I don’t follow Singapore affairs much. I’m sure I could find some acid for the Kuan Yews if I did, but most of the Singaporeans I know seem to be happy enough, bar the odd moan about being “too efficient”. Let me know when there’s blood on the streets and I’ll come running.
Thailand became a totalitarian state when Thaksin was forced out and the people in palace circles decided in all their infinite wisdom that it was necessary for the good of the country to defy the wishes of the voters. We know now that they severely miscalculated the power of the social media. The protection of the monarchy will lead sooner than later to the diminishing of everything that is closely related with it. The neo Thaksin voters will never trust the elite anymore and rightfully so. The monarchy will experience a fall from grace, like those in Russia, France, Nepal and so many other countries were royals and their vassals thought they were more important than freedom.
Long-time readers know that a number of comments never see the light of day. We have a statement that clarifies why this happens.
Sometimes we are stricter, sometimes more inclined to let things run. This is the same practice used in good seminars or academic discussions the world over.
I like the ideas of presenting your photos and make some stories out of the photos. Also, incorporating your own talk where you record yourself while you do the presentation and we can use it in conjunction with your art may work too.
given you have explicitly stated where your academic interests lie, and given that there is not one scholar from Melb Uni’s Asia Institute with a recognised publishing history on Thailand, can you please advise who will be vetting the papers on topics covering Thai politics and selecting which papers will be accepted? Are there any recognised ‘Thai studies’ scholars involved in this process and if so, who?
Can you please also advise whether the Thai embassy has any role in either selecting papers or on approving the final list of papers?
It’s largely a futile effort for expats to express their opinions on Thai politics, since neither of the opposing successionist factions (or the cowed majority) have the respect, courage, wit or wisdom to take those opinions on board and do something constructive with them. (Note that ASEAN’s concern about the Thailand-Cambodia conflict has been treated with complete distain and hostility.) LM is misused by ALL the factions here, and none of them is capable of scrapping it. Not even the impending bloody civil war seems likely to solve this country’s problems. I could waste my time complaining bitterly about the (undoubted) criminal actions of the current government, but past experience makes it clear that their enemies are intent on monopolising the government’s mechanisms of oppression for their own profit, power and prestige. We can’t realistically expect any increased freedoms from those who know nothing beyond how to continuosly exploit the loupholes of a completely crooked system.
Expats could probably do more to help this seemingly intractable situation by publicising the imminent meltdown in their own countries and on their own networks – those that cannot be nobbled by the successionist factions and their captive civil servants. But even that seems highly unlikely to shame the various shirts into going beyond their own very narrow interests. Perhaps it is better that we ‘aliens’ should prepare for the ordeal that these shirted bigots are soon going to place us all under it, in order to ensure our own survival. Expats can expect absolutely no help from any side in the impending meltdown. We will be used as scapegoats by all sides. Rather than trying to change the unchangeable, it might be better for us to inform each other of dangerous developments in which we might all become embroiled. When the Thai state provides almost zero protection for its ‘alien’ population, we will have to look out for ourselves. This much we can do.
In australia, I am exacly feeling the same way! There isn’t enough voices from non-mainstream Australian culture in the public forum. I am thinking about the lack of voices and understanding of new wave of migrants, those who live in the bush, aboriginal, people from the islands which are part of Australia. I hardly heard about their culture.
This is similar to Thailand where sub-cultures do not receive enough attention from the media. Sad but true.
Thanks for the answer. I hope one or the other academic will propose this subject.
About your question – let me think about it. It is not that easy – i can’t just write a paper, i just have not the experience or the background to do that well enough. I am basically just a photographer who has begun writing because i found that what i saw and experienced on the streets did not match what i read in the papers. But i am not an academic.
So far, whenever i have talked at a university, or at a meeting, i have done that together with my images. Without my photos i would be very uncomfortable. What would be your idea how we could do that?
Yes. Thanks for drawing our attention to the Isaan Record. They are doing a very good job covering the issues they do in Northeast Thailand. I would not have known of their existence but for your earlier advertisement of them here. Thanks.
