“Until this changes the west will probably continue to have a monopoly on excellence in scholarship, necessitating expensive western education for the top echelon in any field, which effectively shuts it off to ambitious & hardworking poor and middle class people.”
The 1990 novel called The Bangkok Secret by British author Anthony Grey has some interesting takes on the death of King Ananda Mahidol. How much is fiction, and how much is fact ? I’d be interested to know if this book – published by Macmillan – is currently banned in Thailand.
Equally surprising about new military police powers is readership aversion to reading about them, at least among one demographic/audience.
Yesterday, this was the most newsworthy story and placed first on Bangkok Post website, so I included it in our 2-man Learning section (that gets 4 million page views a year) and only 300 people read the article versus a normal 1000+. Furthermore, its mere inclusion depresses readership of the other articles. This effect being quite common with “political articles”. I personally think it indicates that some people simply do not want to know about or be informed about some things (willful ignorance). Sort of the same resistance to learning that teachers encounter among students that must be overcome with various forms of carrot & stick motivation, but journalists are not teachers and paying readership ultimately dictates what they write about and include in the news. What is even more worrying is that people do not see and/or deny the connection between advancement of knowledge in general & economic advancement, advocating narrow mechanical skills from education over generalized critical and thinking skills (e.g. Duterte & Bong Bong Marcos campaigns in ongoing Philippines election). Until this changes the west will probably continue to have a monopoly on excellence in scholarship, necessitating expensive western education for the top echelon in any field, which effectively shuts it off to ambitious & hardworking poor and middle class people. So universities like ANU should take it as their duty to educate them online for free with MOOCs. That would be a revolutionary accomplishment.
How can the vast majority of 100 million Filipinos forget, if they never knew in the first place what the author claims they have forgotten?
If every schoolkid in the country was taught from the seminal texts of Philippine history by scholars on the author’s Philippine politics syllabus, namely Abinales, McCoy, Kerkvliet, Hedman & Sidel, they would then know how their country works, for the first time:
1. State and Society in the Philippines (State and Society in East Asia) Patricio N. Abinales, Donna J. Amoroso
2. Philippine Politics and Society in the Twentieth Century: Colonial Legacies, Post-Colonial Trajectories (Politics in Asia) Hedman & Sidel.
3. McCoy, Alfred. 1994. An Anarchy of Families: State and Family in the Philippines.
4. Everyday Politics in the Philippines: Class and Status Relations in a Central Luzon Village, Kerkvliet
Sir, if I may add on your first claim regarding voting behaviour, I think one of the causes of this historical revisionism is the attitude of Filipinos to rely on anecdotes instead of historical and/or cold economic data. I think it can be attributed to our culture highly leaning to oral tradition.
Chin hill rat infestation which also happened in Kachin is a sort of natural phenomenon seen all over the world including the United States and although related is not so much symptomatic of the poor state of hygiene.
I do not agree with the views shared here. To me its bit reverse. Actually the people where started way back from 2nd world war and then the story turned around. moreover the people from myenmar causing lots of problem in Bangladesh. To know the real fact u have to know the all the stories from 2nd WW to 1990 where the problem started to open up.
The Battle of Surabaya was in no way the source of today’s ‘defiant Indonesian nationalism’. The Indonesian nationalist awakening early in the twentieth century, perhaps beginning with Budi Utomo’s emergence in 1908, was the source, Indonesians would suggest earlier sources.
I don’t think that Bung Tomo, who was a charismatic and spell-binding figure as late as 1971 when I met him, would have claimed what Mr Graham, who may not have met him, has claimed in his post.
One acknowledges the need for two old friends to praise each other’s work, but let’s not pretend that this advances our understanding of Indonesian nationalism.
I must emphasize that I have read the comments posted here with much interest. As a former resident of Thailand and a long time observer of Thai politics, I must say that most if not all the comments made here were right on target. I especially liked Eric Catullus’s comment of the clown Gen. Prayuth Chanocha. He hit the “bull’s eye” on that one. I also felt that R. N. England’s and jim T’s comments were right on as well.
