Susie Wong: “The West is responsible for the current lese majeste situation in Thailand”
Oh please. “The West” is not responsible. Get real. Stop blaming “The West” and “Foreigners” and start taking responsibility for the state of your country is the first step to change.
Blaming outsiders is an all to convenient way to distract attention from the real problems and deny that you have the responsibility and ability to affect change internally.
I hope you’ve sent copies of this to SMH, The Age & Canberra Times. It’s amazing, considering how much of the bare-faced criminality in Malaysian government is right out in the open, due to mainstream & alternative media coverage, that Rudd could hold such views – let alone publicly air them.
A very interesting topic – I think until some arrests are made it is too early to state whether these attacks are racist, opportunistic, organanised or possibly an element of all three.
I will make the following comments that no doubt will offend many, but I am trying to give some perspective to the problem, not trying to justify racism, and hopefully help facilitate a solution and some understanding of the issue:
1. It can often not safe for anyone to travel late at night on certain public transport routes in Australia, as that is the time when the most violent, opportunistic, gang type characters come out to play – this seems a mild version of what has been going on in other larger western cities for many years – perhaps something can be leared from those cities as to how to deal with such problems?
2. I have detected a mild resentment amongst some young Aussies towards Indian students because they seem to be taking many of the casual jobs that students and young people generally traditionally have had over the years – I am not sure whether this is real or imagined, but I have often heard it mentioned that many of the trolley pushing, taxi, KFC type jobs are going to ‘the indians’ – presumably this is just a numbers thing, more supply, less demand, or they are just seen as better workers, and not some sort of ‘undercutting’ by unscrupulous emplyers?
3.Indian students by their work/study habits are often in a situation of being on public transport in those ‘unsafe’ times, and perhaps the perpetrators of the crimes see them as easy targets .
4. Those same young Aussies mentioned above (many of whom themselves have ethnic backgrounds) have also commented to me that they dont like the ‘attitudes’ of some Indians who they say roam the city streets in their own mini ‘gangs’ – I expect they are not ‘gangs’ at all just ‘like sticking with like’, but there is a ‘gang’ perception, that has probably not helped those lone students travelling late at night.
5. I agree something needs to be done about the situation as no one (Indian student or otherwise) should be subject to such attacks, however I still see it more a policing/security/social issue, than a purely racial one.
6. I have no comment on the Educational aspects of the post, other than to say I dont like the way the ‘education industry’ has become a big business, as maybe I’m an old fashioned dreamer, but I still see education and health as ‘public goods’.
I fully expect to be blasted for this comment, but I’m just trying to give the feeling I get ‘from the street’, so to speak.
Hot news! Luksna has an outstanding arrest warrant for making a false accusation. BP tells us: “… it was discovered that there was an outstanding arrest warrant against Luksana dated May 21, 2008. It related to false accusations against Asian Institute of Technology and a professor there (р╕ир╕▓р╕кр╕Хр╕гр╕▓р╕Ир╕▓р╕гр╕вр╣Мр╕Лр╕▓р╕нр╕┤р╕Ф р╕нр╕┤р╕зр╕▓р╕Щр╕Хр╕╕р╕к – Said Iwantus ???) that they took advantage and made students find money for them.” http://bangkokpundit.blogspot.com/
It seems that she trotted off to Lumpini, the Police Station of her choice (lucky chaps!), to register yet another accusation against Jakraphob & the FCCT board, & while the police were processing all the paper-work, someone discovered the outstanding warrant. Are they trying to tell her something?
An interesting fact – It looks like she’s doing her PhD @ Asian Institute of Technology…imagine being her supervisor! Scary. It’s apparently in Engineering.
With all due respect, a king of Thailand could suggest finger painting as “the way forward” and receive the typical full measure of uncritical, sycophantic endorsement from the Thai populace and media. The only thing that is “sufficient” in these misguided notions is that the lower classes be sufficiently numerous and productive to continue to enrich those who hold their leash. For the grandees of the moneyed and political classes it remains a “Surfeit Economy”: gluttony, venality, and very much business as usual.
For English analysis readers may wish to refer to the superb ‘Laos: An Indicative Fact Book’ ┬й Lao Insight Books –Robert Cooper-only available in Laos at the moment!- June 2009 whose self-stated aim is to bring Laos to the world and vice versa, while encouraging a nascent publishing and printing industry (all money earned by the book remain in Laos and benefits the development of the country and people.
It does an admirable job, a perceptive concise conspectus, outdoing CIA versions of facts, in presenting the salient issues, problems and possibilities of contemporary Laos As the first fact book ever on Laos it is essential reading for understanding contemporary Laos. It provides a detailed and accessible knowledge of Laos and insightful analysis with a sceptical edge. A comprehensive contents and index make the work a useful reference tool, and figures and facts (noting qualifications) are bang up to date (in some instances 1st quarter 2009), being obtained from many sources and individuals
…review forthcoming
Obviously, the poor elephant is evacuating its bowels in abject terror, as it’s about to be run over by an automobile made more powerful than an elephant, thanks to Standard Oil.
