Not sure where in Cambodia Jason Bowman has been but life in Cambodia for almost everyone is comparably far better than it was in the aftermath of the Pol Pot period. Bowman paints a picture of complacent Cambodians with little or no thought for what the future may or may not bring. Such images are not those of people with a more considered view of Cambodian society and its people or of course many Cambodians themselves, rural or urban, female or male, young or old.
I don’t pretend to know as much as I should (although I can save myself from being shot using the Khmer language) but I was around when Pol Pot came to power (mistakenly supported the Khmer Rouge), experienced Cambodia when Vietnam was underwriting Cambodia’s internal security (and the poor were being well-and-truly punished by the international community), during the 1990s (when benevolent outsiders tried to destroy the Cambodian People’s Party along with Hun Sen), and on-and-off on a variety of ODA assignments ever since (some successful others ending in abject failure, which of course is the stuff of ODA) so perhaps people like myself (not to mention the many others who have resided in Cambodia since the early 1990s and in the case of scholars such as David Chandler and Michael Vickery before I guess many NM readers were born) have a somewhat more nuanced view of Cambodia than Jason.
However, of course Jason is free to voice his own opinion but not one that I think too many Cambodians would concur with.
“Those of us familiar with Nick Nostitz’s work also know that one of the main reasons he is such an excellent journalist is that he is scrupulously honest and never allows assumptions or prejudices to get in the way of his reporting.” (Marshall #28)
Well Marshall I am not sure about that. Nostitz certainly ‘tries’.
But there is that subtle, but very palpable ‘Red’ tone, or sympathy, to nearly every Nostitz article and photo published. Were armed ‘black clad ninjas’ freely mixing it up with the Red Shirts during the Year 2010 mayhems? Nostitz almost grudgingly admitted ‘yes’, then ceased making further comments. Were armed ‘black clad ninjas’ taking orders from the Red Shirt leaders? Nostitz’s camera angles and observant eyes were diverted elsewhere.
But that is Vichai’s own personal impression of course so really don’t pay me no mind.
Wow! What more can anyone add?
Wonder if Thaksin’s commitment to Hun Sen included a promise to encourage, with quotation marks, supports on the bus to make such an apology for looking down on Cambodia.
As bad as things in the States are, could they ever be as orchestrated as this?
As it’s presented as a modern history, it’s hard to fault Brinkley for focusing on the era since UNTAC; there aren’t any books that do as good a job, either.
As a longtime visitor to Cambodia, I’ve seen all of what Brinkley describes and more (and worse). It’s been terribly hard to watch conditions there get progressively worse, and the grim reality Brinkley presents for the future of Cambodia under its current leadership is, IMO, accurate. Go anywhere in Cambodia, and you’ll see loads of underfed children that aren’t in school and will be even more complacent and less prepared to eke out a living than their parents, and that’s saying something.
I didn’t find that Brinkley was blaming the Cambodian people for their complacency, rather that he was acknowledging a cultural trait that contributes to it. He cites incident after incident in which people aren’t complacent, albeit usually at the very local level. But he also shows them being subsequently trampled by the powers-that-be again and again, which is the other major contributing factor in Cambodian complacency: it’s indeed very dangerous to NOT be complacent.
Well CT cry no more! At Pathumthani’s (a deeply Red Shirt country) recent MP by-election, Thaksin’s party candidate lost to a Democrat Party candidate.
(Personally I am wondering what incantations the Khmer voodoo witches chanted for Thaksin that so encouraged him to declare that this year 2012 could be the auspicious time for his return to Thailand.)
I always cringe when I see fanatical Thai royalists cry when they see the Royals. But now when I see fanatical Thaksin supporters cry and hug him, I feel quite sick, especially after I heard his comment about section 112.
The Red Shirts who died two years ago believed they sacrified themselves for true democracy. What Thaksin had said about LM was, in my opinion, was adding the insult to their deaths.
