Excellent, excellent thread. I like the advice for the liberal-minded, too. Practical! A rarity.
I think the people saying that the original piece misses out on something far more complex, nuanced, mysterious etc are also missing that it may be difficult to comment on unknowns without detracting from the intent of the piece which was well put and not overbearing.
Are you writing a biography of Somaly? This would have been more interesting if some other perspective was provided beyond lies and truth. Ooooh an NGO figurehead could have been lying… And? Mentioning Angelina Jolie and support from celebrities lending to her prominence does not make this more interesting. I feel like I’ve just digested an episode of Murdoch’s Southeast Asian version of ‘A Current Affair’.
“That’s not to say Somaly is lying, or to diminish the value of her organization’s work.”
Why isn’t it? That’s exactly what this is. You don’t want to diminish the value of her organization’s work, that’s all well and good – so why not write something new about anti-trafficking itself than further comment on speculation? You’ve seemingly got the experience to do so – so why not?
Perhaps more to the point, has there ever been a thorough vetting of Somaly Mam’s full biography? How much of what she claims about her personal history is factual and how much is fabricated?
Great piece. I think the Phnom Penh Post had some articles in early 2008 by Cat Barton, I believe, that had claims from the sex workers involved that Somaly Mam wasn’t telling the truth. If I remember right, people who Mam said were gangsters stealing them from Afesip, the sex workers said were their friends and boyfriends trying to rescue them from forced detention. I’m pretty sure that even before I arrived in Cambodia in 2008, some of her stories had already been debunked (like what Glamour reported). Again before I arrived in 2008, I believe the Post had a story about sex workers protesting her. She’s not well liked among the sex workers I talked to, and Afesip does not have a great reputation for being able to take care of the mental well being of the former sex workers and sex slaves who end up there. Here’s my interview with her from when I first arrived: http://khmernz.blogspot.com/2008/11/from-brothel-to-boardroom.html
When I was doing some research about human trafficking a year ago, I came by a booth of afesip on an UN event. I was askng for some numbers, how many women were rescued and what happend to them, and I was turned down by them. They were quite rude, asking me why I want to know this. Also, I could not get much detailed information from brochures and the website beside a lot of begging for donations and general bla bla. I am not denying human trafficking, but I am convinced that it is more a NGO scheme than a problem to the often described extend. And as mentioned in a Cambodian newspaper recently, women are scared about some of the NGOs now, since they don’t want to end up in the garment industry.
Firstly, Orinoco, I attributed the idea that Amsterdam was a “hireling” to others. I have never believed he was one. I take him at his word and at his deeds in opposing the coup and the repression which followed it and that his main interest as he has stated many times is to fight against the “impunity” which many government officials enjoy.
I think Amsterdam has done very valuable work in the service of fighting against the impunity enjoyed by the coupsters and I think he continues to do valuable work in fighting for justice for those who were killed and wounded in April/May 2010.
The reconciliation process officially starts today . . . with the usual Thaksin formula: the payoff. Victims (of whatever color) of the May2010 riots/crackdown gets to collect compensation from the Yingluck government up to Bht 7 million (depending on deaths or injuries) but with caveats – – the most controversial: “. . . withdrawal of lawsuits before receiving a cheque . . .”
Eventually, and sooner rather than later, the reconciliation will have to reach the ultimate beneficiary: Thaksin Shinawatra. Not only will he get to be pardoned, but he gets, according to my reliable fortune teller, his “compensation” too with Bht 46 billion.
That’s about right I think. After all, it was the Red Shirt Supremo who suffered the most.
The closest ASSK came was in Mogaung on 23 February … “The lack of peace in Kachin state is a sad condition not only for Kachin but also for the whole country.”
Her speech however was part of the NLD’s by-election campaign. The no-comment a month later when by-elections were cancelled in three Kachin constituencies (including Mogaung) undid much of the goodwill created by the Mogaung speech.
