Arnaud Dubus should be totally ashamed of himself. The mere fact that he thinks it is some sort of “badge of courage” to be fined 200 baht three times in one day is no laughing matter. For one so young to accept this without demur and not take the case to court is indicative of todays young people and their lack of values. Arnaud is actually giving all us older farangs living in Thailand a very bad name. Throwing the tickets he has paid for on the back seat of his car is also contemptible, but in this case, for just 200 baht, I might agree.
Shame, shame, shame Arnaud, where are your values!
After paying fines of 500, 500 and 1,000 baht (all over 138 kph) for speeding in just one week at the age of 65 (and still having 3 years left on my licence) I bought a top of the line radar detector (Bell SDI) in Hong Kong, which is probably the only one in Thailand and instead of contemptuously throwing the tickets on the back seat, I furiously scanned them and set them to friends in Australia, complete with currency conversion, so that they could look at them with envy. And because the Thai Police refuse to cooperate with the Transport Department, I still have all my points.
I no longer get either pulled over or pay for the Thai Police Mea Nois.
Arnaud, take note!
The Dems might have some good policies but I think it improbable that many red shirts will be won over by them at this point. We’ll see how much real effect these policies have – because at the moment it’s just talk. Not only is there a good chance that red shirts will still reject them because they shouldn’t be there in the first place, it’s also mostly Democrat supporters than are ideologically against redistributive policies, so it might be their own people that put a stop to anything too radical.
Robert Tingnongnoy – you’re criticising Jakrapob for “running away” but defending Thaksin? Sounds like Thaksin is having a great time shopping in Paris and laughing it up. Jakrapob is likely stuck in Cambodia, he has nowhere near the resources or freedom of Thaksin. Also Jakrapob probably believes in the cause for ideological reasons and would fight to the last. Thaksin will be off as soon as he has his money back. I’m not patronizing enough to say I think you’re an idiot for standing by Thaksin – but yeah, that is what I can’t help but think. Some UDD leaders have real principles and commitment to them – but it’s very very hard to believe Thaksin is one of them.
Thanks for the review. We “read” revolutionary art & architecture through “theories”, which are nothing short of a projection of the theorists’ dreams. If you want a space of reality, look to market, public library, or a bus in motion. They are living architectures; full of life, free of ideologies, and they even come with sound and scent.
Just like any other art forms defined and legitimised by the state, “Thai architecture” means looking back to the bygone past. You wouldn’t see any building that look like Tate Modern (UK), Bilbao Guggenheim (Spain), or Esplanade (Singapore’s Durian) in Thailand. Modern site-specific sculptures are even rarer to find. Instead of funding modern arts, the Thai governments chose to fund this soulless building named “new parliament.” Have a look at its architectural design: it tells us much about the conditions of present Thai politics. Besides, for their low quality and standard, what made these incompetent Thai politicians think they deserve a new parliament? What a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Mr. Walker,
In honor of the fine work you have done in educating me about mainland SE Asia via this blog- even though I am not a member of the rural poor- please let me know how I can send a donation to the leper colony.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Mr Amsterdam’s interest in Thai politics snuffed out as suddenly as it was ignited. Thaksin is known to be extremely tight fisted and, although he has a limited appreciation of literary style, he is likely to realize pretty soon that Amsterdam’s flatulent prose is not doing him any good and cut off his funding, as he did with his previous non-performing PR agents.
I would be surprised if the reactionaries in Bangkok now didn’t do their best to destroy the people’s architecture. They seem to be in agreement that that the whole revolution of 1932 was a big mistake.
In fact, the line goes, the gracious lord of life was just about to grant his subjects a new dispensation, not unlike what the PAD envisions now I imagine, with which to gift his subjects when the promoters foisted the present system on the country… the mess that’s obtained ever since is the result.
My intention when posting the link was to offer an alternative explanation of the political thinking driving the recent acts of terrorism. Regardless of the nature of the publication, or William Barnes’ use of Journalistic license, the argument that Thaksin and the Red-Shirt movement’s leadership are by far the most likely culprits seems solid enough to me.
The red-shirt protests were at no time able to mobilize more than a couple of hundred thousand people. The pro-fox hunting ‘Countryside Alliance’ in the UK (a smaller nation than Thailand) got 400,000 people out onto the streets of London in 2002 to protest the ban on hunting, and failed to make any impact on government policy. The Abhisit government had little to fear from peaceful demonstrations, and no obligation to offer them anything more than courtesy. The protest numbers were not large for a nation of this size, and are not in any way indicative of a groundswell of popular opinion, however much wishful thinking you care to employ. Against a background of relatively small, peaceful, law abiding demonstrations Abhisit and Co. could quite comfortably sit it out until the end of their term and wait for the combination of policies such as the land reform bill, the massive investment in Education, the new welfare state, and the rapidly growing economy to deliver them election victory. They would have the time and opportunity to be as populist as necessary to win an election.
