Not to sound miffed, but about 5 years ago I attempted (unsuccessfully) to bring Krispy Kreme to Thailand.
In spite of some good assets and a memorandum of understanding with Krispy Kreme that they would work with me should I raise the funds, I was unable to get a bank loan or any financial backing to help launch this line.
Too bad I don’t have anywhere near the money she does, while the lines help the rich get richer.
And real innovation would be to make a branded Pla Tong Ko shop, and real success should be to open that shop in New York after created global demand for the product; that would justify a news article.
Okay, I’ll admit I cheated. I went to Not The Nation and checked. All of which leaves me open mouthed at Exhibit A. From “Hindered rather than helped by her family’s extensive business interests” to “she also has the family chauffeur and maids standing around at potential locations counting passersby with clickers in their hands”, I can’t help looking at this article as a quiet act of rebellion. The journalist in question sets out to make her look as dumb and worthlessly privilaged as possible, safe in the knowledge that safe inside her bubble she won’t see what they’ve done.
he saw the error of his ways while partaking in the military corruption of the PX supplies while Thai troops were helping the Americans in Laos.
I think you should go visit to upper Isan and actually talk to those ex-military man about their opinion regarding Chamlong, he’s pretty famous among a small circle of retired general there. Anyhow, its very hard to get any record of the event since most of the CIA operation in Laos was kept secret and the Laos themselves dont want any record to slip out in fear of having relationship difficulty with Thailand. However, I story that I heard accidentally while I pay a short visit to Isan was that this young Thai communication officer was leading a platoon strong of CIA operative in Laos. One day a platoon of CIA operative was caught in ambush in Laos, the young officer was task with mission to rescue the operative. The reason why the young officer refuse to go out that night was debatable but about 50-60 of CIA operative lost their life.
Now I remember Chamlong being out in the streets when the bullets were flying. Not usually the role of a member of the elite in most countries I feel.
I think I’ve said this already but then I should say it again to counter your point regarding the nature of Chamlong seeming brave behavior that night. As everyone is aware of, Chamlong was a Jor Por Ror cadet graduate, if you actually know a bit about the school tradition, the rules of the Jor Por Ror cadet was that “Jor Por Ror don’t shoot at Jor Por Ror” no matter what. That’s why on the fateful night, Chamlong had nothing to fear of since he knows that no military man dare to shoot at him. Which, bring me to Sae Dang, who was also as brave as Chamlong since he was also a Jor Por Ror cadet and he also know the cadet tradition. However, what turn out differently was that Sae Dang got shot at and die in hand of another cadet. This also affirmed how weak the military is, politically, comparing to 1992 and how the establishment is so dominating within the elite rank.
Statement of Mr. Jakrapob Penkair On the Fire Incident at His Bangkok Home
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
I was kept informed, as it happened concerning the disastrous fire that consumed my parent’s home in Bangkok late morning of Tuesday, September 28, 2010. The fire completely destroyed the house and most of my all family’s life-long possessions. The entire upper floor of the structure is completely gone. Though my parents and sister were not harmed, they are greatly disheartened to realize that the house they built and lived in for over 44 years is now gone. It was quite a blow for a 83 and 73 year-old couple like my parents. Away from Thailand and unable to be with them during this time of great distress, I am deeply saddened and am trying to do my utmost in assisting them any way I can.
The exact source of the fire is not yet clear. It could have been an accident or perhaps sabotage. The ever-heating political situation may have been a contributing factor. I will not rush into any conclusion, but rather follow up on the forensic investigative procedures. Nevertheless, let me take this opportunity to warn all of us who fight for democracy to be extra careful in regards to yourself, your family, your loved ones, and your property. The overall political situation is quite fragile. We can be vulnerable to danger and risk at any turn. Please learn from this tragic incident which affect me and my parents’ home.
I would like to express my deep appreciation for the generosity expressed so overwhelmingly by the supporters of our democratic movement. Many have offered help in various ways since the news broke. Some groups took an extra effort travelling from their hometowns to support my parents and my sister, offering everything from clothes to food products, boosting the morale of two elderly persons whom are cherished in my heart.
