I still want to talk about that. The war on drugs was a crime and should be detailed and exposed. Although – and I’m not trying to minimize the crime – the “10тА▓s of thousand of poor northern farmers” seems to be an emotive exaggeration. I would understand if you don’t reveal information about your family because of the possibility of repercussions but could you give the name of the journalist who disappeared and also details of the prior reporting he or she had done on this and the history of this particular case.
Tashi – 10 – Fools
If it is not the “war on drugs” that was praised by the speech on 4 December of that year, and has been argued over and over, please provide “half of your wifes family” or the name of the last journalist that disappeared, or even the village/province of 10’s of thousand in your statement. Thaksin is no longer in power to threat anyone.
You will earn the biggest credit for this revealation.
Or else, keep the day dream yourself.
“It’s a pity there’s no leftish party that could truly represents the phrai as a coalition partner. ”
That’s the order of business on the 4th of July… independence day, Thai style.
No one can expect this one election to change every|anything, but this election is not about Thaksin… its about the Thai Army and whether they can be tossed out of power.
The mission for the ‘rest of the world’, should they accept it, is to remember the egregious ‘error’ they made in according the Burmese junta legitimacy after the election of 1990 left The Lady at the head of peoples’ government elected by a landslide there. They need not to repeat that error again and recognize another coup, whether by tank in the courtyard or court in the tank in Thailand, and to stand by the government elected by the people instead. Of course all the governments of ‘rest of the world’ are as corrupt as Thailand at this point, with US/NATO aggression in Afghanistan and Libya and 30 US senators backing Netanyahu’s refusal to return to the 1967 borders in Israel. So the Thais are going to have to do it alone. Unlike Americans and Europeans, they seem up to the task.
A solid left (no -ish… sounds like squish) party can be built bottom up to take control next time around. The essential thing is not a candidate but a platform, an agenda.
If a peoples’ party could be built ground up and become a part of the next government, apres-Shinawat, people world wide would regard it as a mushroom, an apparition which sprung up overnight. And they’d be right
Fascinating. I’d like to applaud NM for airing these reviews, which I find very interesting indeed and a welcome respite from the daily diet of Thai politics. The American War was for many years an uncomfortable gap in my knowledge until NM started drawing attention to some of the new books about the war. I recently finished “Hard Men Humble – Vietnam Veterans Who Wouldn’t Come Home” by Jonathan Stevenson. It’s far from academic, but may be of interest to those who like to combine their interest in Vietnam with Thailand, where many (false) myths abound about the post-war lives of former soldiers and CIA agents.
What about the 10тА▓s of thousand of poor northern farmers killed in Taksin’s genocide 6 years ago?
Ten of thousands of bodies ain’t exactly easy to hide right. If Thaksin really conduct a genocide (with that number we are talking about wiping out several villages or tum bon size establishment) certainly it would be more than just a big news. Furthmore, if THAT many people dissapear why on earth do people still put their weight behind the man? If you really want to talk about REMEMBERING a genocide, maybe you want to check how many villages got wipe out during the communist war in the 80s (done by no other than our good man Prem).
Btw, I not defending Thaksin by bashing Prem though, I just want you to realized how that statement really sound rediculous.
(Although you may be right about my barber. I have long suspected him of selling counterfeit haircuts.)
Now in some countries the barber is the place to go to obtain something or some service which isn’t really legal. Maybe ask him if he is up to no good, apart from the haircuts that is. 🙂
I was in Bangkok during the February 1991 coup d’etat; the first indication that something dodgy was going on (it was Saturday morning) was when EVERY TV channel started showing the national flag, playing martial music and urging viewers to “stand by for an important announcement”. Next time around the notification will probably be by SMS.
Suchinda was the right man in the right place but at least 50 years too late. He went into his Brer Rabbit routine of “please don’t throw me in the briar patch, I don’t want to be prime minister” but that was only an act to ensure that even the dimmest of his underlings got the message about what he really wanted. Eventually he was appointed, but lasted barely 6 weeks. No longer a job that military service prepares you for. Thank God for Anand Panyarachun.
This time around? Hard to see a stable government emerging from the election. It’s a pity there’s no leftish party that could truly represents the phrai as a coalition partner. One side trying to buy them off with populist largesse and the other with appeals to be happy in a sufficiency economy doesn’t hold out much hope. If I were a Thai I’d be tempted to vote for the monkey. At least you might get a banana.