So whose interests are served by violence? The state of emergency isn’t boosting the economy or winning the government any votes. In fact it provides red-shirt sympathizers and Thaksin’s employees with an opportunity to portray the government as ‘oppressors’. Any increase in attacks if they were to lift the state of emergency prematurely could also damage the economy and the governments credibility, and the ‘the government/PAD/army are doing it to put the blame on us’ argument would still appeal to the devotees and give Thaksin’s PR toadies something to play with. We have already seen red-shirts arrested for bombings, but any amount of evidence linking a bombing campaign to the Thaksin cult will be ‘government lies’ and fresh meat to the conspiracy theorists.
I’m no more a fan of petty right wing nationalists than I am of the evangelical left, but please forgive me if I find K. Therpoum’s conjecture more convincing than that of Amsterdam or Jatuporn. “The revolution walks on two legs. One political leg and one army leg. Violence is the essential ingredient in the mix. That is what we were taught. The tactic is to keep saying that you are a peace-loving people. The many factions folded into the united front [UDD] organization are not told what the real strategy is because they might not agree and they might not act their part convincingly”.
On Bangkok Post (online) today, we have a stunning contribution to reconciliation. Beneath a photo of smoke billowing from Siam & an inset of angry Redshirt leaders is the following caption:
“May 19, 2010: There were 91 dead, 2000 injured, buildings burnt. Now 19 red shirt leaders are under actual indictment at the Criminal Court on charges of terrorism, instigating unrest and illegal gathering.”
Making the linkage between the announcement of the removal of Laksi Monument and the symbol that Laksi represented, was an excellent point. It certainly help explaining the underlying political forces between the Allies and the Axis within the Thai domestic politics. It shows how the network monarchy operates in destroying its political opponents. It also shows the historical continuity of the struggle to present time.
Having said that, I however have a few points to make. I think it would shed more light if the analysis developed deeper and further to identify the background of those actors as well as its linkage to international politics.
For example, ” The Laksi Monument–also variously known as the Monument for the Suppression of the Boworadet Rebellion and the Monument of the Defense of the Constitution–commemorates the suppression of a 1933 royalist uprising against the People’s Party, the political organization that led Siam from absolute monarchy to constitutional government.”
It would become clearer if the linkage between domestic politics and international politics is provided by explaining that Boworadet was a prince, an Army General, and Minister of Defense who graduated from the German military academy. By giving the background we then can understand why the Thai Crown Prince frequently visited Germany.
Also, explaining the time frame and context during the period of 1933 would also help us understand the current situation. Before WWII, Nazi propaganda strategy stressed several themes. Their goals were to create external enemies (countries that inflicted the Treaty of Versailles on Germany) and internal enemies (Jews). In Thailand, the current Aphisit regime is making Cambodia as external enemy and the Red Shirts as internal enemies.
Another important date that I think required attention is, “the end of the People’s Party era in 1947.” The current Monarch have reigned since 9 June 1946. His brother was killed and the People’s Party ended, the British and American intelligent helped Pridi fled to Singapore during that time. By understanding the event, we then can explain why Phumipon is the richest monarch in the world and has been worshiped by his people like a God king. Similarly, Hitler was much loved by the German at the time and with the absolute control of the German military.
Lastly, I think it’s a mistake for the reviewer to consider Phibun as the People’s Party after the 1947 because Phibun made an alliance with the Axis power during the World War II period.
“The appointment of Luang Wichitwathakan as head of the re-established Fine Arts Department in 2477, reflected these sentiments perfectly: “The Fine Arts Department is an important part of the nation.” Luang Wichitwathakan composed a famous nationalist song, “р╕лр╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╣Бр╕Ьр╣Ир╕Щр╕Фр╕┤р╕┤р╕Щ.” This song was utilized on October 6, 1976 and another Allied Forces’ leader, Dr. Puey Ungphakorn had to leave Thailand for England. This song was used again by PAD to mobilize the Yellow Shirt supporters which resulted in the collapse of Somchai and Samak governments.
