Military leaders will not be able to rule Thailand anymore, let alone in the Burmese style of dictatorship. If one of the military leaders decides to stage a coup now, the reserve will be true, namely anti-coup protesters will roam the streets in the same manner as what PAD mobsters are doing now. Why ? The answer is that Thais, whether they live in Bkk or rural areas, now have a very high political awareness. This is due to the fact they are catching up with mass media technology very fast. One example is this community radio station run for taxi drivers who are mostly pro-Thaksin. Most taxi drivers do not know how to use internet but they listen to this station while driving to pick up foriegn passengers like you and me from the airport. They also use mobile phones a lot. The past few years have been a very good political education for them and they can see the big difference when the country was ruled by Thaksin and the military coupmakers.
Something more fundamental? Lets look as some fundamentals that have led to obfuscation as PAD & the Democrats in tow call for a New Politics:
1. PAD destroyed three important powers: (a.) Judicial power (b.) Administrative power and (c.) Legislative power. I’ll address these separately below:
2. The judicial system has been destroyed & corrupted since the 2006 coup- e.g. evidence that everyone can see is the case of Samak’s cooking show on TV (nothing to do with conflict of interest, but accusations were that he received remuneration for this). On the other hand PAD had seized Gov House, were reluctantly issued with arrest warrants on serious rebellion charges only to be revoked by their mates in the court (see NM article “Whither Thai Democracy”). The two cases are not comparable, but the petty case has been punished severely while the severe one which is dangerous for the integrity of the democratising nation-state saw the PAD thugs immediately released. This should be evidence enough to see the endemic corruption in the Thai court system. Recall earlier red cards issued to PPP MPs while Democrat Party MPs in clear vote buying exercises were ignored.
3. The symbol of destroying administrative power is when PAD invaded national broadcasting TV NBT & tried to seize the Ministry of Finance & Telecom buildings. They then seized Gov house, destroying public property & use the PM’s office for their own meetings and the public hall for their conferences. These are not trifling matters. But, again, they were untouchable and when a pathetic effort to exert law was shown they were shortly afterwards let out of prison.
4. PAD has set up a ruthless core consisting of ex-prisoners, disenchanted ex-soldiers and unemployed Democrat voters mostly bussed in from the south. These guys are not afraid of killing. While many of the pro-Gov supporters (Nor-Por-Chor), most of them older folk, workers and farmers, are still in hospital from severe wounds (from spears, gunshot wounds & etc.). This was never mentioned on the Thai media. Never did the Queen give attention to these victims of democracy. This has profoundly saddened the very heart of devotion to royalty- the countryside.
5. Legislative power abuses: this occurred on 7 October when Somchai’s elected Government was going to declare its policies in the opening of parliament in order for it to be able work and exercise its elected power. PAD knows that the Gov had to declare these policies within 15 days according to the constitution. So their aim was to stop the democratic process and the legitimacy of the Gov. They had a number of pro-junta selected Senators try and disrupt the parliamentary session, while the good old Democrat Party, who should have been exercising their duty of parliament, stayed away.
6. This showed that the Gov had little choice and needed to make a decision for crowd control which led to a tragedy of two deaths & hundreds more injured. PAD turned this event against the Gov in order to attempt a final coup and bring the Gov down. At the same time they did not mention that the PAD mob came with serious weapons (given by whom?), including bombs (found in the car that was bombed by PAD). In fact the car belonged to a PAD leader from Srisaket Province and the person who died was a PAD weapons trainer who is ex-policeman & belonging to the Democrat Party (his younger brother-in-law is a Democrat MP).
If these three institutions mentioned above are destroyed, it does not take much to see the consequences. PAD wants to destroy the very framework of Thai democracy and implant a strategy for its own control through the Democrat Party. The assumption is that the rural masses are not fit to vote. I am surprised that many Political scientists and Political Economists have not been able to separate these issues out for serious consideration. In the 2007 Constitution it is named “Monarchy-Democracy” System (roughly translated). What PAD may be doing, though this is conjecture, is to destroy the democracy link to return power to the monarchy-military through the aristocrats (amaathayathipatai). The king’s power/authority must work through these three institutions mentioned above. PAD are destroying the monarchy, as Thais have lingering uncertainties over the nature of democracy (however defined) since 1932.
Goodbyedemocracy.