Let me thank the media for distributing the news without prejudging this personal issue, and for an observation that there could have been something more sinister.
May I wish all of us in the democratic movement a strong and stable mind, ready to accept all kinds of challenges now and ahead, in order to lead this country to true democracy.
With respect to the will of the people and with deep love of my country,
Both articles prove the lack of innovation that comes out of the elite classes in Thailand. Thais are the masters of copying and reconstructing. Western degrees count for little back home outside of them being a FACE building exercise, as what is learnt in the west in many respects can not be applied due to the THAI STYLE of doing things.
The children of the idle rich in Thailand are just that ‘IDLY RICH’. On the world stage what really does come out of the kingdom that stands for quality and innovation. Maybe its’ the famous aromic Thai rice oh but I forgot this is a product produced by the ‘prai’ who are far too uneducated to be capable of producing such a unique product.
The elites just take the glory for selling it while all the while ripping off the very people who had strived so hard to not only harvest it but innovate it to the level it has reached today.
I ask what is it that the elite classes actually offer the broader population and for that matter the world at large.?
I’ll answer for you NOT MUCH.
Tarrin – very much appreciate your always intelligent and insightful comments above, and elsewhere on NM.
Re : “However, after 1992 the establishment emerge as the winner, that’s why we see people like Anupong or Prayuth who were more than willing to follow the establishment order while we lost general like Krit Srivara in the process.”
General Krit, of course, died of natural causes many years before May’92.
Did Krit “not follow the establishment order” ?
He certainly refused to fire on the 1973 students – but perhaps he was following the establishment order, not the orders of Thanom, and the rest of that military clique.
The real tragedy after Krit, was that General Kriangsak was not given the backing from on high which he deserved.
the disquiet in my mind remains . . .
gilded Central World worshippers
applaud their perfect day
to restock their Calvin Kleins
at Rachaprasong’s reopening . . .
while words and more words from
The Reconciliation Man becalm not
my traitorous troubling doubts
that The Reconciliation Man’s words and
more words merely cloak his inconsequence
to release a Khun Daeng manacled
to dependency but not ignorance:
Khun Daeng’s family, his friends and hamlet
will no longer just stand by unless
they too get their latest Calvin Kleins.
1)”Now that the court has declared void the sale of Rachada land to Khun Ying Pojaman, shouldn’t Dr. Thaksin’s part in his former wife’s transaction be annulled also?”
Yes – the court’s decision is a hopeful sign wider compromise may be possible : that Thailand may yet subtly step-back from the brink.
2)”It would be decent to see justice being done to someone innocent”.
The court’s judgement does n’t say Potjaman was innocent – merely that it was an invalid transaction.
“She loves these doughnuts. Boston didn’t have an outlet when she was living there, so she got friends to bring them from New York. She endeavoured to always keep the fridge stocked.
Ausanee’s return home didn’t curb the addiction – she got friends travelling to the US to bring her as many boxes of Krispy Kreme as they could import without looking silly, and she shared them out to family and friends.
Her husband, an executive at Thoresen Thai Agencies, travels frequently to the States and is not allowed to come home without at least eight boxes.”
Judging by the photo in The Nation these claims seem indisputable.
I wonder if the “journalist” scored any free doughnuts for this piffle .
I guess Kasit is taking a hardline – especially on the monarchy – because he got into such trouble arriving back in Bangkok, after the last time he spoke in America, suggesting the monarchy post-Bumiphol could be “re-vamped”.
…so we (me and Tonkhao) gave you the reason why we believed that Chamlong has always been part of elite all along, now, do you have anything else that suggest otherwise?
Yes Tarrin I will. Chamlong became a political maverick. Why? Well I guess his Damascene moment where he saw the error of his ways while partaking in the military corruption of the PX supplies while Thai troops were helping the Americans in Laos. At least that’s how he says it happened and I have no reason to disbelieve him.
Not being religious, I always suspect strongly religious people have the capability of being dangerous. Sometimes though it gives a person a moral basis to take a rather brave stand. I think we saw Chamlong do that in 1992 and also as Bangkok governor where he took a stand against corruption.
