Great interview. Akarn Ji was one of FACT’s early signers. FACT and I personally signed Ji’s petition. I would certainly call Ji a friend, colleague and comrade; however, I don’t agree much with his politics! Like Ajarn Somkiat, the petition was about free expression and unjust law. I would not be surprised to find Ajarn Somsak there, too!
An essential point no one has yet raised is precisely what constituted lese majeste in A Coup for the Rich. If the police ever told Ajarn Ji what words/phrases/sentences/paragraphs…concepts were illegal under Article 112, we should know about it. I suspect that, like Saw Sivaraksa, Ji was indicted solely for referencing The King Never Smiles. Perhaps this can be covered in Part 2.
BTW, if you’re in need of some horrification over the sad state of our country, have a look at the lese majeste thread at 2Bangkok.com. Yikes!
Seems like a lot of putting down the poor sods for linguistic weakness. Sometimes I wonder if the writers who preceed me have ever tried to write a dissertation in Thai or any language other than their own. How well would they fare? Would they be looked down as incompetent, lazy and lacking in intellect? Don’t think so!
I have on a few occasions proof read and edited MBA thesis for my close friends and a relative or two and have no regrets doing so. The main thing is to gauge the content of the thesis and not the language. Ability to express oneself in a particular language is not a measure of intellectual prowess, simply shows a command of the language!
If the so called educators amongst you can see pass this, through your myopic eyes, perhaps you will be a better help to your Thai or other students, whose primary language is not english.
BTW, I am not an educator, just an unbias observer
Probably something like what we get when younger, or at least wise from time to time, an epiphany. from what a Thai dictionary I have says is that singular moment of enlightenment such as the Buddha had when sitting under the Bhodi tree.
It seems that the intellect, per se, is rather immune from external psychobabble in whatever form and that from time to time it tells its individual host – me or you -that BS is BS and a spade is a spade.
Jeffrey and others in these pages miss the whole point of Harry’s conviction and imprisonment: it was to send a strong message to foreigners as well as Thais not to cross the line of free discussion of the monarchy. Jufer’s conviction did not have this impact, not adequately anyway. Charges and threats of charges did not have an adequate impact. Internet crackdowns and censorship did not achieve what they wanted. So they had to go farther.
While the palace pretends that its hands are not soiled in this dirty business — allowing all to cheer a “pardon from the king” — in fact their networks make this kind of thing happen, to set an example. Giles also is an example, and I bet they are happy he fled to Britain, avoiding a political trial that would have had to be held in camera or risk embarassing media coverage and court documents flying around that could again incite critical commentary on the monarch.
They have drawn a line of what is absolutely too much. Now we have to wait to see if people close to that line — Sulak, Fahdiawkaan and others — will also be prosecuted. This is not Red vs Yellow: this is the monarchy declaring, disingenuously, “we are above all that crap and all of you stay away from us.”
I have noticed much of what many people have described here. My own conclusion is that Thai education teaches students that thinking is a burden, that memorization is a better way to get ahead, and that the purpose of education is to get a good job. The notion of “the life of the mind,” a sentiment that so dominated my own educational experiences, is alien to nearly all my students. “Puat hua,” they would say.
So I have begun to ask my colleagues, as I wish to ask the Thai readers of this site, what was it that opened up YOUR minds? What was it that cracked open your own coconut shell (as in “kob nawk kala”)? Bottom line question here is, can that happen in Thailand, or is an overseas experience required?
Harry is home, and that is great, after spending far too long in terrible conditions of confinement.
It is notable his release comes just prior to the ASEAN Summit.
To detain Harry longer would become a political liability, his usefulness as a tool of the political right has expired.
Nice to tidy this up before the world focusses on ASEAN.
Mr Abhisit is struggling to make his government appear ligitimate.
Well, then Dean is clearly misinformed. It was actually the Kor Mor Chor in in 2006 that proposed harsher punishments and institutionalised through the courts in agreement backstage with Abhisit. It was Abhisit who again reiterated his support for this increase in surveillance and punishment last year (ostensibly to protect the institution of the monarchy) but realistically as a means of threatening oppositional voices starting of course with the first PPP elected government in 2008.
