Stuart (30). So any research into the operations of the Mafia is a fantasy until the researcher releases the information that will get him and his informants bumped off? It’s not peer-reviewed science, but it’s all we can expect, and it makes enough sense to have brought out couple of top-notch responses (19 and 20).
(I’ve enjoyed reading this comment in the many places I have seen it pasted. I made a minor correction at Absolutely Bangkok, which I repeat here as your comment in both places is identical)
I don’t think the military owns any banks anymore. They seem to only have 1.44% of Thai Military Bank (although I have heard that is because they looted it so badly that there was no way to recapitalize it).
However, they and their allies should be at least as great a focus as the one individual, Thaksin, who has gotten 99% of the attention. They have had a much bigger and more sustained role bringing Thailand to where it is today.
an interesting video which gives a glimpse of how complex, chaotic and dangerous the “battlefield” was with the various highways and many civilians and their cars caught in the middle along with thousands of spectators on the overhead pedestrian bridges.
the reporter does seem to miss the crucial detail that the dead soldier was one of the motorcycle soldiers killed by the Army’s own mistaken fire along with 5 or 6 other motorcycle soldiers wounded by the same burst of “friendly fire”.
Thailand is the Southeast Asia’s largest auto manufacturer and very close to be in the list of top 10 auto-making countries on the planet. The industry with the capacity to produce 2 million vehicles a year contributes more than 10% of total exports employing close to 200,000 people. (Most BMWs and Hondas imported into Australia come from Thailand now.)
The main reason for the success is the policy pragmatism of successive Thai governments to let the highly educated technocrats from the NESDB and BOI freely run the economic and industrial planning without interferences from the politicians.
IMHO Thailand doesn’t have a economic crisis but the income inequality crisis due to the rapid industrialization and also the lack of unified labor representation in the process of wage adjustment. Basic salary and wages are just purely market driven and there are no humane process to absorb the shocks of a severe crisis like the GFC.
Thailand is ruled by retired and serving military with 700 generals
heavily involved in legal and illegal business. Their power is secured
by the fiction of protection of the monarchy and massive wealth and
influence links with all the important economic structures in Thailand.
For examples, the Thai military own Banks, TV, radio and are represented and control the airlines, construction, manufacturing, agriculture.
The military are active in managing the politics of Thailand and work in many capacities in all regions of Thailand. The military controls legal and illegal labour flows across the borders and the insurgency in the south and are immune from legal and government oversight. The government exists only to provide stories and excuses for their actions.
Full franchise democratic elections are a direct threat to the military
because they take the power of choice of MPs from them and worse,
elected governments can claim the authority of the people and introduce controls on the military.
After he was elected Thaksin was foolish and brave enough to introduce some controls, there were calls that he was “interfering with the military promotions and reshuffle” (which a democratic government has a duty to do) and “threatening the monarchy” which he wasnt, but the military always falls back on this to secure their power.
It is the challenge for every government to try to bring the military
under control. Abhisit cannnot because he cannot claim the mandate of the people.
The redshirts want free and fair elections so their government can claim the authority to rule Thailand and at least try to control the military.
if i recall… every person on the planet is related through at most 6 links
which means that a diagram can easily be drawn to show that all the PAD and government supporters, like StanG for example, are related, I expect some of them in surprising ways, to Prem, Prayuth, Sondhi Lim and of course Abhisit.
what an amazing and magical diagram that would be!
and what amazing secrets it might reveal to the suitably motivated mind…
I think most people under estimate the Thai King – he is a great man in a difficult position… how does a father look after his squabling children without being seen to take sides?
Maybe he makes a speech to the younger ones telling them how to behave and hopes that the older one will catch His drift…
If the present crisis is to be solved without too much violence who but the judicary can do it?
#Alladdin, I agree.
it the red shirts leaders have enough brain capacities, they surely understand that democracy in thailand is not sustainable in the present system. any election victory is meaningless as long as the monarchy network, army, judges continue to ‘own’ the country unaccountedly. Anyway, in thailand it’s a criminal offence to even think of a future out of this system, so whatever red shirts really think, we’ll never know.
a democratic system is:
– a system where elected governments transparentely place themselves under citizen’s scrutinity. setting clear electoral agendas.
– the army is non political and obeys the elected government. (and isn’t holding massive business interests)
– media freedom is guaranteed as well as freedom of thought.
whatever happens, thailand will not be democratic until people are as free to say ‘i am monarchist’ as ‘i am republican’.
