Shin was Thaksin’s flagship and even if there’s no doubt he squirreled away enough funds for a rainy day, it’s hard to imagine his illegal assets were bigger than the legitimate ones, especially if you consider Shin wasn’t that big before Thaksin entered politics.
Failed investment in Dubai is a certainty. Russian loan isn’t, but it’s a possibility.
Investment in illegal gold mines in Africa is rather a sign of desperation.
Good luck with the book, Federico. I still don’t understand why you lament the coup so much considering you have no kind words for Thai democracy either. I’d rather agree with your euthanised patient analogy.
As an institution, the Military in a dictatorship replaces the individual corruption of civilian politicians with the institutionalized corruption, the individual violence of many thuggish politicians with the wholesale violence, and the individual racism of extreme-right-wing politicians with the national racism.
Thanks for the plug, Nich. Will forward a review copy as soon as I get my hands on one.
Chris Beale: I have no clue what Thaksin’s remaining fortune would be. Given that the coup was such a long time coming, I would be shocked if he didn’t have the good sense to stash a large chunk of his assets abroad. Your guess, however, is as good as mine on this count. As for whether the money could have passed through Singapore on the way out of Thailand, once again I guess it’s possible but I have no idea. Do you?
Ralph Kramden: I have been shopping this book around for months. However, in the end I got lucky in that Equinox took very little time to review it and was willing to fast-track the book’s production, such that the book will come out a mere three weeks after it was accepted for publication. That’s the beauty of not having to deal with a mammoth corporation or a slow-moving academic press.
Thanks Nicholas, much appreciated. A useful perspective on the talks. Suchit and Bowornsak are clearly academic flunkies for the current regime. The latter is interesting, though, as he also worked closely with Thaksin. The ability to change spots while in search of wealth, power and prestige is a vile attribute in an academic.
Fortunately in India, we have been able to reconcile the Northeastern states through the democratic process. If Burma gets its act together IMO it will prosper because of the tremendous economic posibilities. See the posts under “Stilwell Road”
I am especially excited about Northern Burma sitting between the two world giants India and China. Apart from the Kachin people right from Assam to Yunnan, how is the situation placed?
It is said that “Professor Leyland then explained the reasons why the rule of law has not been achieved in Thailand. ” I don’t see anything there about overthrowing the constitution by a coup and bringing a new one granting amnesty for those who made the illegal coup. As a constitution is sometimes said to be a “basic law,” then it would seem that the most basic element of the rule of law is absent.
we will all be surprised if the Prince metamorphoses into a good and great King, I dont think human evolution has maintained many of such characteristics of (ugly) caterpillar/ (beautiful) butterflies …
anyway, what is the statute of limitations that applies to such (past present and future?) behaviour? why should Suwicha and Angkhana rot in prison while such people are “rewarded” by world class wealth and power?
meanwhile its probably succession in the privy council thats more important for Thailand…
we can be thankful that Prem has apparently not engaged with the right types of people to yield offspring to take over… hmmm, if he had he might be more inclined to be more concerned for the future health and well-being of Thailand
but unfortunately its not just Prem, there are many other councillors, business and generals supporting the current greedy, abusive military-supported non-democratic rule
I’d like to ask Professor Ferrara if he believes the stories currently in Thailand’s press, that Thaksin’s wealth is now greatly diminished, so much so that Thaksin’s “final fortune” hinges on the forthcoming assets case ?
As far as I can see, this overlooks the likelihood that Thaksin squirelled away vast sums through Singapore. Please comment on this second point also.
Nobody – I don’t understand what you are talking about in relation to the first US Constitution.
Very obviously if the Philadelphia Congress had voted “No”, then the thirteen colonies would have resorted to Britain’s unwrittten constitution.
This is relevant today, as the 16 provinces of Isaarn begin breaking away from monarchist dictatorship, as 13 brave American colonies did.
Escapism is something we could all use from time to time like what Bollywood films do for the poor in India. I can see your point, and it’s really no worse than the excesses we see during the traditional Thingyan and Nat pwè (spirit festivals). Only these come round just once a year, not every weekend or so. Still the affordability factor may allow them to indulge only in moderation.