” feeling of relatives and friends of those who were killed, injured, or imprisoned because of Abhisit government”.
What about the 10’s of thousand of poor northern farmers killed in Taksin’s genocide 6 years ago? Nobody likes to talk about that now do they? Over half of my wifes family murdered in cold blood.
Last journalist to investigate and reveal that info disappeared.
bribes are paid because of some infringement of rules or laws, or because a businessman want the police to do something for them, (like their job;-)
While it is often the case that people bribe the police to look the other way, no one should have to pay off the police to do their job (enforce the law). That’s the worst about our culture of corruption. It’s not necessarily the threat of violence. Why should one have to bribe an offical to assert one’s legal rights, protect one’s interests and live in peace? And that’s Chuwit’s appeal: he not only acknowledges the existence of corruption, but admits to having taken part in it, unlike every other politician… it’s always someone else.
(Although you may be right about my barber. I have long suspected him of selling counterfeit haircuts.)
What about the possibility that the Democrats are defacing their own posters so that they can blame their dastardly, anti-democratic opponents?
I wouldn’t have thought of this myself if Suthep, as reported on M-Thai News, May 30, had not given me the idea:
‘But we have to be careful, because some parties and some persons are deliberately creating a situation [or scenario] by shooting their own cars or throwing bombs and blaming other parties or their rivals’.
I’m not surprised peoples hackles rise when they see Abhisits posters on the streets. He should have resigned last May. Even if you believe his version of events on the bloody crackdown, it happened on his watch and he should take responsibility.
Yet he is still there nodding and smiling and putting on his choirboy act.
I’m tempted to try my hand at modifying his features on the posters myself.
I recall, on one operation in 1968 we had to “relieve” Bear Cat because it was surrounded. It was claimed they could not leave the base by vehicle because of constant enemy activity. When we radioed them that we were within 10 kilometres and to warn all their TAOR patrols we would arrive shortly we were told “We don’t send out TAOR patrols.” If I recall correctly the Operation was called Santa Fe and the only contacts were with local VC and tax collectors.
How there was “enemy activity” is beyond me, the jungle had to have been cleared back from the base at least 2 kilometres. It was a moon-scape. The Vietnamese people we did see were just rubber tappers.
I have never heard of Thai soldiers being part of the “Advisors” or part of the many projects like the “Strategic Hamlet Project”, the only Thais I saw were used as mercenaries/bodyguards.
I think someone is romanticizing.
With the hatred over the Gaolat Abhisit in Issarn , is it surprising? The vandalism is just an advance Poll of people telling publicly who they want and who they don’t want……If one look at the vandalized poster closely, it’s the one running for the PM been defaced and not the candidate for MPs. Does that not tell one the the reasons why???
Talking about 1976, I was not born yet in 1976. Can any Thai (or farang who knows ‘actual’ Thai history) tell me how was the support for the Monarchy right after 6 Oct 1976?
I am curious about the RTA casualty figures and whether these are included in the book. I am also curious about the build up and time line of events leading to the peak number of troops deployed and their eventual withdrawal. In addition, the review doesn’t characterize the deployment: where these active duty, “front line” fighting troops who were deployed against NVA regulars, or where they mostly engaged in pacification of the South Vietnamese countryside? How were they regarded and trusted by their allies? Was the area around the port of Vung Tau and Bien Hoa air base relatively pro-ARVN or a Viet Cong enclave? How did the situation evolve over time from 1967, when most Americans considered the war winnable, until 1972 when it was largely regarded as a lost cause?
#43 Just the one. I think you forgot several more. For just a start you forgot the RTP. You also forgot the ever active (and by NO means down-and-out) Gen. **** faction of the RTA. Coups can still take us either way, and neither side has any real history of benevolence.
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Vandalism and democracy
Tashi
I still want to talk about that. The war on drugs was a crime and should be detailed and exposed. Although – and I’m not trying to minimize the crime – the “10тА▓s of thousand of poor northern farmers” seems to be an emotive exaggeration. I would understand if you don’t reveal information about your family because of the possibility of repercussions but could you give the name of the journalist who disappeared and also details of the prior reporting he or she had done on this and the history of this particular case.
This would be good for truth.
Vandalism and democracy
Tashi: “10тА▓s of thousand of poor northern farmers killed in Taksin’s genocide 6 years ago”? What are you talking about?
