Sam-deedes, re. Bang Fai Phaya Nak (sorry, not sure of spelling): I attended the festival at Phornphisai on the Mekhong in 2003, and did see ‘fireballs’ coming out of the river. It happened before the boats with lights arrived. The balls came out of the river fairly slowly (too slowly to be rockets),just after dusk, ascended perhaps 15-20 metres into the air, made an arc, & then went down, burning out as they did. All the people on the river-bank applauded each one. Quite impressive. The local people assured me it was not a trick! Well, I don’t know about that. But you’d think, after so many years of the fireballs arriving on the correct date, somebody would have spilt the beans (in my experience keeping secrets is not one of the great skills of locals). Anyway, it was a very enjoyable festival, not least of all because it was an expression of traditional beliefs in an open, friendly community setting, and it had no garish commercial elements spoiling it. (No Esan pop concert, either!) Just lots of large & small family groups, picnicking on mats, with vendors wandering around selling delicious Esan food & drinks.
“If you do not worship it [the monarchy], at least do not destroy it. If you do not have loyalty, at least do not create confusing rumors, because the destruction of the monarchy means the destruction of Thai society.”
A lecturer of political science at Sukhothai Thammathirat University; from his column in Post Today of October 19, 2007.
“What we need most now is loyalty [to the monarchy], because Thailand has the monarchy and religion. When we lack them, then there will be no Thailandness [khwampenprathetthai] left any longer.”
Gen. Jiradet, who has just moved in with the Phuea Thai party (Post Today, October 24, 2007)
What Thailand needs most now is that the Thai “elite” gets the nonsense out of their minds and start thinking…
The issue here is that the public tend to align the health of the ruler with the health of the nation, so it is always better to have speculation than risk a recession by confirming a monarchs ill health
Which posters here Chris? And how does does it matter? My reading of the post that was linked is that she is not up to snuff compared to others who gained this award. Another way at looking at your last question is to suggest that her institute actually stifles the development of science, especially if it is money down a rat hole.
I would love to see a compilation of such comments from classmates of most Thai officials who went abroad to study. It seems that some things just won’t be inculcated.
you asked: “but does a policeman know how to translate punctuation into Thai?”
Yes, there are very educated police officers. And if it comes to lese majeste investigations when the accused has been stating the possibly offending words in a foreign language, several professors of this language will be asked to translate and interpret these words into Thai. This is standard procedure.
ah, yes, the Bangkok taxi shrine blog, one of my all-time favorites, right up there with the fabulous book, VERY THAI, by Phillip Cornwel-Smith which explains all those wonderful and wacky details that make Thai pop culture so interesting and so much fun….why hasn’t a book version of the Bangkok taxi blog been printed already……….
and when you need one more fix of a uniquely Thai pop culture phenomenom, check out the gallery page full of wacky painted Thai tour buses on the Crazy Bus Thailand website (http://www.crazybusthailand.com/)
Mud slinging comments treading the thin line separating it from jealousy. Personnaly, I commend LKY on the job he and his team had done with Singapore.
Comparision with Thailand or any country in Asean is a joke. There is simply no comparision. No yardstick to measure with, unless one only take a select class of citizen from a specific strata of society in the other Asean countries.
I would be very happy if the PM of Malaysia (najib) is a dictator like LKY… sadly he doesn’t come close
This is all very nice. The most interesting part came after I clicked on the “Read More” which I hope everybody did. For what it’s worth the illuminated floats accompanied by fireworks were very much a feature of the Naga Fireballs watch during the full moon on the River Mekong near Nong Khai at the end of Buddhist Lent. With all the light filled distractions you would be hard put to spot a fireball if they did exist, which I now doubt having spent a night on the riverbank looking for one.
Yes, today there was protest action taken by a “redshirt” group at the Chiang Mai police HQ. More detail yet to materialise.
The gist of the issue is a lot of people up here are extremely pissed off with the bias against redshirts (being targeted for arrest), while PAD have got off totally scot-free after their well documented violence over the past 2-3 years.
Can anyone confirm the verbal report I just received by phone (Thursday 22 October at 1600) that red shirt protestors have seized the regional Thai Police headquarters in Chiang Mai? I have searched news sources but can find no mention of this. Can anyone currently residing in Chiang Mai please confirm or deny this report, and the possible repercussions if true.
Though I have been known to defend political mud-slingers, and realise that they generally come to grief in Singapore, I also sympathise with the place, and think the experiment should be encouraged to run, without putting pressure on Singapore to be more like Australia. Suppression of mud-slinging allows the Singapore Government to get on with the job of administration, and the one-party system blocks the otherwise inevitable development of parliamentary factions based on race.
Here is an interesting paradox: Singapore is rated as low as Thailand in conventional estimations of press freedom, yet the Straits Times is one of the best English-language newspapers in the world, and the Nation and the Bangkok Post are amongst the worst. The main reason is that there is very little political mud-slinging in any direction in Singapore, yet a veritable torrent of shit is permitted, even propelled, by the Thai courts in one direction but absolutely not in another. Transparency International’s higher rating of Singapore than even Australia suggests that a blanket ban on political mud is not as corrupting as we think.
