Indeed, the almost entire loss of contact to the Thai socio-economic reality (not to mention politics) by people such as Chai-anan (two decades ago arguably the most brilliant political scientist in Thailand, and I do not mean this ironically) truly is one of the more “amazing” phenomena in the public sphere.
Gopal notes that Israel wants to bring UMNO down. Well he should have read what the son of Mahathir Mohamed said:
International Trade and Industry deputy minister, Mukhriz Mahathir, confirmed this when he revealed that Malaysia has had bilateral trade relations with Israel since 1996.
“Much as I despise anything the Zionist do and despite not having diplomatic relations with Israel, there is trade between companies in both countries,” said Mukhriz, the son of former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Mukhriz said on micro-blogging site Twitter: “Upon request from large foreign investors here, in 1996 the Cabinet instructed MITI to approve import from and export to Israel.”
Only a half-witted Bangkok hi-so royalist could believe in “Sufficiency” anything…….get out of Bangkok…..
the gigantic modern secular industrial/mass tourism/aviation/container port megapolis of Laem Chabaeng/Chonburi/Pattaya/Jomtien/Rayong (a few million people, much bigger and more dynamic economically than Chiang Mai awaits you….
the bustling cities of Korat, Buri Ram, Ubon, Udon with all of their universities, complex trading and economic relationships, ambitious energetic populations……….
the Meking River cites of Mukdahan, Nakon Phanom, Nong Gai each now with its own bridge facilitating trade, cultural interchange and future prosperity zones with Laos and Vietnam, both way closer than distant Bangkok….
the frantic economic development zone in and around Phuket/Khao Lak, Krabi, soon to have ten million tourists a year with most of them not even setting foot in Bangkok….
the Trat/Koh Chang/SW Cambodia triangle, an economic and cultural zone all to itself which will explode once Koh Kong has its international airport and the mega-development project on Koh Kong Island gets going….
Hat Yai and the Muslim South full of Bahasa speaking ethnic Malays and almost a million Bahasa speaking visitors from Malaysia each year……
Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai and the northern/NE border region, connected more and more to the rapidly developing SW China area and the about to be opened Myanmar……
None of the inhabitants of these areas give a stuff about the Bangkok hi-so royalists’ regressive rightwing fantasies about “Sufficiency Economy” much less being dis-enfranchised by the introduction of “Sufficiency Democracy”…..
None of them share the Bangkok hi-so royalists’ wet dreams about Bhutan as a model for Thailand’s future….
None of them see themselves as going back to their little ancestral rural villages and huts on stilts, living with no incomes and bartering for their daily needs, their kids getting a minimal education and living without dreams……no bank accounts, no motorcycles, no PU trucks, no plasma tv’s, no refrigerators, no overseas contract work, no children leaving the farming areas en masse for the urban centers where the jobs and higher incomes are…..
All this talk of “Sufficiency” is just a load of cod’s wallop, total nonsense, sheltered desperate coddled Bangkok hi-so royalist elites desperately trying to comfort each other as their privileged fantasy world collapses all around them in a constant state of change…
“Sufficiency Democracy” sounds like another harebrained utopian ideology to me. I sometimes wonder how many such ideas have crash and burn, usually leaving behind the blood soaked wreckage of a society, before it becomes clear to those who support them that they simply don’t work. I’m not sure it’s accurate to credit right wing political theorists with a monopoly on this kind of nonsense. After all, the most blood-soaked utopian ideology of them all, defeating even Hitler’s grotesque National Socialism in the body count stakes, was the one invented by Karl Marx and lethally implemented by such narcissistic psychopaths as Mao, Pol Pot and Stalin. Indeed, the kind of enforced collectivism described here as “Sufficiency Democracy” is faintly reminiscent of the back-to-the-land approach of the Khmer Rouge. (The fact is, I suppose, all these demented schemes sound vaguely similar).
Thailand’s democracy is certainly flawed. However, while its undoubtedly true that poorly functioning democracies such as Thailand’s provide a nurturing environment for kleptocrats and Mafia politicians, the answer is not less democracy, it is a functioning judiciary and a strong constitution so that democracy can flourish.
Sounds to me like another camouflaged plea for “unity”. Same same yawn.
The increasingly desperate ‘network monarchy’ (to borrow McCargo’s famous term) know their usual mantras of one unified nation under king, religion and state blah blah are falling on deaf ears, so now they’re trying other some other pretty words that mean much the same thing.
