Yes, there were two students on the stage. Student involvement in the Red Shirts was always much lower than under the Yellow Shirts. Nevertheless – i have now noticed an increase, especially since the dispersal 6 months ago.
its not that people may not be surprised at the content of the cables. The key point is that it now denies ‘deniability’ to all those in power who seek to obfuscate and manipulate the truth. This is a tremendously important point. Even the very brief allusion to the ‘institution’ in one of the cables already released now means that it rings more hollow than ever to claim that the ‘institution’ has no role to play in politics. Ok, so you and I may have already ‘known’ this, but now everyone can ‘know’ this with a greater degree of certainty – it is now irrefutable. I imagine that the the Red Sunday schools will pick up on this stuff and it has the potential to be transformative of everyday Thais perceptions of the machinations of power in their own country. Potentially game-changing in my view…
It is quite surprising that neither in the introductory blurb nor in any of the titles of the essays in this volume is there any mention of the monarchy.
Surely, if there is any institution whose legitimacy is in crisis it is the monarchy?
Of course, I understand that in the volume’s essays, which I look forward to reading, there is presumably some mention of the monarchy, but is its importance so minor that it cannot be mentioned in any title?
#7 – there has been student involvement : indeed it became so serious that some students have been given “re-education”.
This is well reported in the Thai English media.
I find myself falling into a trap a former boss, a great corporate writer, told me more than once to avoid. He said, “Whenever you write anything, make sure that anyone who reads it understands the same thing.”
Getting someone else to understand exactly what you meant, and how you meant it, is an art.
Ralph #24 – my comment was in response to Anderson’s statement about “Chinese” – as distinct from Sino-Thai.
All the officers you mention are inter-married.
You could add, at least, the NoonPakdi clan.
Frank #25 – obviously Thailand’s military is a highly important part of the wider “social strata”.
I thought my comments were self-explanatory – but apparently not.
The irony is, many of the middle-class Thais, who like Abhisit and all, seeing the red shirt protests, also blame the education system for failing to indoctrinate social responsibility to the (red shirt) people.
#Nobody; which lines of Streckfuss that is asking reds/yellows/Thaksin/Abhisit/etc to be what they are not, as you allegedly accused? And yes we all know things are complicated, so what was the flaws in Streckfuss’ observations again?
#Thaihome; It is true that most internet users are young, and it is true that those overseas, where it is more difficult to track ip, are more likely to risk breaching LM laws, and it is true that young people are more receptive to new ideas. Evoking the belief of LMers being only rebellous youth by citing obvious probabilities like this is only an irrelevant personal attack.
I remember seeing records of number of LM cases around new mandala somewhere. The number seems to have risen sharply since 2006, a good proof that discontent of the insititution is growing, or otherwise LM law would really be being abused to suppress political opposition.
Is there any student presence at these things? I teach at a couple of the main Thai universities. During the ‘Yellow Shirt’ (pre-coup) demos, there were signs of involvement (both students and faculty). This time round, I can see no signs of student involvement at all.
In this case the interpretation has nothing to do with the monarchy. “Sarn Chao” is not a small spirit house, but larger shrines. Here it was a symbolism regarding the court issues.
One previous time a spirit house was burned for a similar issue, that was at Sanam Luang after the court verdict on Thaksin’s money at the beginning of the year.
One point we already learned from the cables is that Thaksin was talking with Putin to buy 12 fighter jets in exchange for poultry woth $500 mio. Then the coup came and after this the army paid 1,1 billion for only 6 grippen fighters.
You don’t need to be a genius in mathematics to find out who is more corrupt.
And Off Topic, i fould that news that Netherlands and Belgium have tactical nuclear weapons on there terrotory a real hard story. This can be something that (and yes i put a lot of hope in it) will give serious problems for the total US dominated NATO.
So far, the cables haven’t told us much of what we already didn’t know, and in some cases the dialogue just read like catty gossip, so I am a bit sceptical that any mentioning Thailand would be much more interesting… [You mean politicians/diplomats say one thing in public and another behind closed doors?] If we were privy to documentation that a certain someone gave a wink and a nod in support of the 2006 coup, or that Thaksin was incredibly corrupt and committed human rights abuses, or that Abhisit is backed by the military and the Dems came to power through dubious means, would anyone be that surprised? Hoping I’m wrong, though.