Oh Sidh, do you ever get tired of constructing straw men to battle? No where in my post did I argue that “foreigners need to/could [abolish leges maiestates for [Thais].” I merely stated that if the Thai legislature is going to have the chutzpah to claim world-wide jurisdicition with their LM laws, then foreigners would might be affected by consequences of such laws have the moral authority to have their voices heard in the conversation concerning LM.
Of course, the implementation of LM reform rests entirely in the hands of the Thai people; however, this does not mean that the impetus for such reform need come from purely internal sources. Indeed, the Japanese have a word for such ‘external pressure,’ gaiatsu. Unfortunately, the current Thai culture animus, as you are a prime example of, views any manifestation of gaiatsu as affront to their national sovereignty.
As for the late Robert McNamara, I would assume that a member of the “privileged, Thai middleclass” would have more sympathy for the man who kept you and your parents from laboring in a Khmer Rouge-style reeducation camp run by Chulanont’s р╕Юр╕Др╕Ч/CPT.
“This site may harm your computer” is generated when several complaints are received by Google.
It’s been most often used to try and steer traffic away from conservative blogs.
A frightening part here in Thailand is that for many people the subject matter is not dealt with rationally but on a purely emotional level , which can be quite dangerous.
I think this is a VERY important point here ! in fact, may be the most important point.
I suspect that the whole drama of the so called “colored” movements is well orchestrated scenario. and one of the purposes (or steps towards achieving certain purposes? ) is precisely this mentioned reaction : “emotional” one.
and it is quite a common scheme defined as “situation-reaction-solution” : first the situation is being created (say as “false flag”, or 9/11, global economic crisis, or whatever lesser, or even … “swine flu” pandemic ? 😉 ) which is aimed at causing masses of people to react in a certain way (as fear, outrage, joy, hate etc – all those strong emotions) and … demand some particular actions to be taken by those in power. and then the “solution” is being offered on plate to the herds of sheeple (say, “war on terror”, “stimulus package”, “wear masks” / “get vaccinated”, “Unity/ reconciliation” etc etc )
like it is quite curious to observe right now (in May-June) Abhisit and his Dems practically totally changing their own earlier (1 year ago, or even 6 months ago) agenda and attitude on issues like Constitution re-writing, pardoning banned 111 politicians, etc.
as well as many other quite interesting twists (like Yellows saying “we’re not much different from reds” and all the talks about mergin Reds + Yellows into “Orange”, or recent article on Nation quoting Thaksin saying that “PT alliance with Democrats is possible” … )
so, there is certainly much more going on “behind the curtains” than merely meets the eyes.
and my whole point is – this “emotional” reaction is a well calculated pre-designed result aimed at … covering up that which is going on behind those “curtains”.
I am a former US Marine and Contractor, I and a few others are interested in getting more information about helping out the KNLA please email any available info to [email protected]
I think though that eventually (in future Volumes – like 2, 3 etc) perhaps some other “colors” would be added – as Blue, white, etc ? 😉
(I mean, now it is more than simply “red Vs Yellow”.
oh, and don’t forget “Khaki Vs rainbow bunch” 😉
hahaha )
another curious aspect to consider (which so far I haven’t seen discussed much or at all on blogs of Forums) is : how this whole “Color” thingy corresponds with … the “color revolutions” in some other countries in some past several years (say, as “Orange” in Ukraine, “Pink” in Georgia, then recently attempted one in Moldova, and the most recent one – so called “Green” / aka “Twitter revolution” in Iran …. ).
I mean – perhaps it helps to try and look at this whole “colors parade” here in LOS from a broader (or distant?) angle of view : that there is a certain pattern in the modern world of duping people into “color coded” so called “democratic movements” … (and thus distracting them from some other well concealed issues which are going on meanwhile)
BTW Ellul has mentioned this “color” usage as one of means of Propaganda. although nowadays I suspect there is a more sophisticated design at play – those “color coded” sh1t stuffs flying around are more than just some sort of primitive propagandistic attributes.
and in the West there are already quite a lot of people who do realize that. although of course here in LOS people are still being led by nose into this or that “colored” camp.
so, I think eventually, sooner or later, guys like Nick and John (photo-Journ) are gonna point that out and provide the facts about the ” True Colors ” so to say ! 🙂
(I mean – the “colors” which the only really matter – as here in Thailand it is surely “khaki” of the military, and what’s the color for Amart / banksters – grey ? )
otherwise, once again – RESPECT to Nick and all those guys out there who do this awesome job of at least attempting to do “investigative” journalism ! I’ll try to look up for this book in Kinokuniya. (BTW – have noticed that SO MANY books are about PAD, by PAD and pro-PAD in Thai lang. section in Kinokuniya branch of Siam Paragon ! PAD guys are very prolific, huh ?)