Sorry, meant the link from Somsak to Pojamarn before going on to Thaksin. What has Somsak got to do with Pojamarn? It’s the only place and connection she has on that map.
Show me, don’t tell me. As fascinating and apparently well-researched as the article is, it remains fantasy until the writer establishes his bona fides.
Hana, you are Thai, right? Have a look at this Youtube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41niGt9u80U&feature=player_embedded#!
What do you think? The backlash against this young student who is brave enough to stand up for what he believes in is disgusting . Have a look at the comments below the clip and those running lines that interrupt /appear time and again during the interview (obviously inserted into the clip by those who” know Thai culture well and love Thailand”
Most of the connections are pretty clear, and I wanted to ask about Somsak’s link to Thaksin myself.
I’m not sure it’s important, however, as Fah Diew Gun is (allegedly) sponsored by Suriya’s relative already and so they don’t really need Somsak-Thaksin link.
Overall I don’t see the plot to overthrow monarchy as such, just a diagram to show that the same people are involved in supporting both the “clean” UDD and “dirty” anti-monarchy movements at the same time.
Means that while on the red stage don’t hear any anti-monarchy speeches for the ranks and file red shirts who do all the fighting in good faith, the brains and financiers behind the whole red operation have a different agenda.
“One soldier has died, reportedly from a shot fired by a member of the security forces…”
If a shot fired didn’t hit that one soldier, it might be one civilian instead? Whoever it was hit, the fact is that the security force did aim for the head and using real bullet.
GOsh,… who really responsible to such an order to kill?
Sorry my English is not good but I will try my best.
My reason to enter and post message into this web board because I thought that all of you are not know Thai country that much, you just believe and read only one side of news or any kind of information.
The stories of demonstration are not for “Democracy”. (Flight for democracy should not like this, bomb around Bangkok area, shoots each other! Because we not communist country!) But the protester was brainwashing more than 3 years or at least after Thaksin being sentenced case of land fraud. He ran away out before being arrested in jail by some powerful man help him to go out of Thai country. Before he left, he overawe “If I cannot stay (without arrested) then all Thais and country will never found peaceful or happiness anymore any longer!!”
This is the start of brainwashing…Thaksin team tried many ways and many kinds to gather mass first step try underground plan…
1. Teaching country people to believe that he is innocent and alleged by unfair judgments.
2. Open public radio stations, starts Red radio
3. Buying and send Satellite Dish, starts Red TV
4. Set up publish company, starts Red newspaper
5. Promise to country people that if they can help and support him to go back “Home”, then he will return them with “release from debt and provide some pocket money” to each family.
5. According to the 4, who are interesting to this promotion have to register with ID card and receive new ID card which made by Thaksin team. This is to avoid Renegade.
The above are only few things that I could recall, but there are many activities to support the plan during 3 years or more. You must understand that our country people are in zone of undeveloped, uneducated and believe in ghost and spirit. They are innocent and naive but in the same time they are also influence group to the country. Because they are easy to persuade, easy to believe without any thinking or analyst before believe…
This is a shame of Thai country that we are try to be developed country but the same time, we still have many poor and uneducated people. Unfortunately we have a claver man like Thaksin to be PM but he is such a no moral and thinks only to create wealth. He dump the price of stock exchange then increase price to his related business, then issue the law to supports to his business such as discard the telecommunications concessions! Many things in wrong moral and unusual during he was PM and after he left! Story never ends until he can get his power back and also Thai country belongs to him!!
Well, most of Red shirts still believe that Thaksin is a good man and only he can help them to beyond from the poor. They believe the way of democracy that Thaksin and Red shirt leaders tell them day by day is the right! to flight to get rid of PM Abhisit, to destroy Bangkok, to stop double standard, and to overthrow the King!
I really want to know what is the reason being him does like this, he should spend his dirty money by corruption which it much more that we can imagine at least he can buys the Island!! Just let the country grow by internal and external economic, just let the country become peaceful then wait and see what PM Abhisit can do. If he is fail or no capability to handling the country then he will judge by Thais people by the elections.
I would like you who are educated people, open eyes and receive both side information or news and find the truth deeply NOT only what you have seen from screen or newspaper.
I love my country I love my King and he should not concern or relate to any battles from anyone. You may thing I also brainwashing to believe in King…the answer may be yes.
But just learn our culture and history before post your comments because it unfair to 60million of Thais who still face with scary to the terrorists, who still flounder to live, who still willing to having Royal family to not just a symbol but to be our loved, faithful and respect.
