But then the young hardline conservatives in the Democrat Party (Abhisit, Korn) took over, and the game changed
I’m still sure that if the Abhisit/Korn team is to face the TRT A-Team (the banned 111 TRT executives) they will still lost the election. Remembered that the Dem lost to TRT B-Team (PPP).
“but I still think that there should be some sort of ‘check and balance’ among the Thai press as well.”
I always include the press in my list of all those Thai institutions that need a great effort at professionalization. In fact, the past few months have amply illustrated what’s wrong here (remember the Bangkok Post’s “rural hordes,” which also featured in the Amsterdam report?).
However, Thaksin in 2002 was not about checks and balances, but about control and intimidation to achieve his aim of “quiet (Singaporean-style) politics,” and he had started with this already before he ran in the 2001 election by buying iTV and cutting off its trade mark of critical reporting.
Nevertheless, critical voices remained in the public sphere, and were able to develop, including, in 2004, the publication of Chermsak’s first “Ru than Thaksin” books. All this laid the foundations for the PAD protests from September 2005 onwards.
Adding to the previous comment, the 2005 election then was not about a dictatorial government against a suppressed public, but rather about a high-performance government against a lousy opposition Democrats with an “unmarketable” PM candidate (Banyat). But then the young hardline conservatives in the Democrat Party (Abhisit, Korn) took over, and the game changed…
I’ve often wondered about him…If you look at his earliest posts as Trep, on NM & Prachatai English, there is a clumsiness that indicates he doesn’t seem to have been a native-speaker of English. Could have been Thai with foreign education, for instance, as a lot of public servants are. There have been small changes of style & sudden upgrades in English ability from time to time. The current change is quite a significant one. There has also, from time to time, been the incorporation of some unusual, although appropriate in he originals, words & phrases which have appeared on other posts, different threads around the same time, which has alerted me to the possibility that he was Thai, faking familiarity, or at least still learning English.
Just re-read your earlier comments and you clearly inferred Amsterdam had made ad hominem comments –
“The problem with Amsterdam’s credibility and ad hominem attacks is that he could have written a completely pro-government….”
As for Amsterdam attracting ad hominem from government/PAD supporters, well that shows the complete lack of rational basis and detailed, developed argument on the part of these same government/PAD supporters. It shows all they have left is personal abuse.
Ralph #40 and Tarrin #41 :
yes – it definitely looks like a different style to me also :
much more analysis, and fewer simple assertions.
Does StanG have a dual personality ?
Neoliberalism or otherwise, the Cambodi of 2010 is very different from the Cambodia of 2006 from a development point of view. One should look at the picture as a whole and realise that Cambodia started from a very low base. Simply said, the country is basically broke – post Vietnam war, and, post Khemer Rouge.
Whether one agrees with Hun Sen or not, he and his inner circle are beginning to make changes to the “business of governing” in Cambodia. The changes as far as I can see are positive.
True, that Cambodia will continue to receive and need foreign aid, but domestic capital creation is beginning to rise. In commercial agricultural development for example, the early model of Govt – private sector framework has been re-worked to give it a better chance of success. The early model encouraged “rent seeking” activity of connected individuals that has no real interest in the viability of projects. The current model changes that.
In other areas like security, much improvements can be seen. Guns are no longer a common sight in the city. One can actually take a walk in the streets without the constant fear of being mugged.
I can continue with each area of improvements, but that would take a whle thesis. Its enough to say that the second echelon of power in most Ministries are now occupied mostly by “Technocrats”. The top layer are still “Hun Sen’s men”, but one can see that they are recognising the need to cange by installing technocrats for policy making and implementation.
Declaration of interest : I have been visiting Cambodia regularly in recent times for the purpose of commercial agricultural development as a consultant.
Thanks for the comments and information Aj. Somsak – especially on the funeral volume for Chuchua Singhaseni.
The comment I was referring to at 99 was, I seem to recall was in a handout that came with the Bangkok Post years ago. Now, my memory may be well off, but I will, if I ever locate it, and my memory was okay, scan and send to NM.
