Was this report done with no assistance from local Thai reporters and fixers? If not, let’s give them credit for putting themselves on the line — with nowhere to escape to. (Of course, I assume they can’t be named, but a mention that Campbell was helped by them, if he was, would be good.)
If you think any particular person should be blamed, you probably have feeble mind. The Thai impasse was shaped by all walks of life- military, monarchy, bureaucrats, business elites, spoiled middle class, and yes corrupted politicians too. They were in it together, corrupting the country by cooperating their network and shared divisions of power. Removing this network, each isn’t so powerful. The monarchy is the most venerable of all- that is you know how to think (there’s a few who can at New Mandala).
Although this doco is a great primer on the origins of Thailand’s current
predicament it does leave the impression that the present situation is a result
of accidents of birth. We have no control over how our children turn out! (I sure as hell think parents have some influence over the directions their kids
take.)
Funnily enough, the other story is that Phumiphon has been such a fabulous
success that his unfortunate son couldn’t possibly hope to compare.
In building his families financial position I would certainly have to concur, there have been few to come close. But if judged on his political contributions of 40+ years of meddling, he has out lived so many of his military business partners, then I feel the present political mess should be laid firmly at his door.
A senior army general whose his name starts with the letter “P” is planning a military coup to spare the Democrat Party from dissolution, Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said on Wednesday.
The coup would also enable the general’s subordinates who used force against the red-shirt protesters on Saturday to avoid punishment, Mr Prompong claimed.
“If the general succeeds in staging the coup, the 2007 constitution will be revoked and the Democrat Party will escape punishment,” the Puea Thai spokesman said.
Mr Prompong claimed the army general in question was now busy verifying the number of commanders who would support him. Several commanders were opposed to another coup, saying it is not a solution to political problems, he said.
He warned that if the general tries to stage a coup, there would be more clashes, more violent than Saturday’s incident.
The people would come out and fight the coup-makers. A civil war was likely, he said.
I agree with Aladdin here. Vajiralonkorn’s sexual appetite does not disqualify him for the job of King. Augustus the Strong (354 bastards) was not troubled on the throne of strongly Catholic Poland (perhaps this is because he clearly followed the Church’s doctrine on contraception). The Crown Prince will have his own set of cronies and is likely to put an end to his father’s Privy Council. He may be happy enough for the Privy Council to be reformed on the democratic lines of modern European monarchies and attend its meetings now and then while mainly pursuing other interests. If, on the other hand, he falls in with the hard-liners, he will probably become involved in a civil war that he is unlikely to survive.
I’m in LoS and desperately want a linjk to see the program. Can anyone upload it to youTube or something?
Take the recent bloodshed, then watch the France24 news channel footage showing soldiers firing live ammo into the crowd. Yet some “government spokesperson” insists they “only fired into the air”.
I’m not claiming political knowledge, but the way the blockage of the airports (BKK and DMK) was tolerated speaks for itself. No tear gas, no attempt to carry out protesters etc.
The depth of double standards in society is hard to believe for those who have no idea what is possible. Are the funerals of Red Shirt people attended by royals?
[…] least overall it seems armed repressions are in check, with a more solid consensus for non-violence. Both sides seem to have distanced themselves from the weekend’s clashes, with many observers […]
The comments here may give the impression that the report is mostly about the Crown Prince, but that is not the case. Its focus is restrictions on political expression at this particularly difficult moment in Thai history and, of course, the use of laws to “protect” the monarchy.
Obviously, it ranged into many other areas too; mostly alongside the comments by Paul Handley.
Perhaps journalists reading here will be inclined to push coverage more fully into some of those other areas, as suggested by Aladdin. The Eric Campbell report shows there will be no lack of interest from Thailand, and around the world. There is an enormous appetite for well-informed coverage.
Thank you very much Aladdin. My thoughts exactly. Not having seen the video I can’t comment on it, but from what I have read it appears that it is another story about the King’s son, not the King, and the deeper issues of the role of monarchy in Thailand. This prince is the least of Thailand’s worries. The nobility of the people has been completely excised from the national narrative in Thailand instead supplanted by a cult of personality manufactured and cultivated by this King’s Ministry of Propaganda.
Where are the icons of Pridi? How many statues are there of King Rama VII?
“Due to copyright reasons this video program is available for download by people located in Australia only. If you are not located in Australia, you are not authorised to view this video.”
Could somebody please make this available to Thai downloaders?
The answer is definitely Yes. I would imagine that most posters here, regardless of outlook and nationality would say that their fetish is flogging a dead horse. That’s how it feels to live here and watch the overprivileged (whatever damned shirt they wear) constantly murder, maim, steal and intimidate with total impunity. This is the real issue. Without some degree of a rule of law, democracy is pure fantasy.