Sidh #38: ” I do not feel limited nor suppressed as you like to assume Thais feel (from observations here, it seem to afflict the foreigner disproportionally). I write here as I would write in Thailand without the need to flirt with an existing law.” Well, yes, of course! But try & imagine what it would be like if you were not dysfunctional, if you hadn’t been brainwashed into believing the elite know what is best for the Great Unwashed. What if you wanted to stand up & really criticise the people who are obstructing the passage of Thailand into the 21st C?
” Let’s advocate for the clauses in the constitution that empowers and protects the rights of the poor and the marginalized. It is a much more direct and immensely more beneficial path.” What clauses are they? What the ” poor and the marginalized” need is the right to vote and the right to sit in parliament, which would be ” a much more direct and immensely more beneficial path” than relying on the patronage of people like you, who frankly wouldn’t have a clue what their needs are, and are not, in the main, motivated to supply them anyway.
And, regarding the statement about your “Australian colleagues/friends who, like most foreigners hardly know anything about Thailand, browses these articles and ask me if we are still ruled by a monarchy, I know who to hold responsible for such extreme misrepresentations – which is unhelpful and does more harm than good.” Well, yes, it’s obvious – it’s the LM abusers, the accusers, who are responsible. When people read about LM charges & the incredibly overblown prison sentences, it would only be logical for them to assume that a monarch rules. They would assume that Thailand is back in the dark ages. This is why I believe that the real perpetrators of LM are the accusers.
” Will abolishing LM law make democracy work better in Thailand overnight? ” Let me answer with another 2 questions: Why is it that in Thailand there has not yet been a political party with a coherent (or actually ANY) policy to establish a workable, equal-opportunity, democracy? Is it because there’s something (a small & powerful section of society, perhaps) stopping them from talking about fundamental issues that need to be attended to?
LM, of itself, is not the issue; it’s the way the LM law is used by vested interests to keep things the way they have always been.
There’s no doubt that the attacks are racial in character. It’s quite obvious that state governments & their police forces in Australia need to pull their socks up & deal with the issue. The denial tactics of Victoria Police, in particular, need to be looked at.
Despite the fact that almost everyone in Australia has migrant, including Anglo, roots, there is quite a lot of racism & xenophobia. It comes to the forefront usually in times of economic uncertainty, but it’s there, simmering away all the time – which is, in some ways, rather odd, considering Australia’s reputation for high education standards & love of fair-play (‘a fair go’).
Education can contribute to the needed changes. Emotionally-engaging stories, plays, and other activities with themes encompassing issues such as fear of the unknown, isolation, self-awareness, scape-goating & cultures, should be a regular part of schooling, from early Primary, through to the end of Secondary education. Such activities must be followed up by debriefing, discussion and active workshop activities (e.g. drama & role-play) if there is to be real change. To merely discuss the issues from a ‘right-vs-wrong’ perspective is too shallow. Teacher-training, including in-service, is necessary to equip the teachers, many of whom hold anti-social attitudes, especially towards ‘asians,’ or are in need of consciousness-raising. Such measures need to be incorporated into education on a permanent basis – ‘special projects,’ with impressive budgets, which are so attractive to politicians & bureaucrats, have a shelf-life.
I don’t want to paint too bleak a picture – there’s ample evidence that many members of the community, including teachers, are committed to getting problems of this sort out into the open, & dealing with them. But, for example, the way that Pauline Hanson & her party were dealt with (almost Thai-style in its Machiavellian processes), is not much help in the long-term. What’s needed is real, deep-down change &, with a population of only 20million, it’s much more possible than in other countries with similar problems.
R.N.England, your comments on ‘economic migration’ seem rather out-of-date and inaccurate. (In the 80s, it’s true that there were quite a few commercial language-training institutions with scams to enable foreign students to book into courses & then work full-time, illegally. But that has been cleaned up. Universities were not a part of this.) Please supply traceable information on the “sample (you) have to go by.” I must say that I can’t see anything wrong with talented young people from other countries coming to Australia, training, & staying. I know a whole lot of such people, including a cancer-specialist, a G.P., 2 accountants, some IT specialists, 2 dry-cleaners, a whole lot of restauranteurs, etc., who did just that. Good on ’em, I say. They’re making the place more liveable.
my 90yo mum used to drive around with a car window sticker that said…
Live Simply So That All May Simply Live
so Sufficiency Economy is a good idea but hardly new or unique
although Thai politicians and right wingers with lavish lifestyles may feel better if they say they subscribe to the idea
for me Old Politics in Thailand means rule by elite and military “for the good of Thailand” built on the backs of the subservient majority
PAD New Politics means the same thing but dressed up as yet another way to defeat the possibility of rule by and for the majority of Thai people
in Old Politics the elite and military managed the majority of Thais by
calling for subservience to the King, Religion and Nation and fear of the military
Thaksin taught the majority that they could still respect the King and Religion but participate in ruling the Nation
Ruling the Nation must include ruling the military and this is the unfinished business of politics in Thailand!
