Think back at the sabotage of Anwar’s car and the firing of canisters at Anwar in KL Sentral. Do all these ring a bell? The evil UMNO is trying to get Anwar, D.o.A. So take precautions…including his food!
Here’s a lovely little video from al Jazeera at the end of which a charming lady in Khon Kaen explains that Bhumijaithai is welcome to pay them as much as they like… as much as they can afford. The people of Khon Kaen will take it and take it and take it… and then vote for the party they consider number one.
Regional governance is of a particular character, with each of the countries here unique in its own way. Overall, however, is a state/population readiness to throw a blanket over fires where truth and facts simmer, denying the resulting smoke and fires that spring to life for purposes of death.
National security becomes State Lie’s byword…a fumbling excuse for justifying repression of intellectual, spiritual, and personal self-determination.
This is governance in Thailand. This is why national security is smoldering.
The key, rather… “a key”… is to stop paying lip service to a unity that denies the right to self-determination. Being Thai has become a punch list of what you MUST believe, say, do and be perceived as believing, saying and doing. The very definition of Thai, free, has been lost in manic repression.
Thanks U. Chemp. That is useful information. I certainly agree that cash is widely distributed before elections. In my very first post on New Mandala, back in 2006, I wrote:
Quite simply rural people accept payments from everyone and vote for whoever they wish. This is a complex sociological issue, but my feeling is that these payments should be seen as a demonstration of the ability of candidates to direct resources to the villages within their electorate. This is what rural people quite properly expect of their parliamentary representatives and distribution of funds prior to an election is a widely accepted way of demonstrating this willingness and capability.
But the pre-election gift-giving that I describe, and that you describe in comment 50, is rather different to the “contract backed by ultimate sanction” vote-buying that you suggest in your earlier comment. Put simply, there is a big difference between the giving of gifts (however ill intentioned that may be) and the purchase of a commodity.
Do you have any details about the headmen murdered in areas close to the Cambodian border (I presume that is what you mean by the “final sanction”)?
A Dems candidate’s father has gone ballistic, after his daughter lost in Nonthaburi District 2. Took a knife and starts swinging at the PT campaign truck that pass by. Seems that they dumped nearly 50m into it and still lost.
My comments are not hearsay but direct testimonies from very longstanding friends with which we are in daily contact. The area is Uttaradit and the potential voters received from various opponents to the PT envelopes with the 300 Bath, all given against the verbal promise to vote for the “generous donors”. If the sum of B 300 may seem small to you, it is always a welcome pocket-money, especially if you add up all the envelopes handed out by these small political parties, all in fact allies or clones of the “Democrats”.Why would they pay: because they are still of the arrogant and disrespectful opinion towards people living outside Bangkok which taken for ignorant, stupid farmers, because they are linked to the corrupt old-schoolboy’s networks whose interest is certainly not the common welfare but only their own direct egoist fate. They have not yet understood that Internet and Sat-TV has reached the most remote areas and gives the people the possibility to forge their own opinion. That’s why in the East near the Cambodian frontier Headmen, having failed to force local voters to vote as paid for, have already and as usual, received the final sanction. The one concerned by my remarks is for the moment still well, but the concerned area is more urban! How long is this going to last ? It may come to a brutal end sooner than expected by the “pseudo-elite”: the debt-crisis hits all main western economies, its only at the beginning but will brutally translate into the economies after the various 2012 elections are over. Thi will hit of course also emerging economies, specially the smaller ones, the ones which rely on exports and tourism and which are ruled by dictators of royal of military origin. Its not the Coreen’s and Chinese tourists which will fill all the gaps. And then the same events as the ones happening since 6 months in North-Africa and the Middle-East will start also in Asia, especially in countries with no political participation of the majority of the population, where medieval rulers continue their pillage and continue to oppose to economic and political evolution. Once the large parts of people are out of work, it will ignite by itself.
We are in daily contact with friends (middle-class, having >40 years of professional experiences and not having erased the memories of the 1970’s) in various regions, all report similar facts of distribution of these envelopes.
You can also get infos from http://www.norporchorusa.com and from http://www.redudd.com, sites not always available in Thailand, but transmission through a proxy-server or over a phone-line from outside via skype e.g. remains possible.