Funny how lese majeste is now causing the Thai national temper to be touched with hysteria. Through control – imposed mainly by the military – all forms of rational thinking and campaigning in the political arena are now being insidiously arrested and suffocated under the threat of arrest and imprisonment imposed by the draconian article 112.
The cases against those accused of lese majeste are – in the main – made up of fairy stories and full of absurdity. The cases against those with the temerity to prevail are all too often “open and shut cases” and it has become dangerous and – in most cases – downright prohibitive for the self-censoring media to publish more serious matter relating to the circumstances behind these trumped up charges.
There is now taking place – undoubtedly – a distinct shift in the monarchical life of the country. It has now become dangerous for a Thai to diverge by however little from the expected norm in behaviour – sentiment – or thought. Thailand has never been kind to the pronounced individual: and now Thai society eyes any departure from conformity with extreme uneasiness and paramount suspicion – arrest and long term imprisonment.
The target of Pua Thai and Red Shirt movement are quite different.
I think that Red Shirt attacks Pua Thai when Pua Thai rises to power and the demand of Red Shirt cannot be accepted.
Why is it?
Unlike as Pua Thai, Red Shirt’s target is the second revolution for Thailand.
Do you know?
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If tomorrow never comes…
Nattavud Pimpa
I don’t follow Singapore affairs much. I’m sure I could find some acid for the Kuan Yews if I did, but most of the Singaporeans I know seem to be happy enough, bar the odd moan about being “too efficient”. Let me know when there’s blood on the streets and I’ll come running.
News from northeast Thailand
Nattavud Pimpa
I don’t know. You used it, so why don’t you tell me?
Lese embassy!
Thailand became a totalitarian state when Thaksin was forced out and the people in palace circles decided in all their infinite wisdom that it was necessary for the good of the country to defy the wishes of the voters. We know now that they severely miscalculated the power of the social media. The protection of the monarchy will lead sooner than later to the diminishing of everything that is closely related with it. The neo Thaksin voters will never trust the elite anymore and rightfully so. The monarchy will experience a fall from grace, like those in Russia, France, Nepal and so many other countries were royals and their vassals thought they were more important than freedom.
If tomorrow never comes…
I would like to politely invite Stuart, Jim Taylor, Nick Nostitz to comment on election on Singapore. Their views will be really interesting.
If tomorrow never comes…
oh I see. Maybe some comments on election in Singapore are too sensitive for New Mandala and ANU.
If tomorrow never comes…
Dear Khun Nattavud,
Long-time readers know that a number of comments never see the light of day. We have a statement that clarifies why this happens.
Sometimes we are stricter, sometimes more inclined to let things run. This is the same practice used in good seminars or academic discussions the world over.
Best wishes to all,
Nich
If tomorrow never comes…
Delete my comment is a form of censorship!
Support for Somsak at Nang Lerng
I do feel sorry for him and hope he will not be misjudged.
News from northeast Thailand
Stuart – 3
So you’re saying the Isaan people are a “non-mainstream sub-culture”? They happen to make up the majority of Thais.
Stuart are you possibly being a touch too picky. Possibly even being just a bit too clever for your own good as my mother would say.
Thai Studies conference in Melbourne
Dear Nick,
I like the ideas of presenting your photos and make some stories out of the photos. Also, incorporating your own talk where you record yourself while you do the presentation and we can use it in conjunction with your art may work too.
News from northeast Thailand
Stuart,
Not really. I am not talking about quantity. I am talking about representation in the mainstream media, as posted by John and Nicholas.
Stuart, What constitute ‘mainstream’?
News from northeast Thailand
Nattavud Pimpa
So you’re saying the Isaan people are a “non-mainstream sub-culture”? They happen to make up the majority of Thais.
Thai Studies conference in Melbourne
Natthavut,
given you have explicitly stated where your academic interests lie, and given that there is not one scholar from Melb Uni’s Asia Institute with a recognised publishing history on Thailand, can you please advise who will be vetting the papers on topics covering Thai politics and selecting which papers will be accepted? Are there any recognised ‘Thai studies’ scholars involved in this process and if so, who?