Sooner of later the military must swallow their own lessons on Sufficiency!
It’s probably just heard about your silly naming competition for its great-grandchild, which could lead to damaging complications, given the rampant paranoia (and probably, in one case, megalomania) of certain fairly powerful idiots in Thailand.
WEEKEND BRUNCH
A man of the middle path
By NOPHAKHUN LIMSAMARNPHUN
The Nation
Published on July 18, 2009
Dr Sumet Tantivejchakul warns mankind to beware of Mother Nature’s wrath |and to maintain the balance by taking the route of sufficiency
Dr Sumet Tantivejchakul, 70, secretary-general of the Chai Pattana Foundation, had no hesitation in sharing his belief that overpopulation, environmental degradation and extreme capitalism were the culprits behind the current global economic crisis, climate change and other illnesses affecting the planet.
“We’ve plundered this planet’s resources mercilessly over so many years. The Earth is deteriorating at an alarming rate.
“In my opinion, overpopulation is a major issue. Take Thailand for example. When I was a child, our population was only 16 million. Now we have 65 million.
“Global population, meanwhile, has jumped from 4 billion to 6.9 billion. Then there’s consumerism or overconsumption. Consumption in the US alone is six times the global rate.
“We would probably need a total of five planets to accommodate this rate of consumption – two and a half planets for food and other production facilities and another two and a half for waste management.
“In my opinion, socialism, communism, liberalism or even capitalism are ideals that have long gone. Consumerism is the only faith left today. And it’s really unstoppable.
“In the wake of a collapse of the US-styled capitalism, we continue to look for replacements. We’re now talking about China or Russia as being the new saviours of the global economy [as far as renewed consumption to drive growth is concerned],” he says.
Sumet, who joined the Chai Pattana Foundation when it was founded in 1988, has been working on rural-development projects for His Majesty the King over the past several decades.
A powerful voice on royal initiatives with regard to sufficiency economy, Sumet has often cited His Majesty’s remarks on the degradation of the environment.
“His Majesty has warned that since humans are not treating the Earth nicely, they should beware of Mother Nature getting angry and one day punishing us all.
“I think we’re already being punished pretty badly though. We’ve been suffering from global warming, the 2004 tsunami and, more recently, Nargis [the typhoon that devastated Burma] and then the landslide in China etc.
“Before that there was Hurricane Katrina and wildfires across the heart of continental Europe. They were all warnings from Mother Nature.
“In terms of the current economic crisis, it’s ironic that we’re trying to rescue the economy with even more consumption by handing out money to people to buy even more in the name of stimulating the economy.
“In my opinion, the solutions should be in the realm of sufficiency economics. Take the middle-path. It’s either dharma or nature.
“In other words, we need to save our natural resources to slow down the approaching catastrophes instead of exploiting them at the rate we have for many years.
“The initiatives on sufficiency economy are not completely new, but they’re practical. The philosophy is neither anti-growth nor anti-business. It’s simply about moderation, which means not doing too little or too much.
“It’s about being reasonable, which means making decisions rationally and taking all key factors as well as anticipated outcomes into consideration.
“It’s about risk management, which means one’s preparedness to cope with the ensuing impacts and probable changes in various scenarios.
“We also need two crucial conditions to be successful in adopting the initiatives on sufficiency economy. One is all-round knowledge, and the other is virtue, namely honesty, patience, perseverance and intelligence. After all, the philosophy of sufficiency economy is to promote sustainable economic growth. For example, a growth rate of 4 to 5 per cent annum is desirable, but hyper-growth rate such as has happened in the past is not,” says Sumet, who is a former chief of the National Economic and Social Development Board.
Thank you again, for the nice comments. This is very encouraging, and will help to make a better volume 2. 🙂
I guess the photography alone in volume 2 will be better – i have already now a much larger selection of strong and intense photos to chose from than from the whole last year.
“Athitaya”:
For a proper historical analyzes i lack the necessary academic background. I have tried to include some historical background, but i can’t do for what i have not the education. There are other books which are better on this aspect, and i hope that even more will be written and published.
The main emphasis of my project is shedding light on the partly very confusing events on the streets, and i have tried to communicate a sense of how these events felt from this angle. I have of course my views and opinions on history, but they are just that – opinions – not enough to make original statements worth to be published. I leave that to wiser heads.
The West is responsible for the current lese majeste situation in Thailand because the West had undermine the direction of the 1932 coup d’etat group. As a result, instead of having a constitutional monarchy, Siam has a God King. It is hard to undo 60 years of propaganda without influential intervention from the West.
Everyone should have the right to respect or not respect another person. It is cruel to force citizens to respect Phumipon.
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Susie Wong: “The West is responsible for the current lese majeste situation in Thailand”
Oh please. “The West” is not responsible. Get real. Stop blaming “The West” and “Foreigners” and start taking responsibility for the state of your country is the first step to change.