Thailand is fast turning into what Myanmar was and what North Korea is, as repressions, threats, disappearances, intimidation, harassments, “lese majeste” being used as a political weapon against red shirts and academics and anyone who has the guts to speak out against the junta, and Article 44, which gives Gen. Prayuth unprecedented powers to do whatever he wants. It is sad to see Thailand, what was once a beacon of freedom and full of possibilities is turning into a bad dream.
The elites, the royalists, Sino-Thai tycoons and their families that control most of the large businesses in Thailand and the corrupt military generals, are destroying Thailand from which it will be hard to recover from.
Millions of hard working Thais have seen their aspirations turn into despair as they work harder but fall behind economically, as the economy is in shambles and foreign investment is drying up fast. The majority of Thais have been suppressed, subjugated, threatened, taken advantage of, lied to, deceived and it is only a matter of time before this “dynamite keg erupts.”
Once the king passes, which is any day now, as he lies in comatose condition, this illegitimate junta will make sure that the Crown Prince succeeds to the throne, then there will be a period of mourning and after that, all hell will break loose.
My hope is that a counter coup will take place and bring back some sanity and level the playing field in some way form or another. Yes, sadly, a lot of Thai blood will be shed and the masses will unite to revolt, but my hope is that the right people will rise up steer Thailand back on the “right path.” I don’t see it happening, but that is my hope.
For too long, the majority of Thais have suffered and it is just a matter of time before they unleash their anger, rage at the status quo that has continued for decades and has held Thailand back from becoming a better society overall.
It is travesty that millions of hard working Thais live on a few dollars a day and are falling behind economically, as the Thai elites, royalists, and military generals, not to mention the Sino-Thai tycoons and their families prosper beyond measure. ‘
The Thai Royal Family has been sucking the country dry, as the amount of resources and financial budget (which is classified by the Thai govt.) seems to grow by leaps and bounds every few years. More and more money is being spent each year for the upkeep and maintenance of the Thai royal family and it’s many palaces. They are living so extravagantly and in luxury that most Thais have never seen or ever experienced in their lives.
It is a shame that so much was spent on this toilet and it was not even used. She insisted on a new toilet be made specially for her during her short visit to Cambodia as she did not trust the toilets there to be clean and out of fear and concern for diseases, since Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world and a neighboring country of Thailand.
I am glad that this waste of money was brought to light so that everyone can see that this is not an “angel” princess as the Thais call her. The massive PR machine that operates to showcase the Thai Royal Family as benevolent, philanthropic, compassionate is all a show. They live in absolute luxury while the majority of Thais are very poor and work al day to eke out a living. Most Thais are well aware of the wasteful spending of the royal family and do not love them nor respect them anymore. They see, they hear, they observe and they know the truth, and they talk about it in their homes, as they fear the lese majeste law in Thailand. They have to bow down and worship these royals like ‘gods.” One day soon in the near future, the whole truth will come out and Thais will no longer hold back from what they have been suppressed for so long.
I am appalled at what has been transpiring in Thailand since this latest illegitimate coup by the Thai generals that overthrew a democratically elected govt. Yes, I do know that the Yingluck govt. was not a perfect govt. and had many issues plaguing it. And I am not a fan of Thaksin either. I am all for the truth and am for the millions of hard working Thais who are falling behind economically and are being subjugated and suppressed by the elites, royalists, and military–the real powers that be in Thailand.
It am saddened but not suprised by what has happened to Prof. Pavin’s family. They tried to get to Prof. Pavin but could not touch him since he works and lives abroad. So they send their cronies and hoodlums to disrupt his speech. They want to scare him into silence. They will use whatever means necessary to get their way. And what better way than to go after Prof. Pavin’s family in Bangkok. They think they can silence him by harassing and intimidating and threatening his family.
It is a travesty that most Thais have succumbed to fear and intimidation and most don’t want to rock the boat, as long as it does not affect them. Where are the Mandela’s, the Gandhis’, the Martin Luther King Jr.s, in Thailand??