Now I remember Chamlong being out in the streets when the bullets were flying. Not usually the role of a member of the elite in most countries I feel. Also, and I know it’s a cheap shot, not a role that either Thaksin or the red shirt leadership wanted to play this year, excepting Seh Daeng of course.
No Tarrin although I don’t recognize Thonkhao I thought more of you and didn’t expect you to try and write both the man and 1992 movement out of Thailand’s progressive political history. Maybe a bit of Stalinist revisionism, just like writing Trotsky out of the Russian Revolution or the POUM out of the Spanish Civil War.
On the surface at least, it seems like a pretty ridiculous argument – Malaysia is certainly not Pakistan or Afghnaistan.
Moreover, from memory, Malaysia has held every election on cue.
PPT has been blocked for some time. Use Google Reader or Cooloo. From what Kasit says, Prachatai, PPT and many other quite normal sites are accused of creating hatred and inciting violence. One imagines that Kasit might even believe this from inside his yellowish cocoon.
Maybe admitting to the fact should be a wake up call for you? I’m not saying I’m old enough to make any comment regarding what had happen in the 73 and 76, but I certainly live trough the 92 and I saw and felt what happened afterward (including the 1997 till today). I have read many record, from Dr. Puay, Gen. Tanorm, Gen Krit, and many other who were involving with the event from 1973 till late 85. Even then I can still trace the course of the what lead to the massacre of 1973 back to the 1968 and then back further to even as early as 1932. I guess two decades is not enough even for many Thais who are in their 50s now.
I think what you were trying to do was shock us with the news that Chamlong and Young Turks didn’t have the most pleasant history
Since I guess you are referring to me too so I guess I should explaining myself a bit here. The reason I even mentioning the Young Turk was because you are the one who was asking “Who was the elite on the side of the protesters? ” “Chamlong?”. Its almost like asking “Chamlong who?” to many people that actually read about him so we (me and Tonkhao) gave you the reason why we believed that Chamlong has always been part of elite all along, now, do you have anything else that suggest otherwise?
I think rubber(pre Thaksin time at that) is a good example where middle man control price by manipulate their stock. By colluding together (usually with the help of politician), they would make an announcement to the public that the raw rubber stock is ballooning. Naturally, the rubber farmer would hurry to sell their produces at a lower price to get rid of the rubber before the price go down any further. Once the middleman have enough of rubber stock, they will again collude together and said many of the rubber were in low quality and that they might ran out of good grade rubber, some of them even burn an empty warehouse which make to looks like it was full of rubber to made it seems like they were losing a huge stock of rubber for whatever reason (usually the authority would take part with the scandal). All of these was to create a panic among the punchers to drive the price up.
When Thaksin came in he made many regulation to stop most of these activity by letting the middle man be inspect every now and then and to have them have a proper accounting system to report to the authority. I’m not sure whether other crops got to same problem or not, I hope this helps.
Neptunian, can you give us some examples of crops that have their prices fixed by middlemen (and explain why the farmers don’t find another middleman). Is there any data to show that farmgate prices are consistently lowered by this? I have worked with garlic farmers a lot in Chiang Mai. Yes, they complain about prices a great deal, but not because of middlemen fixing prices. Their main complaint is that the government does not step in to support prices when they go down. In relation to contract farming of other vegetable crops, one of the main concerns of the brokers/middlemen is that farmers will sell their crops to other traders who offer a better price. So how does this price fixing system work?
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
Not Not the Nation
Not to sound miffed, but about 5 years ago I attempted (unsuccessfully) to bring Krispy Kreme to Thailand.
In spite of some good assets and a memorandum of understanding with Krispy Kreme that they would work with me should I raise the funds, I was unable to get a bank loan or any financial backing to help launch this line.
Too bad I don’t have anywhere near the money she does, while the lines help the rich get richer.
And real innovation would be to make a branded Pla Tong Ko shop, and real success should be to open that shop in New York after created global demand for the product; that would justify a news article.