If he really means it, then he better not come back to Thailand ever. I really feel sorry for Thai people. They have struggled to find the right person who will bring true democracy to their country. But that person has never appeared.
No race or person truly is superior or inferior to others. And it was not intended to suggest so.
It is common knowledge that many Kachin leaders own properties and businesses in Mandalay and beyond. For whatever reason the razing to the ground destruction and disgracefiul digging for gems with immense irreversible environmental (forests, animals, clean fresh safe water) and social destruction (violence, drugs, prostitution, gangs) in the head waters of the Irrawaddy are at the very least contributed by the armed groups of the Kachin as well as Burmese military even though the lion’s share of the cash benefit goes invariably to the Chinese. Jade Sales Centres are in Hong Kong.
Current battles lines are along the pipelines and the military sites according to the reports are along the pipe which is but simple precursor for further rails and roads, and the dam which incidentally will have devestation effect more on lowland Burma, ecologically, economically, culturally and socially.
It is highly unlikely that this time around people are giving their lives for timber/ jade money. And they are doing it on their own. Any help they get at all is also unlikely to be associated with say- American economic benefit because the Americans as well as Europians and Asians would dearly like to see the Chinese economic engine well supplied even if it is with drips of Burmes blood and Thant Myint-U’s explanation of two oceans for the darling Chinese will be best present every one would like to give.
Some one makes a remark that Padho Mann Shar would not have liked to bargain with the military for anything less than Federal State. There surely are like minded people left. But just as in NLD, where U Win Tin is unceremoniously kicked upstairs, there would be the ascent of smart compromising groups within KNU taking a cue from the currently dominant political atmosphere which is abandoning any principles or as you (Moe Aung) put it, not having political intransigence. There surely was not a “F” word in any report about the delightful and joyous meetings of the KNU delegate. May be Saw Kapi could comment.
Burmese military has been very astute and exploitative of any opportunity to get their way. Kokant was one of their usual textbook plans like in mafia story – go for disgruntled 2IC. These “peace talks” are less about talk (here read business deals) than to sense who is calling the shots. Who turns up and who can make decisions. Everyone has a weak point. And for these purposes it is their good fortune that they found suitable actors for the roles in Thein Sein and Aung Min.
Maung Zarni first mentioned that 500 billion dollar worth of “developement” has already been planned for Burma and it is UNLIKELY that people can refuse that. He was right. We are now seeing the works of money in action. We will see more destructions.
Any bet on whether NLD will counter this onslaught of money-orientated environmental and social destruction?
@Jesse
“He shouldn’t feel guilty for winning the election, but for manipulating the system and indirectly bribing his and his sister’s way to the power !”
He should feel guilty for ‘bringing his sister to power’. Is there any provision in Thai law which made it illegal for one to ‘bring his own sister’ to win the election? And if so, is it an imprisonable offence? Browse the entire Thai legislation if you wish. You won’t find any.
As for manipulating the system, I agree with you that he has done that. But to what extent? And is the manipulation at the extent which he has done an ‘imprisonable’ offence internationally? (ie. is what he has done would be regarded as an imprisonable offence in other countries where the democratic system functions effectively?) This is what you will have to explain to me, and this requires some academic research.
As for the Thai Courts, I am glad you believe it needs improvement.
I’ll gladly double the estimated crowd size to 60K or even 100K, but what does an inflated or deflated estimate of crowd size gawking at Thaksin mean?
Answer: nothing much really.
Thaksin still sneers while he hides from the Thai courts. Yingluck still miserably orates in her mangled English. Potjaman still runs and funds Peau Thai Party. And divided Thailand continues to prosper, while large segments endure their oppressive debts and soaring costs of daily living.
Ohn’s casting aspersions on the Karen is rather unhelpful, and besides do we even sense a hint of racial superiority complex here? It’s not like the KIO did not take advantage of their proximity to China (also Hpakant in their domain) and their leaders incorruptible or the KNU not serious about its commitment to a federal union.