I am glad that Prof. Pavin has not succumbed to this illegitimate’s junta’s threats, harassment and intimidations. What they have done to him, by trumped up charges against him, but taking away his Thai passport is deplorable. We all need to stand up to support him by shedding light on all that Gen. Prayuth’s brutal regime is doing. Thousands of Thais–academics, reporters, govt. officials, businessmen, red shirts, have fled Thailand and moved overseas. Thailand is fast becoming like Myanmar in the past decade, like North Korea.
It is a “dynamite keg waiting to erupt” as the genie is out of the bottle and the millions of hard working Thais know the truth now and will not let the status quo that has ruled Thailand for decades continue. It is only a matter of time before the whole thing erupts and Thais will take to the streets to revolt against this repressive, illegitimate, military generals, who are thugs and are doing everything they know to suppress the Thai people.
It is time that people all over the world know what’s going on in present day Thailand. It is time that foreign governments start pressuring the Thai junta to back off from Prof. Pavin’s family and many others like him who have been compelled to flee Thailand since the May 22, 2014 coup. Thailand’s survival depends on exports and trade with many western countries and the US and EU and Australia can and need to put more pressure on this illegitimate Prayuth’s govt. And when their livelihoods will be threatened, when trade dwindles down to a trickle, then they will wake up and agree to back down. Otherwise it will be business as usual and they will continue to perpetrate their lives, coverups and facade.
I wholeheartedly agree with the premise of your article about the real concern of safety in Thailand. I have lived in Bangkok for two decades and travelled extensively all over Thailand in the 1970s, 80s and when I compare it to the past several years, a whole lot has changed in terms of safety of tourists in Thailand. The article does articulate clearly the cause for concern when it comes to the safety of tourists.
Any one who has lvied in Thailand travelled extensively can attest to the fact that it is no longer safe to travel in Thailand. Yes, some parts are fine but as time passes, it is becoming more and more dangerous for unsuspecting tourists, who are not prepared for what they will encounter when they visit Thailand.
The TAT has done a good job in promoting and showcasing Thailand as a lovely destination but have never acknowledged the truth of safety matters and the cause for concerns that have compounded and will continue to grow, until it becomes a matter of national security. The Thais are middle of the roaders and don’t want to rock the boat. They will go with the status quo and won’t do a thing until and unless their livelihoods are threatened.
In my recent trip to Thailand, it has served to remind me that it is no longer the safe destination it used to be. So many tourists have been robbed, killed, duped, threatened, scammed, swindled, ripped off, beaten up, than ever before. Many of it is not reported for fear of giving the country a bad image. The number of mafia gangs operating at most tourist resorts like Pattaya Beach, Koh Samui, Phuket and other places, are well known because they have the protection of the powers that be. It has become a very corrupt nation to the core. It is all about the Almighty Dollar.
It used to be known as the “Land of Smiles.” But behind the smile you better watch out. For me, it is no longer a safe destination, no longer a place I want to visit. The old generation of Thais were welcoming, hospitable, caring and kind people, wherever I went. In this day and age, it is all about what they can get out of you. They know you are a foreigner and will try to take advantage of you. Be it the taxi driver who will try to rip you off, be it the hotel where you stay will overcharge you, be it the restaurant or bar that you have a drink at. I don’t say this because I have something against the Thais. I say it from personal experience and my assessments in dealing with Thais during my extended visits.
So many foreigners who have moved to Thailand, have been duped by their Thai wives. Many were naive, and ignorant of the Thai character and were seduced into believing that they could retire comfortably. It did not take long for them to realize that it is not what they thought or had hoped it would be. Many have been swindled, duped, beaten up, threatened and have lost everything, have been forced to leave and go back to their country. No one has an accurate estimate of the number of crimes perpetrated against tourists. But it is becoming more and more common weekly, when you read about it in the Bangkok Post.
Nothing will change and it will only get worse as time passes. The Thai officials will give “lip service” and try to show that they are doing something, but not much will be done, as it brings money into their coffers. They know what’s going on, but turn a blind eye as long as they (the Thai police) get a piece of the action, a piece of the spoils, loot. It has always been this way and I don’t see it changing unless they get serious about tackling the many safety issues and concerns of foreign tourists.
