what religious/supernatural rite exactly was performed?
I am not sure what precisely the ritual was.
I’ve only read (either on Nation or on Bkk Post) that ritual was performed by a brahmin, who chanted some stuff, also drawn some figures, and pronounced some curses. and reportedly those red-shirts present and who poured the blood added their own curses too.
“brahmin” hints on some sort of Hindu traditions – although as I know and saw in India and Nepal, they would only offer fresh blood to their dieties directly (in Nepal they splash on the wall)
that I guess is a sacrifice – an offering
in case of this ritual by “brahmin” performed for UDD – I think it doesn’t really follows the tradition of Hindu sacrifices.
thus, I am not sure even about – how “authentic” the whole ritual was.
today on local TV (TPBs) there was some report and interview with some more official (and more fat) “brahmin”, who, as I could briefly surmise, has debunked the whole event.
which I guess was only expected.
that’s what I can only add to your question. I doubt it very much that there are any transcripts or anything. I guess that even the fellow who acted as “brahmin” was not really an authentic one (say, as those who perform all the royal ceremonies or festivals as ploughing etc) – he looked more like some theatrically dressed provincial magician, whom perhaps Thai Media called “brahmin” for convenience, may be because they didn’t find a better word how to call him. 🙂
Many more good points have been made here, leaving even the most faithful with their doubts washed away.
No one, I think, has yet observed that the Buddha image symbolized the non-violence of the shedding of Self-sacrificed Blood, while the Brahmin present at the ceremony serves to remind ill-wishers that Sacrifice might lead to loss of life if Message is not taken to heart. This, too, is like the harsh, provocative language of the Red Shirts leaders, whose words suggest cruel and Bloody consequences for their opponents while their actions all point to violence.
a couple of comments have suggested a huge tournout for the Reds, and that Thaksin must be winning. Thank Buddha that this is not happening, they seem to be waning and the blood brings them publicity but little else. interesting comments by WLH, yes a lot of anti-Thaksinites are a bit narrow in their thinking, me included, but as has been noted the alternative to Abhisit right now is horrible – Chalerm, Chaowalit, god help us Thaksin. I am yet to be convinced that the Reds have any realistic policies and that the money that supports them is not Thaksins. What is wrong with Abhisit having elections early next year?
Nice story, but what if you look at it from yet another angle?
The soi has become so homogeneously red due to peer pressure and social constraints – once the local opinion makers and influentials, like Daeng and motorcycle drivers, made their minds, it had become an issue of conformity for everyone else.
Ideology or personal beliefs play very little role in this scenario.
It reminded me of “What about the Morgans” movie I saw recently. Two New Yorkers get stranded somewhere upcountry and, needless to say, their social manners are not exactly welcome.
-Next you will tell us you are Democrats
-Erm, there must be a few of us in town?
-Yes, fourteen, and we know who they are
>>>>
Why not worry about the lack of diversity rather than celebrate red homogeneity in that little enclave?
It is certainly not an exception in “red” or “pro-Thaksin” zones, they tend to squeeze out every other opinions and beliefs via social pressure rather than arguments and debates.
@Tarrin: lese majeste is a law which is draconian. Elroy said Thai society is draconian. Not the same thing.
@sritanonchai: i’ve done my homework, thanks. the point i’m trying to make is, i sincerely doubt that if a picture of thaksin doing the same thing existed or could be found, that those running this website would ever have published it with a similar headline, or many others posting here would have criticized him for doing so. the pro-red bias here and contempt for views non-red, as opposed to objective analysis, is evident to many.
The moment when very poor villagers have to donate their blood to help a billionaire (who had fallen on hard times) get back up on his feet must be market bottom.
The foreign media that I have seen so far have given a fairly superficial and sanitized interpretation of the blood-spilling ritual: ‘a symbolic ‘sacrifice’, indicating that the participants are willing to spill their own blood, or at least go to great lengths, in order to save the nation and rectify wrongs’. This is an interpretation that is easy for westerners to understand within the logic of their own cultural framework, and it will surely engender a degree of support, having, as it does, implications of nobility, suffering for the greater good, and therefore true patriotism, ‘the right stuff’. And it is not a ‘made-up’ interpretation – the Reds have clearly articulated it in their public references to the act.