Burma’s minorities are unique in that there exist smaller minorities within these minorities, so they are hardly homogeneous themselves. At the risk of having a sense of schadenfreude the KNU suffered from the consequences of its own discriminatory policies gainfully exploited by the govt that led to their loss of Manerplaw and current weakness. So the KIO beware.
There was the short lived Pawng Yawng rebellion led by Naw Seng in the early days of independence and the Kachin struggle actually took off in the 60s, so it has had its ups and downs with plenty of lessons already. To say that the Kachin struggle is just starting and would have the ability to last to the last man sounds rhetorical at best and foolhardy at worst. The superb fighting skills of tribal people especially in their own terrain is common knowledge, but don’t flatter yourselves that your American and British colonial masters chose you lot over the Bamar. Exploitation was the right word, and it was simply because they did not trust the Bamar who remained their principal nationalist adversary in these lands. Besides it was part of their divide and rule strategy including the administrative division between the Hill Tracts or Frontier Areas and Ministerial Burma or Burma Proper.
As to win’s assertion that the Buddhist religion, while generally peaceful when staying alone by itself, becomes lethal force when combined with nationalism and ignorance, it is true of any religion even in the so called advanced liberal democracies. What do you think the main argument against religion by agnostics and atheists is? We at least have no crusades or jihads to brag about in our history, even Buddhist missionary zeal has been far below that of Western evangelists. Our friend plan B would call your ‘insight’ ‘self flagellation’ with some justification.
The Karenni (literally Red Karen in Burmese from the start) east of the Salween enjoyed a special status when the colonialists came as separate from the Kingdom of Ava. They have their own Sawbwas like the Shan, and the Karen have entertained aspirations to that special recognition by their British masters, so it wasn’t strictly speaking a devious ploy by successive Burmese govts to divide the Karen. This did not happen until more than a century later with the creation of the DKBA.
Ignorance and isolation have always been reactionary and retrogressive in any society. That’s why ‘Burmanisation’ of the ‘Hill Tracts’ and ‘ethnic influx’ into ‘Burma Proper’ with its attendant intermarriage ought to be a two way street. Most urban folk nowadays are of mixed ancestry including myself. That’s how the United Kingdom remains united, as do the United States for that matter whilst a few would still cling on to the idea of racial purity.
Let us celebrate our wonderful diversity and cultures in this vast, rich and beautiful land we call our home. And we know what to do to that end. Down with the military yoke!
“One small puzzle that concerns me is that the well-off expats living in Singapore, don’t seem to care much about the poor conditions of migrant workers nor the authoritarian situation in Singapore. One must guess that coming from supposedly more “liberal democratic” countries that they might have more “liberal democratic” values and concerns. Maybe it is ignorance?”
There are at least two answers to this.
First, as already pointed out, not all westerners have liberal values, and I can imagine that looking at those who choose to stay in Singapore, is a somewhat biased selection.
Second, from my own experience, political comments and in particular criticism from foreigners, is generally not welcomed by Singaporeans. It is actually quite remarkable to see how otherwise liberal minded Singaporeans easily take offense and jump to defend their government when a westerner criticizes the lack of democracy and human rights in Singapore. After having seen or experienced this a couple of times, I think many expats choose to be careful with their comments.
And just to add…. I loathe and detest the Shinawatra/Yubamrung gangster cabal that cynically run the fraudulent and childishly violent Red shirt joke of a political movement (almost as as much as I loathe the incipient fascist PAD thugs and Margaret Thatcher)… And I have always found Nick to be a stimulating and thoughtful interlocuter.
Taxirubjang QUOTE It’s a ridiculous if he could ask for a a royal pardon without getting any punishment or never ever been in a prison? I hardly believe it can happen, I’d rather think he still have to fight with the justice system but in a way more VIP.