Christine, Thailand can be compared to a “dynamite keg waiting to erupt” as behind the scenes maneuvering that is taking place to ensure that the Crown Prince becomes the next king of Thailand.
This military regime of Gen. Prayuth Chanocha is cleaning house and rooting out most of Thaksin’s supporters and henchmen in the police and govt. They have gone after the red shirts, Thaksin’s avid supporters and are making sure in the new constitution that Thaksin’s political machine never gains power again.
Thaksin is a lost cause now and the military junta is doing all it can to make sure he never makes a comeback again. They are leaving no stone unturned to make sure that Thaksin never comes back to Thailand or that his supporters will ever be able to form another govt. again even when the next elections take place, if they do take place at all. Thailand has gone back decades in many ways and is soon becoming like Myanmar and North Korea. Many forms of repression are taking place at the present time, with the military junta in power. They will not go back to the barracks now and are being entrenched in all spheres of Thai politics. Already thousands of govt. officials, academics, businessmen, have fled and left the country and sought asylum and residency overseas. The many coups that have taken place in Thai history has never allowed democracy to take root and grow in Thailand. It has become corrupt to the core and I am glad I am not living in Thailand anymore. I grew up in Bangkok and have carefully followed all that has transpired in Thailand. It breaks my heart to see the generals destroy the country while the line their own pockets and use the power of the guns to seize power and overthrow an elected govt. I am not a fan of Thaksin but what I see taking place frightens me and does not bode well for the millions of ordinary hard working Thais who are falling behind economically and getting desperate.
It is best for Thaksin, if he wants to be alive, to not dare come back to Thailand again as he has numerous enemies. He knows that very well and therefore has come to terms with the fact that he is better of and safe staying out of Thailand. His main concern has been for his family and businesses and he will make a deal with the generals to let them leave the country and go into exile like he has. Thaksin is a true businessman and looks out only for his and his family’s best interest.
The Crown Prince has realized a while back that Thaksin is no longer part of the equation and has already made a deal with the generals and tossed his hat in with them. He knows that he needs the military to survive and succeed to the throne and they have clipped his wings as is evident in the purging of his cronies in recent mpnths, mysterious disappearances and deaths in custody of his bodyguard and aides.
Sad to say, but the majority of Thais can no longer be fooled into subjugation by the elites, royalists and military. It is a matter of time before they say enough is enough and stand up to confront the status quo that has been enriching themselves at the expense of the majority of ordinary Thais. They know the truth and they will not be fooled anymore, even with Article 144 by the present junta, to suppress dissent and any form of opposition forming.
My fear is that more Thai blood will be shed due to revolt, as millions of Thais are working harder than ever and yet seeing themselves getting poorer and poorer and falling behind economically. The status quo cannot go on like this any longer. Once the Thai king passes, there will be a time of mourning and the new king succeeds to the throne. Then it will be an all out revolt against the status quo.
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It takes a nation to raise a dictator’s son
Which prompts the question: Is there any democracy in ASEAN that is functional?
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
In fact, Bangkok Secret has never been banned and is readily available secondhand. Great read!
Suppose it hasn’t come to their notice yet!
Alice in Juntaland and autocracy in Thailand
“Until this changes the west will probably continue to have a monopoly on excellence in scholarship, necessitating expensive western education for the top echelon in any field, which effectively shuts it off to ambitious & hardworking poor and middle class people.”
Indeed.
The Devil’s Discus – in Thai
The 1990 novel called The Bangkok Secret by British author Anthony Grey has some interesting takes on the death of King Ananda Mahidol. How much is fiction, and how much is fact ? I’d be interested to know if this book – published by Macmillan – is currently banned in Thailand.
Alice in Juntaland and autocracy in Thailand
Equally surprising about new military police powers is readership aversion to reading about them, at least among one demographic/audience.