Already in August 2011, Chai-anan had published two colums on “sufficiency democracy.” What follows are excerpts from them (apologies for the long “comment”)
(1)
Chai-anand Samudavanija. 2011. “Prachathipattai baep phophiang.” (From a web site, dated August 3, 2011)
Normally, it is thought that decentralization was about local government authorities. However, this still involved people who worked instead of the people. “When com-plete democracy has occurred already, each individual must certainly be able to take care of himself.” This has a broader scope than politics and government. Elections are merely one part. Taking care of oneself means, “comprehensively to take care of one’s way of life.”
This is why we should be interested as much as possible in managing oneself at the community level.
Western democracy has created complete stability, and opened the way for borderless economic activity. “The question is: What is the ultimate goal of our lives? Is it capi-talist democracy, the support of competition, struggle, and an endless quest [for profit, I assume]? On the contrary. The sufficiency philosophy is appropriate and in harmony with the way of life in communities, because in sufficiency there is happiness. Coop-eration and mutual help makes the community peaceful. Therefore, our Thai-style democracy should also have the sufficiency philosophy as an accompanying frame-work.”
A military friend of his had told him about an interesting community on Prachinburi, which had developed features of self-organization stemming from lack of credit and cheap crop prices. Finally, this also included “community democracy.” Everyone took part in the savings groups. They have solved all their problems, including salty water. They even have a local police volunteer.
This community did not start from an emphasis on creating democracy.
It started from joining in activities responding to their needs, which then continuously expanded. Finally, they established sapha ongkon chumchon (community organiza-tion assembly). his is the right direction, because the goal of having democracy is to manage one’s own way of life.
Talking about “sufficiency democracy” last week “led to the idea that western democracy (prachathipattai baep tawantok) existed to support the capitalist economy, which is the reason why democracy only responds to the needs and interests of the capitalists and the middle class, leading to the conclusion that an important factor of democracy is the support by the middle class.”
In the USA, and many other countries, the poor do not have any place to stay, and no representative of their interests.
The question is what benefit democracy has for the poor in countries such as Thai-land, which has a high number of poor people. We see that the problems of the poor are “not truly” (yang thaeching) paid attention to. Only private organizations and peo-ple’s organizations act as representatives and make demands for this people.
We hope that rural communities can have the shape of democracy. This refers to es-tablishing a form of administration for local communities that uses the means of de-mocracy. However, the truth is that rural people do not quite see the benefit of democ-racy as a method of administration. They do not even cherish their voting rights. Rather, they sell their votes. In national and local-level processes of democracy, the people are rather more objects than they truly participate.
When one’s hope for democracy in Thailand is based on the people’s readiness, and them being an important part of politics, then this probably does not correspond to the real situation. Democracy as form and method “does not have significance in the lives of the villagers.”
Self-organized activities for solving their basic problems are more important to them. For this, they rely on primary relationships, without having to establish formally de-mocratic structures and methods.
From this perspective, “sufficiency democracy” is probably the answer. Yet, what is this “sufficiency democracy?” The most important thing is to look at the goal of de-mocracy, namely the “creation of sufficiency,” and the “creation of immunity for the community and villagers.” “One part of immunization is to protect the communities from the capitalist system entering and destroying them.”
“The capitalist democracy turns out to be dangerous for the villagers, which we can see from villagers being dependent on fertilizer, pesticides, and credit from both in-side and outside the system. Those villagers that could escape from these dangers have invariably returned to natural agriculture, and reduced their involvement with the market. They look for ways to grow plants and raise livestock for their living.”
“The sufficiency economy rejects the capitalist system. The creation of strong com-munities does not start with democratic community structures. Rather, they start with joining simple activities and relying on themselves. …, relying on the market as little as possible.”
“Creating and supporting sufficiency democracy means to emancipate the people so that they are free from the patronage of a political system that uses populist policies as a tool.”
“At the community level, sufficiency democracy can occur.” People also have to rely less on local government authorities. “From this perspective, true decentralization does not mean decentralization from the central government to local government au-thorities. Rather, it has to reach the people, making them perform various activities themselves by preparing a community plan that establishes community-level goals and sets and manages a budget by themselves. Therefore, we can call this a democ-racy that is truly in harmony with the peoples’ ways of life.”
“If we understand the differences between western representative democracy and suf-ficiency democracy, in which the people do not need to have representatives, but have their own plans and budgets, then we will be successful, and are able to solve the peo-ple’s problems.”
