Hard to know how much to trust the twitter reports, but there are now plenty reporting gunshots and explosions in or around the red shirt protest site. Reports that Seh Daeng has been shot and is in Chula Hospital.
Apologies for my self-advertisement, but Thai elections are close to my heart. Readers who are seriously interested in Thailand’s electoral culture may also consult a report on the 2007 elections as seen from Chachoengsao province. It can be downloaded from New Mandala at
The hypocricy and shamlessness.; the author should spend a second of his time in the “poor country”. But he’s on Silom, reading his UNDP book. Regarding corruption? Relative numbers? Right now is as corrupt as before. But you can’t get a handbook on that. For a former editor and media guy, this country is a closed book, but of course, he’ll whip out some more data.
I cant see that the redshirts can leave the rally site while the military are still controlling the government and interfering in business and politics in Thailand
The military, using the monarchy as cover and in cooperation with big business families (generally grouped as the Bangkok Elites), has been in control of Thailand with various thin layers of civilian and political leaders rising and falling at the whim of the military.
Until someone is able to control the military, lock them in their
barracks, banned from any involvement in business, politics and any actions inside the country, attempts at democracy will fail in Thailand.
Without the military, the government, reds, Peu Thai even PAD will have to act like normal political rivals and develop democratic
solutions.
Thanks to those who don’t seem to like my statement about vacuous nonsense. It’s prompted me to spend 10 minutes researching just one of the fatuous statements in the original email.
Wealth distribution in Thailand is no more extreme than in most industrialised countries. The poorest 10% of the people of Thailand own 2.6% of the nation’s wealth. The richest 10% own 33.7%. In the U.S. , the comparable figures are 2% and 30%, in the U.K. 2.1% and 28.5%. These statistics may not be wholly reliable, but distribution of wealth is unquestionably much more equitable than in China , India , Brazil or South Africa.
In November 2008 the NESDB commented on the widening inequality between the richest and poorest in Thailand, stating that the richest 10% owned 55% “reflecting the divide that exists in society” and saying that the time had come for a discussion on income distribution measures.
And here is that disparity set out in more detail, in a November 2009 Bangkok Post blog posting by Sanitsuda Ekachai entitled “Thailand’s shocking inequity statistics”
How can normalcy return when the root problem of extreme economic disparity remains unaddressed?
How extreme? Prof Pasuk Phongpaichit did not leave room for doubt about our shamelessly unfair society in her recent keynote speech on “Towards a Fair Society” at the King Prachadhipok Institute conference. Among the glaring facts:
– The top 20% own 69% of the country’s assets while the bottom 20% own only 1%.
– 42% of bank savings money comes from only 70,000 bank accounts holding more than 10 million baht. They make up only 0.09% of all bank accounts in the country. In other words, less than 1% of the people own nearly half of the country’s savings.
– Among the farming families, nearly 20% of them are landless, or about 811,871 families, while 1-1.5 million farming families are tenants or struggling with insufficient land.
– 10% of land owners own more than 100 rai each, while the rest 90% own one rai or less.
– On income distribution, the top 20% enjoy more than 50% of the gross domestic product while the bottom 20% only 4%.
– The average income of the bottom 20% is the same as the poverty line at 1,443 baht per month.
But doubtless since it’s all relative, these statistics mean nothing to the alleged ‘have-nots’, who remain contented and enjoy lives of bucolic simplicity.
michael #16.
A more detailed summary of the work on relative income inequality by Wilkinson and Pickett can be found at: http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/
I found the graphs in the slides posted on this site particularly compelling.
Before submitting my original post on this thread I wish I had read the UN Thailand Human Development Report, “Human Security, Today and Tomorrow”, which was released at the beginning of this week.
There is a discussion on TeakDoor which is very similar to one here, and the rest of my comments are much the same as those I have just posted there.
The section of the latest UN report entitled ‘Confronting Persistent Inequality’ (p.78ff) refers to Wilkinson and Pickett’s book and begins, “Thailand is a very unequal society. There is growing awareness that inequality lies at the root of several forms of human insecurity, including rising political conflict.”