#24 Tom “Also, the common meaning of hireling is one who works only for money and will do whatever he has asked regardless of any questions of professional integrity.”
Sure… But what do you think he actually is now? I am interested to know the reasoning that lies behind your comments on Robert Amsterdam and how you would asess his motivation for doing what he does, particularly with regards to his personal integrity….
Read my words Woof woof “simply the paid hireling”. Simply -exclusively, only, merely.
Also, the common meaning of hireling is one who works only for money and will do whatever he has asked regardless of any questions of professional integrity. I am paid by a university but I would not describe myself as their hireling.
CT #20. I think you are on the right track. Thaksin has no interest in democracy and loves to throw out feints and reversals to to put people off guard. He sees himself as a chess player capable of planning multiple interlocking strategies with various layers of contingency plans and the end game kept hidden until the last moment. He has among others no doubt considered all of the plans you mention and probably adopted variants of them into his master plan.
Why would he not commit atrocious acts or acquiesce to them again? He has shown many times that he not only accepts violence as a tool to get what he wants and terrorize his enemies but actually revels in it as long as he and his own family members are well out of harm’s way. Unfortunately this bloodthirsty approach often backfires, as did his brutal approach to the South.
The red shirts may soon become a liability to national reconciliation and the small minority of idealistic but noisy left wing leaders will have to be purged in the name of “unity”. The mainstream leadership, e.g. Nattawut and Jatuporn, like their PT brethren sees the movement primarily as a route to power and wealth and has no problem with any number midstream horse changes.
Yes, this helps, thanks. One could even link his “hope” not only to the “overseas” element, but also to the “anniversary.” After all, the red shirts are supposed to forget what had happened. So, no need to celebrate aniversaries any longer. Then, there is also the element of “р╕Др╕Зр╕Ир╕░.” Maybe, even Natthawut got confused, especially when conclusions were drawn while listening to the speech at Rajaprasong, not while watching a video clip, or reading a transcript.
ted paulson (18). Are we all fools being manipulated by scoundrels? I’d suggest it’s a matter of degree, and that it varies with place and time. The bigger the gap between rich and poor, the closer you are to the truth. The better educated ordinary people are, the harder it is to defraud them. Many of the poorest people realise that, and sacrifice their own meagre consumption in order to get the best possible education for their children.
Much of Thaksin’s behaviour is devoted to making himself richer than others, and the good he has done is at least partly unintentional. The Thai education system is corrupted by the monarchy, who have used it to defraud the country’s children into a lifetime of subjection. Unsurprisingly, Thailand is a country of great inequality, but the situation is improving quite rapidly. It’s my impression that the improvement has more to do with what has changed the lives of ordinary people: good technical teachers, better knowledge of what is happening in the world, cheap labour-saving machinery, contraception, improved medical treatment, internet access, and business use of mobile phones (which Thaksin used to peddle) than glittering crowns, or cremation or ploughing ceremonies.
I wonder whether Thaksin is trying to deceive the elites that he is own their side. There is an old saying which goes, “before you can successfully deceive your enemy, you must successfully deceive your friends first”. I wonder whether this is the plan Thaksin had in mind:
Plan 1: mislead his supporters to misunderstand him;
Plan 2: then he will not dominate the election, as Red Shirts now no longer respect the Monarchy. The more he acts that he sides with them, the more he will lose their support;
Plan 3: then the elites will allow him to come back;
Plan 4: then when the K dies and power shifts, then Thaksin will do everything to seize the elite powers into his hands.
One thing I know for sure is, Thaksin is not interested in democracy. He is interested in having all the powers in his hands. But whether or not he will commit atrocious acts, or acquiesce to the atrocity like the Monarchy is doing currently (if he becomes powerful in the future), this is an interesting question to debate.
Plus he specifically mentioned he would call on the Red Shirts for help again if democracy was ever threatened – which I take to be his all-purpose backup for if the current pact goes south or “things change”.