However, symbolic rituals have layers of meaning, & it is not the whole story. Indeed it’s not even the tip of the iceberg of the whole story. And, given the intention, apparently well-understood by the participants, of the much deeper and more important level of meaning, it is arguable that it gives entirely the wrong impression of what is in fact not a noble act, but a deeply sinister one with extremely malicious intent. At its truest and most significant level, the blood-spilling rite has been identified by locals, including speakers at the rally, as a cursing rite, intended to bring dire consequences to its victims. In an editorial in the Bangkok Post it was stated that it was a Kmer black magic ritual (I suspect that the practice of attributing ‘Kmer’ origins to black magic is not always true and may be simply a way of perpetuating the cultural demonisation of the Kmer people, but I may be wrong about this. I’d like to have the opinion of a genuine researcher.)
Prof. Thongchai has pointed out that other religions also have a high degree of the irrational, the “unscientific”, & this is incontestably true. However the implication that this kind of symbolic rite is standard, normal behaviour within a religious context is not correct. The practice of cursing has not been a part of mainstream Christianity for a very long time. It is also frowned on by orthodox Buddhist scholars and hierarchy, as entirely against the teachings of the Buddha. It’s also noteworthy that Thongchai is at pains to give the impression that the ritual was “invented” by the Redshirts, thereby detaching it from the ugly truth (that it is an established cursing rite), and that he (a scholar) has used the term ‘voodoo’, which specifically relates to magico-religious practices in the Caribbean, to refer to a Thai practice, in such a way as to completely diminish the important ‘magic’ element. He might just as well have said ‘mumbo-jumbo’. He furthers this by likening it to common social rituals, such as weddings, graduation ceremonies, etc., and states that these are similarly “unscientific,” & that “A ‘ritual’ is not supposed to be understood literally, and its effects are never assumed to be literal either.” This is begging the question, since no-one seems to have interpreted the blood-spilling ritual as having an intended blood-spilling (i.e. literal) effect, & it therefore doesn’t come into the equation.
Why do I think it’s important to bring this up? Well, I’m tired of seeing sanitized reports of Thai events of significance, which play down or completely omit references to the importance of primitive magic beliefs in Thai thought & action. I don’t know why this happens so much – embarrassment, perhaps? Fear of ridicule by the ‘scientific’ world? But it seems to me that if, for example, Thaksin consulted a notorious ‘magic monk’ before the launch of the Drug War, & was told that the killing of a drug dealer carried the same Karmic penalty as that of a small insect, and the death squad members carried that belief with them, it is well worth reporting as widely as possible. Get it out in the open so that it can be looked at, discussed, & dealt with.
In the current situation I’m not expecting the PM to turn into a toad (it’s just been announced that he is the latest ‘victim’). However, I can’t help feeling that the movement that so many hope will bring Thailand out of the ‘dark ages’ is rather undercutting its mission by using such tactics, & would be better employed preparing for ‘the glorious future’ by setting up some strategies for dealing with the many injustices & inequalities that are embedded in Thai society & culture, & that have led to the current situation. It’s to the great credit of both sides that the present demonstration has been non-violent, insofar as there has been no blood shed in battle. However, make no mistake, cursing is a form of violence. Whether it is effective or not is irrelevant; it is feeding an appetite for violence & hatred, & that is counterproductive.
Many of the leaders of all sides in this current situation seem to be individuals who are very low on the food chain. That is a result of the existing social structure, based on a hierarchy of wealth and criminality. It will eventually change, as it has & is still doing in the rest of the world – “Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come. Armies cannot stop an idea whose time has come.” (Hugo) Academics who tell the truth can help this process.