Ji: I think that the military, and those that surround themselves and legitimise what they’re doing by claiming royal patronage, are those who really have power in Thailand.
Ji expressed such view on the monarchy over a year ago, when he was trying to justify his ‘song mai aw’ stance, arguing the monarchy / the King (he used the terms interchangeably) doesn’t really have much power. The imlication : to call on the activists, as I do, to focus on the issue of monarchy, was wrong and unnecessary, since it doesn’t have much power and also it was no different from Thaksin anyway. It’s regretable that even now when he has abandoned that miataken stance and ’embraced’ (figuratively and literally on the stage) ‘The Red Shirts’, he still continue to express such silly view.
Ji would do well to ponder such questions:
Is Prem, acknowledged even by some PAD leaders to be THE instigator of the coup, part of the monarchy? He retired from the military some 30 years ago and lost his PM post 21 years ago. Does Ji know of any ex-Command in Chief, living or dead, who after retiremnet from both military and political posts still have such power to instigate a coup? Ji’s totally wrong-headed approach to the issue of the power of the monarchy stems from his defining ‘power’ very narrowly, as something like a capacity to ‘order’ people to do bits and pieces of daily routine, e.g. a politician or a senior bureacrat issue orders to subordinates or even the parliament or cabinet passing piece of legistlation. Of course, the king / monarchy doesn’t have this kind of power.
But ponder this: Could anyone else ‘set off’ the judiciary on the so-called ‘Tulakan Phiwat’?
The wrong approach to the issue of the monarchy led Ji to many silly conclusions about the coup itself, expressed by the title of his book : A Coup for the Rich. Has there been any coup that is not ‘for the Rich’? To say that the 19Sep coup is the ‘Coup for the Rich’ is to say nothing. It cannot even be said that this is ‘general feature’ that the Sep Coup shares with all other coups, since if all coup are for the Rich, it’s meaningless to call this coup one for the rich. The task of any analysis of something (a coup, an event, a political party, etc) is to find its differentia specifica In fact, to characterise the Sep Coup as ‘coup for the Rich’ is also misleading in the extreme. Was Thaksin the target of the coup, one of the richest man in history? His cabinet and backers were also super-rich tycoons.
Finally, another piece of ‘puzzle’ for Ji to ponder: If the ‘military’ so powerful or was really the one that is most important in this coup, why was it that they couldn’t find one among themselve to rise to the PM job? Was it accident that Surayut appointed PM? What was he other than a ‘Nayok pra rat cha than’?
An interesting quote: Nicolaides’s lawyer, Mark Dean, SC, said his client was locked up as part of a ploy by the former Thai government to appear tough on critics of the country’s monarchy.
“I think it’s fair to say that Harry was a political prisoner, and that the reasons for the commencement of this case against him were inextricably linked to the political crisis in Thailand in August 2008,” Mr Dean said. “But since then, conditions have changed in Thailand, there has been a change of government, and the current Thai Government has done everything it can to support Harry’s case.”
Thailand is an intellectual wasteland. Sadly. and has been for a long time.
That said, here and there, there’s a few with integrity and courage, but as we all can see, it ain’t easy. The pressure to conform is great.
Don’t get me started about plagiarism. It has completely pervaded every level of Thai’s educational system. Just name the right price. Even the jet set who want to have the World’s Top 5 MBA as a trophy on their resume, it is well known that with sufficient funds, a complete application package, from the snappy personal statement to glowing recommendation letters, can be arranged.
I disagree with John Francis Lee. Giles has long argued that the monarchy is less important than some others claim – recall his rather odd paper that attacked so-called neo-Riggsians, where he lumped together such different authors as Handley, McCargo, Hewison and Connors. That approach seemed to downplay the political and economic significance of the palace. By now acknowledging the political significance of the monarchy he has taken the discussion of the “institution” to a different plane. That was long overdue.