Having now read the full report, I am even more convinced not only of the large underlying income disparity in Thailand, but also of the huge socio-economic division between Bangkok and much of the rest of the country. For example, “Average household income increased from 14,963 baht/month in 2004 to 18,660 baht/month in 2007. 71.6% of income was from employment. Bangkok and provinces in the vicinity enjoyed the highest income level. Besides Mae Hong Son in the North, the lowest incomes were recorded in the Northeastern provinces, especially those in the southern portion. The top provinces reported incomes 5.4 times higher than the lowest-income provinces”, and, “Poverty incidence dropped from 14.93% in 2002 to 8.48% in 2007. The Northeast continued to have the highest poverty incidence at 13.05%, followed by the North, South, Central Region, and then Bangkok” (p.123). Similar major inequalities are reported to exist between Bangkok and the North/Northeastern provinces in terms of health, education, and housing and the living environment. The only indices on which the North/Northeast areas score better than Bangkok are those for family and community life and social/political participation.
I am not suggesting that socio-economic inequalities are the root cause of the ongoing political turmoil or even the main factor, but they do appear to exist, the range and size of the inequalities is substantial, and there is a striking geographical correlation with political divisions.
Apparently the CRES colonel also read my earlier posting and he felt humiliated, being likened to a “paper tiger” so he announced that from 18:00 onwards today, he would order armoured personnel carriers to block all exits/entrances to Rajprasong so no reds will be able to enter the area.
Let us see if his threat is real or just rhetorics but one thing is certain, namely the reds are no longer afraid of anything green after the 10 April incident.
Tarrin, if your area is affected, then you have strong excuse to go the Rajprasong — just one BTS station away or you can take motorcycle taxi.
In Matichon of October 2, 2009, p. 6, Kasian Tejapira had an article on the book “How East Asians View Democracy.” It turned out that Thailand’s people were the least democratic when asked political-cultural questions. Kasian concluded:
(р╕кр╕│р╕лр╕гр╕▒р╕Ъ р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕кр╕Щр╣Гр╕Ир╕ир╕╢р╕Бр╕йр╕▓р╕Др╣Йр╕Щр╕Др╕зр╣Йр╕▓р╕Вр╣Йр╕нр╕бр╕╣р╕ер╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕кр╕│р╕гр╕зр╕Ир╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Ър╕Чр╕зр╕┤р╣Ар╕Др╕гр╕▓р╕░р╕лр╣Мр╕Вр╕нр╕З The Asian Barometer р╕Хр╣Ир╕н р╣Вр╕Ыр╕гр╕Фр╕Фр╕╣ р╕лр╕Щр╕▒р╕Зр╕кр╕╖р╕нр╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╕Хр╣Йр╕Щр╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╣Ар╕зр╣Зр╕Ър╣Др╕Лр╕Хр╣М http://www.asianbarometer.org/)
In Europe and North America , farmers tend to be affluent.
Que? I think what this rose-tinted spectacle wearing ‘commentator’ actually meant to say was:
“In Europe and North America, farmers tend to be affluent corporate giants since, thanks to the capital demands of intensive mechanized farming, the days of surviving as an individual farmer on a couple of hundred acres have all but gone.”
I don’t have the strength to address the rest of this vacuous nonsense.
What you don’t mention is whether people have access to concrete facts and information which they can use to make an informed decision when they vote.
Do they actually know how government money is being spent? Do they actually know how the government rice mortgage (price support, subsidy) works, for example?
Is there a critical local media that reports on these issues? Where I lived in Chiang Rai there certainly wasn’t. Moreover, conversation or debate controversial issues is often intentionally stifled, the worst case I can think of being the charges of participation in a child prostitution ring brought against senior university officials in the university I worked at and a law professors (+ others of lower status) (this was the subject of 3 Matichon articles in the national press but articles ended without any resolution) . The news feed to the university was cut off and the only talk of this issue was basically whispered gossip. And of course there is also Matthew McDaniels who in Chiang Rai reported on a lot of things most would be frightened to report on.
In fact, gossip or information through the grapevine is the only way of obtaining information on a wide host of issues in rural Thailand. The Philippines seems to be slightly better but faces the same challenges (See Investigating Local Governments: a manual for reporters, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, 2001). Where there is no active local media, there is an umbrella for injustice, simple as that. Travelling in the Philippines recently, for example, at the little beach I was staying at there was a chemical factory & in the same week a funeral for yet another early cancer death which I found out was quite common (met several people who fought for their rightful medical benefits in local court) and this continues. Why? No local media to make an issue of it. Of course, the most common way to stifle information at the local level is the threat of death to those who report on it, but here again only media & transparency can provide any eventual solution.
rather than “rotten boroughs” Chris it is a case of “rotten members” of the EC nominated by the 2006 coup-makers and friends; Nor Por Chor, alleging bias in the handling of complaints by the EC is still trying to force the resolution of a serious year-old complaint against the DP [-Amaat-Military Alliance]. Jatuporn is clear on the fact that the EC is using double standards; whereas at a whisper they would red card pro-democracy parties, or those with pro-Thaksin sentiments, but…well when it comes to the DP, sorry chaps- these things take time!