All these top-down, aka right-wing, theorists begin with the desired result and then construct a theory that they feel, or hope will produce or justify that result. Their arguments are worth following just as much as are the arguments of ‘creation scientists’ or the disciples of Lysenko. Not at all.
Good idea, ask them why President Obama thinks it important enough to request Iran release one of his drones that flew into Iran’s airspace, but has not asked Thailand to release one of his citizen’s for exercising is first amendment rights on American soil?
Jon, thanks for beating me to the punch in posting that. “Southeast Asian critical legal studies blog” is a big grandiose, but I try to keep track of legal developments in SEA, particularly Burma, Indonesia, and Philippines.
Ricky with all due respect, surly you jest. How can an foreigner in Thailand expect the univeral human right or freedom of speech if Thais in Thailand are denied it.
Perhaps you are a believer in some sort of American Exceptionalism akin to that of an upper caste Thai who thinks his Mercedes traveling at high speed in the oncoming lane will able defy the laws of physics when it meets a oncoming delivery truck. I however am not.
I am a realist. I am merely trying to apply pressure on the US State Department, The President, and the US Congress to take measured steps if an American Citizen’s human rights are violated. In the case of Akong, the lack of transparency makes his conviction a gross miscarriage of justice as it appears to me that the prosecutions has never proved that Akong has ever sent an SMS which I think is the prerequisite to a conviction as it has been presented.
Thais will have to make there own decisions as to what kind of society they wish to live in. It is not my place. I just suggest that if that concept includes one that alludes to foreigners having a positive attitude of Thailand, they have much work to do.
Ilived and worked there in the mid-90s. I currently reside in Arvada, Colorado. I get my information from the internet. I merely type into google “Joe Gordon” and get plenty of data to have a viewpoint and opinion on how Thailand is treating a fellow Coloradan.
I do contact my State’s Senators and Congressmen. Sadly it seems that the State Department defers to the Department of Defense in their decisions regarding Thailand (not unlike what we did with Mubarak in Egypt) . But Congress has in the past been able to over-rule such policies. Take for example the 1980s Contras and the Ollie North episode.
I don’t know what country you come from Ricky, but I live and work in a country where people are encouraged have opinions, share ideas, and develop political attitudes and share them and advocate changes in laws that we don’t like. I notice that open political space is quite limited in Thailand. Take for example the current discussion over an obscure group of seven academics who have proposed miniscule changes in a severely repressive law. The detractors of that group, have advocated a number of things including decapitation and placing their heads on sticks and we have that problem in our country too.
Is Thai culture and Thai Royalism so weak to be threatened by so little?
It reminds me that Several Anti-Abortionists have been convicted of murdering family planning clinic doctors. The difference is that in a free society we attempt to catch the perpetrators who commit such violence. And we pass laws like the Hate Crimes Laws which make targeting certain venerable groups especially heinous. Obviously, Thailand is a long way from achieving such a society.
We had our experiences with the Klu Klux Clan and their morphed outgrowths at ‘Christian Identity’ and the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City; and I suggest that perhaps my advocacy here is Colorado is more importantly directed towards local issues here. I have no plans to jump on a plane and allow Thai fanatics a field day at my expense by openly challenging American Diplomats in Thailand. Especially since I can go to the offices of my elected representatives in their offices in nearby Denver. I instead work here in Colorado in HIV advocacy, against hate crimes, and as an active member of the liberal wing of the Colorado Democratic Party.
Mr. Gordon’s plight just happens to have caught my attention and I endeavor to do whatever I can to make my elected representatives here do what is right and get them to apply pressure on the US State Department and the DoD to effect Mr. Gordon’s release.
Of course Khaing Soe Naing Aung is correct on the true nature of those Burmese Generals.
The only person who is capable to bring about a long term solution to this extremly delicate,protracted issue is Ms Aung San Su Kyi.
Ms Aung San Su Kyi has the mandate of the Burmese people, given in the elections in 1990,the respect of the international community and the trust of the various ethnic groups in Burma.
The problem is whether it is the true intention of the Burmese generals to resolve this issue,not to forget that the Tatmadaw took over political power in 1963 from Prime Minister U Nu exactly because of his failure to solve this issue.
Ms Su Kyi has also confirmed her willingness to work with the military leaders.