I think that the Australian government should be asked to explain why it took so long to free Harry. None of the immediate press reports question this, and they should. Political Prisoners in Thailand (thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/new-harry-nicolaides-deported/) asks some quite narrow and limited questions but the media should press Smith and Rudd for details and explanations.
Speaking of what Thais will and won’t discuss…
Over the years I have been faced with many instances of locals who were extremely adept at translation – back and forth – who would not translate certain material because it reflected poorly on Thai culture or was not the “Thai way” of saying things.
Upon one occasion, a Thai from San Francisco had me translate some LM-related material because no one over there, Thais that is, would translate or could be trusted to translate.
This is a major problem with really understanding Thai culture and promoting needed reform, not to be condescending. Material that we do not like has to be available to us because we can learn. I picked up a lot initially from PAD when it first was carried on ASTV, not taking everything as gospel but certainly learning a lot. That the Thai media is still in the dark ages in many senses is a reflection not on the media but on the culture they live in and report on.
Speaking of those here who need advanced degrees but don’t want to and can’t do the work so get others to do it for them…
A Thai niece some time ago, studying for a Ph.D., had sent me a rather long dissertation to edit. Of course, it began with the standard billion grammaticals and went on from there…I did 10 pages and told my Thai wife to tell her niece to do the work herself, that I did my own for my MBA and I expect her to do hers.
Wasn’t popular but I doubt any more in-laws will be asking for Ph.D. help.
I don’t mind helping sometimes, but when it comes to doing, that’s another issue. That is one reason editors won’t even bother with most writers who are sloppy or ignorant. They demand a certain level of performance, which is really what a degree is all about. Be capable and earn the degree. End of story.
Before we get too carried away with how wonderful Abhisit’s (illegitimate) Government has been for Harry’s freedom, readers should keep in mind that it was Abhisit who proposed harsher punishment last year for Lese Majesty- as a mechanism for getting rid of any “red” opposition. It is odd that when it comes to the Democrat Party people have such short memories.
Crushing the Thai Left on the 6th Oct 1976 and the consequences for present day politics
(Paper presented at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, September 2001
р╕Ър╕Чр╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕Щр╕│р╣Ар╕кр╕Щр╕нр╕Чр╕╡р╣И S.O.A.S. р╕бр╕лр╕▓р╕зр╕┤р╕Чр╕вр╕▓р╕ер╕▒р╕вр╕ер╕нр╕Щр╕Фр╕нр╕Щ р╕Бр╕▒р╕Щр╕вр╕▓р╕вр╕Щ р╣Тр╣Хр╣Фр╣Ф)
Assistant Professor Ji Giles Ungpakorn
Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
(Secretary of The 6th October 1976 Fact Finding Committee)
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
On the morning of 6th October 1976, Thai uniformed police, alongside armed semi-fascist thugs, crushed the student movement in Thailand. This brutal state crime was supported, either directly or indirectly, by all sections of the Thai ruling elite. Their aim was not so much the crushing of the young parliamentary democracy, which had arisen after the mass popular uprising three years earlier, but the destruction of the growing socialist movement throughout the country. This was achieved in the long term also by the subsequent collapse of the stalinist Communist Party of Thailand. This destruction of the left came not only in organisational form, but also in terms of the present collective historical memory about the Thai left. The results of “cleansing democracy of socialism” can be seen in the present corrupt and money dominated system of Thai parliamentary politics. Yet, the impact of the Asian Economic Crisis and a whole new generation of people with little knowledge of the 1970s, means that socialism may yet creep back into Thai democracy. The Populist policies of the new Thai Ruk Thai government may be an indication of social pressure from below and the re-emergence of class-based politics.
Frank, you are spot-on with your comments re. the evidence of Thai culture in TV soaps, and in a wider sense, the relationship between illusion & reality in the LOS. Many of my Thai friends would agree with you – although I wouldn’t have been able to say that a couple of years ago (they wouldn’t have been talking about it). It seems that all the unpleasant upheavals & repression of recent times are causing quite a bit of iconoclastic discussion, and a degree of social criticism that didn’t exist (openly) a short time ago.
