AntiPADshist: “they said that time and later (also there are videos) that they already knew about a plan (mostly by army ) to create a situation where yellow will clash with reds on the streets so that take this opportunity to crash and destroy both of them”
Who warned them?
Are they very smart or do they still have friends on the inside of the group that was apparently trying to destroy them?
Finally, if the PAD are so unimportant, perhaps it might be a time for a name change???:)
btw, I think you write some good stuff, but, by your own admission above, you are possibly spending too much time focussing on the wrong enemy.
As a Singapore watcher and visitor now for many years it does not strike me at all odd that the state turns a virtual blind eye to the large scale people trafficking that clearly is part and parcel of Singapore’s “economic miracle”. This allows them to operate in the authoritarian matter they are accustomed to and simply deal in a punitive way with some of the region’s most desperate people by treating them as criminals if they fall foul of the state for any reason – whilst the real criminals in this some of whom will be part of the establishment simply carry on as normal. Of course it would be wrong to simply blame a few local officials such as police and customs officers as there is almost certainly a government position on this which is linked directly to the amount of young, single foreign male labour in the country.
There was an important study of prostitution during the colonial period written by Professor James Warren at Murdoch University a number of years ago now that highlighted the important role of prostitution in the running of colonial Singapore. One aspect of the prostitution of Japanese and Chinese women in Singapore during the period of Warren’s study was that although moralising colonials did not approve they were clearly worried about having thousands of single males essential to the economy wandering around with no vent for their sexual needs. I would suggest that the current government faces a similar dilemma and is using a similar mechanism as their colonial predecessors.
The hypocrisy of the Singapore state when it comes to these sorts of issues is staggering. I remember more than a decade ago the manager of an MPH book store telling me that the best selling book in the island state was one titled “No Money, No Honey” whilst at the time James Minchin’s biography of Lee Kuan Yew, “No Man is an Island” was not stocked due to concerns about how the state might react. Of course it is not just the trade in people that Singapore should be called out on. What about the way in which small quantities of drugs will send someone to the gallows whilst the state continues to do business with some of the region’s biggest drug barons (the military in Myanmar). I think William Gibson’s summed it up years ago when he described Singapore as “Disneyland with the Death Penalty”.
I do not underestimate PAD. I am rather wuite realistically aware of their capabilities and role. but once again – I will never accept their alleged credit in removal of someone or in “change” for better !
they did NOT remove anyone and neither WILL NOT remove the “Old politics” or whatever the corruption. because they are themselves pretty much an integral part of the old system – many of their members are elite, or high-up middle class, as well as middle class.
so, yes – they do have SOME power and influence – however it is NOT a progressive power for real change, but a reactionary force !
therefore, they will not be able and even not willing to change anything. they only talk. in reality though – they want things to remain as they are – that rural majority continue being kept enslaved and provide an easy source of cheap labour, cheap food, cheap everything (and meat for brothels – another huge industry which elite runs and middle urban class enjoys).
that’s why they have joined or aligned with ultra-right, whome they themselves battled back in 1992. now though they support them – back in 2006 they supported coup, although in 1992 they vwere eagerly giving their lives to oust Suchinda.
why is that ? 😉
so, as I said – I do not underestimate PAD. I merely view them in a more realistic way: as a reactionary, not progressive pro-democracy force. and that certainly creates a complications and difficulties for any change to happen in Thailand.
therefore PAD will bear the consiquences sooner or later for this their reactionary role. unless they correct their course and realise that they are doing disservice to country and place themselves at disadvantage (of being between hammer and anvil – doesn’t even metter who is the anvil and who is the hammer, army/ elite or grassroot movemement !) and even into dangerous risky position. because if the development of events takes some truly ugly turn (if peasants and labour get too pissed off and start slaughtering all the reactionaries – as most recently it was in Cambodia under Pol Pot), then PAD and their followers will be exterminated too, along with their masters and patrons.
or otherwise if opposite will happen (like some ugly ultra-right dictatorship ala Nazi Germany or later after WWII in Argentina, Guatemala, Salvador and Chile in 70s and 80s or may be as what is Burma now?), again PAD will not be spared either, because in fascist dictatorship ANY sort of political and socilal movements will not be tolerated.