Vandalism and democracy
Tashi – 10 – Fools
If it is not the “war on drugs” that was praised by the speech on 4 December of that year, and has been argued over and over, please provide “half of your wifes family” or the name of the last journalist that disappeared, or even the village/province of 10’s of thousand in your statement. Thaksin is no longer in power to threat anyone.
You will earn the biggest credit for this revealation.
Or else, keep the day dream yourself.
A Pheua Thai win? But then what?
“It’s a pity there’s no leftish party that could truly represents the phrai as a coalition partner. ”
That’s the order of business on the 4th of July… independence day, Thai style.
No one can expect this one election to change every|anything, but this election is not about Thaksin… its about the Thai Army and whether they can be tossed out of power.
The mission for the ‘rest of the world’, should they accept it, is to remember the egregious ‘error’ they made in according the Burmese junta legitimacy after the election of 1990 left The Lady at the head of peoples’ government elected by a landslide there. They need not to repeat that error again and recognize another coup, whether by tank in the courtyard or court in the tank in Thailand, and to stand by the government elected by the people instead. Of course all the governments of ‘rest of the world’ are as corrupt as Thailand at this point, with US/NATO aggression in Afghanistan and Libya and 30 US senators backing Netanyahu’s refusal to return to the 1967 borders in Israel. So the Thais are going to have to do it alone. Unlike Americans and Europeans, they seem up to the task.
A solid left (no -ish… sounds like squish) party can be built bottom up to take control next time around. The essential thing is not a candidate but a platform, an agenda.
If a peoples’ party could be built ground up and become a part of the next government, apres-Shinawat, people world wide would regard it as a mushroom, an apparition which sprung up overnight. And they’d be right
Review of Ruth
Fascinating. I’d like to applaud NM for airing these reviews, which I find very interesting indeed and a welcome respite from the daily diet of Thai politics. The American War was for many years an uncomfortable gap in my knowledge until NM started drawing attention to some of the new books about the war. I recently finished “Hard Men Humble – Vietnam Veterans Who Wouldn’t Come Home” by Jonathan Stevenson. It’s far from academic, but may be of interest to those who like to combine their interest in Vietnam with Thailand, where many (false) myths abound about the post-war lives of former soldiers and CIA agents.
Vandalism and democracy
Tashi – 10
What about the 10тА▓s of thousand of poor northern farmers killed in Taksin’s genocide 6 years ago?
Ten of thousands of bodies ain’t exactly easy to hide right. If Thaksin really conduct a genocide (with that number we are talking about wiping out several villages or tum bon size establishment) certainly it would be more than just a big news. Furthmore, if THAT many people dissapear why on earth do people still put their weight behind the man? If you really want to talk about REMEMBERING a genocide, maybe you want to check how many villages got wipe out during the communist war in the 80s (done by no other than our good man Prem).
Btw, I not defending Thaksin by bashing Prem though, I just want you to realized how that statement really sound rediculous.
Chuvit on the streets
Ricardo D. – 14
(Although you may be right about my barber. I have long suspected him of selling counterfeit haircuts.)
Now in some countries the barber is the place to go to obtain something or some service which isn’t really legal. Maybe ask him if he is up to no good, apart from the haircuts that is. 🙂
A Pheua Thai win? But then what?
I was in Bangkok during the February 1991 coup d’etat; the first indication that something dodgy was going on (it was Saturday morning) was when EVERY TV channel started showing the national flag, playing martial music and urging viewers to “stand by for an important announcement”. Next time around the notification will probably be by SMS.
Suchinda was the right man in the right place but at least 50 years too late. He went into his Brer Rabbit routine of “please don’t throw me in the briar patch, I don’t want to be prime minister” but that was only an act to ensure that even the dimmest of his underlings got the message about what he really wanted. Eventually he was appointed, but lasted barely 6 weeks. No longer a job that military service prepares you for. Thank God for Anand Panyarachun.
This time around? Hard to see a stable government emerging from the election. It’s a pity there’s no leftish party that could truly represents the phrai as a coalition partner. One side trying to buy them off with populist largesse and the other with appeals to be happy in a sufficiency economy doesn’t hold out much hope. If I were a Thai I’d be tempted to vote for the monkey. At least you might get a banana.
Vandalism and democracy
” feeling of relatives and friends of those who were killed, injured, or imprisoned because of Abhisit government”.
What about the 10’s of thousand of poor northern farmers killed in Taksin’s genocide 6 years ago? Nobody likes to talk about that now do they? Over half of my wifes family murdered in cold blood.
Last journalist to investigate and reveal that info disappeared.
