Fully agree on all points, well said. The ABC production was insipid and veered away from the real issues.
In particular, Thanong should have been crucified and exposed for the hypocrite he is; he was lying down with his jugular exposed. Prem should have featured large and the meddling in politics from the big guy should have been exposed and the underlying motive clearly stated.
Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb but they wimped out.
Thai society is paying heavily now for not letting the legitimate left wing elements of the society participate in the mainstream politics for a very long time since the beginning of the America’s Vietnam War.
With 70% of her citizen the poor farmers it was a systemic fault.
Now is the end of the era for one remaining legacy of Vietnam War.
Repression against Communism and Socialism is over in Thailand!
Did you all really and honestly believe that the UDD was a Thai version of the civil rights movement? They obtained the result that Thaksin wanted. This year they could produce real bodies unlike last year’s imaginary ones.
Ask yourself one simple question. Who stood to gain by the killings? Did it help Abhisit? Did it help Anupong? Or did it help Thaksin?
How about another simple question? Were any Australian academics shot dead? Were any overseas Thai students from rich families killed? OK, how about radical ajarns from Chula or Thammasat? No, what a surprise. Just Isarn peasants and workers. Cannon fodder for intellectuals as usual.
Still you got to prove one thing, many soldiers are water melons. Green on the outside and red on the inside, especially if you shoot or bomb them and the blood comes out. Go ahead and shed your crocodile tears, but excuse me for being a cynic. Wait until Chalerm becomes prime minister and then watch the blood flow.
“The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.” – Antonio Gramsci
Agree with Peter, history shows that change only occurs when the ruling classes must choose between change and oblivion. The exercise here is to make change the lesser of 2 evils for them and that means making the process leading up to change as painful as possible for the amartya.
Human nature can be relied on to apply here as everywhere, there is nothing unique or special about Thailand or Thais, except that they have swallowed the propaganda for longer than most. Hardly a complimentary distinction.
The battle did not just consist of 3 hours of constant fighting, but several rounds of increasingly violent confrontations with lots of hanging around doing nothing. During the hanging around periods i had friendly chats with soldiers. Unit designation they did not tell me. Some other interesting things some of them did tell though indeed, which i will write about at a later time.
Anyhow – Panitan promised us journalists transparency during the government’s operations, and disclosure of unit designation is integral part of transparency. This was not supposed to be a war, but a crowd control/dispersal operation according to “international standards.
You may also partly retract your accusation as i was not walking the road alone, but together with a specialist. And yes, of course i could have missed something – that is why i stated “i only found…” and not “there were no…”. At Khok Wua i indeed did find rounds from the Red Shirt side towards the soldiers, and stated this so clearly. We based our observations on the bullet holes in buildings street signs, vehicles, etc.
As you may have read in the newspaper reports, the government has already backtracked from its initial assertion – that soldiers only fired in the air – and now stated that soldiers have also fired straight. Of this there was clear evidence. Why, how, and when, we can’t see from the bullet holes, and you can see that i made no statement regarding the time line.
I can clearly state that at the Satri Witaya School was a sniper, because i was at the receiving end of the maybe last round fired by this sniper – the fortunately only bullet i came close to that day.
I have not made any attempt on writing about the course of events itself, or who may have began shooting, as indeed we are far away from being able to do that, if we ever can. For this i need to collect a whole lot more information.
And before i am misunderstood – i have nothing but compassion for the common soldiers on the ground that day. I fell terribly sorry their injuries and dead. Some of them have pulled me out of Dinso Road after i collapsed from the awful teargas at one stage of the fighting, and washed my face.
What i can though clearly state right now, based on my own observations and many discussions with military and police officers, is that from the planning stage onwards almost every stage of this operation was the biggest display of sheer incompetence i have ever seen, and which has has resulted in costing the lives of so far 24 people, and most likely more to follow. Again, at a later date, when i have the time, i will write about this in detail.
Nice try. Shame about the execution. Watered down, politically correct mush will not cut the mustard. In South Africa, the ANZ realised this. They went in hard, with the aim of making the counry ungovernable and forcing the ruling white minority to its knees. It worked.
I believe the same applies to Thailand. I believe things need to get far worse in order to get better. Thais are starting to wake up. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a protracted and gradually escalating process that, as painful as it will be, will finally lead to some kind of new social contract that benefits the vast majority of Thais.