You see, I was following the deal, and fortunately I had a family member working in JP that’s why I know how he did it. Korn actually paid around 130M in tax (if I’m not mistaken), while if he actually paid the full sum, he would have to pay around 500M. You are not wrong about him paying tax to the revenue department, but he did almost 70% of the deal offshore (the rest of the 30% was done in Thailand for legality reason) and the payment was made in a tax heaven in USD. Now I didn’t say that he did any wrong doing because there’s nothing illegal. However, Thaksin was doing the same thing as Korn did about structure the deal to avoid tax, which is what everyone did.
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Crackdown? Abhisit’s last stand?
Hard to know how much to trust the twitter reports, but there are now plenty reporting gunshots and explosions in or around the red shirt protest site. Reports that Seh Daeng has been shot and is in Chula Hospital.
Crackdown? Abhisit’s last stand?
19.25 BKK time, sounded like 3 or 4 bombs at Saladaeng, Lumpini side, and some gun fire. No police or soldiers at that spot it seems.
Thailand’s robust electoral culture
Apologies for my self-advertisement, but Thai elections are close to my heart. Readers who are seriously interested in Thailand’s electoral culture may also consult a report on the 2007 elections as seen from Chachoengsao province. It can be downloaded from New Mandala at
http://www.newmandala.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/michael-h-nelson-on-chachoengsao-election.pdf
Crackdown? Abhisit’s last stand?
The Nation’s map of the planned blockade.
The rebellion of Thailand’s middle-income peasants
The hypocricy and shamlessness.; the author should spend a second of his time in the “poor country”. But he’s on Silom, reading his UNDP book. Regarding corruption? Relative numbers? Right now is as corrupt as before. But you can’t get a handbook on that. For a former editor and media guy, this country is a closed book, but of course, he’ll whip out some more data.
ET
Crackdown? Abhisit’s last stand?
I cant see that the redshirts can leave the rally site while the military are still controlling the government and interfering in business and politics in Thailand
The military, using the monarchy as cover and in cooperation with big business families (generally grouped as the Bangkok Elites), has been in control of Thailand with various thin layers of civilian and political leaders rising and falling at the whim of the military.
Until someone is able to control the military, lock them in their
barracks, banned from any involvement in business, politics and any actions inside the country, attempts at democracy will fail in Thailand.
Without the military, the government, reds, Peu Thai even PAD will have to act like normal political rivals and develop democratic
solutions.
Rating comments
Will this replace comment moderation system? [AW: No.]
Crackdown
Will tonight become the Ploughing Day Massacre in Thai History?
Crackdown
That was last month.
Now we have this month’s coming crackdown tonight starting at 6pm.
Will the sound of the Thai National Anthem be heard between outbursts of automatic rifle fire?
How many to die or be wounded?
Film at 11?
And next month….??? and the one after that….????
How about an election guys. Let the people speak. Then abide by the results.
But that is democracy…..
So do you like the alternative more?
The rebellion of Thailand’s middle-income peasants
Thanks to those who don’t seem to like my statement about vacuous nonsense. It’s prompted me to spend 10 minutes researching just one of the fatuous statements in the original email.
Wealth distribution in Thailand is no more extreme than in most industrialised countries. The poorest 10% of the people of Thailand own 2.6% of the nation’s wealth. The richest 10% own 33.7%. In the U.S. , the comparable figures are 2% and 30%, in the U.K. 2.1% and 28.5%. These statistics may not be wholly reliable, but distribution of wealth is unquestionably much more equitable than in China , India , Brazil or South Africa.
In November 2008 the NESDB commented on the widening inequality between the richest and poorest in Thailand, stating that the richest 10% owned 55% “reflecting the divide that exists in society” and saying that the time had come for a discussion on income distribution measures.
