car belonging to the city of Bangkok, carrying several key leaders of the Guy Fawks movement, at the head of their protest march on Sunday. The city of Bangkok governor is a Abhisit Democrat Party MP.
http://thaishortnews.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/guy-fawkes-mask-off-as-abhisits-bangkok-governor-supply-city-car-to-lead-movement/
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One can the word “Thaksin” a devil for everything no longer hear –
– A single name brings so much “evil” about a 65 million nation
but –
– in the past 7 decades, you have not it always successfully managed to avoid the “democracy” in thailand?
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[…] politics as anyone could imagine. As New Mandala point out in two recent blog posts (10/06/13 and 24/06/13). The White Mask group are little more than a re-incarnation of the extreme right-wing violent […]
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via twitter Saksith Saiyasombut:
Wha whaa! : Anti-govt “White Mask” movement will suspend activity in Bangkok due to insufficient support
https://www.facebook.com/V.For.Thailand?fref=ts
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‘White Masks’ Group Calls For An End To Weekly Anti-Govt Rally
[in Bangkok]
http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM01qZzBNamt3TXc9PQ==&subcatid=
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In the meantime the masks start to slip at the UDD.
Thida says:
She said that the question of who takes the lead of UDD should be decided by local chaptersтА▓ election, but the organization “is too plagued with conflicts and not united enough” for such procedure.
Apparently the not at all UDD and the red shirts are not ready for democracy.
You cant make this stuff up.
And amazingly in her opinion:
Ms. Thida said the Ammart (feudal aristocrats) Regime has the upper hand because of high coordination between different factions to campaign against the the government
How useless can you be? Cant even get yourselves organised enough to hold elections and on top of that let the ‘ammart’ get the upper hand. Pathetic.
Or just pure drivel.
Pathetic or liars, at least one of the 2. likely both.
http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM01qa3lPVEUwTVE9PQ==
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A must read for background to Thailand since the 2006 coup.
white paper : the judicial attack on thailand┬┤s democracy….
robert amsterdam
http://de.scribd.com/doc/154313656/White-Paper-The-Judicial-Attack-on-Thailand-s-Democracy
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[…] such the ultra-royalist multi-colored shirts, the short-lived Pitak Siam and the recently emerged ‘White masks’ have shown. What all these groups have in common – apart from near-facist political leanings […]
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[…] such the ultra-royalist multi-colored shirts, the short-lived Pitak Siam and the recently emerged ‘White masks’ have shown. What all these groups have in common – apart from near-facist political leanings […]
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