My apartment is in soi Ruanrudee close to All Season, I was really wondering how they gona cut electricity and water without effecting the residents around the area. Well, you know how it turn out last night, nothing happen.
I would like to add a new date to the Timeline — 12 May: the Thai military threatened to cut water, power supplies, bus and skytrain services when the clock strikes midnight, or beginning the 13th of May so the reds would not have water, electricity, etc and surrender meekly to the smiling soldiers who planned to detain them at six different/separate locations upcountry.
But strangely enough, they cancelled it at the last minute with silly reasons that the decision might affect innocent residents living near Rajprasong. This shows the military’s and govt’s ultimatum is useless and has no teeth. They have issued uncountable ultimatums to the reds to leave the area but reds prefer to ignore them because they know the military no longer supports this hopeless govt, which is no different from a paper tiger.
No wonder Bkk Post carried this article: “PM risks becoming laughing stock with ultimatums” at this link below:
I’m glad you enjoy The Scourge of Burma series. I have written on New Mandala quite a few essays since 2008. You can find the rest at the following links. (Since you sounded like an avid reader.)
I specially appreciate a comment coming from a fellow Burmese. I am now writing another series called “Burma in Limbo” just in time for the coming elections in Burma.
Not that I took any of it serious to begin with, but this last sentence pretty much gives the CAPO a “get-out-of-paying anything card”. The sentence reads, “It should be noted that this Insurance Scheme does not cover foreigners with resident status in Thailand. Neither does it cover losses and damages occurring outside Thailand or due to causes other than the riots, including acts of terrorism.” The terrorism wording is not defined, leaving enough ambiguity to wriggle out of paying. Thailand “Land of Shams”!
All these surveys show Thailand has a robust democracy – but it’s like 19th century British or American democracy :
Plenty of “rotten boroughs”, plenty of “Tammany Hall”.
It won’t be a more modern, less corrupt democracy until most people’s standard of living rises to the point where’s there’s little or no gain to be made by selling their votes.
And even in so-called “advanced” democracies, we still have our Berlusconi’s, our British expense scandals, corrupt Australian local councils and police, etc, etc., etc.
The promise of ” free board and lodging for 15 years” is false advertising.
The current ancien regime – and Thailand itself perhaps – are unlikely to last 15 years.
The email claims that “…Most farming families tend a small plot of land they own outright, mortgage-free (due to unscrupulous practices in the past, an outdated, paternalistic law prevents them putting up land as security with money-lenders, though they may borrow on anticipated harvests.)…”
Tell that to my friend’s maid in Bangkok, who last year was left nearly catatonic for several days, upon hearing that she’d lost her family’s up-country home after falling too far behind in her payments to a loan shark (ie “money-lender”). She had borrowed the money to help her daughters start up a small ice cream business, which unfortunately foundered. There may be a “law [that] prevents them putting up land as security”, but since when have laws aside from LM been strictly enforced here?
Robert Woodrow seems to be thinking of la-la-land, not Thailand.
Tarrin- check your facts about Korn not paying tax. It was debated during a parlimentary censure a few Governemnts ago in the rebuttal was that he did not pay AND he provided proof from the revenue dpt that he did. AND he made a point about it being a responsibility.
Good point to add on the point why the drug network never seems to disappear. I have many relative and friends who work for the police force, they actually said the same. The some 1,000 bodies kill during war on drug was mostly the in-fight killing between gang to cut the tied between the big fish and small fish. Once the police was able to track down this small timers, there is an evidence that he had some connection with a big-timer due to the size of the drug he was distribution. After a month of following him the police made the arrest attempt, what happened was the guy ran away into a military camp. That was it, the police stop the chase, it turn out that the dealer has a tied with a big brass in the barrack.
The articles get many of the fact/analogy wrong but since many people already pointed that out so I’m not going trough in again.
The author seems not to notice the acquisition deal done by the current finance Minister Korn and JP Morgan Chase about 4-5 years ago. Although it didn’t structure the same way as Thaksin deal since it was a non-listed company, but Korn also use the special tax vehicle to avoid paying tax, legally, as well. The red demand to end double standard is a very valid point, if Thaksin can’t have his justice then no one should.
The Southern Thai insurrection is a weak spot in this otherwise informative chart.
A clear pattern of violence started in 2001, soon after Thaksin’s election, and escalated greatly during the Thaksin government as well as all subsequent governments.