р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╣Ар╕Ыр╕ер╕╡р╣Ир╕вр╕Щр╣Бр╕Ыр╕ер╕Зр╕Чр╕▓р╕Зр╕гр╕▓р╕вр╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Чр╕гр╕▒р╕Юр╕вр╣Мр╕кр╕┤р╕Щр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕бр╕╡р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╣Ар╕лр╕ер╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕бр╕ер╣Йр╕│р╣Ар╕Юр╕┤р╣Ир╕бр╕Вр╕╢р╣Йр╕Щ р╕кр╕╖р╕Ър╣Ар╕Щр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Зр╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╣Вр╕ер╕Бр╕▓р╕ар╕┤р╕зр╕▒р╕Хр╕Щр╣М р╕Др╕│р╕Щр╕зр╕Ур╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Бр╕гр╕░р╕Ир╕▓р╕вр╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕бр╕▒р╣Ир╕Щр╕Др╕▒р╣Ир╕Зр╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕Вр╣Йр╕нр╕бр╕╣р╕ер╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕кр╕│р╕гр╕зр╕Ир╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Бр╕гр╕░р╕Ир╕▓р╕вр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Чр╕гр╕▒р╕Юр╕вр╣Мр╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕бр╕▓р╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Чр╕гр╕▒р╕Юр╕вр╣Мр╕кр╕┤р╕Щр╕Др╕гр╕▒р╕зр╣Ар╕гр╕╖р╕нр╕Щ р╣Вр╕Фр╕вр╕кр╕│р╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╕Зр╕▓р╕Щр╕кр╕Цр╕┤р╕Хр╕┤р╣Бр╕лр╣Ир╕Зр╕Кр╕▓р╕Хр╕┤р╕Ыр╕╡ 2549 р╕Юр╕Ър╕зр╣Ир╕▓ р╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╣Бр╕Ър╣Ир╕Зр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Кр╕Щр╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕Ир╕Щр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕кр╕╕р╕Фр╕Цр╕╢р╕Зр╕гр╕зр╕вр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕кр╕╕р╕Фр╕нр╕нр╕Бр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щ 10 р╕Кр╕▒р╣Йр╕Щ р╣Гр╕Щр╕Кр╕▒р╣Йр╕Щр╕Чр╕╡р╣И 10 р╕Юр╕Ър╕зр╣Ир╕▓ р╕Др╕гр╕нр╕Ър╕Др╕гр╕нр╕Зр╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕бр╕▒р╣Ир╕Зр╕Др╕▒р╣Ир╕Зр╕Цр╕╢р╕З 55 р╣Ар╕Ыр╕нр╕гр╣Мр╣Ар╕Лр╣Зр╕Щр╕Хр╣М р╣Ар╕Бр╕┤р╕Щр╕Др╕гр╕╢р╣Ир╕Зр╕лр╕Щр╕╢р╣Ир╕З р╕Хр╕гр╕Зр╕Щр╕╡р╣Йр╕кр╕░р╕Чр╣Йр╕нр╕Щр╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╣Ар╕лр╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕бр╕ер╣Йр╕│р╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕бр╕╡р╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╣Гр╕Щр╕кр╕▒р╕Зр╕Др╕б р╕Ир╕╢р╕Зр╕Др╕┤р╕Фр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Цр╕╢р╕Зр╣Ар╕зр╕ер╕▓р╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Ар╕лр╕бр╕▓р╕░р╕кр╕бр╣Бр╕ер╣Йр╕зр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Ир╕░р╕Юр╕╣р╕Фр╕Цр╕╢р╕З “р╕бр╕▓р╕Хр╕гр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Цр╣Ир╕▓р╕вр╣Вр╕нр╕Щр╕гр╕▓р╕вр╣Др╕Фр╣Й” р╣Гр╕Щр╕Чр╕▓р╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Др╕ер╕▒р╕З – http://arayachon.org/news/20090212/1098
And here is that disparity set out in more detail, in a November 2009 Bangkok Post blog posting by Sanitsuda Ekachai entitled “Thailand’s shocking inequity statistics”
How can normalcy return when the root problem of extreme economic disparity remains unaddressed?
How extreme? Prof Pasuk Phongpaichit did not leave room for doubt about our shamelessly unfair society in her recent keynote speech on “Towards a Fair Society” at the King Prachadhipok Institute conference. Among the glaring facts:
– The top 20% own 69% of the country’s assets while the bottom 20% own only 1%.