I am quite buoyed by recent events. I will be happier still when I see even more Thais taking to the streets and sparking as much chaos as possible. Make the country ungovernable. Enforce the economic isolation of the elite. Be brutal, be hard. Accept no compromise. Only then will the elite take note.
May be a Civil war would be unavoidable. Seeing as the Army, Royalist, Yellow shirts aren’t relenting soon. If the Reds sees no other way out, it could get even more bloodier.
Only when Thais learn to accept criticism as a vital part of a democracy will they ever thrive as a nation.
The system operating in Thailand – which is supported by the king – has not benefited the vast majority of Thais. My own view is that the system has actually been designed to keep the majority of Thais subjugated for the economic wellbeing of the few. The overwhelming majority of wealth in Thailand sits in the hands of very few Bangkok-based Thai families. How is this a good thing?
Paul Handley can speak for himself, but my view is that his book was far more critical of the system than a personal attack on the king. Actually, in Handley’s book the king comes across as a rather decent chap – if perhaps a bit overcome by the stark reality of it all.
You’re right Peter, weapons should be used. Particularly the weapon of love. All revolutions and civil wars have unique elements, so love could be Thailand’s! <3!
today many people have noticed, raised a question and finally confirmed that now many blogs are also being blocked – particularly those hosted by wordpress.
surely my own blog is blocked – I myself can’t view it – and I saw several others. although I have only blogged about bias in Thai media, never touched upon “sensitive” matters.
“Democracy” in action by “Democrat” gov of “Democrat” Abhisit – what else can be said ?
the only thing which comes to mind is : if it goes in that direction and increases, then it is getting scarier day by day. soon probably many people will try to leave the country – as Karen & Rohinya were escaping Burma.
1. “– (also during the battle soldiers refused to answer questions regarding unit)”
2. “The street was spiked with bullet holes. I only found holes from the direction of the army towards the protesters – in the height of knees, stomach, heads and over the heads.”
3. ” Other graffiti was written at graffitti at Sattriwitthaya School, where snipers were located during the battle.”
I don’t like this reporting.
1. Look at the first quote. Nick asserts that soldiers “refused” to answer questions about a unit designation during a firefight. Firstly, no soldier is obligated to provide this information, not even under the threat of torture. Secondly, how on earth does Nick know that “during the battle soldiers refused to answer questions regarding unit?’ Did he interview every soldier and journo during this time of chaos? Modifiers, please.
2. Nick deserves a Duncan Fearnley on the arse for this observation. The day that a journalist can assert with confidence from striations in the tarmac that rounds have elevated at the height where they may have impacted people in various parts of their body, or even over their heads, is the day we may as well pack in our evidence-based culture. Of course, I may partially retract my squeal if Nick was some kind of Army specialist or mathematician or coroner, but only if elaborate proof was offered (certainly not a few days after the event.) Furthermore, what’s all this about “I only found holes from the direction of the army towards the protesters …” Are you trained in forensics? Couldn’t you have missed something? Furthermore, there is quite a bit of tarmac there. Did you duckwalk it all?
3. “…where snipers were located during the battle.” Someone else has already picked up on this. I really dislike Nick’s propensity to make assertions 1 day after the fact. I’ve had some time in MSM journalism, and despite its weaknesses, there is some regard for the idea of letting things settle before you go into a story boots and all.
Merdeka Centre, despite its shortcomings, in my humble opinion is Malaysia’s best social-political survey firm. I do agree that their sample size is very small (normally about a thousand) to make any substantive conclusion. Nevertheless, it is still an indicator.
My own sources tell me that Najib has been literally buying out leaders/representatives from the various communities and special interests groups. (More on that in my forthcoming concluding part). Hence, the increased ratings. Also, he started from a very low point (below 50% approval rating when he became PM).
I went to the Democracy Monument on Monday and saw some of the same things that Nick did. I took a few photos. Not many and nothing terribly specific because I was overwhelmed by this new presentation of the monument. It was covered in grafitti and was an amazing sight.
But I thank Nick for looking for details I can understand such as the “snippers”. Whether these statements are true or not, it constitutes some sort of historical evidence that may help us to unravel the true history of this event. One day. If and only if future Thai governments allow historical enquiry. But not if, they insist on fables of national unity.