Interestingly, it seems to be the rural people, especially those from Esan & the North, who are becoming more flexible in their thinking. For example, I’ve noticed that many of the Redshirts I’ve talked to recently have lost confidence in Thaksin, while still holding to the basic Red ideals.
re. Jon Fernquest: As I understand, from his frequent postings re. “the university where I used to teach,” his experience is limited to Rajabhat & Rachamangkhala-level institutions. These are, in fact, recently upgraded (i.e. now called universities) vocational institutes. In some Humanities & Business departments they do teach “skill-sets,” to prepare the students to enter the workforce, but in general they are on a very low level. (e.g. in English departments, they are taught formulaic ‘question & response’ sets, and examined with multiple-choice tests, without ever having to write an essay. So there is no contribution to their thinking abilities.) Nik’s remarks about “free inquiry” and “intellectual work” simply do not apply at this level. Depressingly, a large percentage of teachers are trained in these institutions, largely by people with no educational ideals, although they do at times trumpet expressions like ‘student-centred learning.’
What is even more depressing, is that the ‘real’ universities are, in the main, not much better. I have worked in English Departments with colleagues who had Masters degrees & Doctorates in Enlish Language from Chula, ChiengMai, etc., and could not write an intelligible English-language memo or email, or read a simple article in the Bangkok Post. An Associate Professor (ex-Chula) asked me to paraphrase a huge slab of material from the introduction to her doctoral dissertation, which her supervisor at a high-ranking Australian university had identified as plagiarized, and rejected. She thought her supervisor’s response was grossly unfair. When I questioned her about the meaning of certain expressions she was unable to answer. Her research project was also rigged, & she expected me, as a research assistant, to go along with it (she gave me the estimates and ‘asked’ me to keep within them in my workshop evaluations, as well as suggesting that I train the participants in a way not allowed for in the research.). I wriggled my way out of the position.
All of this means that academics like Ji, who are in the minority & take great risks in order to educate, & contribute to social change, should be highly valued – regardless of whether one agrees with everything they put forward. As should those Thai academics who are prepared to stand up in support of him, like Prof. Somkiart. I’m sure many of us in the expat teaching community who have signed petitions are also feeling very nervous right now.
BTW, those who have accused Ji of ‘copping out’ are deluded. He would be useless in gaol, & would quite possibly not survive. Whereas, in UK he is much freer than he could ever be in Thailand, & that will be to Thailand’s benefit.
It’s good to see that Harry has been released. Unfortunately, that doesn’t signify any kind of meaningful victory in the larger battle. Others, with longer sentences, are still encarcerated, with no hopeful signs whatsoever.
When looking at the lists of Oxbridge Na-Ayuddhayate contained in the reports of their smug, self-congratulatory annual get-togethers, & thinks of the power they have had & still enjoy, & how they have used it, one marvels at their thickness & wonders about the value of a British liberal education to members of 3rd-world privileged classes. (Then, of course there are the Gandhis, Mandelas, Jose Ramos-Hortas.) Looks like the Brits need to recruit from outside Frank’s soapy-Thai culture…maybe a few scholarships to Esan would help.
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Special interview: Giles Ungpakorn, part 1
Great interview. Akarn Ji was one of FACT’s early signers. FACT and I personally signed Ji’s petition. I would certainly call Ji a friend, colleague and comrade; however, I don’t agree much with his politics! Like Ajarn Somkiat, the petition was about free expression and unjust law. I would not be surprised to find Ajarn Somsak there, too!
An essential point no one has yet raised is precisely what constituted lese majeste in A Coup for the Rich. If the police ever told Ajarn Ji what words/phrases/sentences/paragraphs…concepts were illegal under Article 112, we should know about it. I suspect that, like Saw Sivaraksa, Ji was indicted solely for referencing The King Never Smiles. Perhaps this can be covered in Part 2.
