I don’t see any discussion of the monarchy whatsoever in McDonald’s piece.
The observation’s of the prince’s smoking habits are wholly disconnected from the rest of the article, and bear no relevance – direct or otherwise – at all to the current political situation.
The article is simply gratuitious, even mildly sensationalistic, in my opinion, and certainly not worthy of any real jounalistic inquiry into the state of the monarchy in Thailand.
In your introduction, you salute McDonald as, ”One of Australia’s senior journalists”.
If by this, you imply that we should respect his opinions and the quality of his writing, then you have failed on both counts.
Traditionally, the Thai military has been the road to opportunity for poorer Thais, including rural Thais. The former aristocracy (titles of nobility are extinct because they were never hereditary) and lesser royals once dominated the civil service, along with the Chinese Thais. The Chinese Thais long have had a firm hold on the economy. Thus the military was the only path open for the rest. It is not at all unusual for serving officers also to be businessmen.
This shows truly that Thailand is now governed by a dictatorship government. No freedom in expression, no freedom in speeches and no freedom even in reading articles in a website. The government blocked every existing websites that criticized them. I think this government is the most terrifying government in the history of Thailand.
Reds actually asked permission from Hospital Director Dr Adhisorn Patrduun (р╕нр╕Фр╕┤р╕ир╕г р╕ар╕▒р╕Чр╕гр╕▓р╕Фр╕╣р╕ер╕вр╣М) as reported earlier by TPBS (formerly ITV) – the government media- to visit the hospital as there had been evidence of heavily armed soldiers using the buildings…so why the blown up story? this is grist for the mill for the GOV propaganda machinery…Some facts:
Two buildings Phor-Por-Ror and Sor Kor were empty on 29 April and only security guards there. The order came from Adhisorn to move inpatients from these two buildings facing Rajadamri Road by 28 April. Also that there are to be no OPD (oupatients) from 29-30 April. Admin staff were told not to come to work 29-30 April and only staff caring for inpatients to come to the hospital. Thurs 29 and Fri 30 April there were no inpatients and and no out-patients, and no staff. Check the order by phoning Chula Hospital 02-256-4000 (probably deleted by now). The pics shown to the world of patuents being moved at the time of Nor Por Chor going to the hospital were as a consequence of Adhisorn’s order to move inpatients from other buildings that the Nor Por Chor did not visit and to close the operation of the hospital. Did Adhisorn (a) over react, or (b) part of a stage-managed plan by the government. Chula Hospital’s past record should be evidence enough.
Dr Weng has said that pro-yellow Dr Malinii Sukwetworakit (Vice Gov BMA) р╕Юр╕Н.р╕бр╕▓р╕ер╕┤р╕Щр╕╡ р╕кр╕╕р╕Вр╣Ар╕зр╕Кр╕Кр╕зр╕гр╕Бр╕┤р╕И (р╕гр╕нр╕Зр╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕пр╕Бр╕Чр╕б.) and also medical doctor gave skewed and misleading information р╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Вр╣Йр╕нр╕бр╕╣р╕ер╕Ър╕┤р╕Фр╣Ар╕Ър╕╖р╕нр╕Щр╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕нр╕Зр╕Др╣Мр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Бр╕▓р╕Кр╕▓р╕Фр╕кр╕▓р╕Бр╕е to the International Red Cross (IRC) and that Weng would explain Nor Por Chor having to check out the hospital in order to protect the lives of protestors to IRC and give all the evidence for the presence of heavily armed soldiers allowed to use this place…
Latest: 1. And royal intervention? Pricess Siridhorn, tasked with duties by her mother, asked the Sangkharaat (Supreme Patriarch) who is currently at the hospital to move to Sirirat Hospital instead (he had earlier refused) and to check on patients moved out of the hospital.
2. Suthep has today told the police (not the army because it is not officially supposed to go into this hospital/Red Cross area according to international Red Cross) to use whatever means to clear the space otherwise they would be punished…Lets see/
It really does seem that Abhsiti and co are treading the path towards authoritarianism, and I’m sure we all know on whose behalf and at whose behest they are treading it.