@andrew
I find the story about the red village head taking yellow money totally plausible. This is nothing new- since about 1990s, people had been assassinated for failing to deliver after pocketing the money as rural Thais became less religious and independent. Once taking money meant guaranteed vote. Later, taking money from multiple sources meant spoilt vote to salve their conscience. Lately, the more sources the better- but they shall only vote whom they please – meaning the candidate they like, not necessary the one who paid the most. In that sense, I guess even with vote- buying (every single party in Thailand is guilty 100%) elections in Thailand is in a twisted way becoming more democratic.
I believe there had been many anecdotal evidence of smart villagers taking money from all sides but vote their true preference without guilt or fear of religious repercussions. Most recent in some articles by IHT or NYT or Guardian. Can’t recall actual.
Only an idiot believe the democrat party did not buy votes or that ah isit is ‘clean’. Gosh, most of us even know how the DP share their corruption money.
It is interesting that while public perceptions of corruption have deteriorated dramatically since the coup, they still haven’t plumbed the depths of the pre-Thaksin era when Chuan was PM. It is extraordinary that both Chuan and Abhisit, each of whom has a reputation of being a comparative “clean skin” both appear to have presided over periods when corruption was much more problematical, whereas Thaksin, the fugitive from a conviction for conflict of interest as well as other charges of corruption, seems to have kept a much tighter rein. Maybe the experience of the poacher makes him a better gamekeeper!
I’m aware this is typical of many Democrats’ prevailing view of Thailand’s peasants. It’s probably also Thaksin’s view. The “dumb, ignorant and easily led peasant” was true enough for many hundreds of years. But I’m not so sure it remains the case anymore. As Thailand transitions quickly from a rural agrarian society into a modern enterprise economy, it is already much harder to “keep the peasants in their place”. Higher levels of education and modern digital communication has heightened rural Thais’ awareness of the inherent inequalities. I think there is a real peoples’ movement afoot – without or without the support of PT. Thaksin was the first to recognise this, and is riding it for all it’s worth. He’s clever enough to make the most of it. He may well be using the “dumb ignorant peasants” to position himself; but, in time, the rising aspirations of rural Thais will eventually become bigger than even Thaksin’s ability to harness their power for his own ends. Awareness levels among rural Thais are high; the next step is for them to organise. They haven’t organised yet, and this is where Thaksin can still exploit them. But for how long can the tail wag the dog? Other elites are starting to smell the coffee, and are either burying their heads in the sand or clawing at the old structures for comfort. The clever ones, like Thaksin, will adapt and position themselves to benefit from it. The majority will simply be subsumed by it. For them, times will never be as good again.
The Malaysian government and Police should be condemmed by the international community , and especially other AEAN members.
Their conduct in without excuse , and shows they are trying to hold onto power at all costs , and have made it clear they do not want a real democartic system
Vote buying is only one side of the coin, and I think the less important one. Far more important is “government buying”. In all political systems where elections play a role to select politicians, much money is “donated” as campaign funds. Following a rational choice perspective, a motive probably is that thereby politics will provide certain favours for the donors to enhance their economic possibilities. As a consequence, politicians spend a lot of money (buy votes) to get elected with the hope to get reimbursement (with some additional interests) from those buying the government. Thaksin developed a short cut to this, as combined business man /politician, which antagonized many politicians as well as business men.
The question is, is there any possibility to get out of this political process determined economically? This implies another question: Is there any consensus in Thailand about what might be a collective common good, or is the individual search for status, power and personal benefits decisive? If this is the case, then probably a political process organized like a market is best, because then the “invisible hand” (of course of the market!) can allocate votes, political power and profits
I agree with you Neptunian – never trust Mahathir or people close to him – hence I noted that it was interesting (and not a good) analysis.
If you remember my earlier article – Is Najib on his way out – I noted that Najib would not last long. I believe this article provides evidence for the thrust of the argument I put in the article.
I also suspect that such high handed reaction (one death – the first as far as I can remember in peaceful protest in Malaysia) at this rally is not so much to cow the people or the opposition (although that was important) but more to “warn” the enemies within UMNO, to be careful – just like in 69, 87 and 98.
