Well spotted Robuzo. I would also add that if the BKK protests go on much after tomorrow, the economic losses to Thailand, stand a strong chance of being far greater than shutting down the airports.
If nothing else, it might end this silly over use of that one incident to alledge governement bias.
Then again, I can also here the claims from the red leaders and some academics, that if only the government would give in to the red shirt leader’s wants, all would be solved…
I am running updates over at Siam Report blog. On the monarchy, as I recall, Thailand went through a good two decades without the monarchy as “head honcho” (i.e. 1932-until Sarit). In these two decades Thailand didn’t collapse or fall off the Earth. All this panic about what will happen is a royal tactic to make people dependent on the institution. To make people think the world will end if the monarchy is not all powerful. They say without it there won’t be political stability and continuity, yet there never has been if you look at the period of royal supremacy. How many coups, crackdowns, and other chaotic situations?
This is how the Post covered the red rally in Nonthaburi on Friday:
“Unlike the more sophisticated yellow-shirt demonstrators, their rivals, the red-shirts only repeated familiar scripts that they already knew by heart. The speakers did not present listeners with sophisticated arguments, satisying themselves with defaming Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanond and accusing him of being behind Thailand’s demise since the September 2006 coup and proclaiming that Abhisit Vejjajiva was merely heading Prem’s proxy administration.”
While it’s obvious the situation in fact are getting “serious” (and how), it is hard to take the author seriously when he states, “Meanwhile the better-connected urbanites (who donned yellow shirts) [dealt] a terrible blow to the tourism industry which is the real mainstay of the economy.” Tourism is more important perhaps than the stats imply, but it has been a long time since it was “the real mainstay of the economy.” Important to the author is probably what he really means; I’m not sure where Mr. Collard picked up the credentials necessary to pen a commentary on the Thai political situation, but the phrase “Lord Buddha and King Bhumibol reigning benevolently over all” is the kind of sophomoric line one might hear from a starry-eyed tourist happy for the respite from his China post rather than a journalist who has done any real legwork in Thailand. Of course, having written “Apologies for over-simplification” he can’t say he didn’t warn us.
And Suu Kyi herself apparently also believes that the law excludes her participation:
Nyan Win and another lawyer for Suu Kyi, Kyi Wynn, met with the detained democracy leader from 2 to 4 p.m. today to discuss the election law… Suu Kyi described the law that excluded her and other political prisoners as unfair.
I do have evidence. My partner did consulting work with Thai Airways. The head of a certain department who had worked closely with the person in question had only negative experiences to report.
Also, we have seen a certain video, which at this point possibly millions of Thais have seen. It does not engender pride in or affection for the person in question.
Perhaps Mr Beale heard only kind comments about this person because the Thais speaking with him were in public places (hence were fearful of being over-heard) and did not know him well enough to trust him to say what they truly believe. The first time someone talked to me about him, my Thai neighbour, we were swimming with our kids and she made sure we were in the centre of the pool, far from where any other adults could hear us over the splashing, and she whispered to me about the person in question. I feel fortunate that conversely I could stand at the corner of Threadneedle Street and shout “Charles is an eejit!” without fear of reprisals.
Saturday night and all is peaceful in BKK. Red-shirts look like they could get as many as 500,000 protesters by the end of Sunday. The real business will be Monday I think.
Reds will try to irritate ( but not enough to justify a crackdown) . The govt (or lets be honest the army and some influential people such as the one David refers to above) must know that they cannot be seen to suppress the protest unjustly. Brinkmanship Thai-style. What would it take to cause the parliament to be dissolved?
The mainstream media is making it all about Thaksin (funding uneducated farmers so he can force his way back to thailand); The actual Red rhetoric is about democracy and ‘double standards’. I can’t see Thaksin coming back at any point.
Nobody here has a clue what will happen. Both sides profess a commitment to peace. I pray it continues. I fear random or instigated violence. Whichever side is seen as responsible for the violence will lose credibility and support amongst the ‘silent majority’, and be worse placed for the big readjustment that will come after a particular person is no longer in this place (what a scary event that is for the average peaceable Thai). 1992 conflict was ended in a way i cannot see as possible now.
A literal translation of Chapter (2 ) Section (4) of Political Parties Registration Law would read:
4. The persons who wish to establish a political party shall be in conformity with the following points.
(e) Person who is not a convict.
Again in Chapter (2) Section (10) of the law :
10. In organizing party members, only the following persons who have the following qualifications
shall be organized.
(e) Not a convict
And in Chapter (1) Section (2) :
2. The following expressions in this Law shall have the meanings as follows:
(l) Convict means person who is convicted by a trial court and serving prison term. This expression also includes person who is filing appeal case or revision case against the respective court’s verdict while serving prison term.