@tettyan
the main difference is that I emphasize that without the PAD, the elites could not do what they’ve been doing…
well, I can agree with this only to some extgent: in the sense that elite needs SOME sort of “cover”. however I don’t agree that ONLY PAD can be used as such. because for elite – PAD is just another disposable group. and they can compile and use any and many such groups. so, PAD is nothing special or unique in this sense – it just happened at that time that Sondhi started his own fight with Thaksin out of personal reason first of all. so, elite has simply taken opportunity and enriched, expanded, supplied and nourished PAD – which was ALREDY ready available. there was no need for them to create something new – it was CHEAPER so to say. 🙂
I know that elite (and to say more broadly – Amart) needs PAD and PAD needs elite. that’s the whole point.
however the difference is : this dependence is NOT mutually proportional. because elite can easily creat any number of other groups and movements (in other colors of T-shirts so to say 🙂 ). and in last few months we’ve seen the examples of that : Blue shirts emerged in Pattaya, then later “white shirts” started their own so called “unity movement”.
so, elite / Amart doesn’t need PAD as much as PAD needs Amart !
and that’s precisely what PAD has realised and expressed already by saying many times “when they don’t need us anymore … ”
Amart can EASILY get rid of PAD, because for them it is disposable and expandable ! Sondhi’s attempted assasination was a clear message about it – because he started to talk too much and foul-mouthing his masters / patrons – and again, he did so because of … too good understanding that he and PAD are expandable !
if you might remember – Nation has mentioned after his attempted assassination that “Sondhi knew very well about it, and was warned – but chose to ignore it”.
there are also several videos where he speaks things like “while we were fighting for you – you were playing gold. and now you want to get rid of me? I’m not afraid – I wasn’t afraid even of Thaksin, and you think I will be afraid of you? if only even 1 single drop of my blood falls to the ground – you will see ! …”
so, why would he say that unless he knew very well that he and PAD ARE disposable ? 😉
another example: Chamlong and Sondhi back in April , BEFORE the UDD started their rallies on Wed Arp 8th has issued a statement to all their PAD followers to “stay away from Bangkok for at least a week or two”. they said that time and later (also there are videos) that they already knew about a plan (mostly by army ) to create a situation where yellow will clash with reds on the streets so that take this opportunity to crash and destroy both of them. therefore PAD has strongly warned their followers NOT to get involved and in their statement published on MCOT ENgl. on Apr 12th (after cancelling ASEAN in Pattaya) news I remember Chamlong or Sondhi saying that they will NOT go to the streets and endanger their own members, as well as implicate them ! so, they already knew what is going to happen (the bloody crackdown).
so, my main point is : PAD already knew and continue knowing that Amart doesn’t need them so much, if at all anymore !
that’s why they have started to change the tune into “formal politics” (aka official party – which till even few month back was out of question !), their attitude towards “Reds” (as Sondhi saying : “we are almost same”) and the color of their T-shirts into “green-yellow”. I guess to change yellow color into some entirely different (without any traces or hues of yellow; although “orange” color is rumored as possibility of PAD uniting with UDD – I think it is out of question, at least by now) would be too abrupt and too blatant reverse of their course.
so, I consider Dickie’s point even more unrealistic than Tetyan’s :
“the elite need them more than they need the PAD.”
I don’t think so. and there are mamy too clear evidences of that – as I said, “Blue T-shirts”, “white T-shirts”, as well as the many other ANY colors in stock ! LOL
in fact, in Thailand there are only 2 colors which matter: khaki (the military) and gray ( as in the famous saying “gray cardinals” – the elite, judiciary and whoever else power brokers, rich chaps) – only these 2 colors have REAL and strong power and influence. other “rainbow” colors are disposable. even “white” or “blue” T-shirts too.
I think this situation – in which the victim always suffers but the traffickers are never arrested – is consistent across most of SE Asia. The reason for this is because the traffickers themselves are the authorities. Here in Thailand for example, prominent mafia figures also have senior positions in the police force. This is why, for example, we can have an underground lottery which is worth more than the official lottery, and large-scale copyright infringement on the streets and in stores – because the police are running the show.