BTW, if you’re in need of some horrification over the sad state of our country, have a look at the lese majeste thread at 2Bangkok.com. Yikes!
More repressive efforts in Thailand
Seems like a lot of putting down the poor sods for linguistic weakness. Sometimes I wonder if the writers who preceed me have ever tried to write a dissertation in Thai or any language other than their own. How well would they fare? Would they be looked down as incompetent, lazy and lacking in intellect? Don’t think so!
I have on a few occasions proof read and edited MBA thesis for my close friends and a relative or two and have no regrets doing so. The main thing is to gauge the content of the thesis and not the language. Ability to express oneself in a particular language is not a measure of intellectual prowess, simply shows a command of the language!
If the so called educators amongst you can see pass this, through your myopic eyes, perhaps you will be a better help to your Thai or other students, whose primary language is not english.
BTW, I am not an educator, just an unbias observer
More repressive efforts in Thailand
Probably something like what we get when younger, or at least wise from time to time, an epiphany. from what a Thai dictionary I have says is that singular moment of enlightenment such as the Buddha had when sitting under the Bhodi tree.
It seems that the intellect, per se, is rather immune from external psychobabble in whatever form and that from time to time it tells its individual host – me or you -that BS is BS and a spade is a spade.
Aturan Permainan DominoQQ utk Pemula
Jeffrey and others in these pages miss the whole point of Harry’s conviction and imprisonment: it was to send a strong message to foreigners as well as Thais not to cross the line of free discussion of the monarchy. Jufer’s conviction did not have this impact, not adequately anyway. Charges and threats of charges did not have an adequate impact. Internet crackdowns and censorship did not achieve what they wanted. So they had to go farther.
While the palace pretends that its hands are not soiled in this dirty business — allowing all to cheer a “pardon from the king” — in fact their networks make this kind of thing happen, to set an example. Giles also is an example, and I bet they are happy he fled to Britain, avoiding a political trial that would have had to be held in camera or risk embarassing media coverage and court documents flying around that could again incite critical commentary on the monarch.
They have drawn a line of what is absolutely too much. Now we have to wait to see if people close to that line — Sulak, Fahdiawkaan and others — will also be prosecuted. This is not Red vs Yellow: this is the monarchy declaring, disingenuously, “we are above all that crap and all of you stay away from us.”
More repressive efforts in Thailand
I have noticed much of what many people have described here. My own conclusion is that Thai education teaches students that thinking is a burden, that memorization is a better way to get ahead, and that the purpose of education is to get a good job. The notion of “the life of the mind,” a sentiment that so dominated my own educational experiences, is alien to nearly all my students. “Puat hua,” they would say.
So I have begun to ask my colleagues, as I wish to ask the Thai readers of this site, what was it that opened up YOUR minds? What was it that cracked open your own coconut shell (as in “kob nawk kala”)? Bottom line question here is, can that happen in Thailand, or is an overseas experience required?
Aturan Permainan DominoQQ utk Pemula
Harry is home, and that is great, after spending far too long in terrible conditions of confinement.
It is notable his release comes just prior to the ASEAN Summit.
To detain Harry longer would become a political liability, his usefulness as a tool of the political right has expired.
Nice to tidy this up before the world focusses on ASEAN.
Mr Abhisit is struggling to make his government appear ligitimate.
Aturan Permainan DominoQQ utk Pemula
Well, then Dean is clearly misinformed. It was actually the Kor Mor Chor in in 2006 that proposed harsher punishments and institutionalised through the courts in agreement backstage with Abhisit. It was Abhisit who again reiterated his support for this increase in surveillance and punishment last year (ostensibly to protect the institution of the monarchy) but realistically as a means of threatening oppositional voices starting of course with the first PPP elected government in 2008.
Special interview: Giles Ungpakorn, part 1
Sorry, the sentence at the end of next-to-last paragraph above should read:
Was Thaksin, the target of the coup, not one of the richest man in history?