These were some of his less contradictory messages from a speech in which he claimed people could forget the past and also learn from the past; that Red Shirts ought to hand themselves in to justice and simultaneously that some highly-learned people in the justice system have no ability to think; and much more.
Textbook communication to near-robots who only really listen for validation of what they already Know. It’ll be full of contradictions, lies, stunning reversals, and insanity. That’s the point, I think.
I love self-determination in the 21st century. It reminds me of the 14th. Little less democratic than vassal < overlord but the rules of the game are important. 1 man = 1 vote. If you're the kind of man who can command millions of Toddler men & women to zig when they should zag and act in your perceived interests rather than their own (what interests do the victims of feudal exploitation even have, beyond making their hut their own little feudal castle & filling it with the sound of little vassal children awwh); then you will be a democratic hero of the people (that's what your branding / marketing / mass media sound bytes will say).
Power to the people. They're too dull to realise when they're being patronised. Not that I believe many or any of them could read New Mandala or would (even if it were translated for them into 'their' preferred native tongue, yet another preference of 'theirs' chosen for them by their patrons and used to exploit them); but it's still a good example of what goes on non-stop until they no longer care about thinking because their patron will do their thinking for them.
And the creeps who have exploited them since they were impressionable; that is, the patrons who patronised them into being incapable of thinking for themselves, would say, "That's rude, how dare you patronise the victims of the patron system's insulting deceit."
I'm not their patron. So it's impossible for me to patronise them. They'll never care what I say. They have a patron to identify with and listen to, or they'll really struggle with apathy & fatalism in a democratic patron-state. They barely read. They don't realise it's in their best interests. They're a little rusty on what constitutes their best interests. I know how this was achieved. A lifetime of insulting patronising just like this; perfectly phrased, 100% intended, 0% accidental – this is straight out of the Handbook for Dummy Creation, For Dummies. It's so…
Well, it's considered intelligent writing these days.
And these days, it's intelligent to remember to choose who will think for you based on how patronising they are when they visit your neck of the woods.
"Well yes I know he's not actually a hick like me, but it's the thought that counts. Identify. Confirm."
We all appreciate being insulted non-stop. It's the least those who think for us can do?
in March 2009 he declared that if soldiers shot the protesters, he would return immediately to lead the march himself. In fact, that did not happen but most supporters appreciated his speech and understood that Thaksin was giving long-distance moral support.
[ x ] insulting
[ x ] patronising
[ x ] deceitful
[ x ] manipulative
[ x ] brainwashing
Most supporters appreciated his [lying to their face without intent to honor his solemn promise] and understood [Thaksin was just patronising them].
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Why the compromise game?
Excellent, excellent thread. I like the advice for the liberal-minded, too. Practical! A rarity.
I think the people saying that the original piece misses out on something far more complex, nuanced, mysterious etc are also missing that it may be difficult to comment on unknowns without detracting from the intent of the piece which was well put and not overbearing.
Government of Malaysia vs people of Malaysia
I think it’s wonderful because it should provoke more reaction against UMNO.
What’s the truth behind Somaly Mam?
Are you writing a biography of Somaly? This would have been more interesting if some other perspective was provided beyond lies and truth. Ooooh an NGO figurehead could have been lying… And? Mentioning Angelina Jolie and support from celebrities lending to her prominence does not make this more interesting. I feel like I’ve just digested an episode of Murdoch’s Southeast Asian version of ‘A Current Affair’.
“That’s not to say Somaly is lying, or to diminish the value of her organization’s work.”
Why isn’t it? That’s exactly what this is. You don’t want to diminish the value of her organization’s work, that’s all well and good – so why not write something new about anti-trafficking itself than further comment on speculation? You’ve seemingly got the experience to do so – so why not?
What’s the truth behind Somaly Mam?
Perhaps more to the point, has there ever been a thorough vetting of Somaly Mam’s full biography? How much of what she claims about her personal history is factual and how much is fabricated?
What’s the truth behind Somaly Mam?