Luang Wichitwathakan’s appointment by Phibun was similar to how Hitler appointed Joseph Goebbels. The Axis understood well the power of nationalism. After all, it wiped out the Dutch from Indonesia, the Spanish from the Philippines, the French from Indochina, and the British from Burma.
[…] – р╣Бр╕Ыр╕ер╕Ир╕▓р╕Б Nick Nostitz in the killing zone, р╕Хр╕╡р╕Юр╕┤р╕бр╕Юр╣Мр╕Др╕гр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╣Бр╕гр╕Бр╕Ър╕Щр╣Ар╕зр╣Зр╕Ър╣Др╕Лр╕Хр╣М New Mandala, […]
Of course joint management of the khmer sanctuary as a cultural site for the benefit of Thai and Cambodian khmer descendants and the wider world to appreciate would be the wisdom of Solomon. (Incidentally if the UN threatened to raze it which country do you think would back down on it’s claim in order to preserve it??? )
It would be the sensible, pragmatic, wise, win-win situation but the powers that be on either side do not have the political maturity, vision or strength of character to do it. Which in itself says a lot about politics and “democracy” in Thailand and Cambodia.
Perhaps on second thoughts Shiva should destroy his own temple as a lesson to both peoples on the great losses wrought by greed,intolerance and bigotry.
Would they notice? Would they learn? would they ultimately care?
I admit I have not been keeping up with Thai news for a while simply because it is too upsetting for me to do so.
But this is very upsetting too – and bodes long term hurts that will be hard to heal for both Thais and Cambodians – and just for the Democrat Party to drum up nationalist feelings and support? Deplorable!
Seriously: is there any other source other than Prachathai on what Abhisit says? Almost none of my family or friends in Thailand has been listening or reading much local news lately, prefering to just watch soap operas or for those who can afford it – IHT or Guardian. When and where did Abhisit say that he is willing to go to war over PVT?
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
`My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!’
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away”.
To be honest, I voted for myself twice. Thrice now. I could translate it into Thai but it will take a few years for me to learn Thai first. Can you wait? But I don’t need to speak Thai to understand Thais. Its a unique and magical ability that I realised when I was sitting under a temple in Ayutthaya with my ladyboy fanning me.
If Walker were charged with the other 19 terrorists to make it 20, the Queen would be happy. That’s what I’m saying. You would be too if you understood Thais. I hope you enjoy that I write ‘Ralphy’, I know falang like endearment. Walker does not though.
Do you understand now? I know its difficult for Falang to understand anything. Maybe you need someone to fan you too.
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Small events that escape media attention
Arnaud Dubus should be totally ashamed of himself. The mere fact that he thinks it is some sort of “badge of courage” to be fined 200 baht three times in one day is no laughing matter. For one so young to accept this without demur and not take the case to court is indicative of todays young people and their lack of values. Arnaud is actually giving all us older farangs living in Thailand a very bad name. Throwing the tickets he has paid for on the back seat of his car is also contemptible, but in this case, for just 200 baht, I might agree.
Shame, shame, shame Arnaud, where are your values!
After paying fines of 500, 500 and 1,000 baht (all over 138 kph) for speeding in just one week at the age of 65 (and still having 3 years left on my licence) I bought a top of the line radar detector (Bell SDI) in Hong Kong, which is probably the only one in Thailand and instead of contemptuously throwing the tickets on the back seat, I furiously scanned them and set them to friends in Australia, complete with currency conversion, so that they could look at them with envy. And because the Thai Police refuse to cooperate with the Transport Department, I still have all my points.
I no longer get either pulled over or pay for the Thai Police Mea Nois.
Arnaud, take note!
Robert Amsterdam on a “Strategy of Tension” in Bangkok
I’d be more likely to scream “PAAAAAAAD!” at the article Mungo cites because of this: http://uk.asiancorrespondent.com/bangkok-pundit-blog/who-is-therdpoum-chaidee – not to say it’s not necessarily true. It might be. But Therdpoum would have a reason to discredit the UDD.
The Dems might have some good policies but I think it improbable that many red shirts will be won over by them at this point. We’ll see how much real effect these policies have – because at the moment it’s just talk. Not only is there a good chance that red shirts will still reject them because they shouldn’t be there in the first place, it’s also mostly Democrat supporters than are ideologically against redistributive policies, so it might be their own people that put a stop to anything too radical.