– 42% of bank savings money comes from only 70,000 bank accounts holding more than 10 million baht. They make up only 0.09% of all bank accounts in the country. In other words, less than 1% of the people own nearly half of the country’s savings.
– Among the farming families, nearly 20% of them are landless, or about 811,871 families, while 1-1.5 million farming families are tenants or struggling with insufficient land.
– 10% of land owners own more than 100 rai each, while the rest 90% own one rai or less.
– On income distribution, the top 20% enjoy more than 50% of the gross domestic product while the bottom 20% only 4%.
– The average income of the bottom 20% is the same as the poverty line at 1,443 baht per month.
– The gap between the richest and poorest family is 13 times, higher than all our neighbouring countries.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/blogs/index.php/2009/11/30/thailand-s-shocking-inequity-statistics?blog=64
But doubtless since it’s all relative, these statistics mean nothing to the alleged ‘have-nots’, who remain contented and enjoy lives of bucolic simplicity.
The rebellion of Thailand’s middle-income peasants
michael #16.
A more detailed summary of the work on relative income inequality by Wilkinson and Pickett can be found at: http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/
I found the graphs in the slides posted on this site particularly compelling.
Before submitting my original post on this thread I wish I had read the UN Thailand Human Development Report, “Human Security, Today and Tomorrow”, which was released at the beginning of this week.
There is a discussion on TeakDoor which is very similar to one here, and the rest of my comments are much the same as those I have just posted there.
The section of the latest UN report entitled ‘Confronting Persistent Inequality’ (p.78ff) refers to Wilkinson and Pickett’s book and begins, “Thailand is a very unequal society. There is growing awareness that inequality lies at the root of several forms of human insecurity, including rising political conflict.”
Having now read the full report, I am even more convinced not only of the large underlying income disparity in Thailand, but also of the huge socio-economic division between Bangkok and much of the rest of the country. For example, “Average household income increased from 14,963 baht/month in 2004 to 18,660 baht/month in 2007. 71.6% of income was from employment. Bangkok and provinces in the vicinity enjoyed the highest income level. Besides Mae Hong Son in the North, the lowest incomes were recorded in the Northeastern provinces, especially those in the southern portion. The top provinces reported incomes 5.4 times higher than the lowest-income provinces”, and, “Poverty incidence dropped from 14.93% in 2002 to 8.48% in 2007. The Northeast continued to have the highest poverty incidence at 13.05%, followed by the North, South, Central Region, and then Bangkok” (p.123). Similar major inequalities are reported to exist between Bangkok and the North/Northeastern provinces in terms of health, education, and housing and the living environment. The only indices on which the North/Northeast areas score better than Bangkok are those for family and community life and social/political participation.
I am not suggesting that socio-economic inequalities are the root cause of the ongoing political turmoil or even the main factor, but they do appear to exist, the range and size of the inequalities is substantial, and there is a striking geographical correlation with political divisions.
Multi-colour headband
Ratchada – 9
I walk to the rally after work quite frequently.
“Specifically for foreigners affected by losses or harms”
If you think it is hard to get an insurance company to pay a claim, how difficult will it be to collect from this government?
Multi-colour headband
Apparently the CRES colonel also read my earlier posting and he felt humiliated, being likened to a “paper tiger” so he announced that from 18:00 onwards today, he would order armoured personnel carriers to block all exits/entrances to Rajprasong so no reds will be able to enter the area.
Let us see if his threat is real or just rhetorics but one thing is certain, namely the reds are no longer afraid of anything green after the 10 April incident.
Tarrin, if your area is affected, then you have strong excuse to go the Rajprasong — just one BTS station away or you can take motorcycle taxi.
