Well, this is a very difficult question. It is very like: you cannot have the cake and eat it too. On the one hand, you have to go by the will of the people. What I was trying to say is that I do not know how this law originated, but in my two times as prime minister, when I had frequent audiences with the king, he never once mentioned about the criticism – many unfair things – targeted at him. He never bothered about these small things. He never thought that it was an important matter that he should discuss with his prime minister.
On the other hand, you have to understand that in a certain context, particularly a Western context – where the monarchies have begun to lose what we might call their mystique, and where they are all rushing into the mainstream of thinking they need to be ordinary citizens. Well, that’s fine. We in Thailand have no objection to that sort of stampede.
But I think you have to respect the thinking and customs of the people in this country.
My view – the king never said that to me – my own personal view is that I do not like the law. I happen to have been educated abroad – I was living abroad.
And yet you have to understand that the king is held in a certain position which is inviolable by the will of his people. I am sure the king does not mind whether the law exists or not, but the Thai people would never, never tolerate it.
You may have to wait for twenty more years, fifty more years. I do not know, but the Thai people rightly or wrongly, will not tolerate any “criticism” against our king. That’s their feeling. If you take a referendum tomorrow, you will find that [it] will get more votes than the last referendum. [Laughter]
I think you have to understand the feeling of the Thai people. It has been imbued in them for the past 800 years, and it is not something you can abolish or abandon overnight. …
I always wonder about the Thai people. They are “more Catholic than the pope.” I always believe that the Thais are more royalist than the king. [Applause]
Incidentally, it is not only the Thai people, but even the Thai government. Every time there is a book published which was critical of the king, the people who are very nervous about this thing would be the government. They would ban the book, they would ban the film, they would ban this, they would ban that; they would block this, they would block that. Do you know why? There is a reason for that. They were fearful that if they did not do anything, they would be castigated by the people. So, in fact, you can not blame the government. They merely responded to the perceived feelings of the people.
[…] dogma of loyalty – both off- and online. The term ‘Cyber Scout’ reflects some historical parallels to the ‘Village Scouts’ of the 1970s, which were set up for almost the same reasons in order to battle a perceived communist […]
What Singaporean high post officer is excusing all the neighboring is just only want to discredit the others.
It is really unfair to all attacked countries since what they said could be some fake stories without any evidences.
Singapore is not better than any otehrs just in a different professional way of all bad things.
Simple, choose between the two. Opposition – no experience governing a nation, can be seen from the way they govern the few states – havoc and no progress. Present govt is the better of the two despite its weaknesses.
Won’t stop people from trying though. They all know what’s newsworthy and what’s not. Nobody reads the state media except for the classified ads such as deaths and marriage announcements. The main content has strangely remained in the stone age of BSPP, although the semi-offocial proxy media tries to be more interesting.
Scrutiny will need their eyes propped open 24/7. The proliferation of private media outlets will be a greater challenge than the political parties, radio stations included. The more the merrier.
on the contrary Les Abbey, i think Thaksin’s supporters will be cheering every WikiLeaks revelation because it supports their argument since the beginning about an institutional set-up starting at the amaat “gentlemen’s club” [Prem’s Privy Council cronies]; so more please!
In regard to CTX and other matters at Suvarnabhumi Airport- it was all cleared by several investigations – so no issue for Abbey and his falangistas to rant about here…Even that intractable pro Democrat Party reactionary English-language newspaper The Nation had to retract unfounded allegations back in 2008. Abbey’s hysterics show how allegations can so easily be made against those who we want to target and without any hard evidence, and in an inversion of legal standards where people are proclaimed guilty before they can establish innocence…
it is never easy to “governs” a country call Malaysia. Reading all the comments made by fellow readers … a suscint point is now clear .. The people is feed-up with the way malaysia been “governs” .. they want change yet they expect others to do the change for them. It really do not matter who runs this malaysia , things may remains the same . A new event is now emerging .. the growth of 2 partisan barisan. This is new .. BN is now seeing the presence of a new big boys in his neighbourhood.. this is a healthy development and i believe this is good for Malaysia.
On the good and bad character of each party.. that is the malaysia way. That is unique in malaysia and it is still a long way to see the true realities of 1malaysia.