Robert Tingnongnoy – you’re criticising Jakrapob for “running away” but defending Thaksin? Sounds like Thaksin is having a great time shopping in Paris and laughing it up. Jakrapob is likely stuck in Cambodia, he has nowhere near the resources or freedom of Thaksin. Also Jakrapob probably believes in the cause for ideological reasons and would fight to the last. Thaksin will be off as soon as he has his money back. I’m not patronizing enough to say I think you’re an idiot for standing by Thaksin – but yeah, that is what I can’t help but think. Some UDD leaders have real principles and commitment to them – but it’s very very hard to believe Thaksin is one of them.
Interview with Claudio Sopranzetti: The politics of motorcycle taxis
[…] р╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕Ър╕Чр╕кр╕▒р╕бр╕ар╕▓р╕йр╕Ур╣Мр╣Ар╕Вр╕▓ р╣Вр╕Фр╕в р╕нр╕▓р╕гр╣Мр╣Ар╕Щр╕▓р╕Фр╣М р╕Фр╕╣р╕Ър╕▒р╕к р╣Гр╕Щр╣Ар╕зр╣Зр╕Ър╣Др╕Лр╕Хр╣Мр╕Щр╕зр╕бр╕Ур╕Ср╕е (р╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╕Щр╕┤р╕зр╣Бр╕бр╕Щр╣Ар╕Фр╕ер╕▓)1р╕Кр╕╡р╣Йр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╣Ар╕лр╣Зр╕Щр╕Вр╣Йр╕нр╕бр╕╣р╕ер╕Юр╕╖р╣Йр╕Щр╕Рр╕▓р╕Щр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Щр╣Ир╕▓р╕Чр╕╢р╣Ир╕Зр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕зр╕┤р╕Цр╕╡р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Гр╕Кр╣Йр╕Кр╕╡р╕зр╕┤р╕Х “р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╣Ар╕Кр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕бр╕гр╣Йр╕нр╕вр╕зр╕┤р╕Цр╕╡р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Вр╕Щр╕кр╣Ир╕Зр╕бр╕зр╕ер╕Кр╕Щ” р╕Щр╕▒р╕Ър╕ер╣Йр╕▓р╕Щр╣Ар╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕вр╕зр╕Хр╣Ир╕нр╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╣Гр╕Щр╕Бр╕гр╕╕р╕Зр╣Ар╕Чр╕Юр╕п р╕Чр╕│р╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Юр╕зр╕Бр╣Ар╕Вр╕▓р╕Бр╕ер╕▓р╕вр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щ “р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕Вр╕▒р╕Ър╣Ар╕Др╕ер╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Щ” р╕Бр╕гр╕╕р╕Зр╣Ар╕Чр╕Юр╕бр╕лр╕▓р╕Щр╕Др╕г р╕Хр╕▒р╕зр╕Ир╕гр╕┤р╕Зр╣Ар╕кр╕╡р╕вр╕Зр╕Ир╕гр╕┤р╕Зр╕нр╕вр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╕Ыр╕Пр╕┤р╣Ар╕кр╕Шр╣Др╕Ыр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Др╕Фр╣Й […]
Review of The Art and Architecture of the People’s Party
The art is inviting me.
Thanks for the review. We “read” revolutionary art & architecture through “theories”, which are nothing short of a projection of the theorists’ dreams. If you want a space of reality, look to market, public library, or a bus in motion. They are living architectures; full of life, free of ideologies, and they even come with sound and scent.
Just like any other art forms defined and legitimised by the state, “Thai architecture” means looking back to the bygone past. You wouldn’t see any building that look like Tate Modern (UK), Bilbao Guggenheim (Spain), or Esplanade (Singapore’s Durian) in Thailand. Modern site-specific sculptures are even rarer to find. Instead of funding modern arts, the Thai governments chose to fund this soulless building named “new parliament.” Have a look at its architectural design: it tells us much about the conditions of present Thai politics. Besides, for their low quality and standard, what made these incompetent Thai politicians think they deserve a new parliament? What a waste of taxpayers’ money.
I’d better turn to Shelly.
Andrew Marshall on politics and education
Mr. Walker,
In honor of the fine work you have done in educating me about mainland SE Asia via this blog- even though I am not a member of the rural poor- please let me know how I can send a donation to the leper colony.
Tatmadaw cadets in conversation
Will the engineering students at the regular universities have any chance of building dams?
Robert Amsterdam on a “Strategy of Tension” in Bangkok
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Mr Amsterdam’s interest in Thai politics snuffed out as suddenly as it was ignited. Thaksin is known to be extremely tight fisted and, although he has a limited appreciation of literary style, he is likely to realize pretty soon that Amsterdam’s flatulent prose is not doing him any good and cut off his funding, as he did with his previous non-performing PR agents.