[…] occupation of government house and the international airports). While there, they sang the song ‘Scum of the earth’ (nak phaendin), which was used in the massacre of dozens of students by military butchers in the […]
The thai governement should resign and call fresh elections, this is the only way to solve this situation. If the pro thaskin forces wins power so be it, but the red shirts , will be disappointed if fundamental change is not enacted.Changes must be made to the military and to the power of the royal family, and privy council, if these changes are not made, thailand will be in the same situation as they are in now, and nothing will be gained.
I amazed that someone hasn’t taken the template of the famous plot diagram, retitled it “Plot against democracy for the people of Thailand” and then filled in the relevant personalities and institutions. The Red’s really don’t have much of a propaganda machine if they can’t manage that.
David Brown 27
Thailand 1935-2010
When the absolute monarchy was overthrown it was replaced with a constitutional one under a military constitution. History shows what happens if anyone interferes with that.
You got it all in a few paragraphs David and the real reason for the existence of LM.
Why is this obscenity not further exposed outside Thailand?
Why is Thailand a paragon of democracy and Burma a pariah?
Foreign national interests?
Would things be any different under Thaksins military faction?
Reply to Ian Franklin #18 and comment on the monarchy: I read somewhere that in the blogosphere whoever compares someone or something to Hitler and the Nazis is generally assumed to have lost the argument.
I think in a street campaign like that of the Red Shirts (or the Yellows) you can’t get into too much detail or complexity about your political program. Street protest is a little like a political party in an election campaign, except more extreme. You need clear slogans – “Thaksin Out!” or “Dissolve the Parliament!” – and lots of appeals to the emotions of your supporters to keep up their spirits in what is a very difficult, drawn out, and often dangerous campaign. Also, because of the levels of stress and the pressure on both the leaders and their supporters, the longer that street campaigns go on the more radical the rhetoric tends to be. I think that radical rhetoric and the emotional appeals (or “manipulation”) are characteristic of most political movements at certain stages.
Having said this I think it is true that the Red Shirts and Thaksin have not done enough to communicate exactly what their political aims are, especially regarding the most important issue: the future of the monarchy.
Because Thaksin, the Reds, Puea Thai and other “pro-Red” figures avoid talking about the monarchy directly but instead use coded language and symbols which are obviously critical of the monarchy, while at the same time declaring themselves to be loyal to the monarchy, they leave themselves open to the current accusations by their opponents that they are intent on overthrowing the monarchy.
I think there is an urgent need to openly discuss the issue of how the monarchy must be reformed to help a truly democratic political system develop in Thailand.
In my view there is no possibility of Thailand developing into a democracy unless and until the monarchy is reformed. The monarchy must be made transparent and held accountable.
The only place that I have seen this issue discussed in a relatively straightforward manner is by Somsak on “Weareallhuman” webboard (р╕Кр╕╕р╕бр╕Кр╕Щр╕Др╕Щр╕лр╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Щр╕Бр╕▒р╕Щ)
[http://www.thailiberal.org/index.php?showtopic=41941&s=21f52b847b8b949382f7a0a4e5565b37]. See also a more recent post along similar lines: [http://www.thailiberal.org/index.php?showtopic=42798&s=21f52b847b8b949382f7a0a4e5565b37] (It is likely for such posts that his name appears in the CRES’s “mind map” of a network planning to overthrow the monarchy). I have commented on this issue and given a translated summary of Somsak’s proposals on New Mandala [http://www.newmandala.org/2010/02/04/soas-thai-politics-event/]
Now that the issue of Lese Majeste has been drawing attention in the international media, academics and the media ought to highlight other problems with Thailand’s monarchy – the role of the Privy Council, the Crown Property Bureau, the levels of propaganda in the media and the education system, the Royal Projects, etc.
The attention ought to be on coming up with specific proposals for Constitutional reform to the status of the monarchy.
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
“The deep political crisis within the Royal Thai Army officer corps”
Stuart (30). So any research into the operations of the Mafia is a fantasy until the researcher releases the information that will get him and his informants bumped off? It’s not peer-reviewed science, but it’s all we can expect, and it makes enough sense to have brought out couple of top-notch responses (19 and 20).