The problem with the ineffective activities of the NGO’s is they always look at the symptoms of trafficking, not the causes. They focus on the victims, not the perpetrators.
So this is where the climate of fear engendered by lese majeste etc has got us. No one is willing to say what this rumour is. Some bloggers are obviously traceable, and if I were them I wouldn’t be sticking my neck out either. But there are sites that are essentially anonymous. When there are are such sites showing the video of a certain privileged Thai canine’s birthday party, with one prominent guest ‘au naturel’, surely someone somewhere could post details of what this rumour is all about ?
I think what’s important in BP’s post is “…in Thailand, on certain subjects, we hear nothing.” As far as I’m aware, there’s no reason why news of Thaksin’s health wouldn’t get reported. Certainly, the many enemies of Thaksin among the Thai media would jump at the chance to publish anything remotely damaging about him.
I’m inclined to believe that this rumour is not about Thaksin.
While I agree with what you are saying, I would also give PAD a LOT more weight than you have.
Remember 1992, a lot of the PAD guys are the same if not similar. As such, PAD has a ‘history’ of having at least landing a few tough punches (though not a knockout) on the military and the invisible involvement in Thai politics..
The PAD hold the key to ‘knocking out’ these power players, but the problem with PAD (less Sonthi) isn’t so much their ideology –> bottom-up organization, sustainable development, tough screening of government policies, et al –> but it is actually their sense of belief that they are ‘higher’ than the ‘other people’. As such, they side with the thai ‘elite’ but the basic structure of their belief in bottom-up movement puts them directly against the elite.
By the last statement I will refer to what they refer as the ‘selling’ of votes of the ‘dumb red’ followers, and also I refer to their ‘moral’ high ground in banning Chang to be listed in the stock market as 2 examples.
I wouldn’t underestimate the PAD. As tettyan above said, the elite need them more than they need the PAD.
UPDATE: Want to clarify one thing. At any one time, there are a few different rumors – think back to 2007 – so the June 15 date was meant to be a hint to anyone who had heard the same rumor that this was what BP was referring too.
From searching the net, someone at Faw Diew Kan webboard has found out that “June 15, 2007” was the date Princess Galaya, HMK’s sister checked into the Sirirat Hospital for her final cancer treatment. Cannot say whether this is what BP has in mind.
Tue, 02/06/2009 – 11:59
Netizen
After asking the court to extend the deadline for appealing for one month, the public prosecutor decided not to appeal on Suwicha’s case. Chiranuch is to hear whether she will be prosecuted on June 26.
1.The case of Ms.Chiranuch Premchaiporn:
June 1, 2009, Crime Suppression Division submitted the charges against Ms.Chiranuch Premchaiporn, director of Prachatai online-newspaper to the state attorney at the Office of attorney-general. She had to get bailed which she is guaranteed by the status of Dr.Chantana Banpasirichote-Wankaew, an academic from the Faculty of Political Sciences, Chulalongkorn University
Ms.Chiranuch is scheduled to hear the decision if she will be prosecuted by the state attorney on Friday 26, June 2009
2. The case of Mr.Suwicha Thakor:
June 1, 2009 his lawyer was informed that the case is officially closed since the state attorney decided not to appeal this case.
Mr.Suwicha can now begin the process to request for royal pardon as he intended earlier.
Slightly off topic: “… for the 600,000 foreign workers populating the hundreds of over-crowded foreign worker ‘dormitories’”.
I wonder if other readers have been to Singapore, specifically Little India, on a Sunday evening? It’s like walking around the grounds at an ‘all-male’ festival! Literally thousands of working-aged men walk around, maybe buy something for the next week or grab a cheap meal and make their way to the buses and songthews(to use the Thai expression) that will ferry them to building sites. I had walked around the same area that afternoon and there didn’t appear to be any signs of what was to come. A park near the ‘Little India’ subway station was packed; you literally had to tip-toe your way through the workers. By next morning, all the food wrappers had been picked up and the place looked like a park again. As I wandered through the area, I wondered as to the logistics of such an operation,:are all the men legally entering the country? What rights do they have while working here? Are they subject to the all-to-common difficulties (injustices) faced by migrant workers? What kind of visa are they on, etc.