Yesterday, this was the most newsworthy story and placed first on Bangkok Post website, so I included it in our 2-man Learning section (that gets 4 million page views a year) and only 300 people read the article versus a normal 1000+. Furthermore, its mere inclusion depresses readership of the other articles. This effect being quite common with “political articles”. I personally think it indicates that some people simply do not want to know about or be informed about some things (willful ignorance). Sort of the same resistance to learning that teachers encounter among students that must be overcome with various forms of carrot & stick motivation, but journalists are not teachers and paying readership ultimately dictates what they write about and include in the news. What is even more worrying is that people do not see and/or deny the connection between advancement of knowledge in general & economic advancement, advocating narrow mechanical skills from education over generalized critical and thinking skills (e.g. Duterte & Bong Bong Marcos campaigns in ongoing Philippines election). Until this changes the west will probably continue to have a monopoly on excellence in scholarship, necessitating expensive western education for the top echelon in any field, which effectively shuts it off to ambitious & hardworking poor and middle class people. So universities like ANU should take it as their duty to educate them online for free with MOOCs. That would be a revolutionary accomplishment.
The rats of Rangoon
Who you gonna call? The Pied Piper of Hamelin?
The rats of Rangoon
Tit for tat.
http://www.bobinoz.com/blog/14778/a-plague-of-rats-and-mice-in-australia/
https://www.sundaypost.com/news/uk-news/invasion-of-the-giant-rats/
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/559792/Mutant-rats-big-as-cats-found-British-homes-farms
Myanmar’s Hluttaw makes history
A day of mixed emotions says a young journalist who was only ten years old in 1988.
It takes a nation to raise a dictator’s son
How can the vast majority of 100 million Filipinos forget, if they never knew in the first place what the author claims they have forgotten?
If every schoolkid in the country was taught from the seminal texts of Philippine history by scholars on the author’s Philippine politics syllabus, namely Abinales, McCoy, Kerkvliet, Hedman & Sidel, they would then know how their country works, for the first time:
1. State and Society in the Philippines (State and Society in East Asia) Patricio N. Abinales, Donna J. Amoroso
2. Philippine Politics and Society in the Twentieth Century: Colonial Legacies, Post-Colonial Trajectories (Politics in Asia) Hedman & Sidel.
3. McCoy, Alfred. 1994. An Anarchy of Families: State and Family in the Philippines.
4. Everyday Politics in the Philippines: Class and Status Relations in a Central Luzon Village, Kerkvliet
It takes a nation to raise a dictator’s son
Sir, if I may add on your first claim regarding voting behaviour, I think one of the causes of this historical revisionism is the attitude of Filipinos to rely on anecdotes instead of historical and/or cold economic data. I think it can be attributed to our culture highly leaning to oral tradition.
The rats of Rangoon
Chin hill rat infestation which also happened in Kachin is a sort of natural phenomenon seen all over the world including the United States and although related is not so much symptomatic of the poor state of hygiene.
General abhorrence of cockroaches is though strategically used metaphorically for subversive purposes. E.g To depict the Tutsi by Hutu (http://tharcissemukama.weebly.com/hutu-power-radio.html) or by successive Israeli politicians for the Palestinians. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/eamonn-mccann/the-deeplying-racism-fuelling-the-israeli-onslaught-30433885.html
It appears all of God’s creations have their own use.
Making Rohingya statelessness
I do not agree with the views shared here. To me its bit reverse. Actually the people where started way back from 2nd world war and then the story turned around. moreover the people from myenmar causing lots of problem in Bangladesh. To know the real fact u have to know the all the stories from 2nd WW to 1990 where the problem started to open up.
The days when boys became men
The Battle of Surabaya was in no way the source of today’s ‘defiant Indonesian nationalism’. The Indonesian nationalist awakening early in the twentieth century, perhaps beginning with Budi Utomo’s emergence in 1908, was the source, Indonesians would suggest earlier sources.
I don’t think that Bung Tomo, who was a charismatic and spell-binding figure as late as 1971 when I met him, would have claimed what Mr Graham, who may not have met him, has claimed in his post.