Review of The Art and Architecture of the People’s Party
Does anyone have a photograph of said monument, so we can have an idea what we are talking about?
We’ve got the thousand words already but the picture might be more succinct.
Review of The Art and Architecture of the People’s Party
The new Thai Parliament
I would be surprised if the reactionaries in Bangkok now didn’t do their best to destroy the people’s architecture. They seem to be in agreement that that the whole revolution of 1932 was a big mistake.
In fact, the line goes, the gracious lord of life was just about to grant his subjects a new dispensation, not unlike what the PAD envisions now I imagine, with which to gift his subjects when the promoters foisted the present system on the country… the mess that’s obtained ever since is the result.
The new parliament building will fit right in.
The blind men and the elephant in Cambodia
thank you for this wonderful post.
Robert Amsterdam on a “Strategy of Tension” in Bangkok
Thank you, superanonymous #41, In Town 42.
My intention when posting the link was to offer an alternative explanation of the political thinking driving the recent acts of terrorism. Regardless of the nature of the publication, or William Barnes’ use of Journalistic license, the argument that Thaksin and the Red-Shirt movement’s leadership are by far the most likely culprits seems solid enough to me.
The red-shirt protests were at no time able to mobilize more than a couple of hundred thousand people. The pro-fox hunting ‘Countryside Alliance’ in the UK (a smaller nation than Thailand) got 400,000 people out onto the streets of London in 2002 to protest the ban on hunting, and failed to make any impact on government policy. The Abhisit government had little to fear from peaceful demonstrations, and no obligation to offer them anything more than courtesy. The protest numbers were not large for a nation of this size, and are not in any way indicative of a groundswell of popular opinion, however much wishful thinking you care to employ. Against a background of relatively small, peaceful, law abiding demonstrations Abhisit and Co. could quite comfortably sit it out until the end of their term and wait for the combination of policies such as the land reform bill, the massive investment in Education, the new welfare state, and the rapidly growing economy to deliver them election victory. They would have the time and opportunity to be as populist as necessary to win an election.
So whose interests are served by violence? The state of emergency isn’t boosting the economy or winning the government any votes. In fact it provides red-shirt sympathizers and Thaksin’s employees with an opportunity to portray the government as ‘oppressors’. Any increase in attacks if they were to lift the state of emergency prematurely could also damage the economy and the governments credibility, and the ‘the government/PAD/army are doing it to put the blame on us’ argument would still appeal to the devotees and give Thaksin’s PR toadies something to play with. We have already seen red-shirts arrested for bombings, but any amount of evidence linking a bombing campaign to the Thaksin cult will be ‘government lies’ and fresh meat to the conspiracy theorists.
I’m no more a fan of petty right wing nationalists than I am of the evangelical left, but please forgive me if I find K. Therpoum’s conjecture more convincing than that of Amsterdam or Jatuporn. “The revolution walks on two legs. One political leg and one army leg. Violence is the essential ingredient in the mix. That is what we were taught. The tactic is to keep saying that you are a peace-loving people. The many factions folded into the united front [UDD] organization are not told what the real strategy is because they might not agree and they might not act their part convincingly”.
Lanna Ephemera
JFL – there are worse things on the internet that deserve the term ‘pornography’ – this is history.
Robert Amsterdam on a “Strategy of Tension” in Bangkok
On Bangkok Post (online) today, we have a stunning contribution to reconciliation. Beneath a photo of smoke billowing from Siam & an inset of angry Redshirt leaders is the following caption:
“May 19, 2010: There were 91 dead, 2000 injured, buildings burnt. Now 19 red shirt leaders are under actual indictment at the Criminal Court on charges of terrorism, instigating unrest and illegal gathering.”
Review of The Art and Architecture of the People’s Party
Making the linkage between the announcement of the removal of Laksi Monument and the symbol that Laksi represented, was an excellent point. It certainly help explaining the underlying political forces between the Allies and the Axis within the Thai domestic politics. It shows how the network monarchy operates in destroying its political opponents. It also shows the historical continuity of the struggle to present time.
Having said that, I however have a few points to make. I think it would shed more light if the analysis developed deeper and further to identify the background of those actors as well as its linkage to international politics.
For example, ” The Laksi Monument–also variously known as the Monument for the Suppression of the Boworadet Rebellion and the Monument of the Defense of the Constitution–commemorates the suppression of a 1933 royalist uprising against the People’s Party, the political organization that led Siam from absolute monarchy to constitutional government.”