Yes I agreed that 2002 might be the time when Thaksin flex his power quite wrongly. However, I look at this on the other side of the fence. The press in Thailand never been under monitor like those of the West, so sometime you see media in Thailand accepting “gift” from various parties to put up distorted news or sometime flat out lys for the benefit of some individual. The way Thaksin did was way too much for “monitoring”, but I still think that there should be some sort of “check and balance” among the Thai press as well.
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Thailand in Crisis: Episode 4 (р╣Бр╕Ыр╕ер╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕ар╕▓р╕йр╕▓р╣Др╕Чр╕в)
р╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕Шр╕Зр╕Кр╕▒р╕в р╕Юр╕╣р╕Фр╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕Фр╕╡р╕бр╕▓р╕Б р╕Ьр╕бр╣Ар╕Др╕вр╕Цр╕╣р╕Бр╕Ир╕▒р╕Ър╣Гр╕Щр╕Др╕Фр╕╡р╣Ар╕Фр╕╡р╕вр╕зр╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Ыр╕╡ 19
Thailand, international human rights and ISOC
[…] [136] For a brief account of ISOC’s disturbing human rights record, see Paul Busbarat, “Thailand, International Human Rights and ISOC,” New Mandala, January 27, 2009.http://www.newmandala.org/2009/01/27/thailand-international-human-rights-and-isoc/ […]
Reconciliation, Thai style
Srithanonchai – 24
But then the young hardline conservatives in the Democrat Party (Abhisit, Korn) took over, and the game changed
I’m still sure that if the Abhisit/Korn team is to face the TRT A-Team (the banned 111 TRT executives) they will still lost the election. Remembered that the Dem lost to TRT B-Team (PPP).
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/flash/june/siam46.htm
I am sure you’al ‘ave seen this but still it was an interesting little note to keep together with others…
Bangkok Constituency 6: judgement day
Did the Democrats poor showing at the ballot box, despite victory, precipitate the bombing?
Interesting that it happened as it became clearer that the imprisoned “terrorist” had drawn significant support.
Can you imagine Hamas polling such polling figures in a Jewish area of Jerusalem?
My view is that if the PAD had run their client Korkaew would’ve won.
It’s also my view that in the eyes of Thailand’s real masters Abhisit’s days are numbered.
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
Aj. Somsak #101: Thanks for this illuminating post. re. the paper you link to on your blog: is there an English translation anywhere?
Reconciliation, Thai style
Tarrin #23
“but I still think that there should be some sort of ‘check and balance’ among the Thai press as well.”
I always include the press in my list of all those Thai institutions that need a great effort at professionalization. In fact, the past few months have amply illustrated what’s wrong here (remember the Bangkok Post’s “rural hordes,” which also featured in the Amsterdam report?).
However, Thaksin in 2002 was not about checks and balances, but about control and intimidation to achieve his aim of “quiet (Singaporean-style) politics,” and he had started with this already before he ran in the 2001 election by buying iTV and cutting off its trade mark of critical reporting.
Nevertheless, critical voices remained in the public sphere, and were able to develop, including, in 2004, the publication of Chermsak’s first “Ru than Thaksin” books. All this laid the foundations for the PAD protests from September 2005 onwards.
Adding to the previous comment, the 2005 election then was not about a dictatorial government against a suppressed public, but rather about a high-performance government against a lousy opposition Democrats with an “unmarketable” PM candidate (Banyat). But then the young hardline conservatives in the Democrat Party (Abhisit, Korn) took over, and the game changed…
Bangkok Constituency 6: judgement day
I’ve often wondered about him…If you look at his earliest posts as Trep, on NM & Prachatai English, there is a clumsiness that indicates he doesn’t seem to have been a native-speaker of English. Could have been Thai with foreign education, for instance, as a lot of public servants are. There have been small changes of style & sudden upgrades in English ability from time to time. The current change is quite a significant one. There has also, from time to time, been the incorporation of some unusual, although appropriate in he originals, words & phrases which have appeared on other posts, different threads around the same time, which has alerted me to the possibility that he was Thai, faking familiarity, or at least still learning English.