Almost every day there is new evidence that they simply want to stifle or crush all dissent, and I am not at all sure how this squares with Abhisit’s refrain about having democratic credentials.
This is getting seriously unpleasant, way beyond anything that Thaksin dared to do in his day.
and why blame the UDD when it was the soldiers that upset the relatively calm atmosphere in place for some weeks before this military manufactured crisis
complain to the military for taking over the hospital?
an open letter has been issued calling on all pro-democracy students to gather at Rab11 HQ where Abhisit and his band of not-so-merry men are gathered to see what is going to happen…we will know later today
Here is a more complete text (as circulated by email):
1. The Government of Thailand appreciated the patience and understanding, the expressions of concern, and the neutrality of the diplomatic community, on the present political situation in the country.
2. As a democratic country with a democratic government, Thailand had no problem with diplomats meeting various political groups in the country. However, it viewed with concern a number of ambassadors’ meeting with the protesters and associating themselves in an organized manner with the protests, considered “illegal” under Thai law. The Foreign Minister further noted that these ambassadors’ presence in and around the protest areas and their association with the protesters were being construed as giving legitimacy to people acting illegally by trying to bring down the government through violent means. The Foreign Minister cautioned embassies that the Thai Government viewed these actions as a form of interference with Thailand’s internal affairs. He also stated that what was happening in Thailand was an “internal political process” that that country must go through.
3. A group of ambassadors had been spreading false information about the Royal family, voicing opposition to the constitutional monarchy through the internet, and making irresponsible statements on the government’s handing of the ongoing protests. These actions have gone beyond the limits of diplomatic practice and were unacceptable to the Thai government. The envoys’ opposition to the Government and to the Monarchy was inappropriate and will not be tolerated. He advised that foreign envoys, as representatives of their own governments, should not take sides and should refrain from spreading false information and expressing their personal views on the Government and the Monarchy.
4. Thailand will no longer accept arguments that personal relations of their heads of states and/or governments with Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra are separated from formal diplomatic relations between Thailand and the governments concerned. With the bloodshed during the 10 April 2010 operations and Thaksin’s constant video link with and support for the protesters, any association by foreign governments with Thaksin will be viewed by Thailand as undermining bilateral relations.
5. The Thai Government’s strategy was to keep on weakening the protesters by neutralizing them and bringing in more troops at Ratchaprasong area. He acknowledged, however, that an end to the situation remained unclear.
crocodilexp, I’ve seen plenty of users with ridiculous ‘Shoot Thaksin’ or ‘Shoot Redshirt’ and the like profile pictures. In English too! Obviously, with social networking you’re just going to get a reflection of societeal attitudes online, so with the present polarization in Thai politics, obviously political affiliated facebook groups will carry ‘hate’… Even groups against the protest with seemingly innocuous titles like ‘No dissulution of parliament’ are filled with users using aggressive profile pictures. Are there any pro-red facebook groups that are comparable to Social Sanction?
JohnH: I posted it because it relates directly to recent posts on New Mandala about the role of the international community in discussion of the monarchy. Yesterday’s Washington Post also has an article with a similiar opening. There has been a very real shift in international commentary.
Whoopla Im trying to post the link on but it seems like newmandala filtered out post with links out
[AW: comment with links now retrieved from spam filter.]
anyway if u have facebook account then after the facebook url just type in watch red or Social-Sanction-yuthhkar-lng-thh-thang-sngkhm
Im wondering why its only those with yellow mentality that can came up with such a thing, during the yellow hayday I never see anything like this before.
Well, if anyone felt like helping, you can go to the page and click on report or
go to [email protected] and write what is happening, whoopla already summarized it for you.
Well, if anyone felt like helping, you can go to the page and click on report or
go to [email protected] and write what is happening, whoopla already summarized it for you.
Can you present a compelling case that Social Sanction is a hate group devoted to harassment or persecution of individuals due to their political attitudes?