Frank Lee #49 – You see, there are people like you that understand so many thing in so many different ways, that is why I tried to post the link to the actual page of Bangkokbiz making this embarrassing apology so that people like you could actually “read” and “understand” why your statement has been irritating people around here, and really the whole thing will just be a waste of my time because you didnt even care to open to link and read the thing.
Anyway I’m not trying to defense anyone, I simply want to point out the sad state of Thai’s journalism, let me go further down a bit, I assumed that you were unaware that Bangkokbiz is the “first” news reporter that came out with the CTX report and that same document and analogy was use by the Dem to accuse Suriya, you do know about that right?
You asked why he has been dodging the court??? come on you cant be serious with this question, if you know you are being charge for something base on fault analogy, to make matter worst, charge from the same people that made public known to be your eternal enemy??? Damn you better run like no tomorrow, because you know they going get you no matter how innocent you are.
Lastly, I hope you will retain your standard of standing on the high moral ground if one day when Abhisit and his crony lost their power ,and in turn, got charge for corruption for their Ton Gra Ar Cheep project, Sufficiency village project, the rotten canned fish, the rotten milk, and so on.
*Drying up of the Mekong river is basically easy
*Smoke producing for global warming is technically difficult
*Both easy/difficult must be executed by human, who’s looking for MONEY
Can clever men limit MONEY power into half of current situation? otherwise, not only Mekong dried up, global warming but Shorten Earth life.
Come on, we live on the same earth weighed 6E+24…kg, let’s save and love our lives even you are rich I am poor – our lives worth equally = your dead rich life can not change my poor living life!.
Reducing half MONEY power, will minimize half earth destruction and moderate inappropriate human competition
Why is my comment “Awaiting Moderation” when no others are?
It’s a conspiracy I tell ya!
But seriously, it raises an important question as to whether Bhumibhol has been selective in his advice to judges. I personally don’t believe so, not least because the judges he has lectured have appeared, in my opinion, to have SUBSEQUENTLY given quite unbiased and well-reasoned verdicts.
Re the media: Payment is only one crude way of exerting influence and producing self-censorship.
Re Mr. CTX: As I understand it, Suriya was well and truly nailed in parliament by the Democrats over this and left looking stunned and very giuity, which I suppose is why it is ‘common knowledge’ that he lined his own pockets and why he has been dodging court for years claiming illness. Correct me if I am wrong, otherwise please don’t waste my time defending yet another corrupt big-time politician found guilty in the court of public opinion. Even the Red Shirts hand their heads in shame at this particular saga.
Without anything more than your derogatory comment and no explanation, it seemed to me to be just another of-the -cuff accusation without substance – and it received all the respect it deserved.
BTW: “He” is actually a ‘she’ that dresses like a ‘he’, so maybe you were on to something after all. I’ll have to ask Jung.
Kudos to WLH too – for putting all these logical thoughts and arguments into writing. I have the same thoughts but wouldn’t have been able to write it down as well as you did.
May I save your comment and share it with a lot of my friends – who still believe that the red shirts are either paid or deceived by Thaksin? Sure, a lot of the red shirts still think of Thaksin as their hero but more and more are thinking beyond Thaksin now. They may be rural and uneducated people but it doesn’t mean that they are stupid.
Every (Thai based) financial professional I’ve spoken to says that Thailand is undervalued because its politics overshadow its assets: agricultural and food export, heavy industry with developing value-added manufacturing, and an extremely healthy banking sector with little or no exposure to the global real estate bubbles and derivatives markets.
That said, the SET is a basket case with no control over inside trading, and land reform is needed before the real estate market matures into a liberalized one. Their advice: buy only blue-chip stocks (PTT, SCC, banks) and only property if you can use it right away (reside, business, or rental). Avoid gold because Thai gold isn’t free-market, and sit on baht or safe baht-monetized funds that have diverse blue-chip bases.
As for the king’s passage, I am told that every pro in finance has already priced it into their estimates. They’ll buy on the funeral dip but it won’t be as big a dip as you think, because everyone is playing the same game.