I believe that Mahathir is now trying to unseat Najib, so that Muhyiddin can take over, and put Mahathir’s son – Mukhriz as number two to eventually take over as PM – solely to maintain Mahathir’s legacy.
I say this because Mahathir keeps harping about “the good ol days when he was in charge. He wants to go back to old style economic policies as reflected by this Reuters special report.
We also know that Mahathir hates Khairy Jamaluddin – hence the specific focus on Khairy.
Nevertheless, the end of UMNO is at hand – its just a matter of time. The only question is whether they will take Malaysian down with them.
Taksin certainly knew how to make corruption benefit his interests but he is an amateur when it comes to the true masters of the discipline, the Democrats and Army. They have finessed their strokes into an art form, truly inspiring and a joy to behold, but as with all disciplines years of practice, focus and a spirit that never withers under duress are the hallmarks of a true expert.
Abbhisit although a mere beginner had the benefit of help and guidance from two notables of the art, Suthep and Newin, glorious in their ability to squeeze every last drop of tea money from the most minor matter to the largest unneeded infrastructure project. Their swashbuckling style and nonchalant indifference to criticism will be sorely missed.
The army, as always following a coup, set out on a course of unbridled greed and avarice in the pursuit of useless but profitable equipment unrestrained by fiscal considerations. As always, poetry in motion.
Phuea Thai has a hard act to follow despite their enthusiasm.
Is promising to do what a govt should be doing in the first place “vote buying”? Please examine what you want to say about vote buying before you say it!
BTW, I don’t think cooking a noodle and giving them out is vote buying. just how many bowls of noodles do you think one can cook or give out in a day! It is just part of getting close to your supporters, like singing along or shaking hands… please don’t let your bias cloud your mind! I is like the writer says “pure lunacy”
Matthias is one of the worse culprit of the Mahathir era excesses. He is not just the political secretary but also his personal advisor. If I am not mistaken, he is still in Mahathir’s inner circle, so basically everything he says should be taken with a pinch of salt. He is just pretending to be an independent analyst and blogger
Mahathir was pushed off the UMNO pedastal and have been trying to make a comeback… his strategy is to make it bad for for his successors until he can get his own man into position. The current person seems to be Muyihidin.
Finally, the reason for the “fear” of the BN govt with regards to Bersih now, is that, their own intelligence have shown a possible lost of up to 8 states to the PR group if the election is held anytime soon.
Couldn’t agree more with your conclusion, “participant or observer” and “PLAN B”.
Not capitulation or collaboration as in “plan B” to become like ‘the third force’ in parliament some of whom now probably realize being taken in as a bunch of useful idiots.
The wheels of history and popular struggle wait for no leader, ready or not.
Old habits die hard, so the Post uses its all-too-familiar “rent-a-mob” tag. But the stark fact is that this was rent-a-crowd for Democrat rallies in BKK – though the writer seems unable to bring himself to use the word; the “big party” concerned is not named even once in the piece. A bizarre omission given that specific dates, venues and even those who “presided” at the rallies are identified – i.e. Abhisit and Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand…..
The piece points out that the results of the Post’s “investigation” into both the rent-a-crowd aspect and alleged vote-buying in BKK (by the same “big party”) have been forwarded to the EC. Given that the EC are solemnly investigating Yingluck’s supposed “Noodlegate” incident, it’s hard to imagine that even they will not feel obliged to do the same in this instance.
[…] Critics of Thaksin often blame him for corruption – and even among his supporters, there are very few that seriously believe he wasn’t corrupt. It’s nonetheless interesting to look at corruption ratings from Thailand before, during and af…. […]
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
BERSIH 2.0 overcomes the police state
Think back at the sabotage of Anwar’s car and the firing of canisters at Anwar in KL Sentral. Do all these ring a bell? The evil UMNO is trying to get Anwar, D.o.A. So take precautions…including his food!
National lunacy
Here’s a lovely little video from al Jazeera at the end of which a charming lady in Khon Kaen explains that Bhumijaithai is welcome to pay them as much as they like… as much as they can afford. The people of Khon Kaen will take it and take it and take it… and then vote for the party they consider number one.