His solely solution is ‘fighting with justice system’
We appreciate a man who surrender and feel guilty for what he has done. UNQUOTE
Slice it whichever way you like intellectual nothingnesses, Thaksin is no innocent. The fact that his ill-gotten gain manages to garner millions of votes, does not indicate that he is beyond criticism or punishment. The same, of course, goes for his enemies. Climb off your intellectual high-horses and find out what it is really like to breath the fetid air of corruption and uniformed mafia politics at street level in this country.
Nick, you remind me of another Thailand commentator, same initials as the author of this piece, who loves dishing it out then runs around screaming “personal attacks …” when it he’s pulled up on it.
Nick, don’t be thin-skinned! I’m not attempting to discredit your work. I don’t know where to find it. Some info for you: this is the comments section of a blog! You said I seem, “… to have not much an idea of how wire services work”, in your third post. On what basis? You’ve just been put ‘under scrutiny’ and you’ve just totally failed to address my last two posts. I’ve explained how you jumped to conclusions about my saying I use AFP. You’ve run nearly the whole gamut of defensive postures now and it’s actually a bit late for you to be addressing the issue – the bell’s gone and all the candidates have packed up their pencils and gone home.
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Review of Cambodia’s Curse
Not sure where in Cambodia Jason Bowman has been but life in Cambodia for almost everyone is comparably far better than it was in the aftermath of the Pol Pot period. Bowman paints a picture of complacent Cambodians with little or no thought for what the future may or may not bring. Such images are not those of people with a more considered view of Cambodian society and its people or of course many Cambodians themselves, rural or urban, female or male, young or old.
I don’t pretend to know as much as I should (although I can save myself from being shot using the Khmer language) but I was around when Pol Pot came to power (mistakenly supported the Khmer Rouge), experienced Cambodia when Vietnam was underwriting Cambodia’s internal security (and the poor were being well-and-truly punished by the international community), during the 1990s (when benevolent outsiders tried to destroy the Cambodian People’s Party along with Hun Sen), and on-and-off on a variety of ODA assignments ever since (some successful others ending in abject failure, which of course is the stuff of ODA) so perhaps people like myself (not to mention the many others who have resided in Cambodia since the early 1990s and in the case of scholars such as David Chandler and Michael Vickery before I guess many NM readers were born) have a somewhat more nuanced view of Cambodia than Jason.
However, of course Jason is free to voice his own opinion but not one that I think too many Cambodians would concur with.
When Thaksin comes home
“Those of us familiar with Nick Nostitz’s work also know that one of the main reasons he is such an excellent journalist is that he is scrupulously honest and never allows assumptions or prejudices to get in the way of his reporting.” (Marshall #28)
Well Marshall I am not sure about that. Nostitz certainly ‘tries’.
But there is that subtle, but very palpable ‘Red’ tone, or sympathy, to nearly every Nostitz article and photo published. Were armed ‘black clad ninjas’ freely mixing it up with the Red Shirts during the Year 2010 mayhems? Nostitz almost grudgingly admitted ‘yes’, then ceased making further comments. Were armed ‘black clad ninjas’ taking orders from the Red Shirt leaders? Nostitz’s camera angles and observant eyes were diverted elsewhere.
But that is Vichai’s own personal impression of course so really don’t pay me no mind.
Songkran in Cambodia: Red Shirts meet Thaksin
Wow! What more can anyone add?
Wonder if Thaksin’s commitment to Hun Sen included a promise to encourage, with quotation marks, supports on the bus to make such an apology for looking down on Cambodia.
As bad as things in the States are, could they ever be as orchestrated as this?
When Thaksin comes home
Vichai N: If you add “Thaksin’s own estimate” I suppose it wouldn’t matter too much.
Review of Cambodia’s Curse
I think this review is a bit harsh.
As it’s presented as a modern history, it’s hard to fault Brinkley for focusing on the era since UNTAC; there aren’t any books that do as good a job, either.