Drying up of the Mekong river is as easy as making and using Money for exclusive Power. Why men are willing to kill themselves by using paper sheet – so called “Money”? How clever humankind can be if living without Money use!!!! Please share with me your creative ideas, if you see unlimited using Money is the most dangerous and will lead all of us toward the Hell! For having Money people can do anything, but can not I!. Can long-long-long time civilized countries empty half of your wealth for the poor and recently developed countries? so we are equalized as our world will last longer for you and I?
Probably depends significantly on the time horizon of your trade. On a stand-alone basis there are certainly many stocks whose multiples appear inexpensive relative to regional comparables.
However I am not inclined to view current unrest as being equivalent to periodic unrest that has led to changes of government for the past 50++ years, for a few reasons:
+ poorly planned and poorly articulated succession issues within with the royal family
+ widening income disparity between rich and poor, and greater awareness and organizational power among the poor
+ gradual weakening of monopolies and reduction of non-tendered concessions to tycoons that have provided political funding (would be quite keen to have readers thoughts on this)
Will this result in a prolonged and messy adjustment period (that could potentially have little effect on businesses, particularly exporters) or will it result in something closer to the 1998 styled Indonesian mayhem? In my (relatively uninformed – so please comment) opinion, the likelihood of the latter happening would be pretty low as Thailand has some significant problems, but it is not anywhere near to systemic dysfunction (economically or in terms of government services).
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Crispin on Thailand’s bloody feud
Andrew Johnson #9
I am not sure what precisely the ritual was.
I’ve only read (either on Nation or on Bkk Post) that ritual was performed by a brahmin, who chanted some stuff, also drawn some figures, and pronounced some curses. and reportedly those red-shirts present and who poured the blood added their own curses too.
“brahmin” hints on some sort of Hindu traditions – although as I know and saw in India and Nepal, they would only offer fresh blood to their dieties directly (in Nepal they splash on the wall)
that I guess is a sacrifice – an offering
in case of this ritual by “brahmin” performed for UDD – I think it doesn’t really follows the tradition of Hindu sacrifices.
thus, I am not sure even about – how “authentic” the whole ritual was.
today on local TV (TPBs) there was some report and interview with some more official (and more fat) “brahmin”, who, as I could briefly surmise, has debunked the whole event.
which I guess was only expected.
that’s what I can only add to your question. I doubt it very much that there are any transcripts or anything. I guess that even the fellow who acted as “brahmin” was not really an authentic one (say, as those who perform all the royal ceremonies or festivals as ploughing etc) – he looked more like some theatrically dressed provincial magician, whom perhaps Thai Media called “brahmin” for convenience, may be because they didn’t find a better word how to call him. 🙂
Thai style democracy?
Tarrin at 50 re TXC (sic) propaganda:
Yeah, right – and just where is “here” I wonder.
Come on bro’ – the Aussie wanker couldn’t even get the name CTX right.
Crispin on Thailand’s bloody feud
Many more good points have been made here, leaving even the most faithful with their doubts washed away.
No one, I think, has yet observed that the Buddha image symbolized the non-violence of the shedding of Self-sacrificed Blood, while the Brahmin present at the ceremony serves to remind ill-wishers that Sacrifice might lead to loss of life if Message is not taken to heart. This, too, is like the harsh, provocative language of the Red Shirts leaders, whose words suggest cruel and Bloody consequences for their opponents while their actions all point to violence.
Open thread on red protests
a couple of comments have suggested a huge tournout for the Reds, and that Thaksin must be winning. Thank Buddha that this is not happening, they seem to be waning and the blood brings them publicity but little else. interesting comments by WLH, yes a lot of anti-Thaksinites are a bit narrow in their thinking, me included, but as has been noted the alternative to Abhisit right now is horrible – Chalerm, Chaowalit, god help us Thaksin. I am yet to be convinced that the Reds have any realistic policies and that the money that supports them is not Thaksins. What is wrong with Abhisit having elections early next year?