I love it. Very rational decision, seems to me.
The army and the god king
Regional governance is of a particular character, with each of the countries here unique in its own way. Overall, however, is a state/population readiness to throw a blanket over fires where truth and facts simmer, denying the resulting smoke and fires that spring to life for purposes of death.
National security becomes State Lie’s byword…a fumbling excuse for justifying repression of intellectual, spiritual, and personal self-determination.
This is governance in Thailand. This is why national security is smoldering.
The key, rather… “a key”… is to stop paying lip service to a unity that denies the right to self-determination. Being Thai has become a punch list of what you MUST believe, say, do and be perceived as believing, saying and doing. The very definition of Thai, free, has been lost in manic repression.
National lunacy
Thanks U. Chemp. That is useful information. I certainly agree that cash is widely distributed before elections. In my very first post on New Mandala, back in 2006, I wrote:
I have expanded on this in my paper about the “rural constitution“.
But the pre-election gift-giving that I describe, and that you describe in comment 50, is rather different to the “contract backed by ultimate sanction” vote-buying that you suggest in your earlier comment. Put simply, there is a big difference between the giving of gifts (however ill intentioned that may be) and the purchase of a commodity.
Do you have any details about the headmen murdered in areas close to the Cambodian border (I presume that is what you mean by the “final sanction”)?
National lunacy
A Dems candidate’s father has gone ballistic, after his daughter lost in Nonthaburi District 2. Took a knife and starts swinging at the PT campaign truck that pass by. Seems that they dumped nearly 50m into it and still lost.
No wonder he can’t take it.
National lunacy
Andrew Walker
My comments are not hearsay but direct testimonies from very longstanding friends with which we are in daily contact. The area is Uttaradit and the potential voters received from various opponents to the PT envelopes with the 300 Bath, all given against the verbal promise to vote for the “generous donors”. If the sum of B 300 may seem small to you, it is always a welcome pocket-money, especially if you add up all the envelopes handed out by these small political parties, all in fact allies or clones of the “Democrats”.Why would they pay: because they are still of the arrogant and disrespectful opinion towards people living outside Bangkok which taken for ignorant, stupid farmers, because they are linked to the corrupt old-schoolboy’s networks whose interest is certainly not the common welfare but only their own direct egoist fate. They have not yet understood that Internet and Sat-TV has reached the most remote areas and gives the people the possibility to forge their own opinion. That’s why in the East near the Cambodian frontier Headmen, having failed to force local voters to vote as paid for, have already and as usual, received the final sanction. The one concerned by my remarks is for the moment still well, but the concerned area is more urban! How long is this going to last ? It may come to a brutal end sooner than expected by the “pseudo-elite”: the debt-crisis hits all main western economies, its only at the beginning but will brutally translate into the economies after the various 2012 elections are over. Thi will hit of course also emerging economies, specially the smaller ones, the ones which rely on exports and tourism and which are ruled by dictators of royal of military origin. Its not the Coreen’s and Chinese tourists which will fill all the gaps. And then the same events as the ones happening since 6 months in North-Africa and the Middle-East will start also in Asia, especially in countries with no political participation of the majority of the population, where medieval rulers continue their pillage and continue to oppose to economic and political evolution. Once the large parts of people are out of work, it will ignite by itself.
We are in daily contact with friends (middle-class, having >40 years of professional experiences and not having erased the memories of the 1970’s) in various regions, all report similar facts of distribution of these envelopes.
You can also get infos from http://www.norporchorusa.com and from http://www.redudd.com, sites not always available in Thailand, but transmission through a proxy-server or over a phone-line from outside via skype e.g. remains possible.
It was brutal, Najib!
Malaysia’s Street Protestors. A flop!
This is not about democracy. This is about the Election for the opposition to win more seats.
The police of Malaysia has done a good job. Well done, protect the majority not ‘street gangsters’ !!!!
National lunacy
@andrew
I find the story about the red village head taking yellow money totally plausible. This is nothing new- since about 1990s, people had been assassinated for failing to deliver after pocketing the money as rural Thais became less religious and independent. Once taking money meant guaranteed vote. Later, taking money from multiple sources meant spoilt vote to salve their conscience. Lately, the more sources the better- but they shall only vote whom they please – meaning the candidate they like, not necessary the one who paid the most. In that sense, I guess even with vote- buying (every single party in Thailand is guilty 100%) elections in Thailand is in a twisted way becoming more democratic.