As a longtime visitor to Cambodia, I’ve seen all of what Brinkley describes and more (and worse). It’s been terribly hard to watch conditions there get progressively worse, and the grim reality Brinkley presents for the future of Cambodia under its current leadership is, IMO, accurate. Go anywhere in Cambodia, and you’ll see loads of underfed children that aren’t in school and will be even more complacent and less prepared to eke out a living than their parents, and that’s saying something.
I didn’t find that Brinkley was blaming the Cambodian people for their complacency, rather that he was acknowledging a cultural trait that contributes to it. He cites incident after incident in which people aren’t complacent, albeit usually at the very local level. But he also shows them being subsequently trampled by the powers-that-be again and again, which is the other major contributing factor in Cambodian complacency: it’s indeed very dangerous to NOT be complacent.
I highly recommend the book, for what it’s worth.
Songkran in Cambodia: Red Shirts meet Thaksin
Thanks, Nick Nostitz.
Songkran in Cambodia: Red Shirts meet Thaksin
Well CT cry no more! At Pathumthani’s (a deeply Red Shirt country) recent MP by-election, Thaksin’s party candidate lost to a Democrat Party candidate.
(Personally I am wondering what incantations the Khmer voodoo witches chanted for Thaksin that so encouraged him to declare that this year 2012 could be the auspicious time for his return to Thailand.)
Songkran in Cambodia: Red Shirts meet Thaksin
[…] from: Songkran in Cambodia: Red Shirts meet Thaksin Useful […]
Songkran in Cambodia: Red Shirts meet Thaksin
I always cringe when I see fanatical Thai royalists cry when they see the Royals. But now when I see fanatical Thaksin supporters cry and hug him, I feel quite sick, especially after I heard his comment about section 112.
The Red Shirts who died two years ago believed they sacrified themselves for true democracy. What Thaksin had said about LM was, in my opinion, was adding the insult to their deaths.
If he really means it, then he better not come back to Thailand ever. I really feel sorry for Thai people. They have struggled to find the right person who will bring true democracy to their country. But that person has never appeared.
Kachin State: Don’t mention the war
No race or person truly is superior or inferior to others. And it was not intended to suggest so.
It is common knowledge that many Kachin leaders own properties and businesses in Mandalay and beyond. For whatever reason the razing to the ground destruction and disgracefiul digging for gems with immense irreversible environmental (forests, animals, clean fresh safe water) and social destruction (violence, drugs, prostitution, gangs) in the head waters of the Irrawaddy are at the very least contributed by the armed groups of the Kachin as well as Burmese military even though the lion’s share of the cash benefit goes invariably to the Chinese. Jade Sales Centres are in Hong Kong.
Current battles lines are along the pipelines and the military sites according to the reports are along the pipe which is but simple precursor for further rails and roads, and the dam which incidentally will have devestation effect more on lowland Burma, ecologically, economically, culturally and socially.
It is highly unlikely that this time around people are giving their lives for timber/ jade money. And they are doing it on their own. Any help they get at all is also unlikely to be associated with say- American economic benefit because the Americans as well as Europians and Asians would dearly like to see the Chinese economic engine well supplied even if it is with drips of Burmes blood and Thant Myint-U’s explanation of two oceans for the darling Chinese will be best present every one would like to give.
Some one makes a remark that Padho Mann Shar would not have liked to bargain with the military for anything less than Federal State. There surely are like minded people left. But just as in NLD, where U Win Tin is unceremoniously kicked upstairs, there would be the ascent of smart compromising groups within KNU taking a cue from the currently dominant political atmosphere which is abandoning any principles or as you (Moe Aung) put it, not having political intransigence. There surely was not a “F” word in any report about the delightful and joyous meetings of the KNU delegate. May be Saw Kapi could comment.
Burmese military has been very astute and exploitative of any opportunity to get their way. Kokant was one of their usual textbook plans like in mafia story – go for disgruntled 2IC. These “peace talks” are less about talk (here read business deals) than to sense who is calling the shots. Who turns up and who can make decisions. Everyone has a weak point. And for these purposes it is their good fortune that they found suitable actors for the roles in Thein Sein and Aung Min.