Just want to point out that not all Thais think like the previous two posters. But many of my personal middle-class supposedly educated friends would still fall into this category.
It’s quite depressing really to argue with them on this, not the mention the LM law so altogether, we just don’t mention it in any discussion. So when you foreigners bring this up, it’s not surprising that their reaction would be that all the Thais think like them and those who think differently are not Thai.
Under the lese majeste laws as I understand them, he faces prosecution in Thailand – wherever he may have committed the so-called crime.
However, the Australian government would not extradite him and I don’t think the Thai government would be morally strong enough to uphold its laws by seeking his extradition. They would not want to invite the international contempt, ridicule and exposure that this would bring.
Their preferred strategy for breaches of the law outside Thailand is secretive suppression of information rather than following the logic of their laws and seeking the extradition of all offenders.
By the way, Bh. V, I think you can criticize anyone at New Mandala without fear of arrest or prosecution so I’m not quite sure what need you have to be circumspect. Pretty baseless, weak and pointless sarcasm on your part.
UDD just announced they would soon leave Phan Fah and move to Rajprasong to maintain it as single base. Wise move, I believe, as Phan Fah is hard to defend in case of another attack, which is very likely.
As for Rajprasong, Chatuporn once warned that UDD is not responsible for what happen to nearby shopping malls in case of a crackdown to disperse the red crowd.
Seems that some of the red leaders have read Sun Tzu ?
No one is fucking in Jail because of the issue. But the law launched just make us should not do that. And Thai pp never see our king run to caught any one. U guys just fucking non sense. Not think out of the box. Just fucking think we should be the same. Why u don’t think about culture, nature of pp, and so one? Have u ever got a high degree? Or really success in a real life? I am not mean in a stupid job.
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Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
Was this report done with no assistance from local Thai reporters and fixers? If not, let’s give them credit for putting themselves on the line — with nowhere to escape to. (Of course, I assume they can’t be named, but a mention that Campbell was helped by them, if he was, would be good.)
Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
If you think any particular person should be blamed, you probably have feeble mind. The Thai impasse was shaped by all walks of life- military, monarchy, bureaucrats, business elites, spoiled middle class, and yes corrupted politicians too. They were in it together, corrupting the country by cooperating their network and shared divisions of power. Removing this network, each isn’t so powerful. The monarchy is the most venerable of all- that is you know how to think (there’s a few who can at New Mandala).
Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
Although this doco is a great primer on the origins of Thailand’s current
predicament it does leave the impression that the present situation is a result
of accidents of birth. We have no control over how our children turn out! (I sure as hell think parents have some influence over the directions their kids
take.)
Funnily enough, the other story is that Phumiphon has been such a fabulous
success that his unfortunate son couldn’t possibly hope to compare.
In building his families financial position I would certainly have to concur, there have been few to come close. But if judged on his political contributions of 40+ years of meddling, he has out lived so many of his military business partners, then I feel the present political mess should be laid firmly at his door.
What next?
A senior army general whose his name starts with the letter “P” is planning a military coup to spare the Democrat Party from dissolution, Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said on Wednesday.
The coup would also enable the general’s subordinates who used force against the red-shirt protesters on Saturday to avoid punishment, Mr Prompong claimed.
“If the general succeeds in staging the coup, the 2007 constitution will be revoked and the Democrat Party will escape punishment,” the Puea Thai spokesman said.
Mr Prompong claimed the army general in question was now busy verifying the number of commanders who would support him. Several commanders were opposed to another coup, saying it is not a solution to political problems, he said.
He warned that if the general tries to stage a coup, there would be more clashes, more violent than Saturday’s incident.
The people would come out and fight the coup-makers. A civil war was likely, he said.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/174681/pt-gen-p-planning-to-stage-a-coup
Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
I agree with Aladdin here. Vajiralonkorn’s sexual appetite does not disqualify him for the job of King. Augustus the Strong (354 bastards) was not troubled on the throne of strongly Catholic Poland (perhaps this is because he clearly followed the Church’s doctrine on contraception). The Crown Prince will have his own set of cronies and is likely to put an end to his father’s Privy Council. He may be happy enough for the Privy Council to be reformed on the democratic lines of modern European monarchies and attend its meetings now and then while mainly pursuing other interests. If, on the other hand, he falls in with the hard-liners, he will probably become involved in a civil war that he is unlikely to survive.
Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
Been trying to watch via an australian proxy but still to no avail. Hope someone will upload it to youtube for everyone outside Aus.
Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
youtube it, please …
ABC TV on Thai politics
I’m in LoS and desperately want a linjk to see the program. Can anyone upload it to youTube or something?
Take the recent bloodshed, then watch the France24 news channel footage showing soldiers firing live ammo into the crowd. Yet some “government spokesperson” insists they “only fired into the air”.
I’m not claiming political knowledge, but the way the blockage of the airports (BKK and DMK) was tolerated speaks for itself. No tear gas, no attempt to carry out protesters etc.
The depth of double standards in society is hard to believe for those who have no idea what is possible. Are the funerals of Red Shirt people attended by royals?
Can Thailand’s new consensus hold?
[…] least overall it seems armed repressions are in check, with a more solid consensus for non-violence. Both sides seem to have distanced themselves from the weekend’s clashes, with many observers […]
Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
Dear Maratjp,
The comments here may give the impression that the report is mostly about the Crown Prince, but that is not the case. Its focus is restrictions on political expression at this particularly difficult moment in Thai history and, of course, the use of laws to “protect” the monarchy.
Obviously, it ranged into many other areas too; mostly alongside the comments by Paul Handley.
Perhaps journalists reading here will be inclined to push coverage more fully into some of those other areas, as suggested by Aladdin. The Eric Campbell report shows there will be no lack of interest from Thailand, and around the world. There is an enormous appetite for well-informed coverage.
Best wishes to all,
Nich
Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
Thank you very much Aladdin. My thoughts exactly. Not having seen the video I can’t comment on it, but from what I have read it appears that it is another story about the King’s son, not the King, and the deeper issues of the role of monarchy in Thailand. This prince is the least of Thailand’s worries. The nobility of the people has been completely excised from the national narrative in Thailand instead supplanted by a cult of personality manufactured and cultivated by this King’s Ministry of Propaganda.
Where are the icons of Pridi? How many statues are there of King Rama VII?
I guess I better stop now.
Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
Have you Australians never heard of Youtube?
Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
ABC iView:
“Due to copyright reasons this video program is available for download by people located in Australia only. If you are not located in Australia, you are not authorised to view this video.”
Could somebody please make this available to Thai downloaders?
ABC TV on Thai politics
“#33 don’t u guys have a fetish side? ”
The answer is definitely Yes. I would imagine that most posters here, regardless of outlook and nationality would say that their fetish is flogging a dead horse. That’s how it feels to live here and watch the overprivileged (whatever damned shirt they wear) constantly murder, maim, steal and intimidate with total impunity. This is the real issue. Without some degree of a rule of law, democracy is pure fantasy.
Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
Aladdin, agreed…
this episode is a very useful ground breaker for the deeper story
nice to see Thanong exposed to some real questioning
ABC TV on Thai politics
Just want to point out that not all Thais think like the previous two posters. But many of my personal middle-class supposedly educated friends would still fall into this category.
It’s quite depressing really to argue with them on this, not the mention the LM law so altogether, we just don’t mention it in any discussion. So when you foreigners bring this up, it’s not surprising that their reaction would be that all the Thais think like them and those who think differently are not Thai.
Reflections on Eric Campbell’s royal report
Bh V,
Under the lese majeste laws as I understand them, he faces prosecution in Thailand – wherever he may have committed the so-called crime.
However, the Australian government would not extradite him and I don’t think the Thai government would be morally strong enough to uphold its laws by seeking his extradition. They would not want to invite the international contempt, ridicule and exposure that this would bring.
Their preferred strategy for breaches of the law outside Thailand is secretive suppression of information rather than following the logic of their laws and seeking the extradition of all offenders.
By the way, Bh. V, I think you can criticize anyone at New Mandala without fear of arrest or prosecution so I’m not quite sure what need you have to be circumspect. Pretty baseless, weak and pointless sarcasm on your part.
The King Never Smiles?
[…] […]
What next?
UDD just announced they would soon leave Phan Fah and move to Rajprasong to maintain it as single base. Wise move, I believe, as Phan Fah is hard to defend in case of another attack, which is very likely.
As for Rajprasong, Chatuporn once warned that UDD is not responsible for what happen to nearby shopping malls in case of a crackdown to disperse the red crowd.
Seems that some of the red leaders have read Sun Tzu ?
ABC TV on Thai politics
No one is fucking in Jail because of the issue. But the law launched just make us should not do that. And Thai pp never see our king run to caught any one. U guys just fucking non sense. Not think out of the box. Just fucking think we should be the same. Why u don’t think about culture, nature of pp, and so one? Have u ever got a high degree? Or really success in a real life? I am not mean in a stupid job.