“There had been no reports of deaths of protesters before he himself was killed by a rocket propelled grenade fired by someone among the protesters. ”
That is quite wrong. First of all – Col. Romklao was not killed by an RPG, but by one of two M67 hand grenades thrown at the soldiers, at Dinso Road, sometime around 20.30 hrs . Secondly, the first protester was killed over an hour before Romklao was killed. The first protester killed that day was killed at Khok Wua at 18.40 hrs (time pulled from the metadata of a photo of the victim taken by a Thai photojournalist – who also confirmed the accuracy of the time of his camera).
As to the intentions of Romklao and the military that day – it is very difficult to come to a conclusion. There still is conflicting information, also important facts are not yet known or disputed, and naturally there is a certain lack of transparency on all sides. The military, especially the units involved in the crackdown, for example, is still adamant that they have not fired one single shot that night, even though there is more than enough proof (including video footage and bullet holes) that they indeed fired at protesters. And on the other side – very little factual has come out yet regarding the Red Shirt militants.
I have photographed Col. Romklao just before the push to Rajadamnern at Dinso Rd. when the soldiers just lined up at about 16.30 to 17.00 hrs. Col. Romklao was highly aggressive and extremely agitated, screaming at his soldiers to fight, not to retreat. Me, and several of my colleagues at the scene were quite shocked by this display. During the push towards Rajadamnern the soldiers advanced very aggressively, pushed and kicked a female protester, and even kicked a few locals who watched from the front of their houses. The advance was stopped when soldiers threw teargas grenades towards the protesters, but the direction of the wind blew it straight back into their own lines, and by far not all soldiers were equipped with gas masks (this particular teargas the military used that day was the worst teargas i have ever experienced).
I doubt that we will ever get sufficient investigation results from that day and night, and the “intention” of the military will remain disputed. Too much may have been lost in the resulting chaos. What though we can clearly state is that the behavior of the military there was marred by almost unbelievable incompetence in all stages of the failed April 10 crackdown attempt.
The lack of public response by the palace regarding this incident has definitely contributed to widespread speculation over complicity under Red Shirt protesters. This was quite evident by comments of protesters in the days after the April 10 incident.
But as many such topics go – speculation is all there is, lacking verifiable facts.
JG45 says ” Col. Romklao “came out to kill the protesters” is patently false. ”
Well it is not patently false that he was leading a battalion of armored vehicles complete with heavy weapons in the heart of Bangkok when he was killed.
This at a place not far from Tammasat U where the army in earlier days did kill hundreds of unarmed students.
So what does JG45 suggest the army came out to do?
Yeah, the green table with green cups etc., by the table with the calendars for sale and the book(let) published for the event – just as you come up the steps from outside and before you enter the first main gallery space on the first floor. I didn’t see anything about Timberland F or MSP Media, but it’s more than possible I just wasn’t paying close enough attention. Not to overshadow the work itself though! With this talk of Teamix and sponsorship. Like I said, major congrats to the artists for a pretty excellent event.
The statement that Col. Romklao “came out to kill the protesters” is patently false. There had been no reports of deaths of protesters before he himself was killed by a rocket propelled grenade fired by someone among the protesters. The video clips of that incident clearly show Thai troops firing in the air, so as not to kill protesters, until after they were hit by that grenade. Clips from earlier in the day show army troops in hand-to-hand fighting with protesters on Rajadmanern Nok avenue, but they were not firing their guns. There were many reports of injuries, but not deaths at that time. If you are basing the monarchy’s alleged complicity in killing protesters on the idea that Col. Romklao “came out to kill the protesters” then your argument has no merit. The armed wing of the Red Shirts was clearly complicit in the deaths and directly responsible for the deaths of those soldiers and the colonel.
I’m in complete agreement with Khaing Soe Naing Aung. The SPDC has a long history of ‘divide and conquer’ when dealing with the various ethnic groups.
At some point the SPDC will create an incident that allows them to break any promises made, and once again we will see them slaughtering innocent men, women and children.
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Chai-anan’s sufficiency democracy
To be democratic, like being pregnant…either you are or you aren’t.
Chai-anan’s sufficiency democracy
#6
Indeed, the almost entire loss of contact to the Thai socio-economic reality (not to mention politics) by people such as Chai-anan (two decades ago arguably the most brilliant political scientist in Thailand, and I do not mean this ironically) truly is one of the more “amazing” phenomena in the public sphere.
Malaysia’s madness
Gopal notes that Israel wants to bring UMNO down. Well he should have read what the son of Mahathir Mohamed said:
In fact, Malaysia is Israel’s 15th largest trading partner.