Great piece. I think the Phnom Penh Post had some articles in early 2008 by Cat Barton, I believe, that had claims from the sex workers involved that Somaly Mam wasn’t telling the truth. If I remember right, people who Mam said were gangsters stealing them from Afesip, the sex workers said were their friends and boyfriends trying to rescue them from forced detention. I’m pretty sure that even before I arrived in Cambodia in 2008, some of her stories had already been debunked (like what Glamour reported). Again before I arrived in 2008, I believe the Post had a story about sex workers protesting her. She’s not well liked among the sex workers I talked to, and Afesip does not have a great reputation for being able to take care of the mental well being of the former sex workers and sex slaves who end up there. Here’s my interview with her from when I first arrived: http://khmernz.blogspot.com/2008/11/from-brothel-to-boardroom.html
What’s the truth behind Somaly Mam?
When I was doing some research about human trafficking a year ago, I came by a booth of afesip on an UN event. I was askng for some numbers, how many women were rescued and what happend to them, and I was turned down by them. They were quite rude, asking me why I want to know this. Also, I could not get much detailed information from brochures and the website beside a lot of begging for donations and general bla bla. I am not denying human trafficking, but I am convinced that it is more a NGO scheme than a problem to the often described extend. And as mentioned in a Cambodian newspaper recently, women are scared about some of the NGOs now, since they don’t want to end up in the garment industry.
Why the compromise game?
Firstly, Orinoco, I attributed the idea that Amsterdam was a “hireling” to others. I have never believed he was one. I take him at his word and at his deeds in opposing the coup and the repression which followed it and that his main interest as he has stated many times is to fight against the “impunity” which many government officials enjoy.
I think Amsterdam has done very valuable work in the service of fighting against the impunity enjoyed by the coupsters and I think he continues to do valuable work in fighting for justice for those who were killed and wounded in April/May 2010.
Why the compromise game?
The reconciliation process officially starts today . . . with the usual Thaksin formula: the payoff. Victims (of whatever color) of the May2010 riots/crackdown gets to collect compensation from the Yingluck government up to Bht 7 million (depending on deaths or injuries) but with caveats – – the most controversial: “. . . withdrawal of lawsuits before receiving a cheque . . .”
Eventually, and sooner rather than later, the reconciliation will have to reach the ultimate beneficiary: Thaksin Shinawatra. Not only will he get to be pardoned, but he gets, according to my reliable fortune teller, his “compensation” too with Bht 46 billion.
That’s about right I think. After all, it was the Red Shirt Supremo who suffered the most.
Talk on royal cremation ceremony
Here is another example of royalist overdrive rhetoric, but not as extreme as the cremation stuff (from the Bangkok Post).
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/294864/a-day-of-joy-for-the-thai-people
Kachin State: Don’t mention the war
#21
The closest ASSK came was in Mogaung on 23 February … “The lack of peace in Kachin state is a sad condition not only for Kachin but also for the whole country.”
Her speech however was part of the NLD’s by-election campaign. The no-comment a month later when by-elections were cancelled in three Kachin constituencies (including Mogaung) undid much of the goodwill created by the Mogaung speech.
Lese majeste response from UK government
Interesting law here:
http://www.cfr.org/rule-of-law/why-supreme-court-should-curb-alien-tort-statute/p27454
Why the compromise game?
#24 Tom “Also, the common meaning of hireling is one who works only for money and will do whatever he has asked regardless of any questions of professional integrity.”
Sure… But what do you think he actually is now? I am interested to know the reasoning that lies behind your comments on Robert Amsterdam and how you would asess his motivation for doing what he does, particularly with regards to his personal integrity….
Why the compromise game?
Woof woof Orinoco c. 17
Read my words Woof woof “simply the paid hireling”. Simply -exclusively, only, merely.
Also, the common meaning of hireling is one who works only for money and will do whatever he has asked regardless of any questions of professional integrity. I am paid by a university but I would not describe myself as their hireling.
Why the compromise game?