One acknowledges the need for two old friends to praise each other’s work, but let’s not pretend that this advances our understanding of Indonesian nationalism.
The trouble with Thailand’s new democracy
I must emphasize that I have read the comments posted here with much interest. As a former resident of Thailand and a long time observer of Thai politics, I must say that most if not all the comments made here were right on target. I especially liked Eric Catullus’s comment of the clown Gen. Prayuth Chanocha. He hit the “bull’s eye” on that one. I also felt that R. N. England’s and jim T’s comments were right on as well.
Thailand is fast turning into what Myanmar was and what North Korea is, as repressions, threats, disappearances, intimidation, harassments, “lese majeste” being used as a political weapon against red shirts and academics and anyone who has the guts to speak out against the junta, and Article 44, which gives Gen. Prayuth unprecedented powers to do whatever he wants. It is sad to see Thailand, what was once a beacon of freedom and full of possibilities is turning into a bad dream.
The elites, the royalists, Sino-Thai tycoons and their families that control most of the large businesses in Thailand and the corrupt military generals, are destroying Thailand from which it will be hard to recover from.
Millions of hard working Thais have seen their aspirations turn into despair as they work harder but fall behind economically, as the economy is in shambles and foreign investment is drying up fast. The majority of Thais have been suppressed, subjugated, threatened, taken advantage of, lied to, deceived and it is only a matter of time before this “dynamite keg erupts.”
Once the king passes, which is any day now, as he lies in comatose condition, this illegitimate junta will make sure that the Crown Prince succeeds to the throne, then there will be a period of mourning and after that, all hell will break loose.
My hope is that a counter coup will take place and bring back some sanity and level the playing field in some way form or another. Yes, sadly, a lot of Thai blood will be shed and the masses will unite to revolt, but my hope is that the right people will rise up steer Thailand back on the “right path.” I don’t see it happening, but that is my hope.
For too long, the majority of Thais have suffered and it is just a matter of time before they unleash their anger, rage at the status quo that has continued for decades and has held Thailand back from becoming a better society overall.
The Thai princess and her loo by the lake
It is travesty that millions of hard working Thais live on a few dollars a day and are falling behind economically, as the Thai elites, royalists, and military generals, not to mention the Sino-Thai tycoons and their families prosper beyond measure. ‘
The Thai Royal Family has been sucking the country dry, as the amount of resources and financial budget (which is classified by the Thai govt.) seems to grow by leaps and bounds every few years. More and more money is being spent each year for the upkeep and maintenance of the Thai royal family and it’s many palaces. They are living so extravagantly and in luxury that most Thais have never seen or ever experienced in their lives.
It is a shame that so much was spent on this toilet and it was not even used. She insisted on a new toilet be made specially for her during her short visit to Cambodia as she did not trust the toilets there to be clean and out of fear and concern for diseases, since Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world and a neighboring country of Thailand.
I am glad that this waste of money was brought to light so that everyone can see that this is not an “angel” princess as the Thais call her. The massive PR machine that operates to showcase the Thai Royal Family as benevolent, philanthropic, compassionate is all a show. They live in absolute luxury while the majority of Thais are very poor and work al day to eke out a living. Most Thais are well aware of the wasteful spending of the royal family and do not love them nor respect them anymore. They see, they hear, they observe and they know the truth, and they talk about it in their homes, as they fear the lese majeste law in Thailand. They have to bow down and worship these royals like ‘gods.” One day soon in the near future, the whole truth will come out and Thais will no longer hold back from what they have been suppressed for so long.
Thailand’s iron fist and an academic’s family
I am appalled at what has been transpiring in Thailand since this latest illegitimate coup by the Thai generals that overthrew a democratically elected govt. Yes, I do know that the Yingluck govt. was not a perfect govt. and had many issues plaguing it. And I am not a fan of Thaksin either. I am all for the truth and am for the millions of hard working Thais who are falling behind economically and are being subjugated and suppressed by the elites, royalists, and military–the real powers that be in Thailand.