Special interview: Giles Ungpakorn, part 1
Ji:
I think that the military, and those that surround themselves and legitimise what they’re doing by claiming royal patronage, are those who really have power in Thailand.
Ji expressed such view on the monarchy over a year ago, when he was trying to justify his ‘song mai aw’ stance, arguing the monarchy / the King (he used the terms interchangeably) doesn’t really have much power. The imlication : to call on the activists, as I do, to focus on the issue of monarchy, was wrong and unnecessary, since it doesn’t have much power and also it was no different from Thaksin anyway. It’s regretable that even now when he has abandoned that miataken stance and ’embraced’ (figuratively and literally on the stage) ‘The Red Shirts’, he still continue to express such silly view.
Ji would do well to ponder such questions:
Is Prem, acknowledged even by some PAD leaders to be THE instigator of the coup, part of the monarchy? He retired from the military some 30 years ago and lost his PM post 21 years ago. Does Ji know of any ex-Command in Chief, living or dead, who after retiremnet from both military and political posts still have such power to instigate a coup? Ji’s totally wrong-headed approach to the issue of the power of the monarchy stems from his defining ‘power’ very narrowly, as something like a capacity to ‘order’ people to do bits and pieces of daily routine, e.g. a politician or a senior bureacrat issue orders to subordinates or even the parliament or cabinet passing piece of legistlation. Of course, the king / monarchy doesn’t have this kind of power.
But ponder this: Could anyone else ‘set off’ the judiciary on the so-called ‘Tulakan Phiwat’?
The wrong approach to the issue of the monarchy led Ji to many silly conclusions about the coup itself, expressed by the title of his book : A Coup for the Rich. Has there been any coup that is not ‘for the Rich’? To say that the 19Sep coup is the ‘Coup for the Rich’ is to say nothing. It cannot even be said that this is ‘general feature’ that the Sep Coup shares with all other coups, since if all coup are for the Rich, it’s meaningless to call this coup one for the rich. The task of any analysis of something (a coup, an event, a political party, etc) is to find its differentia specifica In fact, to characterise the Sep Coup as ‘coup for the Rich’ is also misleading in the extreme. Was Thaksin the target of the coup, one of the richest man in history? His cabinet and backers were also super-rich tycoons.
Finally, another piece of ‘puzzle’ for Ji to ponder: If the ‘military’ so powerful or was really the one that is most important in this coup, why was it that they couldn’t find one among themselve to rise to the PM job? Was it accident that Surayut appointed PM? What was he other than a ‘Nayok pra rat cha than’?
Aturan Permainan DominoQQ utk Pemula
An interesting quote:
Nicolaides’s lawyer, Mark Dean, SC, said his client was locked up as part of a ploy by the former Thai government to appear tough on critics of the country’s monarchy.
“I think it’s fair to say that Harry was a political prisoner, and that the reasons for the commencement of this case against him were inextricably linked to the political crisis in Thailand in August 2008,” Mr Dean said. “But since then, conditions have changed in Thailand, there has been a change of government, and the current Thai Government has done everything it can to support Harry’s case.”
Special interview: Giles Ungpakorn, part 1
I really wish people like Giles Ji Ungpakorn could grow on trees, I would grow an orchard for Siam. Keep on fighting!!
More repressive efforts in Thailand
Thailand is an intellectual wasteland. Sadly. and has been for a long time.
That said, here and there, there’s a few with integrity and courage, but as we all can see, it ain’t easy. The pressure to conform is great.
Don’t get me started about plagiarism. It has completely pervaded every level of Thai’s educational system. Just name the right price. Even the jet set who want to have the World’s Top 5 MBA as a trophy on their resume, it is well known that with sufficient funds, a complete application package, from the snappy personal statement to glowing recommendation letters, can be arranged.
Lèse majesté and Harry Nicolaides
Well, my question was kind of answered with Harry’s release and some of the reporting around that. I’ll take this up on the Harry is free thread.
