I just would like to say Khao Sod is, may be, the only newspaper in Thailand that stick on this issue.
A few weeks ago, a MP from Democrat Party threatened the newspaper to file complaint to Newspaper Journalist Association of Thailand (or some organisation like that), for twisting the facts and lacking ethic.
Matichon Weekly has shown the picture of soldiers shooting at the protesters inside the temple. It’s been monitored by the CRES.
See how things work in current regime? They try to shut everything down. They cut the financial activities of those who they believe associated with Thaksin or the Red movement, claiming it’s supporting terrorists.
As of the election coming in the near future, the Pue Thai Party won’t have financial supports (of course election needs money). Then the Democrat will win the majority. So they can claim they are recognized and elected.
I agreed that the UDD leaders might not be suitable for the current situation. The 3 wised-man and the gang are not the revolutionist they are the reformist, that’s why the red never succeed their goal in changing the system. However, I have many chances to go to the really side because by office is just about 5 minutes walk from the rally site, I had the chance to talked to many of the protesters. I’m surprise that not all protesters agreed with what the people on the stage said, some even openly disagree, but they are there for the same purpose is to demand for election (I didn’t agree with that btw). I raised the point just to tell you that these people are not puppet, they are more aware of what is going on many of the old people there went trough the 1976 and 1992 incidents before.
I agree with the comment of Alex: “Thongchai’s self-censorship is depressing…”.
Really Thongchai can’t you open up a bit more? The most daring thing you said was to mention someone “passing away”. But here in Thailand I feel most folk are most apprehensive about what eventuate after the passing.
From the safety of America can you please give us you views? In an earlier podcast in the series we had a speaker cheering on this event and comparing the effects of the present incumbent with that of the now removed dictator of Indonesia with all the nepotism, corruption and repression of that era in Indonesia.
Do you think we are likely to see a break from this with the passing or an intensification in a more overtly militaristic form?
Corruption is not the core of this crisis, its the broken governing system. Furthermore, if you read the news during April (I will get you the article later if you want) the CRES actually came out and said that about 60% of the protesters are actually from BKK and surrounding area. You just cant simply generalized the protesters because there are so many variety of people there with different level of political conscious and ideology there.
Briefly, article says Nick witnessed taxi driver who was shot at Rajaprarob Road and managed to meet the driver’s daughter Monchaya (age 25) who works for airforce: story repeated on Nick’s NM blog… He explained situation to her because she could not find her father at Rama Hospital. She said she received Bht 400,000 compensation from gov. Nick went to Payathai Police station to search for one of the red shirt protestors – the taxi driver father – shot by the army. Police confirm this person is deceased already and his name as Channarong Polsrila aged 45, on incident which took place 15 May. Nick told girl what he witnessed. The girl said she saw her father’s picture after he was shot and searched for his body at many hospitals and could not find him: then posted on facebook and youtube wanting to contact the person who helped her father. 19 May Monchaya and her mother went to Watjira Hospital and found nothing. Mother then asked her to go to Rama Hospital again and was shown pictures of dead persons; two of whom came from Rajaprarob Road. At first she could not recognise her father but then recognised his clothes. She dreamed everyday of the incident as her father was shot and this disturbed her. How could he be shot like this? Then after finding the corpse she ceased having these dreams as he came to her in one dream and said he was OK where he was and not to worry; after that she stopped having these disturbing dreams…The rest of the article talks about other cases – equally sad. Good on you Khaosod р╕Вр╣Ир╕▓р╕зр╕кр╕Фр╕гр╕▓р╕вр╕зр╕▒р╕Щ for having the courage to publish this material! and welldone Nick for the sense of moral responsibility! & down with the fascist regime!
I have interviewed with a villager from Renu-Nakhon district, Nakhonpanom province (North Eastern region of Thailand) who visited her family in Melbourne last week. She said that Hua-Kanan (Voting-Recruiter) is the person who persuades many people to vote for a person in the election. Every Thai political party also has Hua-Kanan in every village where people are so poor. They normally offered 500 baht for voting a person in the election (minimum rate is 500 Baht).