I believe there had been many anecdotal evidence of smart villagers taking money from all sides but vote their true preference without guilt or fear of religious repercussions. Most recent in some articles by IHT or NYT or Guardian. Can’t recall actual.
Only an idiot believe the democrat party did not buy votes or that ah isit is ‘clean’. Gosh, most of us even know how the DP share their corruption money.
Thailand’s corruption record
It is interesting that while public perceptions of corruption have deteriorated dramatically since the coup, they still haven’t plumbed the depths of the pre-Thaksin era when Chuan was PM. It is extraordinary that both Chuan and Abhisit, each of whom has a reputation of being a comparative “clean skin” both appear to have presided over periods when corruption was much more problematical, whereas Thaksin, the fugitive from a conviction for conflict of interest as well as other charges of corruption, seems to have kept a much tighter rein. Maybe the experience of the poacher makes him a better gamekeeper!
Thailand’s corruption record
Patsan
I’m aware this is typical of many Democrats’ prevailing view of Thailand’s peasants. It’s probably also Thaksin’s view. The “dumb, ignorant and easily led peasant” was true enough for many hundreds of years. But I’m not so sure it remains the case anymore. As Thailand transitions quickly from a rural agrarian society into a modern enterprise economy, it is already much harder to “keep the peasants in their place”. Higher levels of education and modern digital communication has heightened rural Thais’ awareness of the inherent inequalities. I think there is a real peoples’ movement afoot – without or without the support of PT. Thaksin was the first to recognise this, and is riding it for all it’s worth. He’s clever enough to make the most of it. He may well be using the “dumb ignorant peasants” to position himself; but, in time, the rising aspirations of rural Thais will eventually become bigger than even Thaksin’s ability to harness their power for his own ends. Awareness levels among rural Thais are high; the next step is for them to organise. They haven’t organised yet, and this is where Thaksin can still exploit them. But for how long can the tail wag the dog? Other elites are starting to smell the coffee, and are either burying their heads in the sand or clawing at the old structures for comfort. The clever ones, like Thaksin, will adapt and position themselves to benefit from it. The majority will simply be subsumed by it. For them, times will never be as good again.
It was brutal, Najib!
The Malaysian government and Police should be condemmed by the international community , and especially other AEAN members.
Their conduct in without excuse , and shows they are trying to hold onto power at all costs , and have made it clear they do not want a real democartic system
National lunacy
Vote buying is only one side of the coin, and I think the less important one. Far more important is “government buying”. In all political systems where elections play a role to select politicians, much money is “donated” as campaign funds. Following a rational choice perspective, a motive probably is that thereby politics will provide certain favours for the donors to enhance their economic possibilities. As a consequence, politicians spend a lot of money (buy votes) to get elected with the hope to get reimbursement (with some additional interests) from those buying the government. Thaksin developed a short cut to this, as combined business man /politician, which antagonized many politicians as well as business men.
The question is, is there any possibility to get out of this political process determined economically? This implies another question: Is there any consensus in Thailand about what might be a collective common good, or is the individual search for status, power and personal benefits decisive? If this is the case, then probably a political process organized like a market is best, because then the “invisible hand” (of course of the market!) can allocate votes, political power and profits
BERSIH 2.0 overcomes the police state
I agree with you Neptunian – never trust Mahathir or people close to him – hence I noted that it was interesting (and not a good) analysis.
If you remember my earlier article – Is Najib on his way out – I noted that Najib would not last long. I believe this article provides evidence for the thrust of the argument I put in the article.
I also suspect that such high handed reaction (one death – the first as far as I can remember in peaceful protest in Malaysia) at this rally is not so much to cow the people or the opposition (although that was important) but more to “warn” the enemies within UMNO, to be careful – just like in 69, 87 and 98.
I believe that Mahathir is now trying to unseat Najib, so that Muhyiddin can take over, and put Mahathir’s son – Mukhriz as number two to eventually take over as PM – solely to maintain Mahathir’s legacy.