Special interview: Giles Ungpakorn, part 1
I disagree with John Francis Lee. Giles has long argued that the monarchy is less important than some others claim – recall his rather odd paper that attacked so-called neo-Riggsians, where he lumped together such different authors as Handley, McCargo, Hewison and Connors. That approach seemed to downplay the political and economic significance of the palace. By now acknowledging the political significance of the monarchy he has taken the discussion of the “institution” to a different plane. That was long overdue.
Aturan Permainan DominoQQ utk Pemula
I think that the Australian government should be asked to explain why it took so long to free Harry. None of the immediate press reports question this, and they should. Political Prisoners in Thailand (thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/new-harry-nicolaides-deported/) asks some quite narrow and limited questions but the media should press Smith and Rudd for details and explanations.
More repressive efforts in Thailand
Speaking of what Thais will and won’t discuss…
Over the years I have been faced with many instances of locals who were extremely adept at translation – back and forth – who would not translate certain material because it reflected poorly on Thai culture or was not the “Thai way” of saying things.
Upon one occasion, a Thai from San Francisco had me translate some LM-related material because no one over there, Thais that is, would translate or could be trusted to translate.
This is a major problem with really understanding Thai culture and promoting needed reform, not to be condescending. Material that we do not like has to be available to us because we can learn. I picked up a lot initially from PAD when it first was carried on ASTV, not taking everything as gospel but certainly learning a lot. That the Thai media is still in the dark ages in many senses is a reflection not on the media but on the culture they live in and report on.
More repressive efforts in Thailand
Speaking of those here who need advanced degrees but don’t want to and can’t do the work so get others to do it for them…
A Thai niece some time ago, studying for a Ph.D., had sent me a rather long dissertation to edit. Of course, it began with the standard billion grammaticals and went on from there…I did 10 pages and told my Thai wife to tell her niece to do the work herself, that I did my own for my MBA and I expect her to do hers.
Wasn’t popular but I doubt any more in-laws will be asking for Ph.D. help.
I don’t mind helping sometimes, but when it comes to doing, that’s another issue. That is one reason editors won’t even bother with most writers who are sloppy or ignorant. They demand a certain level of performance, which is really what a degree is all about. Be capable and earn the degree. End of story.
Aturan Permainan DominoQQ utk Pemula
Before we get too carried away with how wonderful Abhisit’s (illegitimate) Government has been for Harry’s freedom, readers should keep in mind that it was Abhisit who proposed harsher punishment last year for Lese Majesty- as a mechanism for getting rid of any “red” opposition. It is odd that when it comes to the Democrat Party people have such short memories.
Giles in The Guardian
Cleansing democracy of socialism
Crushing the Thai Left on the 6th Oct 1976 and the consequences for present day politics
(Paper presented at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, September 2001
р╕Ър╕Чр╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕Щр╕│р╣Ар╕кр╕Щр╕нр╕Чр╕╡р╣И S.O.A.S. р╕бр╕лр╕▓р╕зр╕┤р╕Чр╕вр╕▓р╕ер╕▒р╕вр╕ер╕нр╕Щр╕Фр╕нр╕Щ р╕Бр╕▒р╕Щр╕вр╕▓р╕вр╕Щ р╣Тр╣Хр╣Фр╣Ф)
Assistant Professor Ji Giles Ungpakorn
Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
(Secretary of The 6th October 1976 Fact Finding Committee)
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
On the morning of 6th October 1976, Thai uniformed police, alongside armed semi-fascist thugs, crushed the student movement in Thailand. This brutal state crime was supported, either directly or indirectly, by all sections of the Thai ruling elite. Their aim was not so much the crushing of the young parliamentary democracy, which had arisen after the mass popular uprising three years earlier, but the destruction of the growing socialist movement throughout the country. This was achieved in the long term also by the subsequent collapse of the stalinist Communist Party of Thailand. This destruction of the left came not only in organisational form, but also in terms of the present collective historical memory about the Thai left. The results of “cleansing democracy of socialism” can be seen in the present corrupt and money dominated system of Thai parliamentary politics. Yet, the impact of the Asian Economic Crisis and a whole new generation of people with little knowledge of the 1970s, means that socialism may yet creep back into Thai democracy. The Populist policies of the new Thai Ruk Thai government may be an indication of social pressure from below and the re-emergence of class-based politics.