The Burmese love for pwès is well known. And innovation and diversity must be welcome. Aping and a sort of obsessive compulsive disorder to keep up with the Joneses however cause no end of dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
I guess the closest similar period in our history is probably the Japanese Occupation of 1942-45. The Mongol invasion that sacked Bagan in the 13th century is too distant in the mist of times. The later Chinese invasions in the 18th century were all repulsed at the border, and one version of history has it that the Burmese generals, to avoid the wrath of their king for having negotiated a peace with the Chinese of their own bat, invaded Assam and Manipur. Thailand of course bore the brunt of Burmese militarist expansion and brutality in the 16th and 18th centuries.
The Burmese do need to lay their own imperial ghost to rest nearly as badly as the British who haven’t quite managed either so far. It should be easier for us since we can only boast three intermittent land empires, not a maritime one on a global scale like the British, and besides we’ve been on the receiving end ourselves. The nationalist mindset unfortunately is quite similar, and does nothing to improve the situation of the minorities or help national reconciliation. We have a long way to go yet, and the military dictatorship must go for a start.
Timothy Laklem is not a murderer. If terrorists are hunted down, through ‘warrants’ (taken from above comment); it will be to bring them to the justice system that exists, however imperfect.
I have been a friend for 30 years and he always looks for ways which will stop bloodshed. It is his overriding concern. I have also witnessed the years of lack and danger he and his family have lived with so that Timothy can help the Karens. After all there are still very few people in this world who pay attention, know about or help the many people groups in Myanmar.
I have heard many lies, often from Western sources, about Timothy and his work. Timothy would rather we ignore such slurs; he believes his works will speak for themselves—-his unceasing attempts to bring aid—ATM were one of the only groups to go to the Tsunami hit parts of Burma; to the Cyclone and his current work on behalf of the welfare of his beloved Karens.
To the Karens and the other people groups, there are people without their own agendas/ambitions who care for you and want to see help come after so many hard decades. Thanks to people such as Timothy Laklem and his family the rest of the world is increasingly learning about your issues.
Awful transmission quality and hardly understandable.
Stan, I can assure you it is definitely in Thai and designated for the Thai audience. He talks lenghty about how he was bored with Analogue Transmission Technology and decided to get into digital mobile business.
Lesson to learn from it – a few decades later – he should urgently do some technical improvements to his homepage…
I don’t see any “blur of legitimacy”.
Abhisit’s government came to power very much like 18th, 19th and even 20th century Western governments, especially English, did.
If questions over Abhisit’s legitmacy reach the point where he can not function any longer as a government, he simply calls an election. Unless there’s a coup, what’s the problem ?
I was interested to read the two articles Gregor recommended in his first comment. They each took about ten minutes to appear and were routed through w3.mict.go.th, the Thai Ministry of ICT’s website.
They’re not completely banned as they did appear. Does anyone know what might be going on here?
It’s pretty obvious there is some sort of creeping coup currently underway.
So far it is only a coup weeding out Seh Daeng / Thaksin supporters within the military, i.e. a further extension of purging Thaksin supporters, which began shortly after 2006 coup.
Reuters is being reticent about the backlash this is creating among those military being ousted.
And then there is General Anupong – and part of the strategy of the current coup underway is to relegate Anupong to Kriangsak’s/General Kris’ fate.
It seems Thailand’s now very old ruling class has learned nothing about how the world has changed : they’ve thereby fulfilled one condition (and severeal others) for their over-thrown.
Andrew, I hasten to add I didn’t mean “your personal legitimacy”, more the legitimacy of the Abhisit government you wrote about. The argument usually has to get far more heated before I use the former meaning.
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Ferrara on Thai politics
Shin was Thaksin’s flagship and even if there’s no doubt he squirreled away enough funds for a rainy day, it’s hard to imagine his illegal assets were bigger than the legitimate ones, especially if you consider Shin wasn’t that big before Thaksin entered politics.
Failed investment in Dubai is a certainty. Russian loan isn’t, but it’s a possibility.
Investment in illegal gold mines in Africa is rather a sign of desperation.