It am saddened but not suprised by what has happened to Prof. Pavin’s family. They tried to get to Prof. Pavin but could not touch him since he works and lives abroad. So they send their cronies and hoodlums to disrupt his speech. They want to scare him into silence. They will use whatever means necessary to get their way. And what better way than to go after Prof. Pavin’s family in Bangkok. They think they can silence him by harassing and intimidating and threatening his family.
It is a travesty that most Thais have succumbed to fear and intimidation and most don’t want to rock the boat, as long as it does not affect them. Where are the Mandela’s, the Gandhis’, the Martin Luther King Jr.s, in Thailand??
I am glad that Prof. Pavin has not succumbed to this illegitimate’s junta’s threats, harassment and intimidations. What they have done to him, by trumped up charges against him, but taking away his Thai passport is deplorable. We all need to stand up to support him by shedding light on all that Gen. Prayuth’s brutal regime is doing. Thousands of Thais–academics, reporters, govt. officials, businessmen, red shirts, have fled Thailand and moved overseas. Thailand is fast becoming like Myanmar in the past decade, like North Korea.
It is a “dynamite keg waiting to erupt” as the genie is out of the bottle and the millions of hard working Thais know the truth now and will not let the status quo that has ruled Thailand for decades continue. It is only a matter of time before the whole thing erupts and Thais will take to the streets to revolt against this repressive, illegitimate, military generals, who are thugs and are doing everything they know to suppress the Thai people.
It is time that people all over the world know what’s going on in present day Thailand. It is time that foreign governments start pressuring the Thai junta to back off from Prof. Pavin’s family and many others like him who have been compelled to flee Thailand since the May 22, 2014 coup. Thailand’s survival depends on exports and trade with many western countries and the US and EU and Australia can and need to put more pressure on this illegitimate Prayuth’s govt. And when their livelihoods will be threatened, when trade dwindles down to a trickle, then they will wake up and agree to back down. Otherwise it will be business as usual and they will continue to perpetrate their lives, coverups and facade.
Challenging times for Thai tourism
I wholeheartedly agree with the premise of your article about the real concern of safety in Thailand. I have lived in Bangkok for two decades and travelled extensively all over Thailand in the 1970s, 80s and when I compare it to the past several years, a whole lot has changed in terms of safety of tourists in Thailand. The article does articulate clearly the cause for concern when it comes to the safety of tourists.
Any one who has lvied in Thailand travelled extensively can attest to the fact that it is no longer safe to travel in Thailand. Yes, some parts are fine but as time passes, it is becoming more and more dangerous for unsuspecting tourists, who are not prepared for what they will encounter when they visit Thailand.
The TAT has done a good job in promoting and showcasing Thailand as a lovely destination but have never acknowledged the truth of safety matters and the cause for concerns that have compounded and will continue to grow, until it becomes a matter of national security. The Thais are middle of the roaders and don’t want to rock the boat. They will go with the status quo and won’t do a thing until and unless their livelihoods are threatened.
In my recent trip to Thailand, it has served to remind me that it is no longer the safe destination it used to be. So many tourists have been robbed, killed, duped, threatened, scammed, swindled, ripped off, beaten up, than ever before. Many of it is not reported for fear of giving the country a bad image. The number of mafia gangs operating at most tourist resorts like Pattaya Beach, Koh Samui, Phuket and other places, are well known because they have the protection of the powers that be. It has become a very corrupt nation to the core. It is all about the Almighty Dollar.
It used to be known as the “Land of Smiles.” But behind the smile you better watch out. For me, it is no longer a safe destination, no longer a place I want to visit. The old generation of Thais were welcoming, hospitable, caring and kind people, wherever I went. In this day and age, it is all about what they can get out of you. They know you are a foreigner and will try to take advantage of you. Be it the taxi driver who will try to rip you off, be it the hotel where you stay will overcharge you, be it the restaurant or bar that you have a drink at. I don’t say this because I have something against the Thais. I say it from personal experience and my assessments in dealing with Thais during my extended visits.