If so, contact Facebook could probably terminate the page for violating their Terms of Service.
Moreover, many media and online communities (e.g. Digg) are very interested in serious real-world damage caused by the likes of Facebook, and I imagine linking a story there would get fair amount of attention.
I looked at the FB group, but don’t read Thai well, so can’t really do much.
Tarrin, please can you post the FB page in question. FB needs to be alerted that their network is being abused and is potentially putting peoples lives in danger by nefarious activities and entrapment by malicious groups that FB is not aware of.
From a Machiavellian perspective, this is a brilliant move by the government. What a beautiful lie!
I’ve seen the video of patients being moved, and lying on concrete floor under inhuman conditions. It is blatantly obvious to anyone who’s not naive or biased that this is a pure propaganda move — echoing the fake story of Iraqis tossing babies out of incubators during the 1991 invasion of Kuwait. Very effective, so emotional that doubting what happened is heartless.
However scary the red inspection of the hospital might have been, obviously the move was not done to benefit the patients. I hope that one day, the unethical hospital boss sacrificing patient’s well-being for propaganda effects will be held responsible.
Weng did well to apologize and minimize damage. It must be said that the reds bungled the inspection. It is so sensitive that it should have been done by a small team, backed by a video camera at all times. Easy to say with benefit of hindsight.
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Vajiralongkorn’s pipe
Andrew,
I don’t see any discussion of the monarchy whatsoever in McDonald’s piece.
The observation’s of the prince’s smoking habits are wholly disconnected from the rest of the article, and bear no relevance – direct or otherwise – at all to the current political situation.
The article is simply gratuitious, even mildly sensationalistic, in my opinion, and certainly not worthy of any real jounalistic inquiry into the state of the monarchy in Thailand.
In your introduction, you salute McDonald as, ”One of Australia’s senior journalists”.
If by this, you imply that we should respect his opinions and the quality of his writing, then you have failed on both counts.
Student leaders summoned
For a few more details (including guess as to reason the female activist mentioned in this post is summoned), see (sorry in Thai):
http://www.thailiberal.org/index.php?showtopic=47415
“The deep political crisis within the Royal Thai Army officer corps”
Traditionally, the Thai military has been the road to opportunity for poorer Thais, including rural Thais. The former aristocracy (titles of nobility are extinct because they were never hereditary) and lesser royals once dominated the civil service, along with the Chinese Thais. The Chinese Thais long have had a firm hold on the economy. Thus the military was the only path open for the rest. It is not at all unusual for serving officers also to be businessmen.
p.s. When did HM become 83?
Student leaders summoned
This shows truly that Thailand is now governed by a dictatorship government. No freedom in expression, no freedom in speeches and no freedom even in reading articles in a website. The government blocked every existing websites that criticized them. I think this government is the most terrifying government in the history of Thailand.
Student leaders summoned
numbers of people turning up is very important
best of luck!
Chulalongkorn Hospital – an alternative account
Reds actually asked permission from Hospital Director Dr Adhisorn Patrduun (р╕нр╕Фр╕┤р╕ир╕г р╕ар╕▒р╕Чр╕гр╕▓р╕Фр╕╣р╕ер╕вр╣М) as reported earlier by TPBS (formerly ITV) – the government media- to visit the hospital as there had been evidence of heavily armed soldiers using the buildings…so why the blown up story? this is grist for the mill for the GOV propaganda machinery…Some facts:
Two buildings Phor-Por-Ror and Sor Kor were empty on 29 April and only security guards there. The order came from Adhisorn to move inpatients from these two buildings facing Rajadamri Road by 28 April. Also that there are to be no OPD (oupatients) from 29-30 April. Admin staff were told not to come to work 29-30 April and only staff caring for inpatients to come to the hospital. Thurs 29 and Fri 30 April there were no inpatients and and no out-patients, and no staff. Check the order by phoning Chula Hospital 02-256-4000 (probably deleted by now). The pics shown to the world of patuents being moved at the time of Nor Por Chor going to the hospital were as a consequence of Adhisorn’s order to move inpatients from other buildings that the Nor Por Chor did not visit and to close the operation of the hospital. Did Adhisorn (a) over react, or (b) part of a stage-managed plan by the government. Chula Hospital’s past record should be evidence enough.