The quest for wealth is not going to end… I believe accepting the malaysian way of life is to accept malaysia reality… that is akin to say in malaysia time is like a rubber band… that’s my view
I would add that it is also in the interests of the American people, and the world, to make the US government and corporations more accountable, or perhaps sadly, just accountable.
The key point in the Wikileaks revelations so far is the Ambassador’s opinion that ALL the significant operators in Thai politics are corrupt. It is one that most unbiased observers would accept. That is what makes LesAbbey’s obsessive hatred for Thaksin as tiresome as a cracked record. It just doesn’t make sense to blame one person for problems that also affect everyone else, and that clearly predate the Thaksin era.
So, given the comments of General Prem regarding the Crown prince, will we see Lese Majeste charges levelled against the former PM and privy councillor? If not, why not?
Not sure if you really want an answer, but I guess technically it would be almost impossible to prove in a court. The US Ambassador will never go into one as a witness and then without recordings or signed statements there is no proof.
Dear Kyaw, Whatever the excuse the fact remains the same that the Press Scrutiny and Registration Office lays down guidelines for the journals that have to submit the materials before and after printing for distribution. The slightest aberration from its instructions earn them suspension or even total stoppage.
This is a general comment and not necessarily on the posts above.
LesAbbey’s view of class conflict seems remarkably naive. Classes have internal differences. Indeed, one of the very basic facts of the capitalist class is that it is in constant internal conflict – a point also missed by Ji – and that is in Marx. This applies to all classes as far as I can see. So the arguments for total class solidarity seem very blunt.
On a related note, on Thursday I heard Thomas Blanton, director of the National Security Archive at GWU, tell the House Judiciary Committee, “In the long run it is in the interest of US national security to have foreign governments more accountable.” Ralph Nader made the same point.
Tarrin – how do the figures for inward (i.e. foreign) investment look? I keep seeing references to the high level of foreign capital inflow being responsible for the high baht – but I slept through rather too many of my economics lectures to know if that equates to investment or is just money flooding in before it floods out again…..
So, given the comments of General Prem regarding the Crown prince, will we see Lese Majeste charges levelled against the former PM and privy councillor? If not, why not?
Back to the article, ASSK knows she is walking on eggshells and chooses her words very carefully.
Even Aung San Suu Kyi accepts that a “transition” is necessary. “I don’t want to see the military falling,” she said. “I want to see the military rising to dignified heights of professionalism and true patriotism” (3).
Her political acumen is sharper than ever. Tact is second nature to her. She will win over and reclaim the army for the people.
The opposition will not be able to unite around Aung San Suu Kyi and her historical creation, the NLD, which is now illegal.
Exactly what the generals wanted, but we all know what kind of parliamentary opposition has been created. The NLD is no longer a registered political party, but it has not been outlawed, so illegal is incorrect. A party only disbands itself.
An opposition force distinct from the NLD is now recognised by the regime, however heterogeneous and ideologically fractured, and despite the low number of seats it won in the elections.
Just what the doctor ordered for the regime. The so called third force. Regime apologists of the world, rejoice! Renaud Egreteau might as well join in.
The elections of 7 November, though marred by fraud, were neither a step backwards nor real progress. The opposition will from now on appear more plural and less dependent on Aung San Suu Kyi, who will struggle to translate the popular momentum since her release into an effective unifying strategy
More in the same vein. It is real progress of course as far as the generals are concerned. Plus ├зa change for the rest of us.
[…] to post it, but New Mandala beat us to it. If you haven’t seen it yet, view NM’s post “Thai media gag on Wikileaks”. Funny but telling a sad story of censorship on the monarchy and much […]
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Review of Truth on Trial
Anand Panyarachun:
Well, this is a very difficult question. It is very like: you cannot have the cake and eat it too. On the one hand, you have to go by the will of the people. What I was trying to say is that I do not know how this law originated, but in my two times as prime minister, when I had frequent audiences with the king, he never once mentioned about the criticism – many unfair things – targeted at him. He never bothered about these small things. He never thought that it was an important matter that he should discuss with his prime minister.
On the other hand, you have to understand that in a certain context, particularly a Western context – where the monarchies have begun to lose what we might call their mystique, and where they are all rushing into the mainstream of thinking they need to be ordinary citizens. Well, that’s fine. We in Thailand have no objection to that sort of stampede.