I hope there has been massive documentation of the graffiti at the monument and my guess is that there has been. Lots of people were taking photos. I suppose the monument will have more to say.
I guess the government in cleaning it all away was not engaged in a cover-up. It’s maintenance. But it could have been left for a while. Although one hopes they read and recorded what those who were there thought had happened.
Walking back home across Pinklao bridge , I also saw the appeals for help from the US and the UN.
I’m a thai girl and my english not good but I hope you will understand me. I’m very upset about your book for me my king whom you write in your book. Until I grow up I always saw my king is the hard worker. My king do everything for his people for me I love him like he is my father. I love and respect him more than you can understand. Someone told me you used to live in thailand a long time and you can speak Thai language. I hope you can read Thai language too. Because my english not good I can explain you how much I love my king and what’ s the thing that make me feel like this. Foe me I would die foe My King.
Hope you will see this message.
Yours Sincerely.
р╣Бр╕Фр╕Я
р╕кр╕зр╕▒р╕кр╕Фр╕╡р╕Др╣Ир╕░…Paul Handley
р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕гр╕╣р╣Йр╕лр╕гр╕нр╕Бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕кр╕┤р╣Ир╕Зр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╕гр╕╣р╣Йр╣Ар╕Бр╕╡р╣Ир╕вр╕зр╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣Мр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕вр╕▒р╕Зр╣Др╕З р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Бр╕Щр╣Ир╣Гр╕Ир╕Фр╣Йр╕зр╕вр╕Лр╣Йр╕│р╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕Ир╕░р╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╣Гр╕Ир╕ар╕▓р╕йр╕▓р╣Др╕Чр╕вр╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕Фр╕╡р╕Юр╕н р╕Хр╕ер╕нр╕Фр╕Ир╕Щр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕бр╕▒р╣Ир╕Щр╣Гр╕Ир╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕Бр╣Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╣Гр╕Ир╕зр╕▒р╕Тр╕Щр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕Чр╕ир╣Др╕Чр╕вр╣Ар╕Кр╣Ир╕Щр╕Бр╕▒р╕Щ р╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╣Гр╕Кр╣Йр╣Ар╕зр╕ер╕▓р╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╣Гр╕Щр╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Зр╣Др╕Чр╕вр╕Щр╕▓р╕Щр╣Бр╕Др╣Ир╣Др╕лр╕Щр╕Бр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕Кр╕╡р╕вр╕з р╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╕Щр╕▓р╕Щр╕бр╕▓р╕Бр╕Юр╕нр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕Ир╕░р╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╣Гр╕И р╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Чр╕гр╕▓р╕Ър╕Цр╕╢р╕Зр╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Бр╕гр╕Ур╕╡р╕вр╕Бр╕┤р╕Ир╕Хр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╣Ж р╕Хр╕ер╕нр╕Фр╕Ир╕Щр╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕бр╕лр╕▓р╕Бр╕гр╕╕р╕Ур╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Др╕╕р╕У р╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣Мр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕Кр╕╡р╕вр╕зр╕лр╕гр╕нр╕Др╣Ир╕░ р╕кр╕│р╕лр╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕Хр╕ер╕нр╕Фр╣Ар╕зр╕ер╕▓р╕кр╕┤р╕Ър╕Бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Ыр╕╡р╕бр╕▓р╕Щр╕╡р╣Йр╕Хр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕Бр╕┤р╕Фр╕Ир╕Щр╣Вр╕Хр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕лр╣Зр╕Щр╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣Мр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕Чр╣Ир╕▓р╕Щр╕Чр╕гр╕Зр╕Чр╕│р╕Зр╕▓р╕Щр╕лр╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╕бр╕▓р╕Хр╕ер╕нр╕Ф р╕Чр╣Ир╕▓р╕Щр╕Чр╕гр╕Зр╕кр╕ер╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕гр╕▒р╕Юр╕вр╣Мр╕кр╣Ир╕зр╕Щр╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕нр╕Зр╕Др╣Мр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╣Вр╕Др╕гр╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Хр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╣Ж р╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Кр╕Щр╕Др╕Щр╣Др╕Чр╕в р╕Цр╣Йр╕▓р╕Цр╕▓р╕бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕вр╕нр╕бр╕Хр╕▓р╕вр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣Мр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕бр╕▒р╣Йр╕в р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕Др╕┤р╕Фр╣Ар╕ер╕вр╣Бр╕бр╣Йр╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕Ир╕░р╕лр╕вр╕╕р╕Фр╕Др╕┤р╕Фр╕кр╕▒р╕Бр╣Ар╕кр╕╡р╣Йр╕вр╕зр╕зр╕┤р╕Щр╕▓р╕Чр╕╡ р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕Др╕Зр╕Хр╕нр╕Ър╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕зр╣Ир╕▓ р╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕Юр╕гр╣Йр╕нр╕бр╕Хр╕▓р╕вр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Юр╣Ир╕нр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щ р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕Кр╕▓р╕вр╕Др╕Щр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕Бр╕ер╣Ир╕▓р╕зр╕лр╕▓р╕Чр╣Ир╕▓р╕Щ
Can see the the 2nd Infantry Division is in disarray, they were shooting randomly everywhere which I would assume they were shooting at the “Black Troop”.