The king and Prem are 80+ old and no one live forever. If the elite succeed in their revolution to install half select/elect democracy and substantial increase in military influence on political position.
I seriously doubt those select and military holding prime, juicy position would suddenly have a change of heart and make way for more elect representative in the future. There can be two ways, either they relish their power or increase their influence.
Guess which way every military dictatorship in the world choose…
Dates, details of royal funeral.
Many NM readers will be interested to know the details of the funeral of Phra PiNang. A fairly comprehensive & brief coverage, including dates & descriptions of the 6 processions is here:
Sorry if this is slightly off-topic. I know many anthropologists & others are waiting for these details, couldn’t find anywhere else to put it (as the abbot said to the acolyte).
Interesting interview on Radio Oz. Doesn’t need defending. OF COURSE anthopologists talk about politics – it’s absolutely in their portfolio.
QUOTE “Two years ago about 20,000 people marched on the Privy Council home, under the banner of NorPorKor. The protesters were protesting the Privy Council because they believed the Privy Council engineered the coup of the KorMorChor (Junta, 2006-7 CNS). The protest was peaceful-no guns, bombs, and stick such as the recent PAD protesters carried. As the protest continued, the police ultimately charged the protesters in an attempt to capture the protesters leaders.
What occured at that point is very much the same as the recent clashes between the PAD and the police-minus the weapons on the NorPorKor side.
I do not think that Thailand will revert to Burma style Government, we walk too far toward democracy. The worst case possible is Prem’s style government (Thai-style democracy aka. Half democracy-half aristocracy).
As Thais are predominantly Buddhists, nominal or otherwise, they should be careful to discern truth out of illusion. We see today that many Thais are misled by illusion. This is essentially what we must undo to make Thailand a nation of enlightenment.
Thanks for this helpful post. New Mandala readers following the Cyclone Nargis response may also be interested in the report Post-Nargis Analysis: The Other Side of the Story, released by a newtwork of local organisations on October 16th. The report states that:
The primary goal in compiling this analysis is to raise the concerns about certain misleading impressions created by the PONJA report, as well as the fact that the PONJA report is being treated without question as the main guiding document for international relief and recovery work. “Post-Nargis Analysis: Th e Other Side of the Story” is an initial attempt to provide all stakeholders with additional information in order to broaden and deepen their understanding of the situation in the areas aff ected by Cyclone Nargis.
This is something about Pali on the northern Thai fringe, or about Sri Lanka in the Chiangmai valley: The term Lawa was used in reference to highland outsiders in Lanna and Shan States. Its longer form is Damilawa , and is said to derive from the Sanskrit Damila, the same term as informed the Buddhist Sri Lankan ethnic term Tamil for their non-Buddhist Others. The root of the term lay in Sinhalese chronicle accounts of the state and its dark-skinned enemies. Thus, along with the localization of Buddhism in mainland Southeast Asia came certain aspects of ethnic ranking and prejudice that contributed to rulers’ ability to contextualize in universalistic terms their rule and the peoples that it excluded. Many Chiangmai chronicles used the term Tamilla for Lawa. Some used the term Milangka. Wilangka, a variant on that term, was used among Lawa in reference to their chief who lost out to the lowland forces. Milangka is derived from Milakkha, the Pali language equivalent to the Sankrit Mleccha (“savages”). Pali had replaced Sanskrit as the language of sacred learning in Theravada Buddhist mainland Southeast Asia by the twelfth century (according to Strong’s Uppagut book, pp. 171-185).
can you imagine such a thing in our society?
“There were examples such as helicopters laden with emergency relief supplies landing in the (equally devastated) wrong village, and questioning the local leaders to ensure they were in the right place. When asked, if incorrect, people would direct them to the correct village despite needing those same supplies.” it is amazing
I also agree with the aid worker that demonizing the military hasn’t helped and will not help in the future either. we need to engage to build trust!
Most readers, if they bother to analyse the situation and research a little on the background of the PAD and democratic party will arrive at the same conclusion. Thaksin and TRT though cannot be said to be clean, is not anywhere as corrupt as the previous govt.
Thaksin’s main crime was the attempt dismantling of the old elite power structure. This includes govt / administration and the underground (Thai mafia – the people who control prostitution and niteclubs in Thailand, drug lords etc)
His other crime, as far as the old elite is concern is to spend Govt money on the rural poor. Its a crying shame that the so called educated Thais labeled it as “populist”. Spending on rural development and amenities should be mandatory for govt. That’s the only way out of the perpetual poverty cycles that third world countries suffer from.