‘Brand’ Singapore appears to be ripe for a little ‘research’.
Yo Jim. long time no see. Would be great to catch up with you.
Pretty busy now as you can imagine but if you visit Bangkok just hop in any tuk-tuk and ask to go to the Palace. If you sing the old para regiment drinking song then the guards will buzz you in. Tuesdays & Fridays are Toga Party nights – BYOB
We are told by maverick that he or she deals in facts. Okay, maybe at some undefined time in the future, but in this most recent post,a claim is made with no facts. I actually think that SE can be claimed as something that is uniquely Thai. Sure there are statements elsewhere about sustainability, but SE is a more politically and ideologically driven set of ideas. Maybe maverick could provide some facts about alleged similarity?
“New politics develops the sufficiency economy side by side with the conservation and rehabilitation of natural and environmental resources that are the basis for the conduct of life and occupation according to the geographical ecology. Old politics favors benefits for only a small number of capitalists, and thus destroys the ways of life and the resources of all people in the nation.”
if you look around the world… you’ll find statements like this… in each & every country… these days.
let’s see… na
if you’ve some kind of “real economy” business, dear Srithanochai… i’ll be eager to listen over next years…
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PAD tries a political party
AntiPADshist: “they said that time and later (also there are videos) that they already knew about a plan (mostly by army ) to create a situation where yellow will clash with reds on the streets so that take this opportunity to crash and destroy both of them”
Who warned them?
Are they very smart or do they still have friends on the inside of the group that was apparently trying to destroy them?
Finally, if the PAD are so unimportant, perhaps it might be a time for a name change???:)
btw, I think you write some good stuff, but, by your own admission above, you are possibly spending too much time focussing on the wrong enemy.
Sex trafficking in Singapore
As a Singapore watcher and visitor now for many years it does not strike me at all odd that the state turns a virtual blind eye to the large scale people trafficking that clearly is part and parcel of Singapore’s “economic miracle”. This allows them to operate in the authoritarian matter they are accustomed to and simply deal in a punitive way with some of the region’s most desperate people by treating them as criminals if they fall foul of the state for any reason – whilst the real criminals in this some of whom will be part of the establishment simply carry on as normal. Of course it would be wrong to simply blame a few local officials such as police and customs officers as there is almost certainly a government position on this which is linked directly to the amount of young, single foreign male labour in the country.
There was an important study of prostitution during the colonial period written by Professor James Warren at Murdoch University a number of years ago now that highlighted the important role of prostitution in the running of colonial Singapore. One aspect of the prostitution of Japanese and Chinese women in Singapore during the period of Warren’s study was that although moralising colonials did not approve they were clearly worried about having thousands of single males essential to the economy wandering around with no vent for their sexual needs. I would suggest that the current government faces a similar dilemma and is using a similar mechanism as their colonial predecessors.
The hypocrisy of the Singapore state when it comes to these sorts of issues is staggering. I remember more than a decade ago the manager of an MPH book store telling me that the best selling book in the island state was one titled “No Money, No Honey” whilst at the time James Minchin’s biography of Lee Kuan Yew, “No Man is an Island” was not stocked due to concerns about how the state might react. Of course it is not just the trade in people that Singapore should be called out on. What about the way in which small quantities of drugs will send someone to the gallows whilst the state continues to do business with some of the region’s biggest drug barons (the military in Myanmar). I think William Gibson’s summed it up years ago when he described Singapore as “Disneyland with the Death Penalty”.