Red soi, Red city: A brief commentary from the streets
Nice story, but what if you look at it from yet another angle?
The soi has become so homogeneously red due to peer pressure and social constraints – once the local opinion makers and influentials, like Daeng and motorcycle drivers, made their minds, it had become an issue of conformity for everyone else.
Ideology or personal beliefs play very little role in this scenario.
It reminded me of “What about the Morgans” movie I saw recently. Two New Yorkers get stranded somewhere upcountry and, needless to say, their social manners are not exactly welcome.
-Next you will tell us you are Democrats
-Erm, there must be a few of us in town?
-Yes, fourteen, and we know who they are
>>>>
Why not worry about the lack of diversity rather than celebrate red homogeneity in that little enclave?
It is certainly not an exception in “red” or “pro-Thaksin” zones, they tend to squeeze out every other opinions and beliefs via social pressure rather than arguments and debates.
Thai style democracy?
@Tarrin: lese majeste is a law which is draconian. Elroy said Thai society is draconian. Not the same thing.
@sritanonchai: i’ve done my homework, thanks. the point i’m trying to make is, i sincerely doubt that if a picture of thaksin doing the same thing existed or could be found, that those running this website would ever have published it with a similar headline, or many others posting here would have criticized him for doing so. the pro-red bias here and contempt for views non-red, as opposed to objective analysis, is evident to many.
Profits to be made?
The moment when very poor villagers have to donate their blood to help a billionaire (who had fallen on hard times) get back up on his feet must be market bottom.
Crispin on Thailand’s bloody feud
The foreign media that I have seen so far have given a fairly superficial and sanitized interpretation of the blood-spilling ritual: ‘a symbolic ‘sacrifice’, indicating that the participants are willing to spill their own blood, or at least go to great lengths, in order to save the nation and rectify wrongs’. This is an interpretation that is easy for westerners to understand within the logic of their own cultural framework, and it will surely engender a degree of support, having, as it does, implications of nobility, suffering for the greater good, and therefore true patriotism, ‘the right stuff’. And it is not a ‘made-up’ interpretation – the Reds have clearly articulated it in their public references to the act.
However, symbolic rituals have layers of meaning, & it is not the whole story. Indeed it’s not even the tip of the iceberg of the whole story. And, given the intention, apparently well-understood by the participants, of the much deeper and more important level of meaning, it is arguable that it gives entirely the wrong impression of what is in fact not a noble act, but a deeply sinister one with extremely malicious intent. At its truest and most significant level, the blood-spilling rite has been identified by locals, including speakers at the rally, as a cursing rite, intended to bring dire consequences to its victims. In an editorial in the Bangkok Post it was stated that it was a Kmer black magic ritual (I suspect that the practice of attributing ‘Kmer’ origins to black magic is not always true and may be simply a way of perpetuating the cultural demonisation of the Kmer people, but I may be wrong about this. I’d like to have the opinion of a genuine researcher.)
Prof. Thongchai has pointed out that other religions also have a high degree of the irrational, the “unscientific”, & this is incontestably true. However the implication that this kind of symbolic rite is standard, normal behaviour within a religious context is not correct. The practice of cursing has not been a part of mainstream Christianity for a very long time. It is also frowned on by orthodox Buddhist scholars and hierarchy, as entirely against the teachings of the Buddha. It’s also noteworthy that Thongchai is at pains to give the impression that the ritual was “invented” by the Redshirts, thereby detaching it from the ugly truth (that it is an established cursing rite), and that he (a scholar) has used the term ‘voodoo’, which specifically relates to magico-religious practices in the Caribbean, to refer to a Thai practice, in such a way as to completely diminish the important ‘magic’ element. He might just as well have said ‘mumbo-jumbo’. He furthers this by likening it to common social rituals, such as weddings, graduation ceremonies, etc., and states that these are similarly “unscientific,” & that “A ‘ritual’ is not supposed to be understood literally, and its effects are never assumed to be literal either.” This is begging the question, since no-one seems to have interpreted the blood-spilling ritual as having an intended blood-spilling (i.e. literal) effect, & it therefore doesn’t come into the equation.