In fairness, I emailed the article’s author and he replied that the anthem mistake slipped in because he had been working under deadline pressure and had originally also planned to make mention of the fellow who got in trouble for failing to stand at the cinema – so wires got crossed in the writing / editing process. I’m sure he deserves some slack.
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Statement by students and academics at ANU
@Stuart:
Fully agree on all points, well said. The ABC production was insipid and veered away from the real issues.
In particular, Thanong should have been crucified and exposed for the hypocrite he is; he was lying down with his jugular exposed. Prem should have featured large and the meddling in politics from the big guy should have been exposed and the underlying motive clearly stated.
Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb but they wimped out.
Statement by students and academics at ANU
Thai society is paying heavily now for not letting the legitimate left wing elements of the society participate in the mainstream politics for a very long time since the beginning of the America’s Vietnam War.
With 70% of her citizen the poor farmers it was a systemic fault.
Now is the end of the era for one remaining legacy of Vietnam War.
Repression against Communism and Socialism is over in Thailand!
Statement by students and academics at ANU
Did you all really and honestly believe that the UDD was a Thai version of the civil rights movement? They obtained the result that Thaksin wanted. This year they could produce real bodies unlike last year’s imaginary ones.
Ask yourself one simple question. Who stood to gain by the killings? Did it help Abhisit? Did it help Anupong? Or did it help Thaksin?
How about another simple question? Were any Australian academics shot dead? Were any overseas Thai students from rich families killed? OK, how about radical ajarns from Chula or Thammasat? No, what a surprise. Just Isarn peasants and workers. Cannon fodder for intellectuals as usual.
Still you got to prove one thing, many soldiers are water melons. Green on the outside and red on the inside, especially if you shoot or bomb them and the blood comes out. Go ahead and shed your crocodile tears, but excuse me for being a cynic. Wait until Chalerm becomes prime minister and then watch the blood flow.
Statement by students and academics at ANU
“The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.” – Antonio Gramsci
Statement by students and academics at ANU
Agree with Peter, history shows that change only occurs when the ruling classes must choose between change and oblivion. The exercise here is to make change the lesser of 2 evils for them and that means making the process leading up to change as painful as possible for the amartya.
Human nature can be relied on to apply here as everywhere, there is nothing unique or special about Thailand or Thais, except that they have swallowed the propaganda for longer than most. Hardly a complimentary distinction.
Mourning and defiance
“Eduardo”:
The battle did not just consist of 3 hours of constant fighting, but several rounds of increasingly violent confrontations with lots of hanging around doing nothing. During the hanging around periods i had friendly chats with soldiers. Unit designation they did not tell me. Some other interesting things some of them did tell though indeed, which i will write about at a later time.
Anyhow – Panitan promised us journalists transparency during the government’s operations, and disclosure of unit designation is integral part of transparency. This was not supposed to be a war, but a crowd control/dispersal operation according to “international standards.
You may also partly retract your accusation as i was not walking the road alone, but together with a specialist. And yes, of course i could have missed something – that is why i stated “i only found…” and not “there were no…”. At Khok Wua i indeed did find rounds from the Red Shirt side towards the soldiers, and stated this so clearly. We based our observations on the bullet holes in buildings street signs, vehicles, etc.