“The deep political crisis within the Royal Thai Army officer corps”
David Brown,
(I’ve enjoyed reading this comment in the many places I have seen it pasted. I made a minor correction at Absolutely Bangkok, which I repeat here as your comment in both places is identical)
I don’t think the military owns any banks anymore. They seem to only have 1.44% of Thai Military Bank (although I have heard that is because they looted it so badly that there was no way to recapitalize it).
http://www.set.or.th/set/companyholder.do?symbol=TMB&language=en&country=US
However, they and their allies should be at least as great a focus as the one individual, Thaksin, who has gotten 99% of the attention. They have had a much bigger and more sustained role bringing Thailand to where it is today.
Street fighting in Bangkok
an interesting video which gives a glimpse of how complex, chaotic and dangerous the “battlefield” was with the various highways and many civilians and their cars caught in the middle along with thousands of spectators on the overhead pedestrian bridges.
the reporter does seem to miss the crucial detail that the dead soldier was one of the motorcycle soldiers killed by the Army’s own mistaken fire along with 5 or 6 other motorcycle soldiers wounded by the same burst of “friendly fire”.
a video of the incident is available here: http://bit.ly/daqtTv
Economic strategy and the roots of Thai political turmoil
Thailand is the Southeast Asia’s largest auto manufacturer and very close to be in the list of top 10 auto-making countries on the planet. The industry with the capacity to produce 2 million vehicles a year contributes more than 10% of total exports employing close to 200,000 people. (Most BMWs and Hondas imported into Australia come from Thailand now.)
The main reason for the success is the policy pragmatism of successive Thai governments to let the highly educated technocrats from the NESDB and BOI freely run the economic and industrial planning without interferences from the politicians.
IMHO Thailand doesn’t have a economic crisis but the income inequality crisis due to the rapid industrialization and also the lack of unified labor representation in the process of wage adjustment. Basic salary and wages are just purely market driven and there are no humane process to absorb the shocks of a severe crisis like the GFC.
Suthep threatens arrests
Richie, I agree…
Thailand is ruled by retired and serving military with 700 generals
heavily involved in legal and illegal business. Their power is secured
by the fiction of protection of the monarchy and massive wealth and
influence links with all the important economic structures in Thailand.
For examples, the Thai military own Banks, TV, radio and are represented and control the airlines, construction, manufacturing, agriculture.
The military are active in managing the politics of Thailand and work in many capacities in all regions of Thailand. The military controls legal and illegal labour flows across the borders and the insurgency in the south and are immune from legal and government oversight. The government exists only to provide stories and excuses for their actions.
Full franchise democratic elections are a direct threat to the military
because they take the power of choice of MPs from them and worse,
elected governments can claim the authority of the people and introduce controls on the military.
After he was elected Thaksin was foolish and brave enough to introduce some controls, there were calls that he was “interfering with the military promotions and reshuffle” (which a democratic government has a duty to do) and “threatening the monarchy” which he wasnt, but the military always falls back on this to secure their power.
It is the challenge for every government to try to bring the military
under control. Abhisit cannnot because he cannot claim the mandate of the people.
The redshirts want free and fair elections so their government can claim the authority to rule Thailand and at least try to control the military.
Suthep threatens arrests
if i recall… every person on the planet is related through at most 6 links
which means that a diagram can easily be drawn to show that all the PAD and government supporters, like StanG for example, are related, I expect some of them in surprising ways, to Prem, Prayuth, Sondhi Lim and of course Abhisit.
what an amazing and magical diagram that would be!
and what amazing secrets it might reveal to the suitably motivated mind…
Suthep threatens arrests
I think most people under estimate the Thai King – he is a great man in a difficult position… how does a father look after his squabling children without being seen to take sides?
Maybe he makes a speech to the younger ones telling them how to behave and hopes that the older one will catch His drift…
If the present crisis is to be solved without too much violence who but the judicary can do it?
Suthep threatens arrests
#Alladdin, I agree.
it the red shirts leaders have enough brain capacities, they surely understand that democracy in thailand is not sustainable in the present system. any election victory is meaningless as long as the monarchy network, army, judges continue to ‘own’ the country unaccountedly. Anyway, in thailand it’s a criminal offence to even think of a future out of this system, so whatever red shirts really think, we’ll never know.
a democratic system is:
– a system where elected governments transparentely place themselves under citizen’s scrutinity. setting clear electoral agendas.
– the army is non political and obeys the elected government. (and isn’t holding massive business interests)
– media freedom is guaranteed as well as freedom of thought.
whatever happens, thailand will not be democratic until people are as free to say ‘i am monarchist’ as ‘i am republican’.
Suthep threatens arrests
Sorry, meant the link from Somsak to Pojamarn before going on to Thaksin. What has Somsak got to do with Pojamarn? It’s the only place and connection she has on that map.
