>…For an anthropologist you certainly seem clueless about local standards…blah blah blah..”
Um, pardon, where did you get the idea that blogs should be objective (you’ve indicated that before) and subservient to prevailing social norms?
I always thought the general idea is that they provide diversity and a tinge of subversiveness.
Are you complaining that the NM guys are academics and hence should not wear their hearts on their sleeves?
I’d just say that the best teacher I ever studied with, and many people feel the same way, was the late George Kahin, who wore his politics proudly, helped lead the first teach-ins against the Vietnam War and was ultimately, in my opinion, the most important figure in making Southeast Asian studies a dynamic and critical field, and educating, directly and by inheritance, several generations of top scholars.
Seeing where there hasn’t been a coup up until now I will guess for crackdown. BBC is reporting ambulances lined up at the airport for possible casualties.
jonfernquest: the reference to the Bangkok Post was to a particular editorial, and editorials do not tend to be “a full spectrum of opinions” – newspapers have editorials to allow editors to express their opinions and to take strong, moral or other positions. And, because of that, most editorial writers expect to be criticised and debated. Maybe you have forgotten the that the press both reports and editorialises.
Not sure where I was worried about who hit who, but I do find it difficult to disagree with amberwaves at #7, where s/he seems to sum things up nicely.
Your comments on the king and his political role show a complete lack of understanding of everything Thai…. oh, sorry, someone already told you that you know nothing and are very, very rude. But, like your critic, you need to develop a more sycophantic approach to the monarchy to really understand.
But to be serious: the monarchy’s brand has been seriously damaged by its active involvement in the coup. You are right. But why are “some” calling for the king’s intervention? It is because the brand still does have some credibility for them. So why doesn’t he do anything. Who knows? Maybe he is, but behind the scenes. Or maybe he is just waiting, with his advisers (Anupong saw Prem a couple of days ago), for a time when the outcome is clear and he can come in to be seen as a saviour again. That’s the way he usually does it: waits until he knows he can come out looking good.
A new installment in the arrogant new Farang literary genre “Giving advice to the King.” With not-so-subtle little put downs like a “royal brand” as if it is something bought in Big-C and projecting your own concerns onto the institution with the rhetorical: Why no..? Why…no? Why…no? For an anthropologist you certainly seem clueless about local standards in dealing with this institution or perhaps you are just rudely flouting non-conformance to them?
It may be too late but let’s hope for the best. A few minutes’ TV appearance calling for peace is worth doing. As of writing this posting at 6 pm local time, reports of coups and tanks begin to appear in local weblogs and community radio stations, including the one belonging to the taxi drivers. (attacked by PAD goons a few days ago). Let us hope that this time democratic-minded people in this country are not alone. The international community is watching the unfolding events and ready to condemn any illegal military take-over (what about imposing diplomatic sanctions to the new junta? — not recognizing their new caretaker govt)
At the same time, the Red Shirts are ready and maverick military officers are also ready to respond to the coup.
Ralph Kramden: “…the Bangkok Post’s insipid editorial… It is a travesty for they cannot bring themselves to condemn PAD’s methods and agenda….”
The Bangkok Post is a newspaper not a direct connect to Ralph Kramden’s highly opinionated little mind.
It presents a full spectrum of opinions rather than being rude to someone under an assumed name, taking potshots, and claiming that its opinion is the only one around. As for obsessing over who hit who at a protest or whether my punctuation and spelling is correct, bon appetite. Have fun.
Unlike Kramden I openly admit when I don’t know about something. But that Thaksin and his red shirts will lose in the end is one thing I am fairly sure about.
The question is, I guess, not anymore whether the monarchy should get involved or not. With all the symbolism and refereces, this issue is already deceided and probably the reason why criminals involved in acts of endangering international air transport are not made liable. I’am amazed that a small group like the yellow-shirts can terroize a whole city. I’am amazed that such groups seem to have complete immunity. It was explained to me by commoners that they obviously have support from somewhere high up. This reference should probably be understood in the way that Maha-Chamlong or, rather Maha-Osama bin Srimuang has reached such high stages of meditation that he actually does find support from immortals.
I guess, another story from the amazing land of smiles will probably be that nobody will be made liable for the whole mess created. As long as this is the case, of course yellow-shirts can further enjoy their immunity.
Another amazing issue: Being stranded in Bangkok, I read in the Nation that Chamlong has declared the yellow-shirts will not obey Ahisom (non-violent resistance) anymore. I understand that for them having guns, bombs, running around with steal-pipes etc. is part of non-violence, which is quite amazing. When I saw the yellows approaching, I feared for my life. The nice pictures of yellows giving coffee and rice with pork to hostages do not modify this image.