However, the chart shows the violence exploding all at once, with the Krue Sae Massacre in 2004, and more or less ignores the situation after 2006. The problem hasn’t gone away – it’s gotten worse.
seems to me the Thai people represented in this research are willing and ready to participate in and accept the results of a democratic election
the only real issue, as noted is “the threat to Thailand’s electoral culture comes from the top, not from the much maligned electorate”
and the “top” that matters, in my view, are the military generals.
Without the the support of military force it would not matter if other players at the “top” want to threaten or actively subvert the results of this impressive electoral culture.
Bottling the military is an ongoing challenge for every democracy, for example witness the recent upsurgence of military-inspired war on terror in the US, but must be achieved and sustained for democratically based civilisation to be maintained and have an opportunity to advance.
Now, can Abhisit or some other democratically elected leader be a hero and achieve this in Thailand?
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Multi-colour headband
My apartment is in soi Ruanrudee close to All Season, I was really wondering how they gona cut electricity and water without effecting the residents around the area. Well, you know how it turn out last night, nothing happen.
Multi-colour headband
I would like to add a new date to the Timeline — 12 May: the Thai military threatened to cut water, power supplies, bus and skytrain services when the clock strikes midnight, or beginning the 13th of May so the reds would not have water, electricity, etc and surrender meekly to the smiling soldiers who planned to detain them at six different/separate locations upcountry.
But strangely enough, they cancelled it at the last minute with silly reasons that the decision might affect innocent residents living near Rajprasong. This shows the military’s and govt’s ultimatum is useless and has no teeth. They have issued uncountable ultimatums to the reds to leave the area but reds prefer to ignore them because they know the military no longer supports this hopeless govt, which is no different from a paper tiger.
No wonder Bkk Post carried this article: “PM risks becoming laughing stock with ultimatums” at this link below:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/37225/pm-risks-becoming-laughing-stock-with-ultimatums
Indeed, the laughing stock of the world !
The scourge of Burma, Part 5
Ko Aung Soe,
I’m glad you enjoy The Scourge of Burma series. I have written on New Mandala quite a few essays since 2008. You can find the rest at the following links. (Since you sounded like an avid reader.)
http://www.newmandala.org/2010/01/15/irrawaddy-water-and-ne-win%E2%80%99s-gold-trees/
http://www.newmandala.org/2008/07/23/1974-u-thant-uprising-a-first-hand-account/
http://www.newmandala.org/2008/08/04/the-horror-of-political-violence-in-burma/
I specially appreciate a comment coming from a fellow Burmese. I am now writing another series called “Burma in Limbo” just in time for the coming elections in Burma.
“Specifically for foreigners affected by losses or harms”
Not that I took any of it serious to begin with, but this last sentence pretty much gives the CAPO a “get-out-of-paying anything card”. The sentence reads, “It should be noted that this Insurance Scheme does not cover foreigners with resident status in Thailand. Neither does it cover losses and damages occurring outside Thailand or due to causes other than the riots, including acts of terrorism.” The terrorism wording is not defined, leaving enough ambiguity to wriggle out of paying. Thailand “Land of Shams”!
“Sufficiency democracy” – my contribution to political science vocabulary?
Sufficiency democracy is like being stuck in the state of transitional democracy.
Thailand’s robust electoral culture
All these surveys show Thailand has a robust democracy – but it’s like 19th century British or American democracy :
Plenty of “rotten boroughs”, plenty of “Tammany Hall”.
It won’t be a more modern, less corrupt democracy until most people’s standard of living rises to the point where’s there’s little or no gain to be made by selling their votes.
And even in so-called “advanced” democracies, we still have our Berlusconi’s, our British expense scandals, corrupt Australian local councils and police, etc, etc., etc.
Multi-colour headband
And it seems, on a minor point, that the first pie chart adds up to 101%.
Multi-colour headband
These charts, colours and sparks must be nothing compared to the panic now sweeping Thailand’s elite in relation to t he latest hacker breaking of bank details :
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/latvian-police-arrest-alleged-hacker-search-reporters-home-20100513-uydk.html
If a Latvian hacker can do this – certainly someone somewhere in the world can do at least the same to the bank details of Thailand’s higher ups. How high ?
“Specifically for foreigners affected by losses or harms”
The promise of ” free board and lodging for 15 years” is false advertising.
The current ancien regime – and Thailand itself perhaps – are unlikely to last 15 years.