Thailand’s robust electoral culture
In Matichon of October 2, 2009, p. 6, Kasian Tejapira had an article on the book “How East Asians View Democracy.” It turned out that Thailand’s people were the least democratic when asked political-cultural questions. Kasian concluded:
р╕Ыр╕гр╕▓р╕Бр╕П р╕зр╣Ир╕▓ р╣Др╕нр╣Йр╕лр╕вр╕▓! р╕Др╣Ир╕▓р╕Щр╕┤р╕вр╕бр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Ыр╣Др╕Хр╕вр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╣Др╕Чр╕вр╣Ар╕гр╕▓р╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╕Ър╣Кр╕зр╕вр╕гр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╕Чр╣Йр╕▓р╕вр╣Вр╕лр╕ер╣Ир╕кр╕╕р╕Фр╣Гр╕Щ 8 р╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕Чр╕ир╣Ар╕нр╣Ар╕Кр╕╡р╕вр╕Хр╕░р╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╕нр╕нр╕Бр╣Ар╕ер╕вр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ар╕Фр╕╡р╕вр╕з! р╣Др╕нр╣Йр╣Бр╕Юр╣Йр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕Чр╕ир╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Ыр╣Др╕Хр╕вр╣Ар╕Фр╣Ир╕Щр╣Ж р╕нр╕вр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╕Нр╕╡р╣Ир╕Ыр╕╕р╣Ир╕Щр╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╣Ар╕Бр╕▓р╕лр╕ер╕╡р╣Гр╕Хр╣Йр╕вр╕▒р╕Зр╕Юр╕нр╕зр╣Ир╕▓ р╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕Фр╕▒р╕Щр╕бр╕▓р╣Бр╕Юр╣Йр╣Ар╕Ьр╕Фр╣Зр╕Ир╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Др╕нр╕бр╕бр╕┤р╕зр╕Щр╕┤р╕кр╕Хр╣Мр╕нр╕вр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╕Ир╕╡р╕Щр╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Ыр╣Др╕Хр╕вр╣Ар╕Бр╕┤р╕Фр╣Гр╕лр╕бр╣Ир╣Ар╕Хр╣Кр╕▓р╕░р╣Бр╕Хр╣Кр╕░ р╕нр╕вр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╕бр╕нр╕Зр╣Вр╕Бр╣Ар╕ер╕╡р╕в (р╣Ар╕Ир╕Зр╕Бр╕╡р╕кр╕Вр╣Ир╕▓р╕Щ!) р╣Бр╕Ър╕Ър╕Щр╕╡р╣Йр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕гр╕╣р╣Йр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Ир╕░р╣Ар╕нр╕▓р╕лр╕Щр╣Йр╕▓р╣Др╕Ыр╣Др╕зр╣Йр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Др╕лр╕Щ
р╣Бр╕Хр╣И р╕Вр╕Ур╕░р╣Ар╕Фр╕╡р╕вр╕зр╕Бр╕▒р╕Щр╕Бр╣Зр╕Ыр╕Пр╕┤р╣Ар╕кр╕Шр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Др╕│р╕Цр╕▓р╕б-р╕Ьр╕ер╕Др╕│р╕Хр╕нр╕Ър╕лр╕ер╕▓р╕вр╕Вр╣Йр╕нр╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╕кр╕░р╕Чр╣Йр╕нр╕Щр╣Ар╕Зр╕▓р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕Др╕┤р╕Фр╕Бр╕▓р╕г р╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Зр╣Бр╕Ър╕Ър╕Йр╕Ър╕▒р╕Ъ р╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╣Др╕Чр╕вр╣Ар╕гр╕▓р╕Ир╕гр╕┤р╕Зр╣Ж р╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕бр╕┤р╕Щр╕Др╕Щр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Гр╕Ър╕Ыр╕гр╕┤р╕Нр╕Нр╕▓, р╕Чр╕▒р╕ир╕Щр╕Др╕Хр╕┤р╣Ар╕Кр╕┤р╕Зр╕ир╕╡р╕ер╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Хр╣Ир╕нр╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕Щр╕│р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕З, р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕бр╕нр╕Зр╕Ър╕Чр╕Ър╕▓р╕Ч р╕кр╕ар╕▓р╕п, р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕Щр╣Йр╕Щр╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕кр╕бр╕▓р╕Щр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕Чр╣Мр╕кр╕▓р╕бр╕▒р╕Др╕Др╕╡р╣Ар╕лр╕Щр╕╖р╕нр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Бр╕Ър╣Ир╕Зр╕Бр╕ер╕╕р╣Ир╕бр╣Бр╕Ър╣Ир╕Зр╕Эр╣Ир╕▓р╕в, р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕лр╕зр╕▓р╕Фр╕гр╕░р╣Бр╕зр╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕бр╕нр╕Зр╕Хр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╕бр╕╕р╕б р╕пр╕ер╕п
р╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╕зр╣Ир╕▓…р╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕бр╕╡р╕Шр╕▓р╕Хр╕╕р╕нр╕░р╣Др╕гр╕Ър╕▓р╕Зр╕нр╕вр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╣Гр╕Щр╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╣Др╕Чр╕вр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╣Ар╕нр╕▓р╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╕Ир╕гр╕┤р╕Зр╣Др╕Ыр╕Бр╕▒р╕Щр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕Др╣Ир╕нр╕вр╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Ыр╣Др╕Хр╕в?