CT #20. I think you are on the right track. Thaksin has no interest in democracy and loves to throw out feints and reversals to to put people off guard. He sees himself as a chess player capable of planning multiple interlocking strategies with various layers of contingency plans and the end game kept hidden until the last moment. He has among others no doubt considered all of the plans you mention and probably adopted variants of them into his master plan.
Why would he not commit atrocious acts or acquiesce to them again? He has shown many times that he not only accepts violence as a tool to get what he wants and terrorize his enemies but actually revels in it as long as he and his own family members are well out of harm’s way. Unfortunately this bloodthirsty approach often backfires, as did his brutal approach to the South.
The red shirts may soon become a liability to national reconciliation and the small minority of idealistic but noisy left wing leaders will have to be purged in the name of “unity”. The mainstream leadership, e.g. Nattawut and Jatuporn, like their PT brethren sees the movement primarily as a route to power and wealth and has no problem with any number midstream horse changes.
Why the compromise game?
Michael#19
Yes, this helps, thanks. One could even link his “hope” not only to the “overseas” element, but also to the “anniversary.” After all, the red shirts are supposed to forget what had happened. So, no need to celebrate aniversaries any longer. Then, there is also the element of “р╕Др╕Зр╕Ир╕░.” Maybe, even Natthawut got confused, especially when conclusions were drawn while listening to the speech at Rajaprasong, not while watching a video clip, or reading a transcript.
On the widely criticized “boat” analogy, see also an article in Matichon featuring Sombat Bunngamong, at http://kunginternews.blogspot.com/2012/05/blog-post_2478.html.
It starts with the sentence р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕зр╕┤р╕Фр╕╡р╣Вр╕нр╕ер╕┤р╕Зр╕Бр╣М р╕Ыр╕гр╕▓р╕ир╕гр╕▒р╕вр╣Гр╕Щр╣Вр╕нр╕Бр╕▓р╕кр╕Др╕гр╕Ъ 2 р╕Ыр╕╡ р╕кр╕ер╕▓р╕вр╕Кр╕╕р╕бр╕Щр╕╕р╕бр╕Др╕Щр╣Ар╕кр╕╖р╣Йр╕нр╣Бр╕Фр╕З р╕Вр╕нр╕З “р╕Чр╕▒р╕Бр╕йр╕┤р╕У р╕Кр╕┤р╕Щр╕зр╕▒р╕Хр╕г” р╕нр╕Фр╕╡р╕Хр╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╕Бр╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╕бр╕Щр╕Хр╕гр╕╡ р╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Ар╕Ыр╕гр╕╡р╕вр╕Ъ “р╣Ар╕кр╕╖р╣Йр╕нр╣Бр╕Фр╕З” р╕Фр╕▒р╣Ир╕З “р╣Ар╕гр╕╖р╕н” р╕Лр╕╢р╣Ир╕Зр╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╕Щр╕╡р╣Йр╕кр╣Ир╕Зр╣Ар╕Вр╕▓ “р╕Цр╕╢р╕Зр╕Эр╕▒р╣Ир╕З” р╣Бр╕ер╣Йр╕зр╕лр╕ер╕▒р╕Зр╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕Щр╕╡р╣Й р╣Ар╕Вр╕▓р╕Ир╕░ “р╕Щр╕▒р╣Ир╕Зр╕гр╕Ц” р╣Др╕Ыр╕Хр╣Ир╕нр╣Ар╕нр╕З р╕Бр╕ер╕▓р╕вр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕Фр╣Зр╕Щр╕лр╕ер╕▒р╕Бр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕зр╕┤р╕Юр╕▓р╕Бр╕йр╣Мр╕зр╕┤р╕Ир╕▓р╕гр╕Ур╣Мр╣Гр╕Щр╕лр╕бр╕╣р╣И “р╕бр╕зр╕ер╕Кр╕Щр╕Др╕Щр╣Ар╕кр╕╖р╣Йр╕нр╣Бр╕Фр╕З” р╕Бр╕▒р╕Щр╣Др╕Ыр╕Хр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╣Ж р╕Щр╕▓р╕Щр╕▓