After these encounters with the yellows, I was amazed to call them “middle class” . Probably this is because they have a car to park on the highway. They are nothing else then a bunch of petty bourgoisie who get the feeling of being someone important when running around with their weapons scaring people.
One of the finer posts on your blog during this year’s crisis.
I doubt the message will be for the PAD to stand down. If anything, the message will be for the government to resign or for new elections. The big question mark will be whether Somchai will actually comply.
As a lifelong career civil servant, I’d certainly think he’d follow orders instinctively. Heck, even Thaksin followed orders when he went on TV after his royal audience and announced his “vacation” – just one day after joyfully announcing the TRT’s April ’06 election victory on TV.
If Somchai does comply, he leaves himself open to getting judicially blindsided, like in ’06. But a judicial coup would still be better than a military one.
Perhaps one reason the King has not intervened so far is his possible bad health – a reason many Thais have independently suggested to me. If so the current demonstrations are more about propping up his successor than anything else.
The tourists at the airport are already hostages. I was supposed to fly home tonight so I am being held hostage as well. To whom should I send the hotel bill for all of the extra days I am stuck here?
Fortunately, the BBC’s Jonathan Head has bucked the trend (to his detriment), and provides some thoughtful analysis on the situation.
We should therefore be extremely grateful to the good folk blogging the crisis, especially New Mandala and Bangkok Pundit which are both essential sources of up-to-the-minute news.
Copies of “Guerrillas: Journeys In the Insurgent World” is available on Amazon.com for one cent, plus shipping.
There are alot of stories about the Japanese guy floating around. After hearing and / or reading several of them I’m beginning to suspect that there just may be more than one person.
Over the years he has attained mythic status, and it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. But along the Thai / Burma border, where there are all sorts of Walter Mitty’s and wannabees, he actually delivered the goods.
Excellent points, indeed, devastating. I have found reporting in major American outlets committing serial crimes of omission in their respective coverage of the crisis, invariably oversimplified and/or deceptively slanted for successfully critical comprehension of the under informed reader. the lead photos of PAD protesters never show violence, just a bunch of middle-aged yellow-clad ladies in various states of transfixed ecstasy.
which begs the question that you raised… who are these international journalists and photojournalists that have established themselves as the monopoly purveyors of all news Thai?
Isn’t it more than likely that they have, by necessity, established mutually beneficial relationships with necessary poo yai’s to advance their careers and ensure their indulgence and comfort in a foreign land.
particulary for the largest international publications, a genuine lack of competition for such ‘exotic’ fare as a southeast asian silent coup does not leave time for the elaboration of the intricacies and implications of the very real abandonent of the rule of law that feeds the terroristic insurgency with the very real intent on destroying the Thai democratic process once and for all.
Journalistic isolation does not breed journalistic integrity.
journalistic independence, coupled with personal codependence on well-connected locals might broaden and deepen the scope of investigative freedom, but it also leaves the door open for unfettered bias to promote the agendas of those you rely on.
this will be a problem until the string get tautened for a prolonged repartee of court puppetry and ethnic persecution, leaving the military censors to regain control of the ‘facts’ that they choose to acknowledge or fabricate to be spit back out by a less abashedly toadying journalists. competition will resume furiously, seeing that there will be only one authorized news source.
i can just see Sonthi pining enviously for a life atop the Burmese kleptocracy.
Which begs the question as to how you can analyse a debate in which almost anything meaningful she at ABC could say is off-bounds if ABC wants to continue operating in Thailand
marranara:
The frizzy hair and frazzled manner suggest that it was Kavi _ sort of frantic but actually a reasonable guy, and currently sidelined. He also used to go out and give talks frequently. He’s a pretty sincere and thoughtful guy. The evil Thanong has a blog, you can see his picture there
it sound like jon fernquest doesn’t respond to direct intellectual inquiry because he is in a sentimentally genocidal state of denial that has reached new heights in the face of incontrovertible visual, aural, and testimonial evidence of the insidious viciousness that is fanning out to challenge the state and destroy the Thai economy and international standing. the Sonthi sanitary wipes have not only clogged his ears, but seeped in his brain. unfortunately, he is only one of many (not multitudes) that have undergone the same lock-step moral and intellectual devolution. tragically, this downwardly spiralling movement has a near-monopoly on thai media outlets and the shadowy apparatus that delegares the operation of state security forces.
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Too late for royal intervention?
jf-
>…For an anthropologist you certainly seem clueless about local standards…blah blah blah..”
Um, pardon, where did you get the idea that blogs should be objective (you’ve indicated that before) and subservient to prevailing social norms?
I always thought the general idea is that they provide diversity and a tinge of subversiveness.
Are you complaining that the NM guys are academics and hence should not wear their hearts on their sleeves?