As had to be expected, Phujatkan (October 15) made good use of the Queen’s presence at the cremation of a women who died during the police attempt to control the PAD. The Queen is quoted as having said that she was a good girl who protected the Monarchy and the Nation. She was worried about all PAD protestors, and would later send some flowers to them. More than that, she “did what nobody could have hoped for” — she stopped in front of Sondhi Limthongul, who was lined up with other PAD leaders to see off the Queen. She briefly told him something that could not be disclosed to the public. “But when the ASTV and Phuchatkan teams as well as the other PAD leaders learned about what she had said to Sondhi, they were encouraged to vigorously fight on for Nation, Throne and the people.”
After Princess Sirindhorn had said in an interview that the PAD was not working for the monarchy but for themselves, the ultra-conservative aristocrat Pannada Diskun, who works as an advisor at the Ministry of Interior, sent a fax to Phuchatkan explaining that papers such as Khao Sot had inappropriately used the princess’ remarks for political purposes. However, her statement did not mean what people were made to believe it meant. In fact, it was a diplomatic and wise statement that reflected that the Monarchy was above politics.
I wonder what Khun Panadda will say to the ASTV, Phuchatkan and PAD people, who obviously interpret the Queen’s presence at the cremation and her remarks as strong political statements encouraging a certain course of further political action by the PAD. The UDD/DAAD people will certainly perceive the act and the words in a similar way, but interpret them rather differently….
Much of what is written here is based on a naive (or more likely feigned naivety) that Thailand, as a predominantly ‘Buddhist’ country, its people must be peaceful and passive – and so, by extension, political protests must be based on the ideal of Ahingsa (as practiced by Gandhi and Aung San Su Kyi). PAD does not fit this mold so the simplistic conclusion that they must prefer blood rather than ballots.
We must remember that the PAD wasn’t like this since day 1, they were a once bunch of TycoonSondhi’s TV fan, that when Sondhi was taken off public TV for being critical of PMThaksin, they followed his live show to Lumbhini Park. They have evolved and hardened over the years in response to multiple tactics, usually violent or threat of violence (e.g. @ World Trade), employed against them.
We must also remember that they have attempted to cultivate a nationwide network to stage rallies and protest. We must remember that when they were in Udon, a TRT/PPP territory, to hold a peaceful rally, the local powers that be colluded with the police, violently oppressed them (and I don’t recall New Mandala strongly condemning such acts then). How can a democratic “educational campaign” be carried out in that gangster-territorial atmosphere?
We also must remember the deep culture of the violence-prone “Third Hand” (whether real, fabricated or employed) – often unruly arm of the security forces.
We must also remember, with 7th Oct as a clear evidence, of the ineptitude and incompetence of the security forces in crowd control and protest dispersals. Buying Chinese gas-bombs was questionable in itself, failure to test them for its impacts and training on how to shoot them (not at the crowd! Even for American or European-made gas-bombs!) beforehand is criminal. To repeat that mistake over the course of the day is also criminal. And this is already a vast improvement on their recent history of crowd control at Udon or Takbai.
As I’ve mentioned in many posts, I don’t support all of PAD’s actions and visions. While PMThaksin is the last person I politically trust, I thought PMSomchai’s calmness and willingness to talk is a breath of fresh air in this political atmosphere. I believe (maybe naively) that talks has already begun and hoped that things might just get resolved both short (maybe televised, facilitated public forums over backroom meetings and phone calls) and long term (societal inclusive constitutional amendment). The police mistakes on Oct 7th is tragic and now people who had met and talked (PMChavalit and Chamlong), presumably in sincerity, are pointing fingers at each other and accusing each other of lying…
“Why is Andrew talking about the political turmoil in Bkk? I thought he is an anthropologist.”
Exactly. Unfortunately western states have to see Thailand through whatever distorted glasses are available to them. It’s not like Thai Studies is selling like hotcakes in western countries.
Take for instance the Financial Times most popular source on Thai politics, Giles Ungpakorn who is a member of a Trotskyist organisation advocating world revolution.
foreign correspondent writes: If there were hundreds of thousands of unarmed protesters outside parliament, sitting peacefully on the ground and refusing to leave, prepared to be arrested on mass for their beliefs, that would be a powerful message to the PPP – and to the world.