Why do I think it’s important to bring this up? Well, I’m tired of seeing sanitized reports of Thai events of significance, which play down or completely omit references to the importance of primitive magic beliefs in Thai thought & action. I don’t know why this happens so much – embarrassment, perhaps? Fear of ridicule by the ‘scientific’ world? But it seems to me that if, for example, Thaksin consulted a notorious ‘magic monk’ before the launch of the Drug War, & was told that the killing of a drug dealer carried the same Karmic penalty as that of a small insect, and the death squad members carried that belief with them, it is well worth reporting as widely as possible. Get it out in the open so that it can be looked at, discussed, & dealt with.
In the current situation I’m not expecting the PM to turn into a toad (it’s just been announced that he is the latest ‘victim’). However, I can’t help feeling that the movement that so many hope will bring Thailand out of the ‘dark ages’ is rather undercutting its mission by using such tactics, & would be better employed preparing for ‘the glorious future’ by setting up some strategies for dealing with the many injustices & inequalities that are embedded in Thai society & culture, & that have led to the current situation. It’s to the great credit of both sides that the present demonstration has been non-violent, insofar as there has been no blood shed in battle. However, make no mistake, cursing is a form of violence. Whether it is effective or not is irrelevant; it is feeding an appetite for violence & hatred, & that is counterproductive.
Many of the leaders of all sides in this current situation seem to be individuals who are very low on the food chain. That is a result of the existing social structure, based on a hierarchy of wealth and criminality. It will eventually change, as it has & is still doing in the rest of the world – “Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come. Armies cannot stop an idea whose time has come.” (Hugo) Academics who tell the truth can help this process.
Thai style democracy?
Frank Lee #49 – You see, there are people like you that understand so many thing in so many different ways, that is why I tried to post the link to the actual page of Bangkokbiz making this embarrassing apology so that people like you could actually “read” and “understand” why your statement has been irritating people around here, and really the whole thing will just be a waste of my time because you didnt even care to open to link and read the thing.
Anyway I’m not trying to defense anyone, I simply want to point out the sad state of Thai’s journalism, let me go further down a bit, I assumed that you were unaware that Bangkokbiz is the “first” news reporter that came out with the CTX report and that same document and analogy was use by the Dem to accuse Suriya, you do know about that right?
You asked why he has been dodging the court??? come on you cant be serious with this question, if you know you are being charge for something base on fault analogy, to make matter worst, charge from the same people that made public known to be your eternal enemy??? Damn you better run like no tomorrow, because you know they going get you no matter how innocent you are.
Lastly, I hope you will retain your standard of standing on the high moral ground if one day when Abhisit and his crony lost their power ,and in turn, got charge for corruption for their Ton Gra Ar Cheep project, Sufficiency village project, the rotten canned fish, the rotten milk, and so on.
A Chinese analysis of Thai politics
That may be the root of all problems today.
Damned Chinese: mighty Mekong a memory
*Drying up of the Mekong river is basically easy
*Smoke producing for global warming is technically difficult
*Both easy/difficult must be executed by human, who’s looking for MONEY
Can clever men limit MONEY power into half of current situation? otherwise, not only Mekong dried up, global warming but Shorten Earth life.
Come on, we live on the same earth weighed 6E+24…kg, let’s save and love our lives even you are rich I am poor – our lives worth equally = your dead rich life can not change my poor living life!.
Reducing half MONEY power, will minimize half earth destruction and moderate inappropriate human competition
Crispin on Thailand’s bloody feud
Why is my comment “Awaiting Moderation” when no others are?
It’s a conspiracy I tell ya!
But seriously, it raises an important question as to whether Bhumibhol has been selective in his advice to judges. I personally don’t believe so, not least because the judges he has lectured have appeared, in my opinion, to have SUBSEQUENTLY given quite unbiased and well-reasoned verdicts.