Nick – first congratulations for your brave and brilliant coverage.
You are completely correct about this union co-option into PAD fascism – like Mussolini did with Italian trade unions.
The way I see it is this :
1) Anupong – against considerable odds, has kept the military united, somewhat at least.
Did he shoot Sondhi ? Will he shoot Chamlong !!?
2) This makes another coup extremely likely – as many commenators are saying :
probably the only way for some sort of exit out of the crisis.
Anupong seems to have maintained the loyality of both Isaarn footsoldiers and Thai officers : the real cleavage which could break Thailand apart.
3) in this situation, the official line is that the monarchy is but a supreme symbolm, non-political : it is the military which saves the Nation !
Very ironical if the military – which started the current crisis, with 2006 coup, ends the crisis with another coup.
But typically Thai !
Are any of the posters here scientists themselves ?
Her reward is clearly for promotion of science – something Thailand desperately needs, so why are you bigoted anti-monarchists knocking this ?
Well said – BKK lawyer.
Andrew – when I bought my second copy of Handley’s book, in Singapore last week, the saleswomen said, with a giggle :
“the King of Thailand DOES smile – but not very much!”.
At least as much as Lee Kwan Yew, thought I !!!
With the greatest respect, the transistion also hinges on the masses below. Especially the Lao/ Isaarn masses who do Thailand’s lowest jobs : not a single Isaarn PM in Thailand’s entire history – except Silpa-Archa, who was Chinese, not Lao!
Be very, very careful you at “Thailand’s” top.
My experience is Isaarn does not think of itself as “Thai/Tai”.
Not a single Isaarn person I have ever met – did not say they were Lao/ Isaarn BEFORE they said they were Thai !
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End of the rains retreat in northeast Thailand: Political commentary on a boat
Sam-deedes, re. Bang Fai Phaya Nak (sorry, not sure of spelling): I attended the festival at Phornphisai on the Mekhong in 2003, and did see ‘fireballs’ coming out of the river. It happened before the boats with lights arrived. The balls came out of the river fairly slowly (too slowly to be rockets),just after dusk, ascended perhaps 15-20 metres into the air, made an arc, & then went down, burning out as they did. All the people on the river-bank applauded each one. Quite impressive. The local people assured me it was not a trick! Well, I don’t know about that. But you’d think, after so many years of the fireballs arriving on the correct date, somebody would have spilt the beans (in my experience keeping secrets is not one of the great skills of locals). Anyway, it was a very enjoyable festival, not least of all because it was an expression of traditional beliefs in an open, friendly community setting, and it had no garish commercial elements spoiling it. (No Esan pop concert, either!) Just lots of large & small family groups, picnicking on mats, with vendors wandering around selling delicious Esan food & drinks.
More on King Bhumibol’s health
Here are two interesting quotes on the matter.
“If you do not worship it [the monarchy], at least do not destroy it. If you do not have loyalty, at least do not create confusing rumors, because the destruction of the monarchy means the destruction of Thai society.”
A lecturer of political science at Sukhothai Thammathirat University; from his column in Post Today of October 19, 2007.
“What we need most now is loyalty [to the monarchy], because Thailand has the monarchy and religion. When we lack them, then there will be no Thailandness [khwampenprathetthai] left any longer.”
Gen. Jiradet, who has just moved in with the Phuea Thai party (Post Today, October 24, 2007)
What Thailand needs most now is that the Thai “elite” gets the nonsense out of their minds and start thinking…
More on King Bhumibol’s health
The issue here is that the public tend to align the health of the ruler with the health of the nation, so it is always better to have speculation than risk a recession by confirming a monarchs ill health
Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol
Which posters here Chris? And how does does it matter? My reading of the post that was linked is that she is not up to snuff compared to others who gained this award. Another way at looking at your last question is to suggest that her institute actually stifles the development of science, especially if it is money down a rat hole.
Thai Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in Australia
I would love to see a compilation of such comments from classmates of most Thai officials who went abroad to study. It seems that some things just won’t be inculcated.
Thongchai on Thailand’s transition
“David Brown”
you asked: “but does a policeman know how to translate punctuation into Thai?”
Yes, there are very educated police officers. And if it comes to lese majeste investigations when the accused has been stating the possibly offending words in a foreign language, several professors of this language will be asked to translate and interpret these words into Thai. This is standard procedure.
Thongchai on Thailand’s transition
@Chris
When did
BanhanburiSuphanburi become part of Essan?A classic popular culture blog
ah, yes, the Bangkok taxi shrine blog, one of my all-time favorites, right up there with the fabulous book, VERY THAI, by Phillip Cornwel-Smith which explains all those wonderful and wacky details that make Thai pop culture so interesting and so much fun….why hasn’t a book version of the Bangkok taxi blog been printed already……….
and when you need one more fix of a uniquely Thai pop culture phenomenom, check out the gallery page full of wacky painted Thai tour buses on the Crazy Bus Thailand website (http://www.crazybusthailand.com/)
Thongchai on Thailand’s transition
@ Chris Beale, “not a single Isaarn PM in Thailand’s entire history…”
Correct me if i am wrong, but wasn’t Sarit Thanarat from Isaan..?