As you may have read in the newspaper reports, the government has already backtracked from its initial assertion – that soldiers only fired in the air – and now stated that soldiers have also fired straight. Of this there was clear evidence. Why, how, and when, we can’t see from the bullet holes, and you can see that i made no statement regarding the time line.
I can clearly state that at the Satri Witaya School was a sniper, because i was at the receiving end of the maybe last round fired by this sniper – the fortunately only bullet i came close to that day.
I have not made any attempt on writing about the course of events itself, or who may have began shooting, as indeed we are far away from being able to do that, if we ever can. For this i need to collect a whole lot more information.
And before i am misunderstood – i have nothing but compassion for the common soldiers on the ground that day. I fell terribly sorry their injuries and dead. Some of them have pulled me out of Dinso Road after i collapsed from the awful teargas at one stage of the fighting, and washed my face.
What i can though clearly state right now, based on my own observations and many discussions with military and police officers, is that from the planning stage onwards almost every stage of this operation was the biggest display of sheer incompetence i have ever seen, and which has has resulted in costing the lives of so far 24 people, and most likely more to follow. Again, at a later date, when i have the time, i will write about this in detail.
The King Never Smiles?
Supaporn – And long live your right to do so. But others choose not to, and shouldn’t have their rights stripped from them as a result.
Statement by students and academics at ANU
Nice try. Shame about the execution. Watered down, politically correct mush will not cut the mustard. In South Africa, the ANZ realised this. They went in hard, with the aim of making the counry ungovernable and forcing the ruling white minority to its knees. It worked.
I believe the same applies to Thailand. I believe things need to get far worse in order to get better. Thais are starting to wake up. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a protracted and gradually escalating process that, as painful as it will be, will finally lead to some kind of new social contract that benefits the vast majority of Thais.
I am quite buoyed by recent events. I will be happier still when I see even more Thais taking to the streets and sparking as much chaos as possible. Make the country ungovernable. Enforce the economic isolation of the elite. Be brutal, be hard. Accept no compromise. Only then will the elite take note.
Thailand needs a Steve Biko.
Statement by students and academics at ANU
May be a Civil war would be unavoidable. Seeing as the Army, Royalist, Yellow shirts aren’t relenting soon. If the Reds sees no other way out, it could get even more bloodier.
Paul Handley replies to comments
daf
Only when Thais learn to accept criticism as a vital part of a democracy will they ever thrive as a nation.
The system operating in Thailand – which is supported by the king – has not benefited the vast majority of Thais. My own view is that the system has actually been designed to keep the majority of Thais subjugated for the economic wellbeing of the few. The overwhelming majority of wealth in Thailand sits in the hands of very few Bangkok-based Thai families. How is this a good thing?
Paul Handley can speak for himself, but my view is that his book was far more critical of the system than a personal attack on the king. Actually, in Handley’s book the king comes across as a rather decent chap – if perhaps a bit overcome by the stark reality of it all.
Mourning and defiance
Nick’s photographs plus Jan’s observations about Tony Joh’s video give substantial credence to key elements of Seh Daeng’s account.
http://jotman.blogspot.com/2010/04/why-thai-army-raid-on-bangkok.html
Statement by students and academics at ANU
You’re right Peter, weapons should be used. Particularly the weapon of love. All revolutions and civil wars have unique elements, so love could be Thailand’s! <3!
Statement by students and academics at ANU
Unfortunately i do not agree that weapons shouldn’t be used by the red side. A civil war is necessary in Thailand and long overdue.
This is not australia.
Statement by students and academics at ANU
regarding 4th point in the letter
today many people have noticed, raised a question and finally confirmed that now many blogs are also being blocked – particularly those hosted by wordpress.
surely my own blog is blocked – I myself can’t view it – and I saw several others. although I have only blogged about bias in Thai media, never touched upon “sensitive” matters.
“Democracy” in action by “Democrat” gov of “Democrat” Abhisit – what else can be said ?
the only thing which comes to mind is : if it goes in that direction and increases, then it is getting scarier day by day. soon probably many people will try to leave the country – as Karen & Rohinya were escaping Burma.
Mourning and defiance
1. “– (also during the battle soldiers refused to answer questions regarding unit)”
2. “The street was spiked with bullet holes. I only found holes from the direction of the army towards the protesters – in the height of knees, stomach, heads and over the heads.”