So many foreigners who have moved to Thailand, have been duped by their Thai wives. Many were naive, and ignorant of the Thai character and were seduced into believing that they could retire comfortably. It did not take long for them to realize that it is not what they thought or had hoped it would be. Many have been swindled, duped, beaten up, threatened and have lost everything, have been forced to leave and go back to their country. No one has an accurate estimate of the number of crimes perpetrated against tourists. But it is becoming more and more common weekly, when you read about it in the Bangkok Post.
Nothing will change and it will only get worse as time passes. The Thai officials will give “lip service” and try to show that they are doing something, but not much will be done, as it brings money into their coffers. They know what’s going on, but turn a blind eye as long as they (the Thai police) get a piece of the action, a piece of the spoils, loot. It has always been this way and I don’t see it changing unless they get serious about tackling the many safety issues and concerns of foreign tourists.
The rats of Rangoon
Rats, in prison kept hopes alive of freedoms and liberty,for prisoners who had nothing else to live by….
Thailand’s new politics and a double wrecking ball
Christine, Thailand can be compared to a “dynamite keg waiting to erupt” as behind the scenes maneuvering that is taking place to ensure that the Crown Prince becomes the next king of Thailand.
This military regime of Gen. Prayuth Chanocha is cleaning house and rooting out most of Thaksin’s supporters and henchmen in the police and govt. They have gone after the red shirts, Thaksin’s avid supporters and are making sure in the new constitution that Thaksin’s political machine never gains power again.
Thaksin is a lost cause now and the military junta is doing all it can to make sure he never makes a comeback again. They are leaving no stone unturned to make sure that Thaksin never comes back to Thailand or that his supporters will ever be able to form another govt. again even when the next elections take place, if they do take place at all. Thailand has gone back decades in many ways and is soon becoming like Myanmar and North Korea. Many forms of repression are taking place at the present time, with the military junta in power. They will not go back to the barracks now and are being entrenched in all spheres of Thai politics. Already thousands of govt. officials, academics, businessmen, have fled and left the country and sought asylum and residency overseas. The many coups that have taken place in Thai history has never allowed democracy to take root and grow in Thailand. It has become corrupt to the core and I am glad I am not living in Thailand anymore. I grew up in Bangkok and have carefully followed all that has transpired in Thailand. It breaks my heart to see the generals destroy the country while the line their own pockets and use the power of the guns to seize power and overthrow an elected govt. I am not a fan of Thaksin but what I see taking place frightens me and does not bode well for the millions of ordinary hard working Thais who are falling behind economically and getting desperate.
It is best for Thaksin, if he wants to be alive, to not dare come back to Thailand again as he has numerous enemies. He knows that very well and therefore has come to terms with the fact that he is better of and safe staying out of Thailand. His main concern has been for his family and businesses and he will make a deal with the generals to let them leave the country and go into exile like he has. Thaksin is a true businessman and looks out only for his and his family’s best interest.
The Crown Prince has realized a while back that Thaksin is no longer part of the equation and has already made a deal with the generals and tossed his hat in with them. He knows that he needs the military to survive and succeed to the throne and they have clipped his wings as is evident in the purging of his cronies in recent mpnths, mysterious disappearances and deaths in custody of his bodyguard and aides.
Sad to say, but the majority of Thais can no longer be fooled into subjugation by the elites, royalists and military. It is a matter of time before they say enough is enough and stand up to confront the status quo that has been enriching themselves at the expense of the majority of ordinary Thais. They know the truth and they will not be fooled anymore, even with Article 144 by the present junta, to suppress dissent and any form of opposition forming.
My fear is that more Thai blood will be shed due to revolt, as millions of Thais are working harder than ever and yet seeing themselves getting poorer and poorer and falling behind economically. The status quo cannot go on like this any longer. Once the Thai king passes, there will be a time of mourning and the new king succeeds to the throne. Then it will be an all out revolt against the status quo.
Researching Myanmar today
Reminds me of Melford E. Spiro (1920-2014) who did his field research in Upper Burma in 1961-62 that stopped when the military took over.