Blaming outsiders is an all to convenient way to distract attention from the real problems and deny that you have the responsibility and ability to affect change internally.
An open letter to Kevin Rudd
I hope you’ve sent copies of this to SMH, The Age & Canberra Times. It’s amazing, considering how much of the bare-faced criminality in Malaysian government is right out in the open, due to mainstream & alternative media coverage, that Rudd could hold such views – let alone publicly air them.
Problems in Australia’s overseas student program
A very interesting topic – I think until some arrests are made it is too early to state whether these attacks are racist, opportunistic, organanised or possibly an element of all three.
I will make the following comments that no doubt will offend many, but I am trying to give some perspective to the problem, not trying to justify racism, and hopefully help facilitate a solution and some understanding of the issue:
1. It can often not safe for anyone to travel late at night on certain public transport routes in Australia, as that is the time when the most violent, opportunistic, gang type characters come out to play – this seems a mild version of what has been going on in other larger western cities for many years – perhaps something can be leared from those cities as to how to deal with such problems?
2. I have detected a mild resentment amongst some young Aussies towards Indian students because they seem to be taking many of the casual jobs that students and young people generally traditionally have had over the years – I am not sure whether this is real or imagined, but I have often heard it mentioned that many of the trolley pushing, taxi, KFC type jobs are going to ‘the indians’ – presumably this is just a numbers thing, more supply, less demand, or they are just seen as better workers, and not some sort of ‘undercutting’ by unscrupulous emplyers?
3.Indian students by their work/study habits are often in a situation of being on public transport in those ‘unsafe’ times, and perhaps the perpetrators of the crimes see them as easy targets .
4. Those same young Aussies mentioned above (many of whom themselves have ethnic backgrounds) have also commented to me that they dont like the ‘attitudes’ of some Indians who they say roam the city streets in their own mini ‘gangs’ – I expect they are not ‘gangs’ at all just ‘like sticking with like’, but there is a ‘gang’ perception, that has probably not helped those lone students travelling late at night.
5. I agree something needs to be done about the situation as no one (Indian student or otherwise) should be subject to such attacks, however I still see it more a policing/security/social issue, than a purely racial one.
6. I have no comment on the Educational aspects of the post, other than to say I dont like the way the ‘education industry’ has become a big business, as maybe I’m an old fashioned dreamer, but I still see education and health as ‘public goods’.
I fully expect to be blasted for this comment, but I’m just trying to give the feeling I get ‘from the street’, so to speak.
“An attack on the rights of journalists”
Hot news! Luksna has an outstanding arrest warrant for making a false accusation. BP tells us: “… it was discovered that there was an outstanding arrest warrant against Luksana dated May 21, 2008. It related to false accusations against Asian Institute of Technology and a professor there (р╕ир╕▓р╕кр╕Хр╕гр╕▓р╕Ир╕▓р╕гр╕вр╣Мр╕Лр╕▓р╕нр╕┤р╕Ф р╕нр╕┤р╕зр╕▓р╕Щр╕Хр╕╕р╕к – Said Iwantus ???) that they took advantage and made students find money for them.” http://bangkokpundit.blogspot.com/
It seems that she trotted off to Lumpini, the Police Station of her choice (lucky chaps!), to register yet another accusation against Jakraphob & the FCCT board, & while the police were processing all the paper-work, someone discovered the outstanding warrant. Are they trying to tell her something?
An interesting fact – It looks like she’s doing her PhD @ Asian Institute of Technology…imagine being her supervisor! Scary. It’s apparently in Engineering.
You’ve been warned!
With all due respect, a king of Thailand could suggest finger painting as “the way forward” and receive the typical full measure of uncritical, sycophantic endorsement from the Thai populace and media. The only thing that is “sufficient” in these misguided notions is that the lower classes be sufficiently numerous and productive to continue to enrich those who hold their leash. For the grandees of the moneyed and political classes it remains a “Surfeit Economy”: gluttony, venality, and very much business as usual.
Laos ne s’est pas fait en un jour!
For English analysis readers may wish to refer to the superb ‘Laos: An Indicative Fact Book’ ┬й Lao Insight Books –Robert Cooper-only available in Laos at the moment!- June 2009 whose self-stated aim is to bring Laos to the world and vice versa, while encouraging a nascent publishing and printing industry (all money earned by the book remain in Laos and benefits the development of the country and people.
It does an admirable job, a perceptive concise conspectus, outdoing CIA versions of facts, in presenting the salient issues, problems and possibilities of contemporary Laos As the first fact book ever on Laos it is essential reading for understanding contemporary Laos. It provides a detailed and accessible knowledge of Laos and insightful analysis with a sceptical edge. A comprehensive contents and index make the work a useful reference tool, and figures and facts (noting qualifications) are bang up to date (in some instances 1st quarter 2009), being obtained from many sources and individuals
…review forthcoming
More Thai ephemera
re: Andrew
Obviously, the poor elephant is evacuating its bowels in abject terror, as it’s about to be run over by an automobile made more powerful than an elephant, thanks to Standard Oil.