Good luck with the book, Federico. I still don’t understand why you lament the coup so much considering you have no kind words for Thai democracy either. I’d rather agree with your euthanised patient analogy.
A writer’s view of recent history
As an institution, the Military in a dictatorship replaces the individual corruption of civilian politicians with the institutionalized corruption, the individual violence of many thuggish politicians with the wholesale violence, and the individual racism of extreme-right-wing politicians with the national racism.
Ferrara on Thai politics
Thanks for the plug, Nich. Will forward a review copy as soon as I get my hands on one.
Chris Beale: I have no clue what Thaksin’s remaining fortune would be. Given that the coup was such a long time coming, I would be shocked if he didn’t have the good sense to stash a large chunk of his assets abroad. Your guess, however, is as good as mine on this count. As for whether the money could have passed through Singapore on the way out of Thailand, once again I guess it’s possible but I have no idea. Do you?
Ralph Kramden: I have been shopping this book around for months. However, in the end I got lucky in that Equinox took very little time to review it and was willing to fast-track the book’s production, such that the book will come out a mere three weeks after it was accepted for publication. That’s the beauty of not having to deal with a mammoth corporation or a slow-moving academic press.
Report on SOAS event, part I
Thanks Nicholas, much appreciated. A useful perspective on the talks. Suchit and Bowornsak are clearly academic flunkies for the current regime. The latter is interesting, though, as he also worked closely with Thaksin. The ability to change spots while in search of wealth, power and prestige is a vile attribute in an academic.
China and the Wa
Fortunately in India, we have been able to reconcile the Northeastern states through the democratic process. If Burma gets its act together IMO it will prosper because of the tremendous economic posibilities. See the posts under “Stilwell Road”
I am especially excited about Northern Burma sitting between the two world giants India and China. Apart from the Kachin people right from Assam to Yunnan, how is the situation placed?
Report on SOAS event, part II
It is said that “Professor Leyland then explained the reasons why the rule of law has not been achieved in Thailand. ” I don’t see anything there about overthrowing the constitution by a coup and bringing a new one granting amnesty for those who made the illegal coup. As a constitution is sometimes said to be a “basic law,” then it would seem that the most basic element of the rule of law is absent.
Ferrara on Thai politics
Boy that was quick. How’s their review process work?
Reuters on Vajiralongkorn and succession
we will all be surprised if the Prince metamorphoses into a good and great King, I dont think human evolution has maintained many of such characteristics of (ugly) caterpillar/ (beautiful) butterflies …
anyway, what is the statute of limitations that applies to such (past present and future?) behaviour? why should Suwicha and Angkhana rot in prison while such people are “rewarded” by world class wealth and power?
meanwhile its probably succession in the privy council thats more important for Thailand…
we can be thankful that Prem has apparently not engaged with the right types of people to yield offspring to take over… hmmm, if he had he might be more inclined to be more concerned for the future health and well-being of Thailand
but unfortunately its not just Prem, there are many other councillors, business and generals supporting the current greedy, abusive military-supported non-democratic rule
Ferrara on Thai politics
I’d like to ask Professor Ferrara if he believes the stories currently in Thailand’s press, that Thaksin’s wealth is now greatly diminished, so much so that Thaksin’s “final fortune” hinges on the forthcoming assets case ?
As far as I can see, this overlooks the likelihood that Thaksin squirelled away vast sums through Singapore. Please comment on this second point also.
Abhisit’s fading blur of legitimacy
Nobody – I don’t understand what you are talking about in relation to the first US Constitution.
Very obviously if the Philadelphia Congress had voted “No”, then the thirteen colonies would have resorted to Britain’s unwrittten constitution.
This is relevant today, as the 16 provinces of Isaarn begin breaking away from monarchist dictatorship, as 13 brave American colonies did.
The moral of University admissions
I hope this girl is not planning on going to university in Thailand.
Yangon punks
Young Dylan,
Escapism is something we could all use from time to time like what Bollywood films do for the poor in India. I can see your point, and it’s really no worse than the excesses we see during the traditional Thingyan and Nat pwè (spirit festivals). Only these come round just once a year, not every weekend or so. Still the affordability factor may allow them to indulge only in moderation.