During Red-Shirt rally days, she told me that Hau-Kanan earned salary approximately 1 million baht per month because they help Taksin to recruit many villagers to join the red shirt rally in Bangkok. Hau-kanan promised to pay villager 500 baht per day including free meals during the protest.
I asked her why villagers decided to go for the protest in Bangkok. She told me that villagers were so poor. They had no choice. The most of them had nothing to eat and high debt. She says “It doesn’t matter which side is good or bad. It doesn’t matter with a real democracy or a fake one. They are going to die. They have nothing to eat. If there has a helping hand that offer them money. They would join that side.”
What do you think? The real problem is not just people education but it is also poverty problem. Who’s going to fix this problem under high corruption everywhere in Thailand?
Given the water quality issues in the Xebangfai it is not surprising that the discharge channel has even more serious water quality issues. A short walk next to the channel leaves one gasping for air which is not putrid, this becomes particularly bad in areas where there is less wind. Also, as has been pointed out earlier for the Xebangfai, villagers tending their cattle dare not let them near the water in the event they drink it. For those interested, a quick stop near the bridge crossing the channel, just before entering Nyommalath will be revealing!!!
Maybe admit is too strong a word. Let me change it to, ‘would not disagree with that charge’. You would have Natthawut and Jataporn as the obvious ones while a bit more surprisingly would be Dr. Weng. Somewhere on this site I think you will find a link to an interview with him in late April.
There is nothing wrong with them accepting this finance from Thaksin because they are not trying to kid anyone that the principle aim movement is not about bringing him back as leader.
The problem exists for those who have been trying to say that’s there more to the movement than meets the eye, that it’s independent of Thaksin, especially those saying it’s self-financed.
Exactly right, you have pretty much posted my next post.
Not going into a debate about political colours but sticking to the subject, The UDD and Reds are fighting for Democracy. Reading what both of us have written just shows how hypocritical this whole shebang really is. The whole thing is a SHAM. These people are brainwashed.
Ultimately, at the end if the day, what we are hearing from both sides IMO is just lies, lies & more lies. Democracy this, Democracy that.
PS : Andrew re. ”
I think the political power of headmen has greatly declined as economic, social and political connections in rural Thailand have proliferated.”
You’re exactly right. This is my experience from near Udon Thani.
They’re now most simply local government functionaries : a loss of rough, street-wise local democracy, as far as I can see.
I think you misunderstand the concept here, Democracy doesn’t cause the concentration of wealth. It was capitalism mechanism that actually did it. However don’t forget that capitalism also create wealth so you need to have capitalism long enough to create wealth before you need to the next step, socialism, to diversify the wealth.
This articles sheds light on the police situation which is similar to the soldiers situation.
Tarrin,
Maybe naive, maybe not.
Let’s look at that for a second…what am I being naive about?
The thought that if elections were held tomorrow and assuming that the Puea Thai party won that instantly there would be installed ALL basic human rights and no corruption that we have in developed world?
I cannot think of any place in the world where the majority of the people hold the majority of wealth, in fact, some of the most prosperous Democracies are prime examples of most of the pie being held by the minority.
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Aftermath of “In the killing zone”
And, mind you, the lead to this article was on Khao Sot’s front page, with four pictures! Thus, it was a strong statement.
Aftermath of “In the killing zone”
Thanks Jim Talor,
I just would like to say Khao Sod is, may be, the only newspaper in Thailand that stick on this issue.
A few weeks ago, a MP from Democrat Party threatened the newspaper to file complaint to Newspaper Journalist Association of Thailand (or some organisation like that), for twisting the facts and lacking ethic.
Matichon Weekly has shown the picture of soldiers shooting at the protesters inside the temple. It’s been monitored by the CRES.
See how things work in current regime? They try to shut everything down. They cut the financial activities of those who they believe associated with Thaksin or the Red movement, claiming it’s supporting terrorists.
As of the election coming in the near future, the Pue Thai Party won’t have financial supports (of course election needs money). Then the Democrat will win the majority. So they can claim they are recognized and elected.
Let’s see if it will be true.