“The deep political crisis within the Royal Thai Army officer corps”
Show me, don’t tell me. As fascinating and apparently well-researched as the article is, it remains fantasy until the writer establishes his bona fides.
Video of Thailand on the Verge
Hana, you are Thai, right? Have a look at this Youtube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41niGt9u80U&feature=player_embedded#!
What do you think? The backlash against this young student who is brave enough to stand up for what he believes in is disgusting . Have a look at the comments below the clip and those running lines that interrupt /appear time and again during the interview (obviously inserted into the clip by those who” know Thai culture well and love Thailand”
Suthep threatens arrests
Tench #44,
Most of the connections are pretty clear, and I wanted to ask about Somsak’s link to Thaksin myself.
I’m not sure it’s important, however, as Fah Diew Gun is (allegedly) sponsored by Suriya’s relative already and so they don’t really need Somsak-Thaksin link.
Overall I don’t see the plot to overthrow monarchy as such, just a diagram to show that the same people are involved in supporting both the “clean” UDD and “dirty” anti-monarchy movements at the same time.
Means that while on the red stage don’t hear any anti-monarchy speeches for the ranks and file red shirts who do all the fighting in good faith, the brains and financiers behind the whole red operation have a different agenda.
Clash at National Monument
“One soldier has died, reportedly from a shot fired by a member of the security forces…”
If a shot fired didn’t hit that one soldier, it might be one civilian instead? Whoever it was hit, the fact is that the security force did aim for the head and using real bullet.
GOsh,… who really responsible to such an order to kill?
Video of Thailand on the Verge
Sorry my English is not good but I will try my best.
My reason to enter and post message into this web board because I thought that all of you are not know Thai country that much, you just believe and read only one side of news or any kind of information.
The stories of demonstration are not for “Democracy”. (Flight for democracy should not like this, bomb around Bangkok area, shoots each other! Because we not communist country!) But the protester was brainwashing more than 3 years or at least after Thaksin being sentenced case of land fraud. He ran away out before being arrested in jail by some powerful man help him to go out of Thai country. Before he left, he overawe “If I cannot stay (without arrested) then all Thais and country will never found peaceful or happiness anymore any longer!!”
This is the start of brainwashing…Thaksin team tried many ways and many kinds to gather mass first step try underground plan…
1. Teaching country people to believe that he is innocent and alleged by unfair judgments.
2. Open public radio stations, starts Red radio
3. Buying and send Satellite Dish, starts Red TV
4. Set up publish company, starts Red newspaper
5. Promise to country people that if they can help and support him to go back “Home”, then he will return them with “release from debt and provide some pocket money” to each family.
5. According to the 4, who are interesting to this promotion have to register with ID card and receive new ID card which made by Thaksin team. This is to avoid Renegade.
The above are only few things that I could recall, but there are many activities to support the plan during 3 years or more. You must understand that our country people are in zone of undeveloped, uneducated and believe in ghost and spirit. They are innocent and naive but in the same time they are also influence group to the country. Because they are easy to persuade, easy to believe without any thinking or analyst before believe…
This is a shame of Thai country that we are try to be developed country but the same time, we still have many poor and uneducated people. Unfortunately we have a claver man like Thaksin to be PM but he is such a no moral and thinks only to create wealth. He dump the price of stock exchange then increase price to his related business, then issue the law to supports to his business such as discard the telecommunications concessions! Many things in wrong moral and unusual during he was PM and after he left! Story never ends until he can get his power back and also Thai country belongs to him!!
Well, most of Red shirts still believe that Thaksin is a good man and only he can help them to beyond from the poor. They believe the way of democracy that Thaksin and Red shirt leaders tell them day by day is the right! to flight to get rid of PM Abhisit, to destroy Bangkok, to stop double standard, and to overthrow the King!
I really want to know what is the reason being him does like this, he should spend his dirty money by corruption which it much more that we can imagine at least he can buys the Island!! Just let the country grow by internal and external economic, just let the country become peaceful then wait and see what PM Abhisit can do. If he is fail or no capability to handling the country then he will judge by Thais people by the elections.
I would like you who are educated people, open eyes and receive both side information or news and find the truth deeply NOT only what you have seen from screen or newspaper.
I love my country I love my King and he should not concern or relate to any battles from anyone. You may thing I also brainwashing to believe in King…the answer may be yes.