PAD tries a political party
@ Dickie
I do not underestimate PAD. I am rather wuite realistically aware of their capabilities and role. but once again – I will never accept their alleged credit in removal of someone or in “change” for better !
they did NOT remove anyone and neither WILL NOT remove the “Old politics” or whatever the corruption. because they are themselves pretty much an integral part of the old system – many of their members are elite, or high-up middle class, as well as middle class.
so, yes – they do have SOME power and influence – however it is NOT a progressive power for real change, but a reactionary force !
therefore, they will not be able and even not willing to change anything. they only talk. in reality though – they want things to remain as they are – that rural majority continue being kept enslaved and provide an easy source of cheap labour, cheap food, cheap everything (and meat for brothels – another huge industry which elite runs and middle urban class enjoys).
that’s why they have joined or aligned with ultra-right, whome they themselves battled back in 1992. now though they support them – back in 2006 they supported coup, although in 1992 they vwere eagerly giving their lives to oust Suchinda.
why is that ? 😉
so, as I said – I do not underestimate PAD. I merely view them in a more realistic way: as a reactionary, not progressive pro-democracy force. and that certainly creates a complications and difficulties for any change to happen in Thailand.
therefore PAD will bear the consiquences sooner or later for this their reactionary role. unless they correct their course and realise that they are doing disservice to country and place themselves at disadvantage (of being between hammer and anvil – doesn’t even metter who is the anvil and who is the hammer, army/ elite or grassroot movemement !) and even into dangerous risky position. because if the development of events takes some truly ugly turn (if peasants and labour get too pissed off and start slaughtering all the reactionaries – as most recently it was in Cambodia under Pol Pot), then PAD and their followers will be exterminated too, along with their masters and patrons.
or otherwise if opposite will happen (like some ugly ultra-right dictatorship ala Nazi Germany or later after WWII in Argentina, Guatemala, Salvador and
Chile in 70s and 80s or may be as what is Burma now?), again PAD will not be spared either, because in fascist dictatorship ANY sort of political and socilal movements will not be tolerated.
@tettyan
well, I can agree with this only to some extgent: in the sense that elite needs SOME sort of “cover”. however I don’t agree that ONLY PAD can be used as such. because for elite – PAD is just another disposable group. and they can compile and use any and many such groups. so, PAD is nothing special or unique in this sense – it just happened at that time that Sondhi started his own fight with Thaksin out of personal reason first of all. so, elite has simply taken opportunity and enriched, expanded, supplied and nourished PAD – which was ALREDY ready available. there was no need for them to create something new – it was CHEAPER so to say. 🙂
I know that elite (and to say more broadly – Amart) needs PAD and PAD needs elite. that’s the whole point.
however the difference is : this dependence is NOT mutually proportional. because elite can easily creat any number of other groups and movements (in other colors of T-shirts so to say 🙂 ). and in last few months we’ve seen the examples of that : Blue shirts emerged in Pattaya, then later “white shirts” started their own so called “unity movement”.
so, elite / Amart doesn’t need PAD as much as PAD needs Amart !
and that’s precisely what PAD has realised and expressed already by saying many times “when they don’t need us anymore … ”
Amart can EASILY get rid of PAD, because for them it is disposable and expandable ! Sondhi’s attempted assasination was a clear message about it – because he started to talk too much and foul-mouthing his masters / patrons – and again, he did so because of … too good understanding that he and PAD are expandable !
if you might remember – Nation has mentioned after his attempted assassination that “Sondhi knew very well about it, and was warned – but chose to ignore it”.
there are also several videos where he speaks things like “while we were fighting for you – you were playing gold. and now you want to get rid of me? I’m not afraid – I wasn’t afraid even of Thaksin, and you think I will be afraid of you? if only even 1 single drop of my blood falls to the ground – you will see ! …”
so, why would he say that unless he knew very well that he and PAD ARE disposable ? 😉
another example: Chamlong and Sondhi back in April , BEFORE the UDD started their rallies on Wed Arp 8th has issued a statement to all their PAD followers to “stay away from Bangkok for at least a week or two”. they said that time and later (also there are videos) that they already knew about a plan (mostly by army ) to create a situation where yellow will clash with reds on the streets so that take this opportunity to crash and destroy both of them. therefore PAD has strongly warned their followers NOT to get involved and in their statement published on MCOT ENgl. on Apr 12th (after cancelling ASEAN in Pattaya) news I remember Chamlong or Sondhi saying that they will NOT go to the streets and endanger their own members, as well as implicate them ! so, they already knew what is going to happen (the bloody crackdown).