Not Not the Nation
Okay, I’ll admit I cheated. I went to Not The Nation and checked. All of which leaves me open mouthed at Exhibit A. From “Hindered rather than helped by her family’s extensive business interests” to “she also has the family chauffeur and maids standing around at potential locations counting passersby with clickers in their hands”, I can’t help looking at this article as a quiet act of rebellion. The journalist in question sets out to make her look as dumb and worthlessly privilaged as possible, safe in the knowledge that safe inside her bubble she won’t see what they’ve done.
Sanitising Thai political history
LesAbbey – 34
he saw the error of his ways while partaking in the military corruption of the PX supplies while Thai troops were helping the Americans in Laos.
I think you should go visit to upper Isan and actually talk to those ex-military man about their opinion regarding Chamlong, he’s pretty famous among a small circle of retired general there. Anyhow, its very hard to get any record of the event since most of the CIA operation in Laos was kept secret and the Laos themselves dont want any record to slip out in fear of having relationship difficulty with Thailand. However, I story that I heard accidentally while I pay a short visit to Isan was that this young Thai communication officer was leading a platoon strong of CIA operative in Laos. One day a platoon of CIA operative was caught in ambush in Laos, the young officer was task with mission to rescue the operative. The reason why the young officer refuse to go out that night was debatable but about 50-60 of CIA operative lost their life.
Now I remember Chamlong being out in the streets when the bullets were flying. Not usually the role of a member of the elite in most countries I feel.
I think I’ve said this already but then I should say it again to counter your point regarding the nature of Chamlong seeming brave behavior that night. As everyone is aware of, Chamlong was a Jor Por Ror cadet graduate, if you actually know a bit about the school tradition, the rules of the Jor Por Ror cadet was that “Jor Por Ror don’t shoot at Jor Por Ror” no matter what. That’s why on the fateful night, Chamlong had nothing to fear of since he knows that no military man dare to shoot at him. Which, bring me to Sae Dang, who was also as brave as Chamlong since he was also a Jor Por Ror cadet and he also know the cadet tradition. However, what turn out differently was that Sae Dang got shot at and die in hand of another cadet. This also affirmed how weak the military is, politically, comparing to 1992 and how the establishment is so dominating within the elite rank.
Sanitising Thai political history
Tomklao – 33
Actually, your speculation about me is completely wrong and that proves my point 🙂
If only it was that easy to prove a point we could all go home.
Not Not the Nation
From ThaiEnews
Statement of Mr. Jakrapob Penkair On the Fire Incident at His Bangkok Home
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
I was kept informed, as it happened concerning the disastrous fire that consumed my parent’s home in Bangkok late morning of Tuesday, September 28, 2010. The fire completely destroyed the house and most of my all family’s life-long possessions. The entire upper floor of the structure is completely gone. Though my parents and sister were not harmed, they are greatly disheartened to realize that the house they built and lived in for over 44 years is now gone. It was quite a blow for a 83 and 73 year-old couple like my parents. Away from Thailand and unable to be with them during this time of great distress, I am deeply saddened and am trying to do my utmost in assisting them any way I can.
The exact source of the fire is not yet clear. It could have been an accident or perhaps sabotage. The ever-heating political situation may have been a contributing factor. I will not rush into any conclusion, but rather follow up on the forensic investigative procedures. Nevertheless, let me take this opportunity to warn all of us who fight for democracy to be extra careful in regards to yourself, your family, your loved ones, and your property. The overall political situation is quite fragile. We can be vulnerable to danger and risk at any turn. Please learn from this tragic incident which affect me and my parents’ home.
I would like to express my deep appreciation for the generosity expressed so overwhelmingly by the supporters of our democratic movement. Many have offered help in various ways since the news broke. Some groups took an extra effort travelling from their hometowns to support my parents and my sister, offering everything from clothes to food products, boosting the morale of two elderly persons whom are cherished in my heart.
Let me thank the media for distributing the news without prejudging this personal issue, and for an observation that there could have been something more sinister.
May I wish all of us in the democratic movement a strong and stable mind, ready to accept all kinds of challenges now and ahead, in order to lead this country to true democracy.