It would become clearer if the linkage between domestic politics and international politics is provided by explaining that Boworadet was a prince, an Army General, and Minister of Defense who graduated from the German military academy. By giving the background we then can understand why the Thai Crown Prince frequently visited Germany.
Also, explaining the time frame and context during the period of 1933 would also help us understand the current situation. Before WWII, Nazi propaganda strategy stressed several themes. Their goals were to create external enemies (countries that inflicted the Treaty of Versailles on Germany) and internal enemies (Jews). In Thailand, the current Aphisit regime is making Cambodia as external enemy and the Red Shirts as internal enemies.
Another important date that I think required attention is, “the end of the People’s Party era in 1947.” The current Monarch have reigned since 9 June 1946. His brother was killed and the People’s Party ended, the British and American intelligent helped Pridi fled to Singapore during that time. By understanding the event, we then can explain why Phumipon is the richest monarch in the world and has been worshiped by his people like a God king. Similarly, Hitler was much loved by the German at the time and with the absolute control of the German military.
Lastly, I think it’s a mistake for the reviewer to consider Phibun as the People’s Party after the 1947 because Phibun made an alliance with the Axis power during the World War II period.
“The appointment of Luang Wichitwathakan as head of the re-established Fine Arts Department in 2477, reflected these sentiments perfectly: “The Fine Arts Department is an important part of the nation.” Luang Wichitwathakan composed a famous nationalist song, “р╕лр╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╣Бр╕Ьр╣Ир╕Щр╕Фр╕┤р╕┤р╕Щ.” This song was utilized on October 6, 1976 and another Allied Forces’ leader, Dr. Puey Ungphakorn had to leave Thailand for England. This song was used again by PAD to mobilize the Yellow Shirt supporters which resulted in the collapse of Somchai and Samak governments.
Luang Wichitwathakan’s appointment by Phibun was similar to how Hitler appointed Joseph Goebbels. The Axis understood well the power of nationalism. After all, it wiped out the Dutch from Indonesia, the Spanish from the Philippines, the French from Indochina, and the British from Burma.
Lanna Ephemera
The execution is pornography.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
[…] – р╣Бр╕Ыр╕ер╕Ир╕▓р╕Б Nick Nostitz in the killing zone, р╕Хр╕╡р╕Юр╕┤р╕бр╕Юр╣Мр╕Др╕гр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╣Бр╕гр╕Бр╕Ър╕Щр╣Ар╕зр╣Зр╕Ър╣Др╕Лр╕Хр╣М New Mandala, […]
Abhisit’s territorial rite
Of course joint management of the khmer sanctuary as a cultural site for the benefit of Thai and Cambodian khmer descendants and the wider world to appreciate would be the wisdom of Solomon. (Incidentally if the UN threatened to raze it which country do you think would back down on it’s claim in order to preserve it??? )
It would be the sensible, pragmatic, wise, win-win situation but the powers that be on either side do not have the political maturity, vision or strength of character to do it. Which in itself says a lot about politics and “democracy” in Thailand and Cambodia.
Perhaps on second thoughts Shiva should destroy his own temple as a lesson to both peoples on the great losses wrought by greed,intolerance and bigotry.
Would they notice? Would they learn? would they ultimately care?
Abhisit’s territorial rite
I admit I have not been keeping up with Thai news for a while simply because it is too upsetting for me to do so.
But this is very upsetting too – and bodes long term hurts that will be hard to heal for both Thais and Cambodians – and just for the Democrat Party to drum up nationalist feelings and support? Deplorable!
Seriously: is there any other source other than Prachathai on what Abhisit says? Almost none of my family or friends in Thailand has been listening or reading much local news lately, prefering to just watch soap operas or for those who can afford it – IHT or Guardian. When and where did Abhisit say that he is willing to go to war over PVT?
Review of The Art and Architecture of the People’s Party
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
`My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!’
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away”.
Andrew Marshall on politics and education
Ralphy,
To be honest, I voted for myself twice. Thrice now. I could translate it into Thai but it will take a few years for me to learn Thai first. Can you wait? But I don’t need to speak Thai to understand Thais. Its a unique and magical ability that I realised when I was sitting under a temple in Ayutthaya with my ladyboy fanning me.
If Walker were charged with the other 19 terrorists to make it 20, the Queen would be happy. That’s what I’m saying. You would be too if you understood Thais. I hope you enjoy that I write ‘Ralphy’, I know falang like endearment. Walker does not though.
Do you understand now? I know its difficult for Falang to understand anything. Maybe you need someone to fan you too.