Thailand in crisis: Episode 4
Wow, thank you, Jean-Philippe Leblond.
Translation of interview with Sae Daeng
Colin – 24
I agreed that the UDD leaders might not be suitable for the current situation. The 3 wised-man and the gang are not the revolutionist they are the reformist, that’s why the red never succeed their goal in changing the system. However, I have many chances to go to the really side because by office is just about 5 minutes walk from the rally site, I had the chance to talked to many of the protesters. I’m surprise that not all protesters agreed with what the people on the stage said, some even openly disagree, but they are there for the same purpose is to demand for election (I didn’t agree with that btw). I raised the point just to tell you that these people are not puppet, they are more aware of what is going on many of the old people there went trough the 1976 and 1992 incidents before.
Thailand in crisis: Episode 4
I agree with the comment of Alex: “Thongchai’s self-censorship is depressing…”.
Really Thongchai can’t you open up a bit more? The most daring thing you said was to mention someone “passing away”. But here in Thailand I feel most folk are most apprehensive about what eventuate after the passing.
From the safety of America can you please give us you views? In an earlier podcast in the series we had a speaker cheering on this event and comparing the effects of the present incumbent with that of the now removed dictator of Indonesia with all the nepotism, corruption and repression of that era in Indonesia.
Do you think we are likely to see a break from this with the passing or an intensification in a more overtly militaristic form?
Some grassroots views on Thaksin and the coup
Danny – 25
Corruption is not the core of this crisis, its the broken governing system. Furthermore, if you read the news during April (I will get you the article later if you want) the CRES actually came out and said that about 60% of the protesters are actually from BKK and surrounding area. You just cant simply generalized the protesters because there are so many variety of people there with different level of political conscious and ideology there.
Aftermath of “In the killing zone”
Briefly, article says Nick witnessed taxi driver who was shot at Rajaprarob Road and managed to meet the driver’s daughter Monchaya (age 25) who works for airforce: story repeated on Nick’s NM blog… He explained situation to her because she could not find her father at Rama Hospital. She said she received Bht 400,000 compensation from gov. Nick went to Payathai Police station to search for one of the red shirt protestors – the taxi driver father – shot by the army. Police confirm this person is deceased already and his name as Channarong Polsrila aged 45, on incident which took place 15 May. Nick told girl what he witnessed. The girl said she saw her father’s picture after he was shot and searched for his body at many hospitals and could not find him: then posted on facebook and youtube wanting to contact the person who helped her father. 19 May Monchaya and her mother went to Watjira Hospital and found nothing. Mother then asked her to go to Rama Hospital again and was shown pictures of dead persons; two of whom came from Rajaprarob Road. At first she could not recognise her father but then recognised his clothes. She dreamed everyday of the incident as her father was shot and this disturbed her. How could he be shot like this? Then after finding the corpse she ceased having these dreams as he came to her in one dream and said he was OK where he was and not to worry; after that she stopped having these disturbing dreams…The rest of the article talks about other cases – equally sad. Good on you Khaosod р╕Вр╣Ир╕▓р╕зр╕кр╕Фр╕гр╕▓р╕вр╕зр╕▒р╕Щ for having the courage to publish this material! and welldone Nick for the sense of moral responsibility! & down with the fascist regime!
Aftermath of “In the killing zone”
also see story at http://www.prachatai.org/english/node/1899
Some grassroots views on Thaksin and the coup
I have interviewed with a villager from Renu-Nakhon district, Nakhonpanom province (North Eastern region of Thailand) who visited her family in Melbourne last week. She said that Hua-Kanan (Voting-Recruiter) is the person who persuades many people to vote for a person in the election. Every Thai political party also has Hua-Kanan in every village where people are so poor. They normally offered 500 baht for voting a person in the election (minimum rate is 500 Baht).
During Red-Shirt rally days, she told me that Hau-Kanan earned salary approximately 1 million baht per month because they help Taksin to recruit many villagers to join the red shirt rally in Bangkok. Hau-kanan promised to pay villager 500 baht per day including free meals during the protest.