Dr Weng has said that pro-yellow Dr Malinii Sukwetworakit (Vice Gov BMA) р╕Юр╕Н.р╕бр╕▓р╕ер╕┤р╕Щр╕╡ р╕кр╕╕р╕Вр╣Ар╕зр╕Кр╕Кр╕зр╕гр╕Бр╕┤р╕И (р╕гр╕нр╕Зр╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕пр╕Бр╕Чр╕б.) and also medical doctor gave skewed and misleading information р╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Вр╣Йр╕нр╕бр╕╣р╕ер╕Ър╕┤р╕Фр╣Ар╕Ър╕╖р╕нр╕Щр╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕нр╕Зр╕Др╣Мр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Бр╕▓р╕Кр╕▓р╕Фр╕кр╕▓р╕Бр╕е to the International Red Cross (IRC) and that Weng would explain Nor Por Chor having to check out the hospital in order to protect the lives of protestors to IRC and give all the evidence for the presence of heavily armed soldiers allowed to use this place…
Latest: 1. And royal intervention? Pricess Siridhorn, tasked with duties by her mother, asked the Sangkharaat (Supreme Patriarch) who is currently at the hospital to move to Sirirat Hospital instead (he had earlier refused) and to check on patients moved out of the hospital.
2. Suthep has today told the police (not the army because it is not officially supposed to go into this hospital/Red Cross area according to international Red Cross) to use whatever means to clear the space otherwise they would be punished…Lets see/
Student leaders summoned
It really does seem that Abhsiti and co are treading the path towards authoritarianism, and I’m sure we all know on whose behalf and at whose behest they are treading it.
Almost every day there is new evidence that they simply want to stifle or crush all dissent, and I am not at all sure how this squares with Abhisit’s refrain about having democratic credentials.
This is getting seriously unpleasant, way beyond anything that Thaksin dared to do in his day.
Chulalongkorn Hospital – an alternative account
Srithanonchai #16
when was your friends father moved?
and why blame the UDD when it was the soldiers that upset the relatively calm atmosphere in place for some weeks before this military manufactured crisis
complain to the military for taking over the hospital?
Student leaders summoned
an open letter has been issued calling on all pro-democracy students to gather at Rab11 HQ where Abhisit and his band of not-so-merry men are gathered to see what is going to happen…we will know later today
What Kasit said to the diplomats
Here is a more complete text (as circulated by email):
1. The Government of Thailand appreciated the patience and understanding, the expressions of concern, and the neutrality of the diplomatic community, on the present political situation in the country.
2. As a democratic country with a democratic government, Thailand had no problem with diplomats meeting various political groups in the country. However, it viewed with concern a number of ambassadors’ meeting with the protesters and associating themselves in an organized manner with the protests, considered “illegal” under Thai law. The Foreign Minister further noted that these ambassadors’ presence in and around the protest areas and their association with the protesters were being construed as giving legitimacy to people acting illegally by trying to bring down the government through violent means. The Foreign Minister cautioned embassies that the Thai Government viewed these actions as a form of interference with Thailand’s internal affairs. He also stated that what was happening in Thailand was an “internal political process” that that country must go through.
3. A group of ambassadors had been spreading false information about the Royal family, voicing opposition to the constitutional monarchy through the internet, and making irresponsible statements on the government’s handing of the ongoing protests. These actions have gone beyond the limits of diplomatic practice and were unacceptable to the Thai government. The envoys’ opposition to the Government and to the Monarchy was inappropriate and will not be tolerated. He advised that foreign envoys, as representatives of their own governments, should not take sides and should refrain from spreading false information and expressing their personal views on the Government and the Monarchy.