UMNO apologists should at least try to get their story straight.
Chai-anan’s sufficiency democracy
Only a half-witted Bangkok hi-so royalist could believe in “Sufficiency” anything…….get out of Bangkok…..
the gigantic modern secular industrial/mass tourism/aviation/container port megapolis of Laem Chabaeng/Chonburi/Pattaya/Jomtien/Rayong (a few million people, much bigger and more dynamic economically than Chiang Mai awaits you….
the bustling cities of Korat, Buri Ram, Ubon, Udon with all of their universities, complex trading and economic relationships, ambitious energetic populations……….
the Meking River cites of Mukdahan, Nakon Phanom, Nong Gai each now with its own bridge facilitating trade, cultural interchange and future prosperity zones with Laos and Vietnam, both way closer than distant Bangkok….
the frantic economic development zone in and around Phuket/Khao Lak, Krabi, soon to have ten million tourists a year with most of them not even setting foot in Bangkok….
the Trat/Koh Chang/SW Cambodia triangle, an economic and cultural zone all to itself which will explode once Koh Kong has its international airport and the mega-development project on Koh Kong Island gets going….
Hat Yai and the Muslim South full of Bahasa speaking ethnic Malays and almost a million Bahasa speaking visitors from Malaysia each year……
Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai and the northern/NE border region, connected more and more to the rapidly developing SW China area and the about to be opened Myanmar……
None of the inhabitants of these areas give a stuff about the Bangkok hi-so royalists’ regressive rightwing fantasies about “Sufficiency Economy” much less being dis-enfranchised by the introduction of “Sufficiency Democracy”…..
None of them share the Bangkok hi-so royalists’ wet dreams about Bhutan as a model for Thailand’s future….
None of them see themselves as going back to their little ancestral rural villages and huts on stilts, living with no incomes and bartering for their daily needs, their kids getting a minimal education and living without dreams……no bank accounts, no motorcycles, no PU trucks, no plasma tv’s, no refrigerators, no overseas contract work, no children leaving the farming areas en masse for the urban centers where the jobs and higher incomes are…..
All this talk of “Sufficiency” is just a load of cod’s wallop, total nonsense, sheltered desperate coddled Bangkok hi-so royalist elites desperately trying to comfort each other as their privileged fantasy world collapses all around them in a constant state of change…
Chai-anan’s sufficiency democracy
“Sufficiency Democracy” sounds like another harebrained utopian ideology to me. I sometimes wonder how many such ideas have crash and burn, usually leaving behind the blood soaked wreckage of a society, before it becomes clear to those who support them that they simply don’t work. I’m not sure it’s accurate to credit right wing political theorists with a monopoly on this kind of nonsense. After all, the most blood-soaked utopian ideology of them all, defeating even Hitler’s grotesque National Socialism in the body count stakes, was the one invented by Karl Marx and lethally implemented by such narcissistic psychopaths as Mao, Pol Pot and Stalin. Indeed, the kind of enforced collectivism described here as “Sufficiency Democracy” is faintly reminiscent of the back-to-the-land approach of the Khmer Rouge. (The fact is, I suppose, all these demented schemes sound vaguely similar).
Thailand’s democracy is certainly flawed. However, while its undoubtedly true that poorly functioning democracies such as Thailand’s provide a nurturing environment for kleptocrats and Mafia politicians, the answer is not less democracy, it is a functioning judiciary and a strong constitution so that democracy can flourish.
Chai-anan’s sufficiency democracy
Why is it always that democracy must wait; that conditions just aren’t quite right for democracy yet ?
Secondly, you only need security for a regime to survive. Look at north Korea for heaven’s sake or China (Thailand?).
Sorry, but I think this guys argument is just silly/ignorant.
Jory on Thai monarchy
There is nothing worse than an eye-witness when you are trying to re-write history!
Chai-anan’s sufficiency democracy
Sounds to me like another camouflaged plea for “unity”. Same same yawn.
The increasingly desperate ‘network monarchy’ (to borrow McCargo’s famous term) know their usual mantras of one unified nation under king, religion and state blah blah are falling on deaf ears, so now they’re trying other some other pretty words that mean much the same thing.