I asked her why villagers decided to go for the protest in Bangkok. She told me that villagers were so poor. They had no choice. The most of them had nothing to eat and high debt. She says “It doesn’t matter which side is good or bad. It doesn’t matter with a real democracy or a fake one. They are going to die. They have nothing to eat. If there has a helping hand that offer them money. They would join that side.”
What do you think? The real problem is not just people education but it is also poverty problem. Who’s going to fix this problem under high corruption everywhere in Thailand?
Nam Theun 2: what about the Xe Bang Fai?
Given the water quality issues in the Xebangfai it is not surprising that the discharge channel has even more serious water quality issues. A short walk next to the channel leaves one gasping for air which is not putrid, this becomes particularly bad in areas where there is less wind. Also, as has been pointed out earlier for the Xebangfai, villagers tending their cattle dare not let them near the water in the event they drink it. For those interested, a quick stop near the bridge crossing the channel, just before entering Nyommalath will be revealing!!!
Thaksin’s greatest reform ever!
Which UDD leaders have “admitted” this?
Maybe admit is too strong a word. Let me change it to, ‘would not disagree with that charge’. You would have Natthawut and Jataporn as the obvious ones while a bit more surprisingly would be Dr. Weng. Somewhere on this site I think you will find a link to an interview with him in late April.
There is nothing wrong with them accepting this finance from Thaksin because they are not trying to kid anyone that the principle aim movement is not about bringing him back as leader.
The problem exists for those who have been trying to say that’s there more to the movement than meets the eye, that it’s independent of Thaksin, especially those saying it’s self-financed.
Thailand in crisis: Episode 4
Thongchai’s self-censorship is depressing, to say the least.
Translation of interview with Sae Daeng
Tarrin,
Exactly right, you have pretty much posted my next post.
Not going into a debate about political colours but sticking to the subject, The UDD and Reds are fighting for Democracy. Reading what both of us have written just shows how hypocritical this whole shebang really is. The whole thing is a SHAM. These people are brainwashed.
Ultimately, at the end if the day, what we are hearing from both sides IMO is just lies, lies & more lies. Democracy this, Democracy that.
Thailand in crisis: Episode 4
PS : Andrew re. ”
I think the political power of headmen has greatly declined as economic, social and political connections in rural Thailand have proliferated.”
You’re exactly right. This is my experience from near Udon Thani.
They’re now most simply local government functionaries : a loss of rough, street-wise local democracy, as far as I can see.
Thailand in crisis: Episode 4
Tarrin:
the final version of the draft you’re citing is available here :
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2009/07/21/000158349_20090721132749/Rendered/PDF/WPS5011.pdf
or http://ideas.repec.org/p/wbk/wbrwps/5011.html
Thaksin’s greatest reform ever!
Les Abbey (c14)
“Now for those UDD leaders and supporters who always admitted that the movement was largely financed by Thaksin there is no problem.
Which UDD leaders have “admitted” this?
Malaysia’s First Lady
How on earth does she get her hair to do that? Big hair = big power?
Translation of interview with Sae Daeng
Colin – 21
I think you misunderstand the concept here, Democracy doesn’t cause the concentration of wealth. It was capitalism mechanism that actually did it. However don’t forget that capitalism also create wealth so you need to have capitalism long enough to create wealth before you need to the next step, socialism, to diversify the wealth.
Thailand in crisis: Episode 4
LesAbbey (c12)
On whichever side of whichever fence, I wish there were more ready to do as you have here.
Translation of interview with Sae Daeng
Nuomi,
I think Aus will not make it now. Oh well 2014…
The initial point I made is that they are sympathetic to the reds and Thaksin because he improved their living standards.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/39064/the-bkpd-blues
This articles sheds light on the police situation which is similar to the soldiers situation.
Tarrin,
Maybe naive, maybe not.
Let’s look at that for a second…what am I being naive about?
The thought that if elections were held tomorrow and assuming that the Puea Thai party won that instantly there would be installed ALL basic human rights and no corruption that we have in developed world?
I cannot think of any place in the world where the majority of the people hold the majority of wealth, in fact, some of the most prosperous Democracies are prime examples of most of the pie being held by the minority.