Bangkok Constituency 6: judgement day
Yeah I noticed a change in StanG’s style over on another thread as well.
Slightly more histrionic and some display of the idiom typical to Thai-native speakers writing in English etc.
Interesting.
Bangkok Constituency 6: judgement day
Maybe Stang/Trep is actually a small team. ‘He’ didn’t change his style; ‘they’ changed shifts!
“The Bangkok Massacres: A call for accountability”
StanG
Just re-read your earlier comments and you clearly inferred Amsterdam had made ad hominem comments –
“The problem with Amsterdam’s credibility and ad hominem attacks is that he could have written a completely pro-government….”
As for Amsterdam attracting ad hominem from government/PAD supporters, well that shows the complete lack of rational basis and detailed, developed argument on the part of these same government/PAD supporters. It shows all they have left is personal abuse.
I can only agree with Andrew Walker.
Can Pakatan Rakyat take over Putrajaya?
[…] New Mandala New perspectives on mainland Southeast Asia « Malyasia opposition works to present an alternative government […]
Bangkok Constituency 6: judgement day
Ralph #40 and Tarrin #41 :
yes – it definitely looks like a different style to me also :
much more analysis, and fewer simple assertions.
Does StanG have a dual personality ?
The neoliberal bogeyman of Cambodia
Neoliberalism or otherwise, the Cambodi of 2010 is very different from the Cambodia of 2006 from a development point of view. One should look at the picture as a whole and realise that Cambodia started from a very low base. Simply said, the country is basically broke – post Vietnam war, and, post Khemer Rouge.
Whether one agrees with Hun Sen or not, he and his inner circle are beginning to make changes to the “business of governing” in Cambodia. The changes as far as I can see are positive.
True, that Cambodia will continue to receive and need foreign aid, but domestic capital creation is beginning to rise. In commercial agricultural development for example, the early model of Govt – private sector framework has been re-worked to give it a better chance of success. The early model encouraged “rent seeking” activity of connected individuals that has no real interest in the viability of projects. The current model changes that.
In other areas like security, much improvements can be seen. Guns are no longer a common sight in the city. One can actually take a walk in the streets without the constant fear of being mugged.
I can continue with each area of improvements, but that would take a whle thesis. Its enough to say that the second echelon of power in most Ministries are now occupied mostly by “Technocrats”. The top layer are still “Hun Sen’s men”, but one can see that they are recognising the need to cange by installing technocrats for policy making and implementation.
Declaration of interest : I have been visiting Cambodia regularly in recent times for the purpose of commercial agricultural development as a consultant.
Bangkok Constituency 6: judgement day
Ralph Kramden – 40
I noticed that too.
Bangkok Constituency 6: judgement day
Is it just me or has StanG’s writing style suddenly changed?
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
Thank you Somsak Jeamteerasakul, that clears things up a lot.
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
Thanks for the comments and information Aj. Somsak – especially on the funeral volume for Chuchua Singhaseni.
The comment I was referring to at 99 was, I seem to recall was in a handout that came with the Bangkok Post years ago. Now, my memory may be well off, but I will, if I ever locate it, and my memory was okay, scan and send to NM.
Reconciliation, Thai style
Srithanonchai – 19
Yes I agreed that 2002 might be the time when Thaksin flex his power quite wrongly. However, I look at this on the other side of the fence. The press in Thailand never been under monitor like those of the West, so sometime you see media in Thailand accepting “gift” from various parties to put up distorted news or sometime flat out lys for the benefit of some individual. The way Thaksin did was way too much for “monitoring”, but I still think that there should be some sort of “check and balance” among the Thai press as well.
“The Bangkok Massacres: A call for accountability”
Stan: “Did you just wait three months to label my comments as pro PAD?”
Read my comment again. I was doing quite the opposite. You are an asset to the anti-yellow cause. Keep up the good work.