4. Thailand will no longer accept arguments that personal relations of their heads of states and/or governments with Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra are separated from formal diplomatic relations between Thailand and the governments concerned. With the bloodshed during the 10 April 2010 operations and Thaksin’s constant video link with and support for the protesters, any association by foreign governments with Thaksin will be viewed by Thailand as undermining bilateral relations.
5. The Thai Government’s strategy was to keep on weakening the protesters by neutralizing them and bringing in more troops at Ratchaprasong area. He acknowledged, however, that an end to the situation remained unclear.
Where are the young reds?
crocodilexp, I’ve seen plenty of users with ridiculous ‘Shoot Thaksin’ or ‘Shoot Redshirt’ and the like profile pictures. In English too! Obviously, with social networking you’re just going to get a reflection of societeal attitudes online, so with the present polarization in Thai politics, obviously political affiliated facebook groups will carry ‘hate’… Even groups against the protest with seemingly innocuous titles like ‘No dissulution of parliament’ are filled with users using aggressive profile pictures. Are there any pro-red facebook groups that are comparable to Social Sanction?
Vajiralongkorn’s pipe
JohnH: I posted it because it relates directly to recent posts on New Mandala about the role of the international community in discussion of the monarchy. Yesterday’s Washington Post also has an article with a similiar opening. There has been a very real shift in international commentary.
Where are the young reds?
Whoopla Im trying to post the link on but it seems like newmandala filtered out post with links out
[AW: comment with links now retrieved from spam filter.]
anyway if u have facebook account then after the facebook url just type in watch red or Social-Sanction-yuthhkar-lng-thh-thang-sngkhm
Im wondering why its only those with yellow mentality that can came up with such a thing, during the yellow hayday I never see anything like this before.
Well, if anyone felt like helping, you can go to the page and click on report or
go to [email protected] and write what is happening, whoopla already summarized it for you.
Where are the young reds?
I know only 2 pages so far
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Social-Sanction-yuthhkar-lng-thh-thang-sngkhm/108738429154376?ref=mf
http://www.facebook.com/Watchred
Well, if anyone felt like helping, you can go to the page and click on report or
go to [email protected] and write what is happening, whoopla already summarized it for you.
From you to me – the mail in Burma
Thank you Moe
The crushing of the Red Shirts
Thanks for the information, i posted your blog to my facebook group in the category `The crushing of the Red Shirts`. Regards, Katy
Where are the young reds?
@Nawa
Can you present a compelling case that Social Sanction is a hate group devoted to harassment or persecution of individuals due to their political attitudes?
If so, contact Facebook could probably terminate the page for violating their Terms of Service.
http://www.facebook.com/help/?topic=reportabuse
Moreover, many media and online communities (e.g. Digg) are very interested in serious real-world damage caused by the likes of Facebook, and I imagine linking a story there would get fair amount of attention.
I looked at the FB group, but don’t read Thai well, so can’t really do much.
Where are the young reds?
Tarrin, please can you post the FB page in question. FB needs to be alerted that their network is being abused and is potentially putting peoples lives in danger by nefarious activities and entrapment by malicious groups that FB is not aware of.
Chulalongkorn Hospital – an alternative account
From a Machiavellian perspective, this is a brilliant move by the government. What a beautiful lie!
I’ve seen the video of patients being moved, and lying on concrete floor under inhuman conditions. It is blatantly obvious to anyone who’s not naive or biased that this is a pure propaganda move — echoing the fake story of Iraqis tossing babies out of incubators during the 1991 invasion of Kuwait. Very effective, so emotional that doubting what happened is heartless.
However scary the red inspection of the hospital might have been, obviously the move was not done to benefit the patients. I hope that one day, the unethical hospital boss sacrificing patient’s well-being for propaganda effects will be held responsible.
Weng did well to apologize and minimize damage. It must be said that the reds bungled the inspection. It is so sensitive that it should have been done by a small team, backed by a video camera at all times. Easy to say with benefit of hindsight.
Chulalongkorn Hospital – an alternative account
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