Last month, while rejecting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal on criminal charges against her, the Supreme Court statement said:
“Supreme Court confirms judgement and decree of Yangon Division Court, rejects appeals of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Khin Win, Ma Win Ma Ma (a) Ange Lay”
………………..
” These were the criminal appeal case No. 600(b)/2009 for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and 601(b)2009 for Daw Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma (a) Ange Lay.”
The Supreme Court’s statement is available at The New Light of Myanmar published on 27th February, 2010.
Therefore, it is pretty clear that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is convicted by a trial court and she is unfit to be a member of a political party, let alone take part in the elections.
Derek Tonkin’s “the directive dated 10 August 2009” comment is irrelevant.
I’m Thai who living all my life in this country, and for this I claim I have more knowledge of Thai people feelings more than Chris Beale. I can’t speak much because the lese majeste law. I will only say that I think in the matter of the prince’s popularity among Thais, Chris Beale knows next to nothing of what he talked about.
A thousand apologies Chris – you said “malicious maligner” – Actually, this is worse: “To make evil, harmful, and often untrue statements about; speak evil of” according to the dictionary. So my comment on your statement remains.
Grant Evans, the Thammsart U law lecturers made a 30 pages analysis out of 187 pages judgment. They came up with nine major arguments. The one re Don Sampamtarak’s article is dealt with in Issue 4, not 5. Thanks to Submarine for pointing this out.
Patiwat, yes, the TU lecturers have their own take on the overall judgment. Their statement, viewed from a legal philosophy framework, are solidly argued.
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“…this could get serious”
corruption is illegal in Thailand in the way prostitution is
Lord Buddha (and…) has so far been unavailable for comment.
lol… true.
“…this could get serious”
Well spotted Robuzo. I would also add that if the BKK protests go on much after tomorrow, the economic losses to Thailand, stand a strong chance of being far greater than shutting down the airports.
If nothing else, it might end this silly over use of that one incident to alledge governement bias.
Then again, I can also here the claims from the red leaders and some academics, that if only the government would give in to the red shirt leader’s wants, all would be solved…
“…this could get serious”
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Leviathan_gr.jpg
Open thread on red protests
I am running updates over at Siam Report blog. On the monarchy, as I recall, Thailand went through a good two decades without the monarchy as “head honcho” (i.e. 1932-until Sarit). In these two decades Thailand didn’t collapse or fall off the Earth. All this panic about what will happen is a royal tactic to make people dependent on the institution. To make people think the world will end if the monarchy is not all powerful. They say without it there won’t be political stability and continuity, yet there never has been if you look at the period of royal supremacy. How many coups, crackdowns, and other chaotic situations?
Bangkok Post introduces “UDD rural hordes”
This is how the Post covered the red rally in Nonthaburi on Friday:
“Unlike the more sophisticated yellow-shirt demonstrators, their rivals, the red-shirts only repeated familiar scripts that they already knew by heart. The speakers did not present listeners with sophisticated arguments, satisying themselves with defaming Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanond and accusing him of being behind Thailand’s demise since the September 2006 coup and proclaiming that Abhisit Vejjajiva was merely heading Prem’s proxy administration.”
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/171233/reds-turn-up-in-full-force
As usual, anything vaguely resembling the truth counts as “defamation” in Thailand.
Bangkok Post introduces “UDD rural hordes”
No, actually I think Nicholas Farelly gets the most irresponsible award for “Thai Style Democracy?” on the front page of this website.
Bangkok Post introduces “UDD rural hordes”
What’s black and white and red all over?
“…this could get serious”
While it’s obvious the situation in fact are getting “serious” (and how), it is hard to take the author seriously when he states, “Meanwhile the better-connected urbanites (who donned yellow shirts) [dealt] a terrible blow to the tourism industry which is the real mainstay of the economy.” Tourism is more important perhaps than the stats imply, but it has been a long time since it was “the real mainstay of the economy.” Important to the author is probably what he really means; I’m not sure where Mr. Collard picked up the credentials necessary to pen a commentary on the Thai political situation, but the phrase “Lord Buddha and King Bhumibol reigning benevolently over all” is the kind of sophomoric line one might hear from a starry-eyed tourist happy for the respite from his China post rather than a journalist who has done any real legwork in Thailand. Of course, having written “Apologies for over-simplification” he can’t say he didn’t warn us.
Bangkok Post introduces “UDD rural hordes”
Jatuporn say clash in unavoidable
Abhisit say “hopeful” for peaceful protest
Yeah you see where Post is taking its stance….
I vote for post for the most irresponsible front page headline.
Comment on Burma’s election law
And Suu Kyi herself apparently also believes that the law excludes her participation:
Sulaiman on Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn
I do have evidence. My partner did consulting work with Thai Airways. The head of a certain department who had worked closely with the person in question had only negative experiences to report.
