Comments

from above “What next for the families of those who have been killed and injured in recent political violence?”

Recent reports indicate that they are to sue UDD and that the NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) is to help in these suits.

Was the cost, to loss of lives, the loss of a great mall, the scar in the psyche of the People of Bangkok and the Redshirt Masses from the provinces worth not having an election–something that must be done eventually (unless the current clique decides to go down the path of Burma-and the subsequent label of pariah state.

My suggestion, Apisit step down. Appoint a neutral third party to run a caretaker government for the brief time until a election can be held.

If you (Apisit) are convinced that you have the right answers to lead Thailand though this period, listen to the voice of the electors; if you are right the people will support you and if not, you lose but not the people.

-Tarrin

Many times I notice the amount of power the people have is proportional to how much the government needs to maintain its credibility.

A democracy can only exist if the people actually believe they have a voice… and most governments will go to great lengths to appear responsive.

Most of the reforms in recent history were made at a time when communism was a real threat, governments instituted reforms, social policies, to lure people back from the socialist camp.

In our current world political situation, there are no great threats to democracy, there is little reason for democratic governments to give any concessions to the people, and they have gone back to doing whats best for the elites that control them.

Oh. Just realised this Australian pro-red>pro-Thaksin ‘anu’ site rightly mentioned the election posters weren’t to do with ‘his royal highness Thaksin’, but infact another party. My mistake!!
All fatted & corrupt politicians look the same to me!

But in all seriousness, I think we’re all aware that most Thai political parties, perhaps with the exception of the ‘Democrat Party’ – are essentially private companies owned by their respective leading politicians, who pay from the top-down in order to recruit the necessary connections/influence of the ‘Kamnans’ (governing officials on the sub-district level) in order to win general elections. Obviously, the more money invested, the more parliamentary seats the cosigned party wins – thus, the better leverage it will have to form a ruling cabinet.

It would be a grave mistake to assume Thaksin’s landslide victory in 2001 was an exception to this ‘rule.’ Seems to me ‘populism’ is a cynically purchased affair.

Mike,
what you report is absolutely disturbing and a step up in term of indoctrination and control. hopefully the act of some teachers and not a new phase. I would love to get to know more about the event, if you are willing please contact me at [email protected]

thanks

Michael,

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Apichatpong-Weerasethakul/19459319898?ref=ts

In the last few days, Thai TV has aired a few bits on Apichatpong’s win at Cannes, all ending with some disingenious comments about how the long the film is, how it might be too difficult for Thai people to understand, how strange it is…

Ignore this rubbish. Go and see it.

My friend is a teacher in high school (12-18 years old kid) and she told me that other teacher did the same thing as Mike said. I’m sure it’s a different school. What worse was that young PAD student beat up their friends when they disagreed and said that they are PAD and their parents are very powerful. I think it happened in early 2009 when she told me about all this.

Unreal, but it happens. Kid start to learn very young that if their parent are powerful then they can pretty much get away with any problem they made. And you will know if this person has a powerful parent or not when they said, “Do you know who my father is?”

Yeah, short memory kid, hah?

I remain concerned that some readers continue to fret about the arson in Bangkok while apparently being ignorant of the context.

In March a Red Shirt leader in Issan gave a rousing speech to say something like:
1. Go out in groups of 3, overpower a soldier with a gun and take it away from him.
2. If the government goes on a killing spree against Red demonstrators burn Bangkok and your Sala Glang in the countryside.

So with regard to burning of Central properties etc one can only say som-nam-naa . The government knew what it was doing and had clearly not the slightest concern for the property destruction it was forewarned as inevitable. So why should you fret?

In Chiang Mai it has brought us a lovely week of quiet with not a sound from the deafening illegal discos thanks to the curfew.

So hearty thanks to the Red demonstrators and deepest sympathy to you all that it came to this.

@Nuomi:

It could be because the director spoke out against censorship in Thailand the day before winning the award. Or it could be because the film is based in Isaan, and therefore humanises people who the amaart would prefer to continue viewing as uneducated savages.

Also this reviewer points out

“In spite of constantly being tracked and chased by hunters, they grow in number towards the end of the film: they are part rumour, part multitude, utopian possibility. They symbolize – just as the Red Shirt protestors fight to keep aflame – an alternative vision of the present and of the future in that anxious nation. “

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/cannes-film-festival/7750613/Cannes-Film-Festival-2010-Uncle-Boonmee-Who-Can-Recall-His-Past-Lives-review.html

Show respect to the elders, especially the teachers, Prof. etc. Those who are in high positions have reached these due to their karma, and the monrachy is the gurantor of Thai unity, welfare of the people etc. So, be thankful to those who provide all what is good!!
Such a mindset can hardly be changed within the current socio-cultural structure. A real change is needed in which the highest position within the state and nation is not defined by a genealogy, but by public consent. Instead of representing an anchestry, the highest should represent the people. This requires a president in the highest position. I doubt that a presidental system, in which the president has tremendous power, would be useful. Why not have a president as representative and a primeminister? It could be best, if the first president in such a representative function would come from the current dynasty. Thereby the old monarchic system would be connected to the new system. It woud allow as well a continuation to some degree of the old ideology. Due to Karma and good deeds, the old dynasty is so strong that they can stand an election and will receive endorsement by the people.
Just an idea

Yes, SS #194, I am well aware of what Nick Nostitz has said about the blackshirts, & I have no argument with it. But, & I would be surprised if he would disagree with me, it appears that there may be other men dressed in black who may have other agendas & loyalties. I think there is a danger in assuming that there is great unity within any body of players in this crisis (Redshirts, Yellowshirts, police, military, government), and further, black dress is ideal clothing for covert operations at night, so we can’t assume that it is the ‘uniform’ of only one body of operatives; it could just as well be clothing adopted by snipers who wanted to be able to slip easily from shadow to shadow, as well as the uniform of Seh Daeng’s group.