With respect to the will of the people and with deep love of my country,
Jakrapob Penkair
Not Not the Nation
Both articles prove the lack of innovation that comes out of the elite classes in Thailand. Thais are the masters of copying and reconstructing. Western degrees count for little back home outside of them being a FACE building exercise, as what is learnt in the west in many respects can not be applied due to the THAI STYLE of doing things.
The children of the idle rich in Thailand are just that ‘IDLY RICH’. On the world stage what really does come out of the kingdom that stands for quality and innovation. Maybe its’ the famous aromic Thai rice oh but I forgot this is a product produced by the ‘prai’ who are far too uneducated to be capable of producing such a unique product.
The elites just take the glory for selling it while all the while ripping off the very people who had strived so hard to not only harvest it but innovate it to the level it has reached today.
I ask what is it that the elite classes actually offer the broader population and for that matter the world at large.?
I’ll answer for you NOT MUCH.
Sanitising Thai political history
Tarrin – very much appreciate your always intelligent and insightful comments above, and elsewhere on NM.
Re : “However, after 1992 the establishment emerge as the winner, that’s why we see people like Anupong or Prayuth who were more than willing to follow the establishment order while we lost general like Krit Srivara in the process.”
General Krit, of course, died of natural causes many years before May’92.
Did Krit “not follow the establishment order” ?
He certainly refused to fire on the 1973 students – but perhaps he was following the establishment order, not the orders of Thanom, and the rest of that military clique.
The real tragedy after Krit, was that General Kriangsak was not given the backing from on high which he deserved.
Not Not the Nation
A Perfect Day
the disquiet in my mind remains . . .
gilded Central World worshippers
applaud their perfect day
to restock their Calvin Kleins
at Rachaprasong’s reopening . . .
while words and more words from
The Reconciliation Man becalm not
my traitorous troubling doubts
that The Reconciliation Man’s words and
more words merely cloak his inconsequence
to release a Khun Daeng manacled
to dependency but not ignorance:
Khun Daeng’s family, his friends and hamlet
will no longer just stand by unless
they too get their latest Calvin Kleins.
Producer prices and Thaksin’s economic good fortune
Non-ngong Na Malai // Sep 29, 2010 at 1:25 pm
1)”Now that the court has declared void the sale of Rachada land to Khun Ying Pojaman, shouldn’t Dr. Thaksin’s part in his former wife’s transaction be annulled also?”
Yes – the court’s decision is a hopeful sign wider compromise may be possible : that Thailand may yet subtly step-back from the brink.
2)”It would be decent to see justice being done to someone innocent”.
The court’s judgement does n’t say Potjaman was innocent – merely that it was an invalid transaction.
Not Not the Nation
“She loves these doughnuts. Boston didn’t have an outlet when she was living there, so she got friends to bring them from New York. She endeavoured to always keep the fridge stocked.
Ausanee’s return home didn’t curb the addiction – she got friends travelling to the US to bring her as many boxes of Krispy Kreme as they could import without looking silly, and she shared them out to family and friends.
Her husband, an executive at Thoresen Thai Agencies, travels frequently to the States and is not allowed to come home without at least eight boxes.”
Judging by the photo in The Nation these claims seem indisputable.
I wonder if the “journalist” scored any free doughnuts for this piffle .
Join Kasit for breakfast in New York – online
I guess Kasit is taking a hardline – especially on the monarchy – because he got into such trouble arriving back in Bangkok, after the last time he spoke in America, suggesting the monarchy post-Bumiphol could be “re-vamped”.
Sanitising Thai political history
Tarrin – 32
…so we (me and Tonkhao) gave you the reason why we believed that Chamlong has always been part of elite all along, now, do you have anything else that suggest otherwise?
Yes Tarrin I will. Chamlong became a political maverick. Why? Well I guess his Damascene moment where he saw the error of his ways while partaking in the military corruption of the PX supplies while Thai troops were helping the Americans in Laos. At least that’s how he says it happened and I have no reason to disbelieve him.
Not being religious, I always suspect strongly religious people have the capability of being dangerous. Sometimes though it gives a person a moral basis to take a rather brave stand. I think we saw Chamlong do that in 1992 and also as Bangkok governor where he took a stand against corruption.