Maung Zarni first mentioned that 500 billion dollar worth of “developement” has already been planned for Burma and it is UNLIKELY that people can refuse that. He was right. We are now seeing the works of money in action. We will see more destructions.
Any bet on whether NLD will counter this onslaught of money-orientated environmental and social destruction?
White flag of NLD is blindingly bright.
Royal pardon for Thaksin? Or coup for the king?
@Jesse
“He shouldn’t feel guilty for winning the election, but for manipulating the system and indirectly bribing his and his sister’s way to the power !”
He should feel guilty for ‘bringing his sister to power’. Is there any provision in Thai law which made it illegal for one to ‘bring his own sister’ to win the election? And if so, is it an imprisonable offence? Browse the entire Thai legislation if you wish. You won’t find any.
As for manipulating the system, I agree with you that he has done that. But to what extent? And is the manipulation at the extent which he has done an ‘imprisonable’ offence internationally? (ie. is what he has done would be regarded as an imprisonable offence in other countries where the democratic system functions effectively?) This is what you will have to explain to me, and this requires some academic research.
As for the Thai Courts, I am glad you believe it needs improvement.
Three issues for Singapore
Why is Singapore’s under-side starting to show? Why are the MRTs’ failing? Will a wage revolution work in Lion-Land?
Royal pardon for Thaksin? Or coup for the king?
#4 CT
“So tell me please, why do you think he should feel guilty and serve jail sentence for winning the election?”
He shouldn’t feel guilty for winning the election, but for manipulating the system and indirectly bribing his and his sister’s way to the power !
And “the justice system in Thailand is rotten to the core” is way to harsh ! It should improve but rotten is not the word for it !
When Thaksin comes home
What’s the point gentlemen?
I’ll gladly double the estimated crowd size to 60K or even 100K, but what does an inflated or deflated estimate of crowd size gawking at Thaksin mean?
Answer: nothing much really.
Thaksin still sneers while he hides from the Thai courts. Yingluck still miserably orates in her mangled English. Potjaman still runs and funds Peau Thai Party. And divided Thailand continues to prosper, while large segments endure their oppressive debts and soaring costs of daily living.
Kachin State: Don’t mention the war
Ohn’s casting aspersions on the Karen is rather unhelpful, and besides do we even sense a hint of racial superiority complex here? It’s not like the KIO did not take advantage of their proximity to China (also Hpakant in their domain) and their leaders incorruptible or the KNU not serious about its commitment to a federal union.
Burma’s minorities are unique in that there exist smaller minorities within these minorities, so they are hardly homogeneous themselves. At the risk of having a sense of schadenfreude the KNU suffered from the consequences of its own discriminatory policies gainfully exploited by the govt that led to their loss of Manerplaw and current weakness. So the KIO beware.
There was the short lived Pawng Yawng rebellion led by Naw Seng in the early days of independence and the Kachin struggle actually took off in the 60s, so it has had its ups and downs with plenty of lessons already. To say that the Kachin struggle is just starting and would have the ability to last to the last man sounds rhetorical at best and foolhardy at worst. The superb fighting skills of tribal people especially in their own terrain is common knowledge, but don’t flatter yourselves that your American and British colonial masters chose you lot over the Bamar. Exploitation was the right word, and it was simply because they did not trust the Bamar who remained their principal nationalist adversary in these lands. Besides it was part of their divide and rule strategy including the administrative division between the Hill Tracts or Frontier Areas and Ministerial Burma or Burma Proper.
As to win’s assertion that the Buddhist religion, while generally peaceful when staying alone by itself, becomes lethal force when combined with nationalism and ignorance, it is true of any religion even in the so called advanced liberal democracies. What do you think the main argument against religion by agnostics and atheists is? We at least have no crusades or jihads to brag about in our history, even Buddhist missionary zeal has been far below that of Western evangelists. Our friend plan B would call your ‘insight’ ‘self flagellation’ with some justification.