3. ” Other graffiti was written at graffitti at Sattriwitthaya School, where snipers were located during the battle.”
I don’t like this reporting.
1. Look at the first quote. Nick asserts that soldiers “refused” to answer questions about a unit designation during a firefight. Firstly, no soldier is obligated to provide this information, not even under the threat of torture. Secondly, how on earth does Nick know that “during the battle soldiers refused to answer questions regarding unit?’ Did he interview every soldier and journo during this time of chaos? Modifiers, please.
2. Nick deserves a Duncan Fearnley on the arse for this observation. The day that a journalist can assert with confidence from striations in the tarmac that rounds have elevated at the height where they may have impacted people in various parts of their body, or even over their heads, is the day we may as well pack in our evidence-based culture. Of course, I may partially retract my squeal if Nick was some kind of Army specialist or mathematician or coroner, but only if elaborate proof was offered (certainly not a few days after the event.) Furthermore, what’s all this about “I only found holes from the direction of the army towards the protesters …” Are you trained in forensics? Couldn’t you have missed something? Furthermore, there is quite a bit of tarmac there. Did you duckwalk it all?
3. “…where snipers were located during the battle.” Someone else has already picked up on this. I really dislike Nick’s propensity to make assertions 1 day after the fact. I’ve had some time in MSM journalism, and despite its weaknesses, there is some regard for the idea of letting things settle before you go into a story boots and all.
Cheers
Najib’s first year in office, Part II
Hi Neptunian,
Merdeka Centre, despite its shortcomings, in my humble opinion is Malaysia’s best social-political survey firm. I do agree that their sample size is very small (normally about a thousand) to make any substantive conclusion. Nevertheless, it is still an indicator.
My own sources tell me that Najib has been literally buying out leaders/representatives from the various communities and special interests groups. (More on that in my forthcoming concluding part). Hence, the increased ratings. Also, he started from a very low point (below 50% approval rating when he became PM).
I agree with you on your other points.
Mourning and defiance
I went to the Democracy Monument on Monday and saw some of the same things that Nick did. I took a few photos. Not many and nothing terribly specific because I was overwhelmed by this new presentation of the monument. It was covered in grafitti and was an amazing sight.
But I thank Nick for looking for details I can understand such as the “snippers”. Whether these statements are true or not, it constitutes some sort of historical evidence that may help us to unravel the true history of this event. One day. If and only if future Thai governments allow historical enquiry. But not if, they insist on fables of national unity.
I hope there has been massive documentation of the graffiti at the monument and my guess is that there has been. Lots of people were taking photos. I suppose the monument will have more to say.
I guess the government in cleaning it all away was not engaged in a cover-up. It’s maintenance. But it could have been left for a while. Although one hopes they read and recorded what those who were there thought had happened.
Walking back home across Pinklao bridge , I also saw the appeals for help from the US and the UN.
Paul Handley replies to comments
I’m a thai girl and my english not good but I hope you will understand me. I’m very upset about your book for me my king whom you write in your book. Until I grow up I always saw my king is the hard worker. My king do everything for his people for me I love him like he is my father. I love and respect him more than you can understand. Someone told me you used to live in thailand a long time and you can speak Thai language. I hope you can read Thai language too. Because my english not good I can explain you how much I love my king and what’ s the thing that make me feel like this. Foe me I would die foe My King.
Hope you will see this message.
Yours Sincerely.