Lee Kuan who?
Mud slinging comments treading the thin line separating it from jealousy. Personnaly, I commend LKY on the job he and his team had done with Singapore.
Comparision with Thailand or any country in Asean is a joke. There is simply no comparision. No yardstick to measure with, unless one only take a select class of citizen from a specific strata of society in the other Asean countries.
I would be very happy if the PM of Malaysia (najib) is a dictator like LKY… sadly he doesn’t come close
Thai Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in Australia
It would be interesting to read some comments from fellow students who shared the Classroom with the Prince.
End of the rains retreat in northeast Thailand: Political commentary on a boat
This is all very nice. The most interesting part came after I clicked on the “Read More” which I hope everybody did. For what it’s worth the illuminated floats accompanied by fireworks were very much a feature of the Naga Fireballs watch during the full moon on the River Mekong near Nong Khai at the end of Buddhist Lent. With all the light filled distractions you would be hard put to spot a fireball if they did exist, which I now doubt having spent a night on the riverbank looking for one.
Thailand’s ailing monarch
Yes, today there was protest action taken by a “redshirt” group at the Chiang Mai police HQ. More detail yet to materialise.
The gist of the issue is a lot of people up here are extremely pissed off with the bias against redshirts (being targeted for arrest), while PAD have got off totally scot-free after their well documented violence over the past 2-3 years.
Thailand’s ailing monarch
Can anyone confirm the verbal report I just received by phone (Thursday 22 October at 1600) that red shirt protestors have seized the regional Thai Police headquarters in Chiang Mai? I have searched news sources but can find no mention of this. Can anyone currently residing in Chiang Mai please confirm or deny this report, and the possible repercussions if true.
Lee Kuan who?
Though I have been known to defend political mud-slingers, and realise that they generally come to grief in Singapore, I also sympathise with the place, and think the experiment should be encouraged to run, without putting pressure on Singapore to be more like Australia. Suppression of mud-slinging allows the Singapore Government to get on with the job of administration, and the one-party system blocks the otherwise inevitable development of parliamentary factions based on race.
Here is an interesting paradox: Singapore is rated as low as Thailand in conventional estimations of press freedom, yet the Straits Times is one of the best English-language newspapers in the world, and the Nation and the Bangkok Post are amongst the worst. The main reason is that there is very little political mud-slinging in any direction in Singapore, yet a veritable torrent of shit is permitted, even propelled, by the Thai courts in one direction but absolutely not in another. Transparency International’s higher rating of Singapore than even Australia suggests that a blanket ban on political mud is not as corrupting as we think.
Sondhi Limthongkul takes the helm of the New Politics Party
“Chris Beale”:
Thank you very much.
But i am afraid the honor has to go to Michael Nelson – he did the article, not me. 😉
Sondhi Limthongkul takes the helm of the New Politics Party
Nick – first congratulations for your brave and brilliant coverage.
You are completely correct about this union co-option into PAD fascism – like Mussolini did with Italian trade unions.
The way I see it is this :
1) Anupong – against considerable odds, has kept the military united, somewhat at least.
Did he shoot Sondhi ? Will he shoot Chamlong !!?
2) This makes another coup extremely likely – as many commenators are saying :
probably the only way for some sort of exit out of the crisis.
Anupong seems to have maintained the loyality of both Isaarn footsoldiers and Thai officers : the real cleavage which could break Thailand apart.
3) in this situation, the official line is that the monarchy is but a supreme symbolm, non-political : it is the military which saves the Nation !
Very ironical if the military – which started the current crisis, with 2006 coup, ends the crisis with another coup.
But typically Thai !
Professor Dr. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol
Are any of the posters here scientists themselves ?
Her reward is clearly for promotion of science – something Thailand desperately needs, so why are you bigoted anti-monarchists knocking this ?
A Thai studies trilogy
Well said – BKK lawyer.
Andrew – when I bought my second copy of Handley’s book, in Singapore last week, the saleswomen said, with a giggle :
“the King of Thailand DOES smile – but not very much!”.
At least as much as Lee Kwan Yew, thought I !!!
Thongchai on Thailand’s transition
With the greatest respect, the transistion also hinges on the masses below. Especially the Lao/ Isaarn masses who do Thailand’s lowest jobs : not a single Isaarn PM in Thailand’s entire history – except Silpa-Archa, who was Chinese, not Lao!
Be very, very careful you at “Thailand’s” top.
My experience is Isaarn does not think of itself as “Thai/Tai”.
Not a single Isaarn person I have ever met – did not say they were Lao/ Isaarn BEFORE they said they were Thai !