Chai-anan’s sufficiency democracy
Already in August 2011, Chai-anan had published two colums on “sufficiency democracy.” What follows are excerpts from them (apologies for the long “comment”)
(1)
Chai-anand Samudavanija. 2011. “Prachathipattai baep phophiang.” (From a web site, dated August 3, 2011)
Normally, it is thought that decentralization was about local government authorities. However, this still involved people who worked instead of the people. “When com-plete democracy has occurred already, each individual must certainly be able to take care of himself.” This has a broader scope than politics and government. Elections are merely one part. Taking care of oneself means, “comprehensively to take care of one’s way of life.”
This is why we should be interested as much as possible in managing oneself at the community level.
Western democracy has created complete stability, and opened the way for borderless economic activity. “The question is: What is the ultimate goal of our lives? Is it capi-talist democracy, the support of competition, struggle, and an endless quest [for profit, I assume]? On the contrary. The sufficiency philosophy is appropriate and in harmony with the way of life in communities, because in sufficiency there is happiness. Coop-eration and mutual help makes the community peaceful. Therefore, our Thai-style democracy should also have the sufficiency philosophy as an accompanying frame-work.”
A military friend of his had told him about an interesting community on Prachinburi, which had developed features of self-organization stemming from lack of credit and cheap crop prices. Finally, this also included “community democracy.” Everyone took part in the savings groups. They have solved all their problems, including salty water. They even have a local police volunteer.
This community did not start from an emphasis on creating democracy.
It started from joining in activities responding to their needs, which then continuously expanded. Finally, they established sapha ongkon chumchon (community organiza-tion assembly). his is the right direction, because the goal of having democracy is to manage one’s own way of life.
(2)
Chai-anand Samudavanija. 2011. “Prachathipattai baep phophiang (2)” [Sufficiency democracy]. ASTV Phuchatkan, August 8, 2011:12
Talking about “sufficiency democracy” last week “led to the idea that western democracy (prachathipattai baep tawantok) existed to support the capitalist economy, which is the reason why democracy only responds to the needs and interests of the capitalists and the middle class, leading to the conclusion that an important factor of democracy is the support by the middle class.”
In the USA, and many other countries, the poor do not have any place to stay, and no representative of their interests.
The question is what benefit democracy has for the poor in countries such as Thai-land, which has a high number of poor people. We see that the problems of the poor are “not truly” (yang thaeching) paid attention to. Only private organizations and peo-ple’s organizations act as representatives and make demands for this people.
We hope that rural communities can have the shape of democracy. This refers to es-tablishing a form of administration for local communities that uses the means of de-mocracy. However, the truth is that rural people do not quite see the benefit of democ-racy as a method of administration. They do not even cherish their voting rights. Rather, they sell their votes. In national and local-level processes of democracy, the people are rather more objects than they truly participate.
When one’s hope for democracy in Thailand is based on the people’s readiness, and them being an important part of politics, then this probably does not correspond to the real situation. Democracy as form and method “does not have significance in the lives of the villagers.”
Self-organized activities for solving their basic problems are more important to them. For this, they rely on primary relationships, without having to establish formally de-mocratic structures and methods.
From this perspective, “sufficiency democracy” is probably the answer. Yet, what is this “sufficiency democracy?” The most important thing is to look at the goal of de-mocracy, namely the “creation of sufficiency,” and the “creation of immunity for the community and villagers.” “One part of immunization is to protect the communities from the capitalist system entering and destroying them.”
“The capitalist democracy turns out to be dangerous for the villagers, which we can see from villagers being dependent on fertilizer, pesticides, and credit from both in-side and outside the system. Those villagers that could escape from these dangers have invariably returned to natural agriculture, and reduced their involvement with the market. They look for ways to grow plants and raise livestock for their living.”
“The sufficiency economy rejects the capitalist system. The creation of strong com-munities does not start with democratic community structures. Rather, they start with joining simple activities and relying on themselves. …, relying on the market as little as possible.”
“Creating and supporting sufficiency democracy means to emancipate the people so that they are free from the patronage of a political system that uses populist policies as a tool.”
“At the community level, sufficiency democracy can occur.” People also have to rely less on local government authorities. “From this perspective, true decentralization does not mean decentralization from the central government to local government au-thorities. Rather, it has to reach the people, making them perform various activities themselves by preparing a community plan that establishes community-level goals and sets and manages a budget by themselves. Therefore, we can call this a democ-racy that is truly in harmony with the peoples’ ways of life.”
“If we understand the differences between western representative democracy and suf-ficiency democracy, in which the people do not need to have representatives, but have their own plans and budgets, then we will be successful, and are able to solve the peo-ple’s problems.”