But I think you have to respect the thinking and customs of the people in this country.
My view – the king never said that to me – my own personal view is that I do not like the law. I happen to have been educated abroad – I was living abroad.
And yet you have to understand that the king is held in a certain position which is inviolable by the will of his people. I am sure the king does not mind whether the law exists or not, but the Thai people would never, never tolerate it.
You may have to wait for twenty more years, fifty more years. I do not know, but the Thai people rightly or wrongly, will not tolerate any “criticism” against our king. That’s their feeling. If you take a referendum tomorrow, you will find that [it] will get more votes than the last referendum. [Laughter]
I think you have to understand the feeling of the Thai people. It has been imbued in them for the past 800 years, and it is not something you can abolish or abandon overnight. …
I always wonder about the Thai people. They are “more Catholic than the pope.” I always believe that the Thais are more royalist than the king. [Applause]
Incidentally, it is not only the Thai people, but even the Thai government. Every time there is a book published which was critical of the king, the people who are very nervous about this thing would be the government. They would ban the book, they would ban the film, they would ban this, they would ban that; they would block this, they would block that. Do you know why? There is a reason for that. They were fearful that if they did not do anything, they would be castigated by the people. So, in fact, you can not blame the government. They merely responded to the perceived feelings of the people.
From Village Scouts to Cyber Scouts
[…] dogma of loyalty – both off- and online. The term ‘Cyber Scout’ reflects some historical parallels to the ‘Village Scouts’ of the 1970s, which were set up for almost the same reasons in order to battle a perceived communist […]
Wikileaks, Thaksin and the Crown Prince
What Singaporean high post officer is excusing all the neighboring is just only want to discredit the others.
It is really unfair to all attacked countries since what they said could be some fake stories without any evidences.
Singapore is not better than any otehrs just in a different professional way of all bad things.
The 13th General Election in Malaysia
Simple, choose between the two. Opposition – no experience governing a nation, can be seen from the way they govern the few states – havoc and no progress. Present govt is the better of the two despite its weaknesses.
Coverage of Suu Kyi release
Disciplined democracy in action. Plus ├зa change.
Won’t stop people from trying though. They all know what’s newsworthy and what’s not. Nobody reads the state media except for the classified ads such as deaths and marriage announcements. The main content has strangely remained in the stone age of BSPP, although the semi-offocial proxy media tries to be more interesting.
Scrutiny will need their eyes propped open 24/7. The proliferation of private media outlets will be a greater challenge than the political parties, radio stations included. The more the merrier.
Wikileaks and Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn
So RN England says they are all corrupt while Doctor Jim says Thaksin is a pure as the driven snow. Interesting times ahead.
Wikileaks and Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn
on the contrary Les Abbey, i think Thaksin’s supporters will be cheering every WikiLeaks revelation because it supports their argument since the beginning about an institutional set-up starting at the amaat “gentlemen’s club” [Prem’s Privy Council cronies]; so more please!
In regard to CTX and other matters at Suvarnabhumi Airport- it was all cleared by several investigations – so no issue for Abbey and his falangistas to rant about here…Even that intractable pro Democrat Party reactionary English-language newspaper The Nation had to retract unfounded allegations back in 2008. Abbey’s hysterics show how allegations can so easily be made against those who we want to target and without any hard evidence, and in an inversion of legal standards where people are proclaimed guilty before they can establish innocence…
The 13th General Election in Malaysia
it is never easy to “governs” a country call Malaysia. Reading all the comments made by fellow readers … a suscint point is now clear .. The people is feed-up with the way malaysia been “governs” .. they want change yet they expect others to do the change for them. It really do not matter who runs this malaysia , things may remains the same . A new event is now emerging .. the growth of 2 partisan barisan. This is new .. BN is now seeing the presence of a new big boys in his neighbourhood.. this is a healthy development and i believe this is good for Malaysia.
On the good and bad character of each party.. that is the malaysia way. That is unique in malaysia and it is still a long way to see the true realities of 1malaysia.