“An attack on the rights of journalists”
re: Sidh
Oh Sidh, do you ever get tired of constructing straw men to battle? No where in my post did I argue that “foreigners need to/could [abolish leges maiestates for [Thais].” I merely stated that if the Thai legislature is going to have the chutzpah to claim world-wide jurisdicition with their LM laws, then foreigners would might be affected by consequences of such laws have the moral authority to have their voices heard in the conversation concerning LM.
Of course, the implementation of LM reform rests entirely in the hands of the Thai people; however, this does not mean that the impetus for such reform need come from purely internal sources. Indeed, the Japanese have a word for such ‘external pressure,’ gaiatsu. Unfortunately, the current Thai culture animus, as you are a prime example of, views any manifestation of gaiatsu as affront to their national sovereignty.
As for the late Robert McNamara, I would assume that a member of the “privileged, Thai middleclass” would have more sympathy for the man who kept you and your parents from laboring in a Khmer Rouge-style reeducation camp run by Chulanont’s р╕Юр╕Др╕Ч/CPT.
You’ve been warned!
“This site may harm your computer” is generated when several complaints are received by Google.
It’s been most often used to try and steer traffic away from conservative blogs.
Nick Nostitz at the FCCT
I think this is a VERY important point here ! in fact, may be the most important point.
I suspect that the whole drama of the so called “colored” movements is well orchestrated scenario. and one of the purposes (or steps towards achieving certain purposes? ) is precisely this mentioned reaction : “emotional” one.
and it is quite a common scheme defined as “situation-reaction-solution” : first the situation is being created (say as “false flag”, or 9/11, global economic crisis, or whatever lesser, or even … “swine flu” pandemic ? 😉 ) which is aimed at causing masses of people to react in a certain way (as fear, outrage, joy, hate etc – all those strong emotions) and … demand some particular actions to be taken by those in power. and then the “solution” is being offered on plate to the herds of sheeple (say, “war on terror”, “stimulus package”, “wear masks” / “get vaccinated”, “Unity/ reconciliation” etc etc )
like it is quite curious to observe right now (in May-June) Abhisit and his Dems practically totally changing their own earlier (1 year ago, or even 6 months ago) agenda and attitude on issues like Constitution re-writing, pardoning banned 111 politicians, etc.
as well as many other quite interesting twists (like Yellows saying “we’re not much different from reds” and all the talks about mergin Reds + Yellows into “Orange”, or recent article on Nation quoting Thaksin saying that “PT alliance with Democrats is possible” … )
so, there is certainly much more going on “behind the curtains” than merely meets the eyes.
and my whole point is – this “emotional” reaction is a well calculated pre-designed result aimed at … covering up that which is going on behind those “curtains”.
Volunteering to fight in Burma
I am a former US Marine and Contractor, I and a few others are interested in getting more information about helping out the KNLA please email any available info to [email protected]
Red versus yellow
Congrats to Nick ! 🙂
I think though that eventually (in future Volumes – like 2, 3 etc) perhaps some other “colors” would be added – as Blue, white, etc ? 😉
(I mean, now it is more than simply “red Vs Yellow”.
oh, and don’t forget “Khaki Vs rainbow bunch” 😉
hahaha )
another curious aspect to consider (which so far I haven’t seen discussed much or at all on blogs of Forums) is : how this whole “Color” thingy corresponds with … the “color revolutions” in some other countries in some past several years (say, as “Orange” in Ukraine, “Pink” in Georgia, then recently attempted one in Moldova, and the most recent one – so called “Green” / aka “Twitter revolution” in Iran …. ).
I mean – perhaps it helps to try and look at this whole “colors parade” here in LOS from a broader (or distant?) angle of view : that there is a certain pattern in the modern world of duping people into “color coded” so called “democratic movements” … (and thus distracting them from some other well concealed issues which are going on meanwhile)
BTW Ellul has mentioned this “color” usage as one of means of Propaganda. although nowadays I suspect there is a more sophisticated design at play – those “color coded”
sh1tstuffs flying around are more than just some sort of primitive propagandistic attributes.and in the West there are already quite a lot of people who do realize that. although of course here in LOS people are still being led by nose into this or that “colored” camp.
so, I think eventually, sooner or later, guys like Nick and John (photo-Journ) are gonna point that out and provide the facts about the ” True Colors ” so to say ! 🙂
(I mean – the “colors” which the only really matter – as here in Thailand it is surely “khaki” of the military, and what’s the color for Amart / banksters – grey ? )
otherwise, once again – RESPECT to Nick and all those guys out there who do this awesome job of at least attempting to do “investigative” journalism ! I’ll try to look up for this book in Kinokuniya. (BTW – have noticed that SO MANY books are about PAD, by PAD and pro-PAD in Thai lang. section in Kinokuniya branch of Siam Paragon ! PAD guys are very prolific, huh ?)