The Karenni (literally Red Karen in Burmese from the start) east of the Salween enjoyed a special status when the colonialists came as separate from the Kingdom of Ava. They have their own Sawbwas like the Shan, and the Karen have entertained aspirations to that special recognition by their British masters, so it wasn’t strictly speaking a devious ploy by successive Burmese govts to divide the Karen. This did not happen until more than a century later with the creation of the DKBA.
Ignorance and isolation have always been reactionary and retrogressive in any society. That’s why ‘Burmanisation’ of the ‘Hill Tracts’ and ‘ethnic influx’ into ‘Burma Proper’ with its attendant intermarriage ought to be a two way street. Most urban folk nowadays are of mixed ancestry including myself. That’s how the United Kingdom remains united, as do the United States for that matter whilst a few would still cling on to the idea of racial purity.
Let us celebrate our wonderful diversity and cultures in this vast, rich and beautiful land we call our home. And we know what to do to that end. Down with the military yoke!
When Thaksin comes home
Steve CM (#30)
“I’m struggling to think what “facts” Nick would find “uncomfortable”.
Why?…. Is there anything else much you struggle with?….
Singapore’s inequality battle
“One small puzzle that concerns me is that the well-off expats living in Singapore, don’t seem to care much about the poor conditions of migrant workers nor the authoritarian situation in Singapore. One must guess that coming from supposedly more “liberal democratic” countries that they might have more “liberal democratic” values and concerns. Maybe it is ignorance?”
There are at least two answers to this.
First, as already pointed out, not all westerners have liberal values, and I can imagine that looking at those who choose to stay in Singapore, is a somewhat biased selection.
Second, from my own experience, political comments and in particular criticism from foreigners, is generally not welcomed by Singaporeans. It is actually quite remarkable to see how otherwise liberal minded Singaporeans easily take offense and jump to defend their government when a westerner criticizes the lack of democracy and human rights in Singapore. After having seen or experienced this a couple of times, I think many expats choose to be careful with their comments.
When Thaksin comes home
And just to add…. I loathe and detest the Shinawatra/Yubamrung gangster cabal that cynically run the fraudulent and childishly violent Red shirt joke of a political movement (almost as as much as I loathe the incipient fascist PAD thugs and Margaret Thatcher)… And I have always found Nick to be a stimulating and thoughtful interlocuter.
Royal pardon for Thaksin? Or coup for the king?
Taxirubjang QUOTE It’s a ridiculous if he could ask for a a royal pardon without getting any punishment or never ever been in a prison? I hardly believe it can happen, I’d rather think he still have to fight with the justice system but in a way more VIP.
His solely solution is ‘fighting with justice system’
We appreciate a man who surrender and feel guilty for what he has done. UNQUOTE
Slice it whichever way you like intellectual nothingnesses, Thaksin is no innocent. The fact that his ill-gotten gain manages to garner millions of votes, does not indicate that he is beyond criticism or punishment. The same, of course, goes for his enemies. Climb off your intellectual high-horses and find out what it is really like to breath the fetid air of corruption and uniformed mafia politics at street level in this country.
When Thaksin comes home
Nick, you remind me of another Thailand commentator, same initials as the author of this piece, who loves dishing it out then runs around screaming “personal attacks …” when it he’s pulled up on it.
Nick, don’t be thin-skinned! I’m not attempting to discredit your work. I don’t know where to find it. Some info for you: this is the comments section of a blog! You said I seem, “… to have not much an idea of how wire services work”, in your third post. On what basis? You’ve just been put ‘under scrutiny’ and you’ve just totally failed to address my last two posts. I’ve explained how you jumped to conclusions about my saying I use AFP. You’ve run nearly the whole gamut of defensive postures now and it’s actually a bit late for you to be addressing the issue – the bell’s gone and all the candidates have packed up their pencils and gone home.