The quest for wealth is not going to end… I believe accepting the malaysian way of life is to accept malaysia reality… that is akin to say in malaysia time is like a rubber band… that’s my view
Thai media gag on Wikileaks
I would add that it is also in the interests of the American people, and the world, to make the US government and corporations more accountable, or perhaps sadly, just accountable.
Wikileaks and Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn
The key point in the Wikileaks revelations so far is the Ambassador’s opinion that ALL the significant operators in Thai politics are corrupt. It is one that most unbiased observers would accept. That is what makes LesAbbey’s obsessive hatred for Thaksin as tiresome as a cracked record. It just doesn’t make sense to blame one person for problems that also affect everyone else, and that clearly predate the Thaksin era.
Thai media coverage of Wikileaks
The ultimate irony would be that Thaksin would file a lese majeste complaint against Prem, Siddhi, and Anand.
Thai media coverage of Wikileaks
Mariner – 5
So, given the comments of General Prem regarding the Crown prince, will we see Lese Majeste charges levelled against the former PM and privy councillor? If not, why not?
Not sure if you really want an answer, but I guess technically it would be almost impossible to prove in a court. The US Ambassador will never go into one as a witness and then without recordings or signed statements there is no proof.
Coverage of Suu Kyi release
Dear Kyaw, Whatever the excuse the fact remains the same that the Press Scrutiny and Registration Office lays down guidelines for the journals that have to submit the materials before and after printing for distribution. The slightest aberration from its instructions earn them suspension or even total stoppage.
Wikileaks and Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn
This is a general comment and not necessarily on the posts above.
LesAbbey’s view of class conflict seems remarkably naive. Classes have internal differences. Indeed, one of the very basic facts of the capitalist class is that it is in constant internal conflict – a point also missed by Ji – and that is in Marx. This applies to all classes as far as I can see. So the arguments for total class solidarity seem very blunt.
Thai media gag on Wikileaks
That was very well said!
On a related note, on Thursday I heard Thomas Blanton, director of the National Security Archive at GWU, tell the House Judiciary Committee, “In the long run it is in the interest of US national security to have foreign governments more accountable.” Ralph Nader made the same point.
http://jotman.blogspot.com/2010/12/leaks-open-up-worlds-corrupt.html
When will Thailand go to the polls?
c4
Tarrin – how do the figures for inward (i.e. foreign) investment look? I keep seeing references to the high level of foreign capital inflow being responsible for the high baht – but I slept through rather too many of my economics lectures to know if that equates to investment or is just money flooding in before it floods out again…..
Thai media coverage of Wikileaks
So, given the comments of General Prem regarding the Crown prince, will we see Lese Majeste charges levelled against the former PM and privy councillor? If not, why not?
Gradual political change in Burma
Back to the article, ASSK knows she is walking on eggshells and chooses her words very carefully.
Even Aung San Suu Kyi accepts that a “transition” is necessary. “I don’t want to see the military falling,” she said. “I want to see the military rising to dignified heights of professionalism and true patriotism” (3).
Her political acumen is sharper than ever. Tact is second nature to her. She will win over and reclaim the army for the people.
The opposition will not be able to unite around Aung San Suu Kyi and her historical creation, the NLD, which is now illegal.
Exactly what the generals wanted, but we all know what kind of parliamentary opposition has been created. The NLD is no longer a registered political party, but it has not been outlawed, so illegal is incorrect. A party only disbands itself.
An opposition force distinct from the NLD is now recognised by the regime, however heterogeneous and ideologically fractured, and despite the low number of seats it won in the elections.
Just what the doctor ordered for the regime. The so called third force. Regime apologists of the world, rejoice! Renaud Egreteau might as well join in.
The elections of 7 November, though marred by fraud, were neither a step backwards nor real progress. The opposition will from now on appear more plural and less dependent on Aung San Suu Kyi, who will struggle to translate the popular momentum since her release into an effective unifying strategy
More in the same vein. It is real progress of course as far as the generals are concerned. Plus ├зa change for the rest of us.
Thai media gag on Wikileaks
[…] link: Thai media gag on Wikileaks Share and […]
Thai media gag on Wikileaks
[…] to post it, but New Mandala beat us to it. If you haven’t seen it yet, view NM’s post “Thai media gag on Wikileaks”. Funny but telling a sad story of censorship on the monarchy and much […]