read more:
http://www.2519.net/autopage/show_page.php?t=4&s_id=2&d_id=2
More repressive efforts in Thailand
Frank, you are spot-on with your comments re. the evidence of Thai culture in TV soaps, and in a wider sense, the relationship between illusion & reality in the LOS. Many of my Thai friends would agree with you – although I wouldn’t have been able to say that a couple of years ago (they wouldn’t have been talking about it). It seems that all the unpleasant upheavals & repression of recent times are causing quite a bit of iconoclastic discussion, and a degree of social criticism that didn’t exist (openly) a short time ago.
Interestingly, it seems to be the rural people, especially those from Esan & the North, who are becoming more flexible in their thinking. For example, I’ve noticed that many of the Redshirts I’ve talked to recently have lost confidence in Thaksin, while still holding to the basic Red ideals.
re. Jon Fernquest: As I understand, from his frequent postings re. “the university where I used to teach,” his experience is limited to Rajabhat & Rachamangkhala-level institutions. These are, in fact, recently upgraded (i.e. now called universities) vocational institutes. In some Humanities & Business departments they do teach “skill-sets,” to prepare the students to enter the workforce, but in general they are on a very low level. (e.g. in English departments, they are taught formulaic ‘question & response’ sets, and examined with multiple-choice tests, without ever having to write an essay. So there is no contribution to their thinking abilities.) Nik’s remarks about “free inquiry” and “intellectual work” simply do not apply at this level. Depressingly, a large percentage of teachers are trained in these institutions, largely by people with no educational ideals, although they do at times trumpet expressions like ‘student-centred learning.’
What is even more depressing, is that the ‘real’ universities are, in the main, not much better. I have worked in English Departments with colleagues who had Masters degrees & Doctorates in Enlish Language from Chula, ChiengMai, etc., and could not write an intelligible English-language memo or email, or read a simple article in the Bangkok Post. An Associate Professor (ex-Chula) asked me to paraphrase a huge slab of material from the introduction to her doctoral dissertation, which her supervisor at a high-ranking Australian university had identified as plagiarized, and rejected. She thought her supervisor’s response was grossly unfair. When I questioned her about the meaning of certain expressions she was unable to answer. Her research project was also rigged, & she expected me, as a research assistant, to go along with it (she gave me the estimates and ‘asked’ me to keep within them in my workshop evaluations, as well as suggesting that I train the participants in a way not allowed for in the research.). I wriggled my way out of the position.
All of this means that academics like Ji, who are in the minority & take great risks in order to educate, & contribute to social change, should be highly valued – regardless of whether one agrees with everything they put forward. As should those Thai academics who are prepared to stand up in support of him, like Prof. Somkiart. I’m sure many of us in the expat teaching community who have signed petitions are also feeling very nervous right now.
BTW, those who have accused Ji of ‘copping out’ are deluded. He would be useless in gaol, & would quite possibly not survive. Whereas, in UK he is much freer than he could ever be in Thailand, & that will be to Thailand’s benefit.
It’s good to see that Harry has been released. Unfortunately, that doesn’t signify any kind of meaningful victory in the larger battle. Others, with longer sentences, are still encarcerated, with no hopeful signs whatsoever.
When looking at the lists of Oxbridge Na-Ayuddhayate contained in the reports of their smug, self-congratulatory annual get-togethers, & thinks of the power they have had & still enjoy, & how they have used it, one marvels at their thickness & wonders about the value of a British liberal education to members of 3rd-world privileged classes. (Then, of course there are the Gandhis, Mandelas, Jose Ramos-Hortas.) Looks like the Brits need to recruit from outside Frank’s soapy-Thai culture…maybe a few scholarships to Esan would help.