“Specifically for foreigners affected by losses or harms”
current tourist bonus:
mingle with exotic country folk, enjoy their music and food delicacies
complete with occasional exciting moments due to military interference just like the real thing that happens upcountry from time to time
conveniently right in the upmarket tourist area of Bangkok
24 hours, night and day, visitors welcome to join in all activities, even on stage
its all free although donations will be gladly received
due to popular demand the shows has been extended, the actual duration unknown
book early as these shows will only be repeated if the military stay in control of Thailand
(and we hope the corrupt military generals are brought under control of a democratically elected government real soon)
The rebellion of Thailand’s middle-income peasants
The email claims that “…Most farming families tend a small plot of land they own outright, mortgage-free (due to unscrupulous practices in the past, an outdated, paternalistic law prevents them putting up land as security with money-lenders, though they may borrow on anticipated harvests.)…”
Tell that to my friend’s maid in Bangkok, who last year was left nearly catatonic for several days, upon hearing that she’d lost her family’s up-country home after falling too far behind in her payments to a loan shark (ie “money-lender”). She had borrowed the money to help her daughters start up a small ice cream business, which unfortunately foundered. There may be a “law [that] prevents them putting up land as security”, but since when have laws aside from LM been strictly enforced here?
Robert Woodrow seems to be thinking of la-la-land, not Thailand.
Multi-colour headband
And here is a much less artistic version (not suitable for headband production):
http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_international/thailand_turmoil_timeline//index.html?SITE=WBEZELN
Multi-colour headband
Some discussion:
http://blog.noppatjak.com/2010/05/2543-2553.html
About the artist:
http://www.soiwat.org/Wit-Pimkanchanapong_a122.html
The rebellion of Thailand’s middle-income peasants
Tarrin- check your facts about Korn not paying tax. It was debated during a parlimentary censure a few Governemnts ago in the rebuttal was that he did not pay AND he provided proof from the revenue dpt that he did. AND he made a point about it being a responsibility.
Thongchai Winichakul on the Red “germs”
Jim Taylor – 99
Good point to add on the point why the drug network never seems to disappear. I have many relative and friends who work for the police force, they actually said the same. The some 1,000 bodies kill during war on drug was mostly the in-fight killing between gang to cut the tied between the big fish and small fish. Once the police was able to track down this small timers, there is an evidence that he had some connection with a big-timer due to the size of the drug he was distribution. After a month of following him the police made the arrest attempt, what happened was the guy ran away into a military camp. That was it, the police stop the chase, it turn out that the dealer has a tied with a big brass in the barrack.
The rebellion of Thailand’s middle-income peasants
The articles get many of the fact/analogy wrong but since many people already pointed that out so I’m not going trough in again.
The author seems not to notice the acquisition deal done by the current finance Minister Korn and JP Morgan Chase about 4-5 years ago. Although it didn’t structure the same way as Thaksin deal since it was a non-listed company, but Korn also use the special tax vehicle to avoid paying tax, legally, as well. The red demand to end double standard is a very valid point, if Thaksin can’t have his justice then no one should.
Multi-colour headband
The Southern Thai insurrection is a weak spot in this otherwise informative chart.
A clear pattern of violence started in 2001, soon after Thaksin’s election, and escalated greatly during the Thaksin government as well as all subsequent governments.
However, the chart shows the violence exploding all at once, with the Krue Sae Massacre in 2004, and more or less ignores the situation after 2006. The problem hasn’t gone away – it’s gotten worse.
Multi-colour headband
I am just trying to do a translate to english….
Thailand’s robust electoral culture
excellent, timely and encouraging commentary
seems to me the Thai people represented in this research are willing and ready to participate in and accept the results of a democratic election
the only real issue, as noted is “the threat to Thailand’s electoral culture comes from the top, not from the much maligned electorate”
and the “top” that matters, in my view, are the military generals.
Without the the support of military force it would not matter if other players at the “top” want to threaten or actively subvert the results of this impressive electoral culture.
Bottling the military is an ongoing challenge for every democracy, for example witness the recent upsurgence of military-inspired war on terror in the US, but must be achieved and sustained for democratically based civilisation to be maintained and have an opportunity to advance.
Now, can Abhisit or some other democratically elected leader be a hero and achieve this in Thailand?
Confronting Karen homophobia in Burma
Funny, those intolerant Christians have frequently been working assimilation of the hill tribes, even if the hill tribes didn’t necessarily want it.