Chai-anan’s sufficiency democracy
All these top-down, aka right-wing, theorists begin with the desired result and then construct a theory that they feel, or hope will produce or justify that result. Their arguments are worth following just as much as are the arguments of ‘creation scientists’ or the disciples of Lysenko. Not at all.
FACT’s plea for Joe Gordon
Good idea, ask them why President Obama thinks it important enough to request Iran release one of his drones that flew into Iran’s airspace, but has not asked Thailand to release one of his citizen’s for exercising is first amendment rights on American soil?
Burma’s incentive for reform?
Jon, thanks for beating me to the punch in posting that. “Southeast Asian critical legal studies blog” is a big grandiose, but I try to keep track of legal developments in SEA, particularly Burma, Indonesia, and Philippines.
FACT’s plea for Joe Gordon
Ricky with all due respect, surly you jest. How can an foreigner in Thailand expect the univeral human right or freedom of speech if Thais in Thailand are denied it.
Perhaps you are a believer in some sort of American Exceptionalism akin to that of an upper caste Thai who thinks his Mercedes traveling at high speed in the oncoming lane will able defy the laws of physics when it meets a oncoming delivery truck. I however am not.
I am a realist. I am merely trying to apply pressure on the US State Department, The President, and the US Congress to take measured steps if an American Citizen’s human rights are violated. In the case of Akong, the lack of transparency makes his conviction a gross miscarriage of justice as it appears to me that the prosecutions has never proved that Akong has ever sent an SMS which I think is the prerequisite to a conviction as it has been presented.
Thais will have to make there own decisions as to what kind of society they wish to live in. It is not my place. I just suggest that if that concept includes one that alludes to foreigners having a positive attitude of Thailand, they have much work to do.
Ilived and worked there in the mid-90s. I currently reside in Arvada, Colorado. I get my information from the internet. I merely type into google “Joe Gordon” and get plenty of data to have a viewpoint and opinion on how Thailand is treating a fellow Coloradan.
I do contact my State’s Senators and Congressmen. Sadly it seems that the State Department defers to the Department of Defense in their decisions regarding Thailand (not unlike what we did with Mubarak in Egypt) . But Congress has in the past been able to over-rule such policies. Take for example the 1980s Contras and the Ollie North episode.
I don’t know what country you come from Ricky, but I live and work in a country where people are encouraged have opinions, share ideas, and develop political attitudes and share them and advocate changes in laws that we don’t like. I notice that open political space is quite limited in Thailand. Take for example the current discussion over an obscure group of seven academics who have proposed miniscule changes in a severely repressive law. The detractors of that group, have advocated a number of things including decapitation and placing their heads on sticks and we have that problem in our country too.
Is Thai culture and Thai Royalism so weak to be threatened by so little?
It reminds me that Several Anti-Abortionists have been convicted of murdering family planning clinic doctors. The difference is that in a free society we attempt to catch the perpetrators who commit such violence. And we pass laws like the Hate Crimes Laws which make targeting certain venerable groups especially heinous. Obviously, Thailand is a long way from achieving such a society.
We had our experiences with the Klu Klux Clan and their morphed outgrowths at ‘Christian Identity’ and the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City; and I suggest that perhaps my advocacy here is Colorado is more importantly directed towards local issues here. I have no plans to jump on a plane and allow Thai fanatics a field day at my expense by openly challenging American Diplomats in Thailand. Especially since I can go to the offices of my elected representatives in their offices in nearby Denver. I instead work here in Colorado in HIV advocacy, against hate crimes, and as an active member of the liberal wing of the Colorado Democratic Party.
Mr. Gordon’s plight just happens to have caught my attention and I endeavor to do whatever I can to make my elected representatives here do what is right and get them to apply pressure on the US State Department and the DoD to effect Mr. Gordon’s release.
Burma’s incentive for reform?
Roberto: Could one or the other pls share the link to your “Southeast Asian critical legal studies blog
Rule by Hukum: Law in Southeast Asia [Great blog]
Genuine and lasting peace?
Of course Khaing Soe Naing Aung is correct on the true nature of those Burmese Generals.
The only person who is capable to bring about a long term solution to this extremly delicate,protracted issue is Ms Aung San Su Kyi.
Ms Aung San Su Kyi has the mandate of the Burmese people, given in the elections in 1990,the respect of the international community and the trust of the various ethnic groups in Burma.