Now I remember Chamlong being out in the streets when the bullets were flying. Not usually the role of a member of the elite in most countries I feel. Also, and I know it’s a cheap shot, not a role that either Thaksin or the red shirt leadership wanted to play this year, excepting Seh Daeng of course.
No Tarrin although I don’t recognize Thonkhao I thought more of you and didn’t expect you to try and write both the man and 1992 movement out of Thailand’s progressive political history. Maybe a bit of Stalinist revisionism, just like writing Trotsky out of the Russian Revolution or the POUM out of the Spanish Civil War.
Can Malaysia trust Najib?
On the surface at least, it seems like a pretty ridiculous argument – Malaysia is certainly not Pakistan or Afghnaistan.
Moreover, from memory, Malaysia has held every election on cue.
Sanitising Thai political history
LesAbbey – 31
Actually, your speculation about me is completely wrong and that proves my point 🙂
Join Kasit for breakfast in New York – online
PPT has been blocked for some time. Use Google Reader or Cooloo. From what Kasit says, Prachatai, PPT and many other quite normal sites are accused of creating hatred and inciting violence. One imagines that Kasit might even believe this from inside his yellowish cocoon.
Not Not the Nation
Both articles are true enough and contain enough barbs from reality to cause immense entertainment, though perhap for different reasons.
Both illustrate perfectly the essential futility of being Thai
Not Not the Nation
^ Impostor! Actually, I eat Lard Lad Donuts. Mmm… donuts.
Sanitising Thai political history
LesAbbey – 31
For some of us two decades isn’t that far back.
Maybe admitting to the fact should be a wake up call for you? I’m not saying I’m old enough to make any comment regarding what had happen in the 73 and 76, but I certainly live trough the 92 and I saw and felt what happened afterward (including the 1997 till today). I have read many record, from Dr. Puay, Gen. Tanorm, Gen Krit, and many other who were involving with the event from 1973 till late 85. Even then I can still trace the course of the what lead to the massacre of 1973 back to the 1968 and then back further to even as early as 1932. I guess two decades is not enough even for many Thais who are in their 50s now.
I think what you were trying to do was shock us with the news that Chamlong and Young Turks didn’t have the most pleasant history
Since I guess you are referring to me too so I guess I should explaining myself a bit here. The reason I even mentioning the Young Turk was because you are the one who was asking “Who was the elite on the side of the protesters? ” “Chamlong?”. Its almost like asking “Chamlong who?” to many people that actually read about him so we (me and Tonkhao) gave you the reason why we believed that Chamlong has always been part of elite all along, now, do you have anything else that suggest otherwise?
Producer prices and Thaksin’s economic good fortune
Andrew
I think rubber(pre Thaksin time at that) is a good example where middle man control price by manipulate their stock. By colluding together (usually with the help of politician), they would make an announcement to the public that the raw rubber stock is ballooning. Naturally, the rubber farmer would hurry to sell their produces at a lower price to get rid of the rubber before the price go down any further. Once the middleman have enough of rubber stock, they will again collude together and said many of the rubber were in low quality and that they might ran out of good grade rubber, some of them even burn an empty warehouse which make to looks like it was full of rubber to made it seems like they were losing a huge stock of rubber for whatever reason (usually the authority would take part with the scandal). All of these was to create a panic among the punchers to drive the price up.
When Thaksin came in he made many regulation to stop most of these activity by letting the middle man be inspect every now and then and to have them have a proper accounting system to report to the authority. I’m not sure whether other crops got to same problem or not, I hope this helps.
Producer prices and Thaksin’s economic good fortune
Neptunian, can you give us some examples of crops that have their prices fixed by middlemen (and explain why the farmers don’t find another middleman). Is there any data to show that farmgate prices are consistently lowered by this? I have worked with garlic farmers a lot in Chiang Mai. Yes, they complain about prices a great deal, but not because of middlemen fixing prices. Their main complaint is that the government does not step in to support prices when they go down. In relation to contract farming of other vegetable crops, one of the main concerns of the brokers/middlemen is that farmers will sell their crops to other traders who offer a better price. So how does this price fixing system work?
AW