(р╕кр╕│р╕лр╕гр╕▒р╕Ъ р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕кр╕Щр╣Гр╕Ир╕ир╕╢р╕Бр╕йр╕▓р╕Др╣Йр╕Щр╕Др╕зр╣Йр╕▓р╕Вр╣Йр╕нр╕бр╕╣р╕ер╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕кр╕│р╕гр╕зр╕Ир╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Ър╕Чр╕зр╕┤р╣Ар╕Др╕гр╕▓р╕░р╕лр╣Мр╕Вр╕нр╕З The Asian Barometer р╕Хр╣Ир╕н р╣Вр╕Ыр╕гр╕Фр╕Фр╕╣ р╕лр╕Щр╕▒р╕Зр╕кр╕╖р╕нр╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╕Хр╣Йр╕Щр╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕нр╣Ар╕зр╣Зр╕Ър╣Др╕Лр╕Хр╣М http://www.asianbarometer.org/)
“The deep political crisis within the Royal Thai Army officer corps”
An excellent update on the complexities of Thai civilian and military conflicts….
The rebellion of Thailand’s middle-income peasants
In Europe and North America , farmers tend to be affluent.
Que? I think what this rose-tinted spectacle wearing ‘commentator’ actually meant to say was:
“In Europe and North America, farmers tend to be affluent corporate giants since, thanks to the capital demands of intensive mechanized farming, the days of surviving as an individual farmer on a couple of hundred acres have all but gone.”
I don’t have the strength to address the rest of this vacuous nonsense.
Thailand’s robust electoral culture
What you don’t mention is whether people have access to concrete facts and information which they can use to make an informed decision when they vote.
Do they actually know how government money is being spent? Do they actually know how the government rice mortgage (price support, subsidy) works, for example?
Is there a critical local media that reports on these issues? Where I lived in Chiang Rai there certainly wasn’t. Moreover, conversation or debate controversial issues is often intentionally stifled, the worst case I can think of being the charges of participation in a child prostitution ring brought against senior university officials in the university I worked at and a law professors (+ others of lower status) (this was the subject of 3 Matichon articles in the national press but articles ended without any resolution) . The news feed to the university was cut off and the only talk of this issue was basically whispered gossip. And of course there is also Matthew McDaniels who in Chiang Rai reported on a lot of things most would be frightened to report on.
In fact, gossip or information through the grapevine is the only way of obtaining information on a wide host of issues in rural Thailand. The Philippines seems to be slightly better but faces the same challenges (See Investigating Local Governments: a manual for reporters, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, 2001). Where there is no active local media, there is an umbrella for injustice, simple as that. Travelling in the Philippines recently, for example, at the little beach I was staying at there was a chemical factory & in the same week a funeral for yet another early cancer death which I found out was quite common (met several people who fought for their rightful medical benefits in local court) and this continues. Why? No local media to make an issue of it. Of course, the most common way to stifle information at the local level is the threat of death to those who report on it, but here again only media & transparency can provide any eventual solution.
Thailand’s robust electoral culture
rather than “rotten boroughs” Chris it is a case of “rotten members” of the EC nominated by the 2006 coup-makers and friends; Nor Por Chor, alleging bias in the handling of complaints by the EC is still trying to force the resolution of a serious year-old complaint against the DP [-Amaat-Military Alliance]. Jatuporn is clear on the fact that the EC is using double standards; whereas at a whisper they would red card pro-democracy parties, or those with pro-Thaksin sentiments, but…well when it comes to the DP, sorry chaps- these things take time!
The rebellion of Thailand’s middle-income peasants
angusk – 34
You see, I was following the deal, and fortunately I had a family member working in JP that’s why I know how he did it. Korn actually paid around 130M in tax (if I’m not mistaken), while if he actually paid the full sum, he would have to pay around 500M. You are not wrong about him paying tax to the revenue department, but he did almost 70% of the deal offshore (the rest of the 30% was done in Thailand for legality reason) and the payment was made in a tax heaven in USD. Now I didn’t say that he did any wrong doing because there’s nothing illegal. However, Thaksin was doing the same thing as Korn did about structure the deal to avoid tax, which is what everyone did.