Can you please also advise whether the Thai embassy has any role in either selecting papers or on approving the final list of papers?
Lese embassy!
It’s largely a futile effort for expats to express their opinions on Thai politics, since neither of the opposing successionist factions (or the cowed majority) have the respect, courage, wit or wisdom to take those opinions on board and do something constructive with them. (Note that ASEAN’s concern about the Thailand-Cambodia conflict has been treated with complete distain and hostility.) LM is misused by ALL the factions here, and none of them is capable of scrapping it. Not even the impending bloody civil war seems likely to solve this country’s problems. I could waste my time complaining bitterly about the (undoubted) criminal actions of the current government, but past experience makes it clear that their enemies are intent on monopolising the government’s mechanisms of oppression for their own profit, power and prestige. We can’t realistically expect any increased freedoms from those who know nothing beyond how to continuosly exploit the loupholes of a completely crooked system.
Expats could probably do more to help this seemingly intractable situation by publicising the imminent meltdown in their own countries and on their own networks – those that cannot be nobbled by the successionist factions and their captive civil servants. But even that seems highly unlikely to shame the various shirts into going beyond their own very narrow interests. Perhaps it is better that we ‘aliens’ should prepare for the ordeal that these shirted bigots are soon going to place us all under it, in order to ensure our own survival. Expats can expect absolutely no help from any side in the impending meltdown. We will be used as scapegoats by all sides. Rather than trying to change the unchangeable, it might be better for us to inform each other of dangerous developments in which we might all become embroiled. When the Thai state provides almost zero protection for its ‘alien’ population, we will have to look out for ourselves. This much we can do.
News from northeast Thailand
In australia, I am exacly feeling the same way! There isn’t enough voices from non-mainstream Australian culture in the public forum. I am thinking about the lack of voices and understanding of new wave of migrants, those who live in the bush, aboriginal, people from the islands which are part of Australia. I hardly heard about their culture.
This is similar to Thailand where sub-cultures do not receive enough attention from the media. Sad but true.
Ramon Navaratnam has no compassion
Listen to this BBC documentary of an illegal immigrant in Malaysia.
Thai Studies conference in Melbourne
“nattavud pimpa”:
Thanks for the answer. I hope one or the other academic will propose this subject.
About your question – let me think about it. It is not that easy – i can’t just write a paper, i just have not the experience or the background to do that well enough. I am basically just a photographer who has begun writing because i found that what i saw and experienced on the streets did not match what i read in the papers. But i am not an academic.
So far, whenever i have talked at a university, or at a meeting, i have done that together with my images. Without my photos i would be very uncomfortable. What would be your idea how we could do that?
News from northeast Thailand
Yes. Thanks for drawing our attention to the Isaan Record. They are doing a very good job covering the issues they do in Northeast Thailand. I would not have known of their existence but for your earlier advertisement of them here. Thanks.
Lese embassy!
Funny how lese majeste is now causing the Thai national temper to be touched with hysteria. Through control – imposed mainly by the military – all forms of rational thinking and campaigning in the political arena are now being insidiously arrested and suffocated under the threat of arrest and imprisonment imposed by the draconian article 112.
The cases against those accused of lese majeste are – in the main – made up of fairy stories and full of absurdity. The cases against those with the temerity to prevail are all too often “open and shut cases” and it has become dangerous and – in most cases – downright prohibitive for the self-censoring media to publish more serious matter relating to the circumstances behind these trumped up charges.
There is now taking place – undoubtedly – a distinct shift in the monarchical life of the country. It has now become dangerous for a Thai to diverge by however little from the expected norm in behaviour – sentiment – or thought. Thailand has never been kind to the pronounced individual: and now Thai society eyes any departure from conformity with extreme uneasiness and paramount suspicion – arrest and long term imprisonment.
Thaksin is back!
The target of Pua Thai and Red Shirt movement are quite different.
I think that Red Shirt attacks Pua Thai when Pua Thai rises to power and the demand of Red Shirt cannot be accepted.
Why is it?
Unlike as Pua Thai, Red Shirt’s target is the second revolution for Thailand.
Do you know?