so, my main point is : PAD already knew and continue knowing that Amart doesn’t need them so much, if at all anymore !
that’s why they have started to change the tune into “formal politics” (aka official party – which till even few month back was out of question !), their attitude towards “Reds” (as Sondhi saying : “we are almost same”) and the color of their T-shirts into “green-yellow”. I guess to change yellow color into some entirely different (without any traces or hues of yellow; although “orange” color is rumored as possibility of PAD uniting with UDD – I think it is out of question, at least by now) would be too abrupt and too blatant reverse of their course.
so, I consider Dickie’s point even more unrealistic than Tetyan’s :
I don’t think so. and there are mamy too clear evidences of that – as I said, “Blue T-shirts”, “white T-shirts”, as well as the many other ANY colors in stock ! LOL
in fact, in Thailand there are only 2 colors which matter: khaki (the military) and gray ( as in the famous saying “gray cardinals” – the elite, judiciary and whoever else power brokers, rich chaps) – only these 2 colors have REAL and strong power and influence. other “rainbow” colors are disposable. even “white” or “blue” T-shirts too.
Sex trafficking in Singapore
I think this situation – in which the victim always suffers but the traffickers are never arrested – is consistent across most of SE Asia. The reason for this is because the traffickers themselves are the authorities. Here in Thailand for example, prominent mafia figures also have senior positions in the police force. This is why, for example, we can have an underground lottery which is worth more than the official lottery, and large-scale copyright infringement on the streets and in stores – because the police are running the show.
The problem with the ineffective activities of the NGO’s is they always look at the symptoms of trafficking, not the causes. They focus on the victims, not the perpetrators.
Rumours, rumours
So this is where the climate of fear engendered by lese majeste etc has got us. No one is willing to say what this rumour is. Some bloggers are obviously traceable, and if I were them I wouldn’t be sticking my neck out either. But there are sites that are essentially anonymous. When there are are such sites showing the video of a certain privileged Thai canine’s birthday party, with one prominent guest ‘au naturel’, surely someone somewhere could post details of what this rumour is all about ?
Rumours, rumours
The only thing I have noted about this date is that it tends to be the time of year when royals get promoted.
Rumours, rumours
KJE: I can’t say that I understand this claimed rumour about a rumour at all, but the prince was on television last week, so he hasn’t disappeared.
Rumours, rumours
June 15 is a half moon. Is this an “auspicious” time to make a sensitive announcement, I wonder.
Rumours, rumours
“Somebody” has been enjoying his air hobby somewhere in Europe. That’s all folks!!
Rumours, rumours
BTW, June 15, 2007 was the day when princess Kanlayani Wattana (the king’s deceased sister) was admitted to Siriraj hospital for the final time..
Rumours, rumours
@blogskeptik
I think what’s important in BP’s post is “…in Thailand, on certain subjects, we hear nothing.” As far as I’m aware, there’s no reason why news of Thaksin’s health wouldn’t get reported. Certainly, the many enemies of Thaksin among the Thai media would jump at the chance to publish anything remotely damaging about him.
I’m inclined to believe that this rumour is not about Thaksin.
PAD tries a political party
Antipadshit,
While I agree with what you are saying, I would also give PAD a LOT more weight than you have.
Remember 1992, a lot of the PAD guys are the same if not similar. As such, PAD has a ‘history’ of having at least landing a few tough punches (though not a knockout) on the military and the invisible involvement in Thai politics..
The PAD hold the key to ‘knocking out’ these power players, but the problem with PAD (less Sonthi) isn’t so much their ideology –> bottom-up organization, sustainable development, tough screening of government policies, et al –> but it is actually their sense of belief that they are ‘higher’ than the ‘other people’. As such, they side with the thai ‘elite’ but the basic structure of their belief in bottom-up movement puts them directly against the elite.
By the last statement I will refer to what they refer as the ‘selling’ of votes of the ‘dumb red’ followers, and also I refer to their ‘moral’ high ground in banning Chang to be listed in the stock market as 2 examples.
I wouldn’t underestimate the PAD. As tettyan above said, the elite need them more than they need the PAD.
