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So where does this comfortableness with violence, this Buddhist hypocrisy, this tolerance – indeed, glorification – of mass killing derive from?

“The War on Drugs itself, perhaps the most shameful chapter in Thaksin’s tenure as Prime Minister, was inspired by none other than King Bhumibol, who spoke of such a ‘war’ in his 2002 birthday speech. Shortly thereafter, Privy Councilor Phichit Kunlawanit waxed genocidal about the need to execute as many as sixty thousand drug dealers and drug fiends to deliver the nation of any residual ‘bad karma.’ And once Thaksin had declared victory, in time for His Majesty’s birthday, King Bhumibol publicly endorsed the campaign, noting that ‘victory in the War on Drugs is good.’ He went on to say ‘They may blame the crackdown for more than 2,500 deaths, but this is a small price to pay. If the Prime Minister failed to curb [the drugs trade], over the years the number of deaths would easily surpass this toll.'”

– Federico Ferrara, “Thailand Unhinged: The Death of Thai-Style Democracy”, Page 70

Disgrace to Buddhism.

That is all that needs be said.

For any defense of mass killing.

[Note: You clowns who defend mass killing and consider yourselves to be Buddhist, please go back to the ***words of the Lord Buddha*** and read, please. 🙂 ]

@Dan #9: Full disclosure: I know that the author is Thai because she’s a personal friend of mine! More to the point, I don’t think her argument is that the elites in question are not responsible for these violent and ineffective policies, but that holding them to account and pressuring them to adopt a different tact is made much more difficult when the old way of doing things enjoys widespread popular support. The question I keep coming back to is: why are so many Thai’s willing to accept this?

I think Tarrin #9 is on to something when he says that Thailand’s apparent comfort with violence is “decades in the making” and I think he’s right that the acceptance of violence as a norm ties in closely with the breakdown of “the rule of law”. Thailand is often a place where “the law is as the law does”, and when the law shoots people it doesn’t like the foundations of “nation” and “community” stand on very shaky ground.

Without real reform in Thailand’s military or police forces the problems with drugs in Thailand will prevail as there is just too much easy money to be made especially by those who are meant to protect the nation.
Thai children also lack a real education with many dropping out to become the fodder for those who influence them to take and sell drugs.
Thailand’s democracy is a fraud when it targets the plethora of small sellers and thousands of users while the people at the top with major political and security connections go free.
The rule of law must be set for all on Thailand’s wobbly ladder of social justice, not just targeting and striking fear into those who are the most vulnerable.

Dr. Zachary Abuza is Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College at the National Defense University.

Mid-level and senior Unidted States military officers who are likely to be promoted to the most senior ranks are selected to study at the War College in preparation for higher staff and command positions along with some students from the US State Department.

The above referenced study is dated Septembert 2011, and contains detailed analysis of the various Thai governments policies regarding the South and the lack of focus on the issue by the Bangkok-centric politicians.

Doug olthof – 5

why is Thai society so comfortable with state violence,

not just state but violence in general, I think the case of nonesense killing has been sky-rocking rectly (an ex-police officer was shot because of 1.2 baht change and so on).

When people felt like the law don’t serve them then they will start taking things to their own hand. This is not just happened recently, Thailand has a really bloody history and this “comfortable with violence” is a decades of making.

Btw want to add abit to Roy Anderson statement
” The problem in Thailand is that people have drummed into them loyalty and obedience to the state.”
Not “state” but Monarchy rather. Maybe everyone should give a bit research on the Malee Wua Pa drug root.

I fear that this will be pinned on Yingluck, the same it was for Thaksin. One person spoke, the government responded. See a pattern? And how could they not? They have NO CHOICE.

It just reinforced the image that NOTHING concrete will change in the near future. The problems didn’t came from the Shinnawatras, so removing them would’t make it better.

It’s a nasty cycle, isn’t it?

#4
Certainly, but perhaps worth remembering that it actually did get very private. It was more or less, “They are targeting my son and so they must pay”. Did he never stop to imagine how his significant resources could be used to help his son. (The rest of us would never have that comfort.) More to the point, did he never stop to think where the real profits were going? But the answer was probably (and remains) too controversial for comfort. So grunts died and took the proof to their funeral pyres.

I wouldn’t argue with your original point, but it seems obvious to me that the Shinawatras show no sign of acting any better when handed power on a plate.

@ Doug Olthof,
I agree with you on Thai society’s unquestioning of violence against the so called people involved in the drugs trade. It reminds me of the radio presenter in Chiangmai who was murdered last year. He was reported to have drugs in his possession when murdered by the establishment. He was a Red supporter who his friends state that he had nothing to do with drugs. The press did not challenge the police statements. The war on drugs will be used as a vendetta against political opponents as well as drugs trafficers whilst the top people are left alone. The problem in Thailand is that people have drummed into them loyalty and obedience to the state. They have been brainwashed. However, not all the brainwashing by the Amaart is successful. Lets just hope that the voice of reason soon arrives in Thailand as well as the rest of the world. It needs a leader with courage to stand up and fight back against this very profitable war at our expense. YL does not come into that category.

Oh come on Frustrated Reader. They shot themselves in the back right? Of course Abhiset did nothing. Another elite scared shitting on his own doorstep. Who cares whether Thaksin directly sanctioned it or not. More to the point he did nothing to stop it.