The problem is whether it is the true intention of the Burmese generals to resolve this issue,not to forget that the Tatmadaw took over political power in 1963 from Prime Minister U Nu exactly because of his failure to solve this issue.
Ms Su Kyi has also confirmed her willingness to work with the military leaders.
Jory on Thai monarchy
“JG45”:
“There had been no reports of deaths of protesters before he himself was killed by a rocket propelled grenade fired by someone among the protesters. ”
That is quite wrong. First of all – Col. Romklao was not killed by an RPG, but by one of two M67 hand grenades thrown at the soldiers, at Dinso Road, sometime around 20.30 hrs . Secondly, the first protester was killed over an hour before Romklao was killed. The first protester killed that day was killed at Khok Wua at 18.40 hrs (time pulled from the metadata of a photo of the victim taken by a Thai photojournalist – who also confirmed the accuracy of the time of his camera).
As to the intentions of Romklao and the military that day – it is very difficult to come to a conclusion. There still is conflicting information, also important facts are not yet known or disputed, and naturally there is a certain lack of transparency on all sides. The military, especially the units involved in the crackdown, for example, is still adamant that they have not fired one single shot that night, even though there is more than enough proof (including video footage and bullet holes) that they indeed fired at protesters. And on the other side – very little factual has come out yet regarding the Red Shirt militants.
I have photographed Col. Romklao just before the push to Rajadamnern at Dinso Rd. when the soldiers just lined up at about 16.30 to 17.00 hrs. Col. Romklao was highly aggressive and extremely agitated, screaming at his soldiers to fight, not to retreat. Me, and several of my colleagues at the scene were quite shocked by this display. During the push towards Rajadamnern the soldiers advanced very aggressively, pushed and kicked a female protester, and even kicked a few locals who watched from the front of their houses. The advance was stopped when soldiers threw teargas grenades towards the protesters, but the direction of the wind blew it straight back into their own lines, and by far not all soldiers were equipped with gas masks (this particular teargas the military used that day was the worst teargas i have ever experienced).
I doubt that we will ever get sufficient investigation results from that day and night, and the “intention” of the military will remain disputed. Too much may have been lost in the resulting chaos. What though we can clearly state is that the behavior of the military there was marred by almost unbelievable incompetence in all stages of the failed April 10 crackdown attempt.
The lack of public response by the palace regarding this incident has definitely contributed to widespread speculation over complicity under Red Shirt protesters. This was quite evident by comments of protesters in the days after the April 10 incident.
But as many such topics go – speculation is all there is, lacking verifiable facts.
Jory on Thai monarchy
JG45 says ” Col. Romklao “came out to kill the protesters” is patently false. ”
Well it is not patently false that he was leading a battalion of armored vehicles complete with heavy weapons in the heart of Bangkok when he was killed.
This at a place not far from Tammasat U where the army in earlier days did kill hundreds of unarmed students.
So what does JG45 suggest the army came out to do?
Urban art in Yangon
Yeah, the green table with green cups etc., by the table with the calendars for sale and the book(let) published for the event – just as you come up the steps from outside and before you enter the first main gallery space on the first floor. I didn’t see anything about Timberland F or MSP Media, but it’s more than possible I just wasn’t paying close enough attention. Not to overshadow the work itself though! With this talk of Teamix and sponsorship. Like I said, major congrats to the artists for a pretty excellent event.
Jory on Thai monarchy
The statement that Col. Romklao “came out to kill the protesters” is patently false. There had been no reports of deaths of protesters before he himself was killed by a rocket propelled grenade fired by someone among the protesters. The video clips of that incident clearly show Thai troops firing in the air, so as not to kill protesters, until after they were hit by that grenade. Clips from earlier in the day show army troops in hand-to-hand fighting with protesters on Rajadmanern Nok avenue, but they were not firing their guns. There were many reports of injuries, but not deaths at that time. If you are basing the monarchy’s alleged complicity in killing protesters on the idea that Col. Romklao “came out to kill the protesters” then your argument has no merit. The armed wing of the Red Shirts was clearly complicit in the deaths and directly responsible for the deaths of those soldiers and the colonel.
Genuine and lasting peace?
I’m in complete agreement with Khaing Soe Naing Aung. The SPDC has a long history of ‘divide and conquer’ when dealing with the various ethnic groups.
At some point the SPDC will create an incident that allows them to break any promises made, and once again we will see them slaughtering innocent men, women and children.