Thai style democracy?
Tarrin at #46:
Re the media: Payment is only one crude way of exerting influence and producing self-censorship.
Re Mr. CTX: As I understand it, Suriya was well and truly nailed in parliament by the Democrats over this and left looking stunned and very giuity, which I suppose is why it is ‘common knowledge’ that he lined his own pockets and why he has been dodging court for years claiming illness. Correct me if I am wrong, otherwise please don’t waste my time defending yet another corrupt big-time politician found guilty in the court of public opinion. Even the Red Shirts hand their heads in shame at this particular saga.
Thai style democracy?
BKK Lawyer re #44: R.I.P.
Without anything more than your derogatory comment and no explanation, it seemed to me to be just another of-the -cuff accusation without substance – and it received all the respect it deserved.
BTW: “He” is actually a ‘she’ that dresses like a ‘he’, so maybe you were on to something after all. I’ll have to ask Jung.
T.I.T.
Crispin on Thailand’s bloody feud
The use of blood in this demonstration is just the stigation that it would be bloody soon. That’s it.
Open thread on red protests
Kudos to WLH too – for putting all these logical thoughts and arguments into writing. I have the same thoughts but wouldn’t have been able to write it down as well as you did.
May I save your comment and share it with a lot of my friends – who still believe that the red shirts are either paid or deceived by Thaksin? Sure, a lot of the red shirts still think of Thaksin as their hero but more and more are thinking beyond Thaksin now. They may be rural and uneducated people but it doesn’t mean that they are stupid.
Profits to be made?
Every (Thai based) financial professional I’ve spoken to says that Thailand is undervalued because its politics overshadow its assets: agricultural and food export, heavy industry with developing value-added manufacturing, and an extremely healthy banking sector with little or no exposure to the global real estate bubbles and derivatives markets.
That said, the SET is a basket case with no control over inside trading, and land reform is needed before the real estate market matures into a liberalized one. Their advice: buy only blue-chip stocks (PTT, SCC, banks) and only property if you can use it right away (reside, business, or rental). Avoid gold because Thai gold isn’t free-market, and sit on baht or safe baht-monetized funds that have diverse blue-chip bases.
As for the king’s passage, I am told that every pro in finance has already priced it into their estimates. They’ll buy on the funeral dip but it won’t be as big a dip as you think, because everyone is playing the same game.
Damned Chinese: mighty Mekong a memory
Dear Graceful Human Beings,
Drying up of the Mekong river is as easy as making and using Money for exclusive Power. Why men are willing to kill themselves by using paper sheet – so called “Money”? How clever humankind can be if living without Money use!!!! Please share with me your creative ideas, if you see unlimited using Money is the most dangerous and will lead all of us toward the Hell! For having Money people can do anything, but can not I!. Can long-long-long time civilized countries empty half of your wealth for the poor and recently developed countries? so we are equalized as our world will last longer for you and I?
Kind regards,
Saksit Tasong
Profits to be made?
To time the market top it is imperative to speak to the king’s doctor.
Profits to be made?
Probably depends significantly on the time horizon of your trade. On a stand-alone basis there are certainly many stocks whose multiples appear inexpensive relative to regional comparables.
However I am not inclined to view current unrest as being equivalent to periodic unrest that has led to changes of government for the past 50++ years, for a few reasons:
+ poorly planned and poorly articulated succession issues within with the royal family
+ widening income disparity between rich and poor, and greater awareness and organizational power among the poor
+ gradual weakening of monopolies and reduction of non-tendered concessions to tycoons that have provided political funding (would be quite keen to have readers thoughts on this)
Will this result in a prolonged and messy adjustment period (that could potentially have little effect on businesses, particularly exporters) or will it result in something closer to the 1998 styled Indonesian mayhem? In my (relatively uninformed – so please comment) opinion, the likelihood of the latter happening would be pretty low as Thailand has some significant problems, but it is not anywhere near to systemic dysfunction (economically or in terms of government services).