Fools.
Chuvit on the streets
@LesAbbey, #12
bribes are paid because of some infringement of rules or laws, or because a businessman want the police to do something for them, (like their job;-)
While it is often the case that people bribe the police to look the other way, no one should have to pay off the police to do their job (enforce the law). That’s the worst about our culture of corruption. It’s not necessarily the threat of violence. Why should one have to bribe an offical to assert one’s legal rights, protect one’s interests and live in peace? And that’s Chuwit’s appeal: he not only acknowledges the existence of corruption, but admits to having taken part in it, unlike every other politician… it’s always someone else.
(Although you may be right about my barber. I have long suspected him of selling counterfeit haircuts.)
Vandalism and democracy
What about the possibility that the Democrats are defacing their own posters so that they can blame their dastardly, anti-democratic opponents?
I wouldn’t have thought of this myself if Suthep, as reported on M-Thai News, May 30, had not given me the idea:
‘But we have to be careful, because some parties and some persons are deliberately creating a situation [or scenario] by shooting their own cars or throwing bombs and blaming other parties or their rivals’.
Vandalism and democracy
I’m not surprised peoples hackles rise when they see Abhisits posters on the streets. He should have resigned last May. Even if you believe his version of events on the bloody crackdown, it happened on his watch and he should take responsibility.
Yet he is still there nodding and smiling and putting on his choirboy act.
I’m tempted to try my hand at modifying his features on the posters myself.
Review of Ruth
I recall, on one operation in 1968 we had to “relieve” Bear Cat because it was surrounded. It was claimed they could not leave the base by vehicle because of constant enemy activity. When we radioed them that we were within 10 kilometres and to warn all their TAOR patrols we would arrive shortly we were told “We don’t send out TAOR patrols.” If I recall correctly the Operation was called Santa Fe and the only contacts were with local VC and tax collectors.
How there was “enemy activity” is beyond me, the jungle had to have been cleared back from the base at least 2 kilometres. It was a moon-scape. The Vietnamese people we did see were just rubber tappers.
I have never heard of Thai soldiers being part of the “Advisors” or part of the many projects like the “Strategic Hamlet Project”, the only Thais I saw were used as mercenaries/bodyguards.
I think someone is romanticizing.
Vandalism and democracy
With the hatred over the Gaolat Abhisit in Issarn , is it surprising? The vandalism is just an advance Poll of people telling publicly who they want and who they don’t want……If one look at the vandalized poster closely, it’s the one running for the PM been defaced and not the candidate for MPs. Does that not tell one the the reasons why???
Chuvit on the streets
leeyiankun #10″
“we’ve had those who dabbles in the same profession as ministers in the current government.”
True, but they don’t make it part of their pitch!
Actually, I am wrong about my first point: Purachai is perceived as the most honest candidate now.
The saint and the scoundrel, both marginalized by the power game that requires its players to act like the one while pretending to be the other.
That’s the real tragedy. Chuwit and Purachai are the only candidates that aren’t naked hypocrites.
Vandalism and democracy
Talking about 1976, I was not born yet in 1976. Can any Thai (or farang who knows ‘actual’ Thai history) tell me how was the support for the Monarchy right after 6 Oct 1976?
Review of Ruth
I am curious about the RTA casualty figures and whether these are included in the book. I am also curious about the build up and time line of events leading to the peak number of troops deployed and their eventual withdrawal. In addition, the review doesn’t characterize the deployment: where these active duty, “front line” fighting troops who were deployed against NVA regulars, or where they mostly engaged in pacification of the South Vietnamese countryside? How were they regarded and trusted by their allies? Was the area around the port of Vung Tau and Bien Hoa air base relatively pro-ARVN or a Viet Cong enclave? How did the situation evolve over time from 1967, when most Americans considered the war winnable, until 1972 when it was largely regarded as a lost cause?
Vandalism and democracy
One of the picture that got strayed said “91 bodies” I guess the grudge still ran deep, unlike the event in 1976.
A Pheua Thai win? But then what?
#43 Just the one. I think you forgot several more. For just a start you forgot the RTP. You also forgot the ever active (and by NO means down-and-out) Gen. **** faction of the RTA. Coups can still take us either way, and neither side has any real history of benevolence.
Vandalism and democracy
Andrew, while agreeing with the broad thrust of what you say, I think you underplay the inherent violence in the nature of the defacements.
Having said that I would be the first to agree that violence begets violence and there are understandable reasons for these actions.