“An attack on the rights of journalists”
Sidh #38: ” I do not feel limited nor suppressed as you like to assume Thais feel (from observations here, it seem to afflict the foreigner disproportionally). I write here as I would write in Thailand without the need to flirt with an existing law.” Well, yes, of course! But try & imagine what it would be like if you were not dysfunctional, if you hadn’t been brainwashed into believing the elite know what is best for the Great Unwashed. What if you wanted to stand up & really criticise the people who are obstructing the passage of Thailand into the 21st C?
” Let’s advocate for the clauses in the constitution that empowers and protects the rights of the poor and the marginalized. It is a much more direct and immensely more beneficial path.” What clauses are they? What the ” poor and the marginalized” need is the right to vote and the right to sit in parliament, which would be ” a much more direct and immensely more beneficial path” than relying on the patronage of people like you, who frankly wouldn’t have a clue what their needs are, and are not, in the main, motivated to supply them anyway.
And, regarding the statement about your “Australian colleagues/friends who, like most foreigners hardly know anything about Thailand, browses these articles and ask me if we are still ruled by a monarchy, I know who to hold responsible for such extreme misrepresentations – which is unhelpful and does more harm than good.” Well, yes, it’s obvious – it’s the LM abusers, the accusers, who are responsible. When people read about LM charges & the incredibly overblown prison sentences, it would only be logical for them to assume that a monarch rules. They would assume that Thailand is back in the dark ages. This is why I believe that the real perpetrators of LM are the accusers.
” Will abolishing LM law make democracy work better in Thailand overnight? ” Let me answer with another 2 questions: Why is it that in Thailand there has not yet been a political party with a coherent (or actually ANY) policy to establish a workable, equal-opportunity, democracy? Is it because there’s something (a small & powerful section of society, perhaps) stopping them from talking about fundamental issues that need to be attended to?
LM, of itself, is not the issue; it’s the way the LM law is used by vested interests to keep things the way they have always been.
Problems in Australia’s overseas student program
There’s no doubt that the attacks are racial in character. It’s quite obvious that state governments & their police forces in Australia need to pull their socks up & deal with the issue. The denial tactics of Victoria Police, in particular, need to be looked at.
Despite the fact that almost everyone in Australia has migrant, including Anglo, roots, there is quite a lot of racism & xenophobia. It comes to the forefront usually in times of economic uncertainty, but it’s there, simmering away all the time – which is, in some ways, rather odd, considering Australia’s reputation for high education standards & love of fair-play (‘a fair go’).
Education can contribute to the needed changes. Emotionally-engaging stories, plays, and other activities with themes encompassing issues such as fear of the unknown, isolation, self-awareness, scape-goating & cultures, should be a regular part of schooling, from early Primary, through to the end of Secondary education. Such activities must be followed up by debriefing, discussion and active workshop activities (e.g. drama & role-play) if there is to be real change. To merely discuss the issues from a ‘right-vs-wrong’ perspective is too shallow. Teacher-training, including in-service, is necessary to equip the teachers, many of whom hold anti-social attitudes, especially towards ‘asians,’ or are in need of consciousness-raising. Such measures need to be incorporated into education on a permanent basis – ‘special projects,’ with impressive budgets, which are so attractive to politicians & bureaucrats, have a shelf-life.
I don’t want to paint too bleak a picture – there’s ample evidence that many members of the community, including teachers, are committed to getting problems of this sort out into the open, & dealing with them. But, for example, the way that Pauline Hanson & her party were dealt with (almost Thai-style in its Machiavellian processes), is not much help in the long-term. What’s needed is real, deep-down change &, with a population of only 20million, it’s much more possible than in other countries with similar problems.
R.N.England, your comments on ‘economic migration’ seem rather out-of-date and inaccurate. (In the 80s, it’s true that there were quite a few commercial language-training institutions with scams to enable foreign students to book into courses & then work full-time, illegally. But that has been cleaned up. Universities were not a part of this.) Please supply traceable information on the “sample (you) have to go by.” I must say that I can’t see anything wrong with talented young people from other countries coming to Australia, training, & staying. I know a whole lot of such people, including a cancer-specialist, a G.P., 2 accountants, some IT specialists, 2 dry-cleaners, a whole lot of restauranteurs, etc., who did just that. Good on ’em, I say. They’re making the place more liveable.
$ufficiency economy
my 90yo mum used to drive around with a car window sticker that said…
Live Simply So That All May Simply Live
so Sufficiency Economy is a good idea but hardly new or unique
although Thai politicians and right wingers with lavish lifestyles may feel better if they say they subscribe to the idea
for me Old Politics in Thailand means rule by elite and military “for the good of Thailand” built on the backs of the subservient majority
PAD New Politics means the same thing but dressed up as yet another way to defeat the possibility of rule by and for the majority of Thai people
in Old Politics the elite and military managed the majority of Thais by
calling for subservience to the King, Religion and Nation and fear of the military
Thaksin taught the majority that they could still respect the King and Religion but participate in ruling the Nation
Ruling the Nation must include ruling the military and this is the unfinished business of politics in Thailand!