Also, we have seen a certain video, which at this point possibly millions of Thais have seen. It does not engender pride in or affection for the person in question.
Perhaps Mr Beale heard only kind comments about this person because the Thais speaking with him were in public places (hence were fearful of being over-heard) and did not know him well enough to trust him to say what they truly believe. The first time someone talked to me about him, my Thai neighbour, we were swimming with our kids and she made sure we were in the centre of the pool, far from where any other adults could hear us over the splashing, and she whispered to me about the person in question. I feel fortunate that conversely I could stand at the corner of Threadneedle Street and shout “Charles is an eejit!” without fear of reprisals.
Bangkok Post introduces “UDD rural hordes”
Oh no – it’s the Ork army!
Open thread on red protests
Saturday night and all is peaceful in BKK. Red-shirts look like they could get as many as 500,000 protesters by the end of Sunday. The real business will be Monday I think.
Reds will try to irritate ( but not enough to justify a crackdown) . The govt (or lets be honest the army and some influential people such as the one David refers to above) must know that they cannot be seen to suppress the protest unjustly. Brinkmanship Thai-style. What would it take to cause the parliament to be dissolved?
The mainstream media is making it all about Thaksin (funding uneducated farmers so he can force his way back to thailand); The actual Red rhetoric is about democracy and ‘double standards’. I can’t see Thaksin coming back at any point.
Nobody here has a clue what will happen. Both sides profess a commitment to peace. I pray it continues. I fear random or instigated violence. Whichever side is seen as responsible for the violence will lose credibility and support amongst the ‘silent majority’, and be worse placed for the big readjustment that will come after a particular person is no longer in this place (what a scary event that is for the average peaceable Thai). 1992 conflict was ended in a way i cannot see as possible now.
I pray for peace.
Comment on Burma’s election law
Regarding “Political Parties Registration Law”, there are two unofficial translations available so far at Mizzima News and at Network Myanmar sites.
However, I find both versions unreliable. The former is incomplete and the latter carries some obvious translation errors.
Original Burmese version is available at Irrawaddy News Magazine’s website .
A literal translation of Chapter (2 ) Section (4) of Political Parties Registration Law would read:
4. The persons who wish to establish a political party shall be in conformity with the following points.
(e) Person who is not a convict.
Again in Chapter (2) Section (10) of the law :
10. In organizing party members, only the following persons who have the following qualifications
shall be organized.
(e) Not a convict
And in Chapter (1) Section (2) :
2. The following expressions in this Law shall have the meanings as follows:
(l) Convict means person who is convicted by a trial court and serving prison term. This expression also includes person who is filing appeal case or revision case against the respective court’s verdict while serving prison term.
Last month, while rejecting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal on criminal charges against her, the Supreme Court statement said:
“Supreme Court confirms judgement and decree of Yangon Division Court, rejects appeals of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Khin Win, Ma Win Ma Ma (a) Ange Lay”
………………..
” These were the criminal appeal case No. 600(b)/2009 for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and 601(b)2009 for Daw Khin Khin Win and Ma Win Ma Ma (a) Ange Lay.”
The Supreme Court’s statement is available at The New Light of Myanmar published on 27th February, 2010.
Therefore, it is pretty clear that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is convicted by a trial court and she is unfit to be a member of a political party, let alone take part in the elections.
Derek Tonkin’s “the directive dated 10 August 2009” comment is irrelevant.
Thai style democracy?
As an American, this photo is deeply upsetting.
Sulaiman on Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn
I’m Thai who living all my life in this country, and for this I claim I have more knowledge of Thai people feelings more than Chris Beale. I can’t speak much because the lese majeste law. I will only say that I think in the matter of the prince’s popularity among Thais, Chris Beale knows next to nothing of what he talked about.
Sulaiman on Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn
A thousand apologies Chris – you said “malicious maligner” – Actually, this is worse: “To make evil, harmful, and often untrue statements about; speak evil of” according to the dictionary. So my comment on your statement remains.
Making sense of the verdict
Grant Evans, the Thammsart U law lecturers made a 30 pages analysis out of 187 pages judgment. They came up with nine major arguments. The one re Don Sampamtarak’s article is dealt with in Issue 4, not 5. Thanks to Submarine for pointing this out.
Patiwat, yes, the TU lecturers have their own take on the overall judgment. Their statement, viewed from a legal philosophy framework, are solidly argued.
Tarrian, thanks. Nice work.
Sulaiman on Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn
Interesting recent pic of Vajiralongkorn in Germany, from Khon Muan Kan, http://weareallhuman.net/index.php?showtopic=43914 Post #5.
For a playful but at the same time serious image of his father scroll down to Post #16.
Thanks to JS!
Review of Peerasak
“Not all of these find their way into print” >> The great majority of MA thesis written at Thai universities won’t be worth it…