The Burmese love for pwès is well known. And innovation and diversity must be welcome. Aping and a sort of obsessive compulsive disorder to keep up with the Joneses however cause no end of dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
China and the Wa
sangos,
Thanks, and my apologies for what it’s worth. I’ve seen a Wiki article on “Maanor Din”:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmese_invasion_of_Assam
I guess the closest similar period in our history is probably the Japanese Occupation of 1942-45. The Mongol invasion that sacked Bagan in the 13th century is too distant in the mist of times. The later Chinese invasions in the 18th century were all repulsed at the border, and one version of history has it that the Burmese generals, to avoid the wrath of their king for having negotiated a peace with the Chinese of their own bat, invaded Assam and Manipur. Thailand of course bore the brunt of Burmese militarist expansion and brutality in the 16th and 18th centuries.
The Burmese do need to lay their own imperial ghost to rest nearly as badly as the British who haven’t quite managed either so far. It should be easier for us since we can only boast three intermittent land empires, not a maritime one on a global scale like the British, and besides we’ve been on the receiving end ourselves. The nationalist mindset unfortunately is quite similar, and does nothing to improve the situation of the minorities or help national reconciliation. We have a long way to go yet, and the military dictatorship must go for a start.
“We’re preparing for a confrontation”
Timothy Laklem is not a murderer. If terrorists are hunted down, through ‘warrants’ (taken from above comment); it will be to bring them to the justice system that exists, however imperfect.
I have been a friend for 30 years and he always looks for ways which will stop bloodshed. It is his overriding concern. I have also witnessed the years of lack and danger he and his family have lived with so that Timothy can help the Karens. After all there are still very few people in this world who pay attention, know about or help the many people groups in Myanmar.
I have heard many lies, often from Western sources, about Timothy and his work. Timothy would rather we ignore such slurs; he believes his works will speak for themselves—-his unceasing attempts to bring aid—ATM were one of the only groups to go to the Tsunami hit parts of Burma; to the Cyclone and his current work on behalf of the welfare of his beloved Karens.
To the Karens and the other people groups, there are people without their own agendas/ambitions who care for you and want to see help come after so many hard decades. Thanks to people such as Timothy Laklem and his family the rest of the world is increasingly learning about your issues.
I’m just a soul whose intentions are good …
Now Part 2 went online on his homepage.
Awful transmission quality and hardly understandable.
Stan, I can assure you it is definitely in Thai and designated for the Thai audience. He talks lenghty about how he was bored with Analogue Transmission Technology and decided to get into digital mobile business.
Lesson to learn from it – a few decades later – he should urgently do some technical improvements to his homepage…
Abhisit’s fading blur of legitimacy
I don’t see any “blur of legitimacy”.
Abhisit’s government came to power very much like 18th, 19th and even 20th century Western governments, especially English, did.
If questions over Abhisit’s legitmacy reach the point where he can not function any longer as a government, he simply calls an election. Unless there’s a coup, what’s the problem ?
A writer’s view of recent history
What is currently happening in Thailand is no longer simply a Thai matter :
it threatens to drag the region into very dangerous waters.
Malaysia’s “killer king”
I was interested to read the two articles Gregor recommended in his first comment. They each took about ten minutes to appear and were routed through w3.mict.go.th, the Thai Ministry of ICT’s website.
They’re not completely banned as they did appear. Does anyone know what might be going on here?
Coup talk
It’s pretty obvious there is some sort of creeping coup currently underway.
So far it is only a coup weeding out Seh Daeng / Thaksin supporters within the military, i.e. a further extension of purging Thaksin supporters, which began shortly after 2006 coup.
Reuters is being reticent about the backlash this is creating among those military being ousted.
And then there is General Anupong – and part of the strategy of the current coup underway is to relegate Anupong to Kriangsak’s/General Kris’ fate.
It seems Thailand’s now very old ruling class has learned nothing about how the world has changed : they’ve thereby fulfilled one condition (and severeal others) for their over-thrown.
Abhisit’s fading blur of legitimacy
Andrew, I hasten to add I didn’t mean “your personal legitimacy”, more the legitimacy of the Abhisit government you wrote about. The argument usually has to get far more heated before I use the former meaning.