I’d just say that the best teacher I ever studied with, and many people feel the same way, was the late George Kahin, who wore his politics proudly, helped lead the first teach-ins against the Vietnam War and was ultimately, in my opinion, the most important figure in making Southeast Asian studies a dynamic and critical field, and educating, directly and by inheritance, several generations of top scholars.
So, what exactly was your point?
Coup or crackdown?
Seeing where there hasn’t been a coup up until now I will guess for crackdown. BBC is reporting ambulances lined up at the airport for possible casualties.
PAD back to form
jonfernquest: the reference to the Bangkok Post was to a particular editorial, and editorials do not tend to be “a full spectrum of opinions” – newspapers have editorials to allow editors to express their opinions and to take strong, moral or other positions. And, because of that, most editorial writers expect to be criticised and debated. Maybe you have forgotten the that the press both reports and editorialises.
Not sure where I was worried about who hit who, but I do find it difficult to disagree with amberwaves at #7, where s/he seems to sum things up nicely.
Too late for royal intervention?
Your comments on the king and his political role show a complete lack of understanding of everything Thai…. oh, sorry, someone already told you that you know nothing and are very, very rude. But, like your critic, you need to develop a more sycophantic approach to the monarchy to really understand.
But to be serious: the monarchy’s brand has been seriously damaged by its active involvement in the coup. You are right. But why are “some” calling for the king’s intervention? It is because the brand still does have some credibility for them. So why doesn’t he do anything. Who knows? Maybe he is, but behind the scenes. Or maybe he is just waiting, with his advisers (Anupong saw Prem a couple of days ago), for a time when the outcome is clear and he can come in to be seen as a saviour again. That’s the way he usually does it: waits until he knows he can come out looking good.
Too late for royal intervention?
Congratulations! Yet another first.
A new installment in the arrogant new Farang literary genre “Giving advice to the King.” With not-so-subtle little put downs like a “royal brand” as if it is something bought in Big-C and projecting your own concerns onto the institution with the rhetorical: Why no..? Why…no? Why…no? For an anthropologist you certainly seem clueless about local standards in dealing with this institution or perhaps you are just rudely flouting non-conformance to them?
Too late for royal intervention?
It may be too late but let’s hope for the best. A few minutes’ TV appearance calling for peace is worth doing. As of writing this posting at 6 pm local time, reports of coups and tanks begin to appear in local weblogs and community radio stations, including the one belonging to the taxi drivers. (attacked by PAD goons a few days ago). Let us hope that this time democratic-minded people in this country are not alone. The international community is watching the unfolding events and ready to condemn any illegal military take-over (what about imposing diplomatic sanctions to the new junta? — not recognizing their new caretaker govt)
At the same time, the Red Shirts are ready and maverick military officers are also ready to respond to the coup.
PAD back to form
Ralph Kramden: “…the Bangkok Post’s insipid editorial… It is a travesty for they cannot bring themselves to condemn PAD’s methods and agenda….”
The Bangkok Post is a newspaper not a direct connect to Ralph Kramden’s highly opinionated little mind.
It presents a full spectrum of opinions rather than being rude to someone under an assumed name, taking potshots, and claiming that its opinion is the only one around. As for obsessing over who hit who at a protest or whether my punctuation and spelling is correct, bon appetite. Have fun.
Unlike Kramden I openly admit when I don’t know about something. But that Thaksin and his red shirts will lose in the end is one thing I am fairly sure about.
Too late for royal intervention?
The question is, I guess, not anymore whether the monarchy should get involved or not. With all the symbolism and refereces, this issue is already deceided and probably the reason why criminals involved in acts of endangering international air transport are not made liable. I’am amazed that a small group like the yellow-shirts can terroize a whole city. I’am amazed that such groups seem to have complete immunity. It was explained to me by commoners that they obviously have support from somewhere high up. This reference should probably be understood in the way that Maha-Chamlong or, rather Maha-Osama bin Srimuang has reached such high stages of meditation that he actually does find support from immortals.
I guess, another story from the amazing land of smiles will probably be that nobody will be made liable for the whole mess created. As long as this is the case, of course yellow-shirts can further enjoy their immunity.
Another amazing issue: Being stranded in Bangkok, I read in the Nation that Chamlong has declared the yellow-shirts will not obey Ahisom (non-violent resistance) anymore. I understand that for them having guns, bombs, running around with steal-pipes etc. is part of non-violence, which is quite amazing. When I saw the yellows approaching, I feared for my life. The nice pictures of yellows giving coffee and rice with pork to hostages do not modify this image.
After these encounters with the yellows, I was amazed to call them “middle class” . Probably this is because they have a car to park on the highway. They are nothing else then a bunch of petty bourgoisie who get the feeling of being someone important when running around with their weapons scaring people.