I say this because Mahathir keeps harping about “the good ol days when he was in charge. He wants to go back to old style economic policies as reflected by this Reuters special report.
We also know that Mahathir hates Khairy Jamaluddin – hence the specific focus on Khairy.
Nevertheless, the end of UMNO is at hand – its just a matter of time. The only question is whether they will take Malaysian down with them.
Thailand’s corruption record
Taksin certainly knew how to make corruption benefit his interests but he is an amateur when it comes to the true masters of the discipline, the Democrats and Army. They have finessed their strokes into an art form, truly inspiring and a joy to behold, but as with all disciplines years of practice, focus and a spirit that never withers under duress are the hallmarks of a true expert.
Abbhisit although a mere beginner had the benefit of help and guidance from two notables of the art, Suthep and Newin, glorious in their ability to squeeze every last drop of tea money from the most minor matter to the largest unneeded infrastructure project. Their swashbuckling style and nonchalant indifference to criticism will be sorely missed.
The army, as always following a coup, set out on a course of unbridled greed and avarice in the pursuit of useless but profitable equipment unrestrained by fiscal considerations. As always, poetry in motion.
Phuea Thai has a hard act to follow despite their enthusiasm.
National lunacy
Is promising to do what a govt should be doing in the first place “vote buying”? Please examine what you want to say about vote buying before you say it!
BTW, I don’t think cooking a noodle and giving them out is vote buying. just how many bowls of noodles do you think one can cook or give out in a day! It is just part of getting close to your supporters, like singing along or shaking hands… please don’t let your bias cloud your mind! I is like the writer says “pure lunacy”
BERSIH 2.0 overcomes the police state
Hai Greg,
Matthias is one of the worse culprit of the Mahathir era excesses. He is not just the political secretary but also his personal advisor. If I am not mistaken, he is still in Mahathir’s inner circle, so basically everything he says should be taken with a pinch of salt. He is just pretending to be an independent analyst and blogger
Mahathir was pushed off the UMNO pedastal and have been trying to make a comeback… his strategy is to make it bad for for his successors until he can get his own man into position. The current person seems to be Muyihidin.
Finally, the reason for the “fear” of the BN govt with regards to Bersih now, is that, their own intelligence have shown a possible lost of up to 8 states to the PR group if the election is held anytime soon.
and I ramble on…….
Kevin Rudd and Aung San Suu Kyi
RY
Couldn’t agree more with your conclusion, “participant or observer” and “PLAN B”.
Not capitulation or collaboration as in “plan B” to become like ‘the third force’ in parliament some of whom now probably realize being taken in as a bunch of useful idiots.
The wheels of history and popular struggle wait for no leader, ready or not.
The Democrats in Bangkok
As a sidebar to to this, check out a very curiously written piece (not sure whether to call it a “report”) in today’s Bangkok Post – of all places: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investigation/246320/slum-dwellers-cash-in-as-rent-a-mobs-for-rallies
Old habits die hard, so the Post uses its all-too-familiar “rent-a-mob” tag. But the stark fact is that this was rent-a-crowd for Democrat rallies in BKK – though the writer seems unable to bring himself to use the word; the “big party” concerned is not named even once in the piece. A bizarre omission given that specific dates, venues and even those who “presided” at the rallies are identified – i.e. Abhisit and Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand…..
The piece points out that the results of the Post’s “investigation” into both the rent-a-crowd aspect and alleged vote-buying in BKK (by the same “big party”) have been forwarded to the EC. Given that the EC are solemnly investigating Yingluck’s supposed “Noodlegate” incident, it’s hard to imagine that even they will not feel obliged to do the same in this instance.
The army and the god king
“The short answer is that it doesn’t. This is indicative of the ignorance and arrogance of the current approach of the Thai military in the South.”
Yes, that’s what I thought too. Just being careful with my phrasing. I wouldn’t want to be accused of blasphemy.
Thailand’s corruption record
[…] Critics of Thaksin often blame him for corruption – and even among his supporters, there are very few that seriously believe he wasn’t corrupt. It’s nonetheless interesting to look at corruption ratings from Thailand before, during and af…. […]