Sombat starts by saying “р╕Ьр╕бр╕Ыр╕гр╕╡р╣Кр╕Фр╣Бр╕Хр╕Бр╕бр╕▓р╕Бр╕Щр╕░ р╕Чр╕╡р╣И р╕Ю.р╕Х.р╕Ч.р╕Чр╕▒р╕Бр╕йр╕┤р╕Ур╕Ър╕нр╕Бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╣Ар╕кр╕╖р╣Йр╕нр╣Бр╕Фр╕Зр╣Ар╕лр╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Щр╣Ар╕гр╕╖р╕н р╣Бр╕ер╣Йр╕зр╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╕Щр╕╡р╣Йр╕Вр╕╢р╣Йр╕Щр╕Эр╕▒р╣Ир╕Зр╣Бр╕ер╣Йр╕з … р╣Ар╕гр╕╖р╕нр╕Бр╣Зр╕нр╕▓р╕Ир╕Ир╕░р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕Ир╕│р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕нр╕╡р╕Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕нр╣Др╕Ы р╕Ьр╕бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╣Ар╕Вр╕▓р╕лр╕ер╕Зр╕Хр╕▒р╕зр╣Ар╕нр╕Зр╕бр╕▓р╕Бр╣Др╕Ы !”
Closing sentence of the article: “р╕Ъ.р╕Б.р╕ер╕▓р╕вр╕Ир╕╕р╕Фр╕Чр╕┤р╣Йр╕Зр╕Чр╣Йр╕▓р╕вр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Чр╕▒р╣Йр╕З “р╕Др╕Щр╣Ар╕кр╕╖р╣Йр╕нр╣Бр╕Фр╕З” – “р╕Юр╕Ч.” – “р╣Бр╕Щр╕зр╕гр╣Ир╕зр╕б” р╣Др╕Ыр╕Ир╕Щр╕Цр╕╢р╕З “р╕Ю.р╕Х.р╕Ч.р╕Чр╕▒р╕Бр╕йр╕┤р╕У” р╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕Чр╕Ър╕Чр╕зр╕Щр╕Ър╕Чр╕Ър╕▓р╕Чр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Хр╕▒р╕зр╣Ар╕нр╕З р╕лр╕ер╕▒р╕Зр╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕Щр╕╡р╣Й!!!.”
Why the compromise game?
ted paulson (18). Are we all fools being manipulated by scoundrels? I’d suggest it’s a matter of degree, and that it varies with place and time. The bigger the gap between rich and poor, the closer you are to the truth. The better educated ordinary people are, the harder it is to defraud them. Many of the poorest people realise that, and sacrifice their own meagre consumption in order to get the best possible education for their children.
Much of Thaksin’s behaviour is devoted to making himself richer than others, and the good he has done is at least partly unintentional. The Thai education system is corrupted by the monarchy, who have used it to defraud the country’s children into a lifetime of subjection. Unsurprisingly, Thailand is a country of great inequality, but the situation is improving quite rapidly. It’s my impression that the improvement has more to do with what has changed the lives of ordinary people: good technical teachers, better knowledge of what is happening in the world, cheap labour-saving machinery, contraception, improved medical treatment, internet access, and business use of mobile phones (which Thaksin used to peddle) than glittering crowns, or cremation or ploughing ceremonies.
Why the compromise game?
I wonder whether Thaksin is trying to deceive the elites that he is own their side. There is an old saying which goes, “before you can successfully deceive your enemy, you must successfully deceive your friends first”. I wonder whether this is the plan Thaksin had in mind:
Plan 1: mislead his supporters to misunderstand him;
Plan 2: then he will not dominate the election, as Red Shirts now no longer respect the Monarchy. The more he acts that he sides with them, the more he will lose their support;
Plan 3: then the elites will allow him to come back;
Plan 4: then when the K dies and power shifts, then Thaksin will do everything to seize the elite powers into his hands.