Sooner of later the military must swallow their own lessons on Sufficiency!
More Thai ephemera
It’s probably just heard about your silly naming competition for its great-grandchild, which could lead to damaging complications, given the rampant paranoia (and probably, in one case, megalomania) of certain fairly powerful idiots in Thailand.
$ufficiency economy
WEEKEND BRUNCH
A man of the middle path
By NOPHAKHUN LIMSAMARNPHUN
The Nation
Published on July 18, 2009
Dr Sumet Tantivejchakul warns mankind to beware of Mother Nature’s wrath |and to maintain the balance by taking the route of sufficiency
Dr Sumet Tantivejchakul, 70, secretary-general of the Chai Pattana Foundation, had no hesitation in sharing his belief that overpopulation, environmental degradation and extreme capitalism were the culprits behind the current global economic crisis, climate change and other illnesses affecting the planet.
“We’ve plundered this planet’s resources mercilessly over so many years. The Earth is deteriorating at an alarming rate.
“In my opinion, overpopulation is a major issue. Take Thailand for example. When I was a child, our population was only 16 million. Now we have 65 million.
“Global population, meanwhile, has jumped from 4 billion to 6.9 billion. Then there’s consumerism or overconsumption. Consumption in the US alone is six times the global rate.
“We would probably need a total of five planets to accommodate this rate of consumption – two and a half planets for food and other production facilities and another two and a half for waste management.
“In my opinion, socialism, communism, liberalism or even capitalism are ideals that have long gone. Consumerism is the only faith left today. And it’s really unstoppable.
“In the wake of a collapse of the US-styled capitalism, we continue to look for replacements. We’re now talking about China or Russia as being the new saviours of the global economy [as far as renewed consumption to drive growth is concerned],” he says.
Sumet, who joined the Chai Pattana Foundation when it was founded in 1988, has been working on rural-development projects for His Majesty the King over the past several decades.
A powerful voice on royal initiatives with regard to sufficiency economy, Sumet has often cited His Majesty’s remarks on the degradation of the environment.
“His Majesty has warned that since humans are not treating the Earth nicely, they should beware of Mother Nature getting angry and one day punishing us all.
“I think we’re already being punished pretty badly though. We’ve been suffering from global warming, the 2004 tsunami and, more recently, Nargis [the typhoon that devastated Burma] and then the landslide in China etc.
“Before that there was Hurricane Katrina and wildfires across the heart of continental Europe. They were all warnings from Mother Nature.
“In terms of the current economic crisis, it’s ironic that we’re trying to rescue the economy with even more consumption by handing out money to people to buy even more in the name of stimulating the economy.
“In my opinion, the solutions should be in the realm of sufficiency economics. Take the middle-path. It’s either dharma or nature.
“In other words, we need to save our natural resources to slow down the approaching catastrophes instead of exploiting them at the rate we have for many years.
“The initiatives on sufficiency economy are not completely new, but they’re practical. The philosophy is neither anti-growth nor anti-business. It’s simply about moderation, which means not doing too little or too much.
“It’s about being reasonable, which means making decisions rationally and taking all key factors as well as anticipated outcomes into consideration.
“It’s about risk management, which means one’s preparedness to cope with the ensuing impacts and probable changes in various scenarios.
“We also need two crucial conditions to be successful in adopting the initiatives on sufficiency economy. One is all-round knowledge, and the other is virtue, namely honesty, patience, perseverance and intelligence. After all, the philosophy of sufficiency economy is to promote sustainable economic growth. For example, a growth rate of 4 to 5 per cent annum is desirable, but hyper-growth rate such as has happened in the past is not,” says Sumet, who is a former chief of the National Economic and Social Development Board.
More Thai ephemera
Why is the elephant farting?
Nick Nostitz at the FCCT
Thank you again, for the nice comments. This is very encouraging, and will help to make a better volume 2. 🙂
I guess the photography alone in volume 2 will be better – i have already now a much larger selection of strong and intense photos to chose from than from the whole last year.
“Athitaya”:
For a proper historical analyzes i lack the necessary academic background. I have tried to include some historical background, but i can’t do for what i have not the education. There are other books which are better on this aspect, and i hope that even more will be written and published.
The main emphasis of my project is shedding light on the partly very confusing events on the streets, and i have tried to communicate a sense of how these events felt from this angle. I have of course my views and opinions on history, but they are just that – opinions – not enough to make original statements worth to be published. I leave that to wiser heads.
Support Suwicha Thakor
The West is responsible for the current lese majeste situation in Thailand because the West had undermine the direction of the 1932 coup d’etat group. As a result, instead of having a constitutional monarchy, Siam has a God King. It is hard to undo 60 years of propaganda without influential intervention from the West.
Everyone should have the right to respect or not respect another person. It is cruel to force citizens to respect Phumipon.