Thank you Dr. Tyrell Haberkorn for this wonderful piece – at long last someone is actually asking the essential question : where does Thailand – one of the US’ most important SEA allies – feature in WikiLeaks ?
It needs to be noted, however that all the WikiLeaks documents are
classified “secret”, or with a lower classification. According to WikiLeaks none of the documents rate the “Top Secret” classification. So many of your questions – and further surprises – may go unanswered, if they are in that highest category.
It already looks like it will be very interesting, and that’s just the first two cables. A bit of daylight on the very dark and crooked world of international diplomacy.
Could burning down the “san jao” also be a metaphor for toppling the monarchy? (cf. the recent Nirmal Ghosh article in which Red Shirt figures in exile claimed 90% of Red Shirts harbored republican sentiments). Of course, no-one would admit it publicly.
i find the 1st part of your article way off base
i have been here in isaan for 15 years
and have been a student of ajaan cha for more than 20
especially in the forest tradition everything you do is meditation so interaction with the community, morning and evening puja the meal all involve interaction.
as to the 2d part of the article i have only limited experience
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A small stage, a ping pong bomb and a burning spirit house
“р╕Эр╕гр╕▒р╕Зр╕З FalunGong”:
Yes, there were two students on the stage. Student involvement in the Red Shirts was always much lower than under the Yellow Shirts. Nevertheless – i have now noticed an increase, especially since the dispersal 6 months ago.
Legitimacy crisis in Thailand
Could someone explain me the difference between a scholar and a writer?
Leaking evidence of violence and machinations in Thailand
R Duke (#5),
its not that people may not be surprised at the content of the cables. The key point is that it now denies ‘deniability’ to all those in power who seek to obfuscate and manipulate the truth. This is a tremendously important point. Even the very brief allusion to the ‘institution’ in one of the cables already released now means that it rings more hollow than ever to claim that the ‘institution’ has no role to play in politics. Ok, so you and I may have already ‘known’ this, but now everyone can ‘know’ this with a greater degree of certainty – it is now irrefutable. I imagine that the the Red Sunday schools will pick up on this stuff and it has the potential to be transformative of everyday Thais perceptions of the machinations of power in their own country. Potentially game-changing in my view…
Legitimacy crisis in Thailand
It is quite surprising that neither in the introductory blurb nor in any of the titles of the essays in this volume is there any mention of the monarchy.
Surely, if there is any institution whose legitimacy is in crisis it is the monarchy?
Of course, I understand that in the volume’s essays, which I look forward to reading, there is presumably some mention of the monarchy, but is its importance so minor that it cannot be mentioned in any title?
A small stage, a ping pong bomb and a burning spirit house
р╕Эр╕гр╕▒р╕Зр╕З FalunGong – 7
I saw a clip showing the president of SFT on the stage, the date was 29/11/10 – so I guess its the same one,
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=132309443492325&comments
A small stage, a ping pong bomb and a burning spirit house
#7 – there has been student involvement : indeed it became so serious that some students have been given “re-education”.
This is well reported in the Thai English media.
Size matters
I find myself falling into a trap a former boss, a great corporate writer, told me more than once to avoid. He said, “Whenever you write anything, make sure that anyone who reads it understands the same thing.”
Getting someone else to understand exactly what you meant, and how you meant it, is an art.
Size matters
Ralph #24 – my comment was in response to Anderson’s statement about “Chinese” – as distinct from Sino-Thai.
All the officers you mention are inter-married.
You could add, at least, the NoonPakdi clan.
Frank #25 – obviously Thailand’s military is a highly important part of the wider “social strata”.
I thought my comments were self-explanatory – but apparently not.
Streckfuss on reform of the institution
The irony is, many of the middle-class Thais, who like Abhisit and all, seeing the red shirt protests, also blame the education system for failing to indoctrinate social responsibility to the (red shirt) people.
#Nobody; which lines of Streckfuss that is asking reds/yellows/Thaksin/Abhisit/etc to be what they are not, as you allegedly accused? And yes we all know things are complicated, so what was the flaws in Streckfuss’ observations again?