Too late for royal intervention?
One of the finer posts on your blog during this year’s crisis.
I doubt the message will be for the PAD to stand down. If anything, the message will be for the government to resign or for new elections. The big question mark will be whether Somchai will actually comply.
As a lifelong career civil servant, I’d certainly think he’d follow orders instinctively. Heck, even Thaksin followed orders when he went on TV after his royal audience and announced his “vacation” – just one day after joyfully announcing the TRT’s April ’06 election victory on TV.
If Somchai does comply, he leaves himself open to getting judicially blindsided, like in ’06. But a judicial coup would still be better than a military one.
Interview with Professor Kevin Hewison – Part One
Very good site, greate content !!,
Too late for royal intervention?
Perhaps one reason the King has not intervened so far is his possible bad health – a reason many Thais have independently suggested to me. If so the current demonstrations are more about propping up his successor than anything else.
Too late for royal intervention?
The tourists at the airport are already hostages. I was supposed to fly home tonight so I am being held hostage as well. To whom should I send the hotel bill for all of the extra days I am stuck here?
“The upper classes are revolting…”
Fortunately, the BBC’s Jonathan Head has bucked the trend (to his detriment), and provides some thoughtful analysis on the situation.
We should therefore be extremely grateful to the good folk blogging the crisis, especially New Mandala and Bangkok Pundit which are both essential sources of up-to-the-minute news.
Volunteering to fight in Burma
Copies of “Guerrillas: Journeys In the Insurgent World” is available on Amazon.com for one cent, plus shipping.
There are alot of stories about the Japanese guy floating around. After hearing and / or reading several of them I’m beginning to suspect that there just may be more than one person.
Over the years he has attained mythic status, and it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. But along the Thai / Burma border, where there are all sorts of Walter Mitty’s and wannabees, he actually delivered the goods.
“The upper classes are revolting…”
Dorm, Tony, and Ralph-
Excellent points, indeed, devastating. I have found reporting in major American outlets committing serial crimes of omission in their respective coverage of the crisis, invariably oversimplified and/or deceptively slanted for successfully critical comprehension of the under informed reader. the lead photos of PAD protesters never show violence, just a bunch of middle-aged yellow-clad ladies in various states of transfixed ecstasy.
which begs the question that you raised… who are these international journalists and photojournalists that have established themselves as the monopoly purveyors of all news Thai?
Isn’t it more than likely that they have, by necessity, established mutually beneficial relationships with necessary poo yai’s to advance their careers and ensure their indulgence and comfort in a foreign land.
particulary for the largest international publications, a genuine lack of competition for such ‘exotic’ fare as a southeast asian silent coup does not leave time for the elaboration of the intricacies and implications of the very real abandonent of the rule of law that feeds the terroristic insurgency with the very real intent on destroying the Thai democratic process once and for all.
Journalistic isolation does not breed journalistic integrity.
journalistic independence, coupled with personal codependence on well-connected locals might broaden and deepen the scope of investigative freedom, but it also leaves the door open for unfettered bias to promote the agendas of those you rely on.
this will be a problem until the string get tautened for a prolonged repartee of court puppetry and ethnic persecution, leaving the military censors to regain control of the ‘facts’ that they choose to acknowledge or fabricate to be spit back out by a less abashedly toadying journalists. competition will resume furiously, seeing that there will be only one authorized news source.
i can just see Sonthi pining enviously for a life atop the Burmese kleptocracy.
“The upper classes are revolting…”
Which begs the question as to how you can analyse a debate in which almost anything meaningful she at ABC could say is off-bounds if ABC wants to continue operating in Thailand
Too late for royal intervention?
good post, good comments
thanks… I am in Thailand so cant comment anymore
Thanong’s perspective on the future
marranara:
The frizzy hair and frazzled manner suggest that it was Kavi _ sort of frantic but actually a reasonable guy, and currently sidelined. He also used to go out and give talks frequently. He’s a pretty sincere and thoughtful guy. The evil Thanong has a blog, you can see his picture there
Too late for royal intervention?
The King ought to denounce the PAD and support the PPP. That way PADs cause would die and allow PPP to govern until the next election.
PAD back to form
it sound like jon fernquest doesn’t respond to direct intellectual inquiry because he is in a sentimentally genocidal state of denial that has reached new heights in the face of incontrovertible visual, aural, and testimonial evidence of the insidious viciousness that is fanning out to challenge the state and destroy the Thai economy and international standing. the Sonthi sanitary wipes have not only clogged his ears, but seeped in his brain. unfortunately, he is only one of many (not multitudes) that have undergone the same lock-step moral and intellectual devolution. tragically, this downwardly spiralling movement has a near-monopoly on thai media outlets and the shadowy apparatus that delegares the operation of state security forces.