One thing I know for sure is, Thaksin is not interested in democracy. He is interested in having all the powers in his hands. But whether or not he will commit atrocious acts, or acquiesce to the atrocity like the Monarchy is doing currently (if he becomes powerful in the future), this is an interesting question to debate.
Why the compromise game?
Srithanonchai #16
Here is the quote:
“р╕Ьр╕бр╕лр╕зр╕▒р╕Зр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Бр╕ер╣Ир╕▓р╕зр╕кр╕Ыр╕╡р╕Кр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Ьр╕бр╣Гр╕Щр╕Хр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╣Бр╕Фр╕Щр╕Др╕гр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╕Щр╕╡р╣Й р╣Ар╕Щр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Зр╣Гр╕Щр╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╕Др╕гр╕Ър╕гр╕нр╕Ър╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕гр╕│р╕ер╕╢р╕Бр╕Цр╕╢р╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕кр╕ер╕▓р╕вр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Кр╕╕р╕бр╕Щр╕╕р╕бр╕Др╕гр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╕Щр╕╡р╣Й р╕Др╕Зр╕Ир╕░р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕Др╕гр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╕кр╕╕р╕Фр╕Чр╣Йр╕▓р╕в …..”
Translation:
I hope that my speech [today] from overseas, on this anniversary of the dispersal of protests, might be my last.
Strictly speaking, his phrasing does leave open the possibility of dual interpretations, ie. “last speech” and “last speech from overseas”.
The clip is here, with the quoted remarks at around 22:00:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBUjdqc6XKI
Hope that helps.
NLD MPs at the ANU
waiting for the event video..
Why the compromise game?
Textbook communication to near-robots who only really listen for validation of what they already Know. It’ll be full of contradictions, lies, stunning reversals, and insanity. That’s the point, I think.
I love self-determination in the 21st century. It reminds me of the 14th. Little less democratic than vassal < overlord but the rules of the game are important. 1 man = 1 vote. If you're the kind of man who can command millions of Toddler men & women to zig when they should zag and act in your perceived interests rather than their own (what interests do the victims of feudal exploitation even have, beyond making their hut their own little feudal castle & filling it with the sound of little vassal children awwh); then you will be a democratic hero of the people (that's what your branding / marketing / mass media sound bytes will say).
Power to the people. They're too dull to realise when they're being patronised. Not that I believe many or any of them could read New Mandala or would (even if it were translated for them into 'their' preferred native tongue, yet another preference of 'theirs' chosen for them by their patrons and used to exploit them); but it's still a good example of what goes on non-stop until they no longer care about thinking because their patron will do their thinking for them.
And the creeps who have exploited them since they were impressionable; that is, the patrons who patronised them into being incapable of thinking for themselves, would say, "That's rude, how dare you patronise the victims of the patron system's insulting deceit."
I'm not their patron. So it's impossible for me to patronise them. They'll never care what I say. They have a patron to identify with and listen to, or they'll really struggle with apathy & fatalism in a democratic patron-state. They barely read. They don't realise it's in their best interests. They're a little rusty on what constitutes their best interests. I know how this was achieved. A lifetime of insulting patronising just like this; perfectly phrased, 100% intended, 0% accidental – this is straight out of the Handbook for Dummy Creation, For Dummies. It's so…
Well, it's considered intelligent writing these days.
And these days, it's intelligent to remember to choose who will think for you based on how patronising they are when they visit your neck of the woods.
"Well yes I know he's not actually a hick like me, but it's the thought that counts. Identify. Confirm."
We all appreciate being insulted non-stop. It's the least those who think for us can do?
[ x ] insulting
[ x ] patronising
[ x ] deceitful
[ x ] manipulative
[ x ] brainwashing
Most supporters appreciated his [lying to their face without intent to honor his solemn promise] and understood [Thaksin was just patronising them].