р╣Бр╕Фр╕Я
р╕кр╕зр╕▒р╕кр╕Фр╕╡р╕Др╣Ир╕░…Paul Handley
р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕гр╕╣р╣Йр╕лр╕гр╕нр╕Бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕кр╕┤р╣Ир╕Зр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╕гр╕╣р╣Йр╣Ар╕Бр╕╡р╣Ир╕вр╕зр╕Бр╕▒р╕Ър╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣Мр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕вр╕▒р╕Зр╣Др╕З р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Бр╕Щр╣Ир╣Гр╕Ир╕Фр╣Йр╕зр╕вр╕Лр╣Йр╕│р╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕Ир╕░р╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╣Гр╕Ир╕ар╕▓р╕йр╕▓р╣Др╕Чр╕вр╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕Фр╕╡р╕Юр╕н р╕Хр╕ер╕нр╕Фр╕Ир╕Щр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕бр╕▒р╣Ир╕Щр╣Гр╕Ир╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕Бр╣Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╣Гр╕Ир╕зр╕▒р╕Тр╕Щр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕Чр╕ир╣Др╕Чр╕вр╣Ар╕Кр╣Ир╕Щр╕Бр╕▒р╕Щ р╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╣Гр╕Кр╣Йр╣Ар╕зр╕ер╕▓р╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╣Гр╕Щр╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Зр╣Др╕Чр╕вр╕Щр╕▓р╕Щр╣Бр╕Др╣Ир╣Др╕лр╕Щр╕Бр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕Кр╕╡р╕вр╕з р╕бр╕▒р╕Щр╕Щр╕▓р╕Щр╕бр╕▓р╕Бр╕Юр╕нр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕Ир╕░р╣Ар╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╣Гр╕И р╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Чр╕гр╕▓р╕Ър╕Цр╕╢р╕Зр╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Бр╕гр╕Ур╕╡р╕вр╕Бр╕┤р╕Ир╕Хр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╣Ж р╕Хр╕ер╕нр╕Фр╕Ир╕Щр╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕бр╕лр╕▓р╕Бр╕гр╕╕р╕Ур╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Др╕╕р╕У р╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣Мр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕Кр╕╡р╕вр╕зр╕лр╕гр╕нр╕Др╣Ир╕░ р╕кр╕│р╕лр╕гр╕▒р╕Ър╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕Хр╕ер╕нр╕Фр╣Ар╕зр╕ер╕▓р╕кр╕┤р╕Ър╕Бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Ыр╕╡р╕бр╕▓р╕Щр╕╡р╣Йр╕Хр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕Бр╕┤р╕Фр╕Ир╕Щр╣Вр╕Хр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕лр╣Зр╕Щр╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣Мр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕Чр╣Ир╕▓р╕Щр╕Чр╕гр╕Зр╕Чр╕│р╕Зр╕▓р╕Щр╕лр╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╕бр╕▓р╕Хр╕ер╕нр╕Ф р╕Чр╣Ир╕▓р╕Щр╕Чр╕гр╕Зр╕кр╕ер╕░р╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕Чр╕гр╕▒р╕Юр╕вр╣Мр╕кр╣Ир╕зр╕Щр╕Юр╕гр╕░р╕нр╕Зр╕Др╣Мр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╣Вр╕Др╕гр╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Хр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╣Ж р╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Кр╕Щр╕Др╕Щр╣Др╕Чр╕в р╕Цр╣Йр╕▓р╕Цр╕▓р╕бр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕вр╕нр╕бр╕Хр╕▓р╕вр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣Мр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕бр╕▒р╣Йр╕в р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕Др╕┤р╕Фр╣Ар╕ер╕вр╣Бр╕бр╣Йр╣Бр╕Хр╣Ир╕Ир╕░р╕лр╕вр╕╕р╕Фр╕Др╕┤р╕Фр╕кр╕▒р╕Бр╣Ар╕кр╕╡р╣Йр╕вр╕зр╕зр╕┤р╕Щр╕▓р╕Чр╕╡ р╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕Др╕Зр╕Хр╕нр╕Ър╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕зр╣Ир╕▓ р╣Др╕Фр╣Йр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щр╕Юр╕гр╣Йр╕нр╕бр╕Хр╕▓р╕вр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Юр╣Ир╕нр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Йр╕▒р╕Щ р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╕Кр╕▓р╕вр╕Др╕Щр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Др╕╕р╕Ур╕Бр╕ер╣Ир╕▓р╕зр╕лр╕▓р╕Чр╣Ир╕▓р╕Щ
War at Khao San
Someone has post this clips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlHUZZIKXOc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu6LCuCAvzU
Can see the the 2nd Infantry Division is in disarray, they were shooting randomly everywhere which I would assume they were shooting at the “Black Troop”.
Johnston on Thailand’s royal taboo
In fairness, I emailed the article’s author and he replied that the anthem mistake slipped in because he had been working under deadline pressure and had originally also planned to make mention of the fellow who got in trouble for failing to stand at the cinema – so wires got crossed in the writing / editing process. I’m sure he deserves some slack.