$ufficiency economy
Ralph Kramden: You guys knocking the SE concept need to get your stories straight:)
Is it unique, or is its borrowed from E F Schmacher???
Rumours, rumours
Bangkok Pundit :
UPDATE: Want to clarify one thing. At any one time, there are a few different rumors – think back to 2007 – so the June 15 date was meant to be a hint to anyone who had heard the same rumor that this was what BP was referring too.
From searching the net, someone at Faw Diew Kan webboard has found out that “June 15, 2007” was the date Princess Galaya, HMK’s sister checked into the Sirirat Hospital for her final cancer treatment. Cannot say whether this is what BP has in mind.
Suwicha Thakor on his life in prison
Update on Suwicha and Chiranuch cases
Tue, 02/06/2009 – 11:59
Netizen
After asking the court to extend the deadline for appealing for one month, the public prosecutor decided not to appeal on Suwicha’s case. Chiranuch is to hear whether she will be prosecuted on June 26.
1.The case of Ms.Chiranuch Premchaiporn:
June 1, 2009, Crime Suppression Division submitted the charges against Ms.Chiranuch Premchaiporn, director of Prachatai online-newspaper to the state attorney at the Office of attorney-general. She had to get bailed which she is guaranteed by the status of Dr.Chantana Banpasirichote-Wankaew, an academic from the Faculty of Political Sciences, Chulalongkorn University
Ms.Chiranuch is scheduled to hear the decision if she will be prosecuted by the state attorney on Friday 26, June 2009
2. The case of Mr.Suwicha Thakor:
June 1, 2009 his lawyer was informed that the case is officially closed since the state attorney decided not to appeal this case.
Mr.Suwicha can now begin the process to request for royal pardon as he intended earlier.
More information and update please check http://www.thainetizen.org
$ufficiency economy
Mavyyboy #11
I am always enlightened by your keen and substantive observations.
Sex trafficking in Singapore
Slightly off topic: “… for the 600,000 foreign workers populating the hundreds of over-crowded foreign worker ‘dormitories’”.
I wonder if other readers have been to Singapore, specifically Little India, on a Sunday evening? It’s like walking around the grounds at an ‘all-male’ festival! Literally thousands of working-aged men walk around, maybe buy something for the next week or grab a cheap meal and make their way to the buses and songthews(to use the Thai expression) that will ferry them to building sites. I had walked around the same area that afternoon and there didn’t appear to be any signs of what was to come. A park near the ‘Little India’ subway station was packed; you literally had to tip-toe your way through the workers. By next morning, all the food wrappers had been picked up and the place looked like a park again. As I wandered through the area, I wondered as to the logistics of such an operation,:are all the men legally entering the country? What rights do they have while working here? Are they subject to the all-to-common difficulties (injustices) faced by migrant workers? What kind of visa are they on, etc.
‘Brand’ Singapore appears to be ripe for a little ‘research’.
Thailand’s crown prince
Yo Jim. long time no see. Would be great to catch up with you.
Pretty busy now as you can imagine but if you visit Bangkok just hop in any tuk-tuk and ask to go to the Palace. If you sing the old para regiment drinking song then the guards will buzz you in. Tuesdays & Fridays are Toga Party nights – BYOB
Cheers
CPV
$ufficiency economy
We are told by maverick that he or she deals in facts. Okay, maybe at some undefined time in the future, but in this most recent post,a claim is made with no facts. I actually think that SE can be claimed as something that is uniquely Thai. Sure there are statements elsewhere about sustainability, but SE is a more politically and ideologically driven set of ideas. Maybe maverick could provide some facts about alleged similarity?
$ufficiency economy
@ Srithanonchai, c.10:
“New politics develops the sufficiency economy side by side with the conservation and rehabilitation of natural and environmental resources that are the basis for the conduct of life and occupation according to the geographical ecology. Old politics favors benefits for only a small number of capitalists, and thus destroys the ways of life and the resources of all people in the nation.”
if you look around the world… you’ll find statements like this… in each & every country… these days.
let’s see… na
if you’ve some kind of “real economy” business, dear Srithanochai… i’ll be eager to listen over next years…