#Thaihome; It is true that most internet users are young, and it is true that those overseas, where it is more difficult to track ip, are more likely to risk breaching LM laws, and it is true that young people are more receptive to new ideas. Evoking the belief of LMers being only rebellous youth by citing obvious probabilities like this is only an irrelevant personal attack.
I remember seeing records of number of LM cases around new mandala somewhere. The number seems to have risen sharply since 2006, a good proof that discontent of the insititution is growing, or otherwise LM law would really be being abused to suppress political opposition.
How hardline have the redshirts become?
Can anyone who knows think of a safe way of indicating whom the ‘ordered the shooting’ chants refer to?
A small stage, a ping pong bomb and a burning spirit house
Nick,
Is there any student presence at these things? I teach at a couple of the main Thai universities. During the ‘Yellow Shirt’ (pre-coup) demos, there were signs of involvement (both students and faculty). This time round, I can see no signs of student involvement at all.
A small stage, a ping pong bomb and a burning spirit house
“Aladdin”:
In this case the interpretation has nothing to do with the monarchy. “Sarn Chao” is not a small spirit house, but larger shrines. Here it was a symbolism regarding the court issues.
One previous time a spirit house was burned for a similar issue, that was at Sanam Luang after the court verdict on Thaksin’s money at the beginning of the year.
Leaking evidence of violence and machinations in Thailand
Tell us something we didn’t know decades ago!
Leaking evidence of violence and machinations in Thailand
One point we already learned from the cables is that Thaksin was talking with Putin to buy 12 fighter jets in exchange for poultry woth $500 mio. Then the coup came and after this the army paid 1,1 billion for only 6 grippen fighters.
You don’t need to be a genius in mathematics to find out who is more corrupt.
And Off Topic, i fould that news that Netherlands and Belgium have tactical nuclear weapons on there terrotory a real hard story. This can be something that (and yes i put a lot of hope in it) will give serious problems for the total US dominated NATO.
Leaking evidence of violence and machinations in Thailand
So far, the cables haven’t told us much of what we already didn’t know, and in some cases the dialogue just read like catty gossip, so I am a bit sceptical that any mentioning Thailand would be much more interesting… [You mean politicians/diplomats say one thing in public and another behind closed doors?] If we were privy to documentation that a certain someone gave a wink and a nod in support of the 2006 coup, or that Thaksin was incredibly corrupt and committed human rights abuses, or that Abhisit is backed by the military and the Dems came to power through dubious means, would anyone be that surprised? Hoping I’m wrong, though.
Ricardo
Leaking evidence of violence and machinations in Thailand
Thank you Dr. Tyrell Haberkorn for this wonderful piece – at long last someone is actually asking the essential question : where does Thailand – one of the US’ most important SEA allies – feature in WikiLeaks ?
It needs to be noted, however that all the WikiLeaks documents are
classified “secret”, or with a lower classification. According to WikiLeaks none of the documents rate the “Top Secret” classification. So many of your questions – and further surprises – may go unanswered, if they are in that highest category.
Leaking evidence of violence and machinations in Thailand
It already looks like it will be very interesting, and that’s just the first two cables. A bit of daylight on the very dark and crooked world of international diplomacy.
A small stage, a ping pong bomb and a burning spirit house
Could burning down the “san jao” also be a metaphor for toppling the monarchy? (cf. the recent Nirmal Ghosh article in which Red Shirt figures in exile claimed 90% of Red Shirts harbored republican sentiments). Of course, no-one would admit it publicly.
Leaking evidence of violence and machinations in Thailand
The first two (classified as secret) about the Victor Bout case have been released a few hours ago:
http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/02/09BANGKOK385.html
http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/08/09BANGKOK1998.html
I haven’t followed this case so maybe someone can check if some new information is found.
Volunteer English teaching programs in Thai temples
i find the 1st part of your article way off base
i have been here in isaan for 15 years
and have been a student of ajaan cha for more than 20
especially in the forest tradition everything you do is meditation so interaction with the community, morning and evening puja the meal all involve interaction.
as to the 2d part of the article i have only limited experience