But just learn our culture and history before post your comments because it unfair to 60million of Thais who still face with scary to the terrorists, who still flounder to live, who still willing to having Royal family to not just a symbol but to be our loved, faithful and respect.
Thank you.
Scum of the earth
[…] occupation of government house and the international airports). While there, they sang the song ‘Scum of the earth’ (nak phaendin), which was used in the massacre of dozens of students by military butchers in the […]
Clash at National Monument
The thai governement should resign and call fresh elections, this is the only way to solve this situation. If the pro thaskin forces wins power so be it, but the red shirts , will be disappointed if fundamental change is not enacted.Changes must be made to the military and to the power of the royal family, and privy council, if these changes are not made, thailand will be in the same situation as they are in now, and nothing will be gained.
Clash at National Monument
I amazed that someone hasn’t taken the template of the famous plot diagram, retitled it “Plot against democracy for the people of Thailand” and then filled in the relevant personalities and institutions. The Red’s really don’t have much of a propaganda machine if they can’t manage that.
“The deep political crisis within the Royal Thai Army officer corps”
David Brown 27
Thailand 1935-2010
When the absolute monarchy was overthrown it was replaced with a constitutional one under a military constitution. History shows what happens if anyone interferes with that.
You got it all in a few paragraphs David and the real reason for the existence of LM.
Why is this obscenity not further exposed outside Thailand?
Why is Thailand a paragon of democracy and Burma a pariah?
Foreign national interests?
Would things be any different under Thaksins military faction?
Suthep threatens arrests
Stan: it connects people with roughly the same views, but in each case the nature of the connection is what?
e.g. We go: Thaksin -> Aj. Somsak -> Fah Diew Gan magzine.
The nature of that is what? Are we to conclude that Thaksin tells Aj. Somsak what to think?
Suthep threatens arrests
Reply to Ian Franklin #18 and comment on the monarchy: I read somewhere that in the blogosphere whoever compares someone or something to Hitler and the Nazis is generally assumed to have lost the argument.
I think in a street campaign like that of the Red Shirts (or the Yellows) you can’t get into too much detail or complexity about your political program. Street protest is a little like a political party in an election campaign, except more extreme. You need clear slogans – “Thaksin Out!” or “Dissolve the Parliament!” – and lots of appeals to the emotions of your supporters to keep up their spirits in what is a very difficult, drawn out, and often dangerous campaign. Also, because of the levels of stress and the pressure on both the leaders and their supporters, the longer that street campaigns go on the more radical the rhetoric tends to be. I think that radical rhetoric and the emotional appeals (or “manipulation”) are characteristic of most political movements at certain stages.
Having said this I think it is true that the Red Shirts and Thaksin have not done enough to communicate exactly what their political aims are, especially regarding the most important issue: the future of the monarchy.
Because Thaksin, the Reds, Puea Thai and other “pro-Red” figures avoid talking about the monarchy directly but instead use coded language and symbols which are obviously critical of the monarchy, while at the same time declaring themselves to be loyal to the monarchy, they leave themselves open to the current accusations by their opponents that they are intent on overthrowing the monarchy.
I think there is an urgent need to openly discuss the issue of how the monarchy must be reformed to help a truly democratic political system develop in Thailand.
In my view there is no possibility of Thailand developing into a democracy unless and until the monarchy is reformed. The monarchy must be made transparent and held accountable.
The only place that I have seen this issue discussed in a relatively straightforward manner is by Somsak on “Weareallhuman” webboard (р╕Кр╕╕р╕бр╕Кр╕Щр╕Др╕Щр╕лр╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Щр╕Бр╕▒р╕Щ)
[http://www.thailiberal.org/index.php?showtopic=41941&s=21f52b847b8b949382f7a0a4e5565b37]. See also a more recent post along similar lines: [http://www.thailiberal.org/index.php?showtopic=42798&s=21f52b847b8b949382f7a0a4e5565b37] (It is likely for such posts that his name appears in the CRES’s “mind map” of a network planning to overthrow the monarchy). I have commented on this issue and given a translated summary of Somsak’s proposals on New Mandala [http://www.newmandala.org/2010/02/04/soas-thai-politics-event/]
Now that the issue of Lese Majeste has been drawing attention in the international media, academics and the media ought to highlight other problems with Thailand’s monarchy – the role of the Privy Council, the Crown Property Bureau, the levels of propaganda in the media and the education system, the Royal Projects, etc.
The attention ought to be on coming up with specific proposals for Constitutional reform to the status of the monarchy.