I completely agree with you, but it was unlikely to happen that way. The whole thing would turn upside down, if the unarmed / unshielded police walked straight into PAD, and PAD started to attack police without a reason. This PAD’s marathon protesting campaign has developed too far to behave like that.. you should also consider what happened in August 29 where police clashed into PAD and hit old men and women. You should also consider about the fear among PAD that police let the red shirt dressed up as police to attack PAD…
The line has been crossed. If people can’t step back, people will need to draw another line in front of them. It is sad but true..
PS. About Aung San Suu Kyi, I also agree with you…. probably I just forgot to put the word “in Thailand” in the statement.
Facebook 
Twitter 
Soundcloud 
Youtube 
Rss
Whither Thai democracy?
Military leaders will not be able to rule Thailand anymore, let alone in the Burmese style of dictatorship. If one of the military leaders decides to stage a coup now, the reserve will be true, namely anti-coup protesters will roam the streets in the same manner as what PAD mobsters are doing now. Why ? The answer is that Thais, whether they live in Bkk or rural areas, now have a very high political awareness. This is due to the fact they are catching up with mass media technology very fast. One example is this community radio station run for taxi drivers who are mostly pro-Thaksin. Most taxi drivers do not know how to use internet but they listen to this station while driving to pick up foriegn passengers like you and me from the airport. They also use mobile phones a lot. The past few years have been a very good political education for them and they can see the big difference when the country was ruled by Thaksin and the military coupmakers.
Connors takes aim at conventional wisdom
Something more fundamental? Lets look as some fundamentals that have led to obfuscation as PAD & the Democrats in tow call for a New Politics:
1. PAD destroyed three important powers: (a.) Judicial power (b.) Administrative power and (c.) Legislative power. I’ll address these separately below:
2. The judicial system has been destroyed & corrupted since the 2006 coup- e.g. evidence that everyone can see is the case of Samak’s cooking show on TV (nothing to do with conflict of interest, but accusations were that he received remuneration for this). On the other hand PAD had seized Gov House, were reluctantly issued with arrest warrants on serious rebellion charges only to be revoked by their mates in the court (see NM article “Whither Thai Democracy”). The two cases are not comparable, but the petty case has been punished severely while the severe one which is dangerous for the integrity of the democratising nation-state saw the PAD thugs immediately released. This should be evidence enough to see the endemic corruption in the Thai court system. Recall earlier red cards issued to PPP MPs while Democrat Party MPs in clear vote buying exercises were ignored.
3. The symbol of destroying administrative power is when PAD invaded national broadcasting TV NBT & tried to seize the Ministry of Finance & Telecom buildings. They then seized Gov house, destroying public property & use the PM’s office for their own meetings and the public hall for their conferences. These are not trifling matters. But, again, they were untouchable and when a pathetic effort to exert law was shown they were shortly afterwards let out of prison.
4. PAD has set up a ruthless core consisting of ex-prisoners, disenchanted ex-soldiers and unemployed Democrat voters mostly bussed in from the south. These guys are not afraid of killing. While many of the pro-Gov supporters (Nor-Por-Chor), most of them older folk, workers and farmers, are still in hospital from severe wounds (from spears, gunshot wounds & etc.). This was never mentioned on the Thai media. Never did the Queen give attention to these victims of democracy. This has profoundly saddened the very heart of devotion to royalty- the countryside.
5. Legislative power abuses: this occurred on 7 October when Somchai’s elected Government was going to declare its policies in the opening of parliament in order for it to be able work and exercise its elected power. PAD knows that the Gov had to declare these policies within 15 days according to the constitution. So their aim was to stop the democratic process and the legitimacy of the Gov. They had a number of pro-junta selected Senators try and disrupt the parliamentary session, while the good old Democrat Party, who should have been exercising their duty of parliament, stayed away.
6. This showed that the Gov had little choice and needed to make a decision for crowd control which led to a tragedy of two deaths & hundreds more injured. PAD turned this event against the Gov in order to attempt a final coup and bring the Gov down. At the same time they did not mention that the PAD mob came with serious weapons (given by whom?), including bombs (found in the car that was bombed by PAD). In fact the car belonged to a PAD leader from Srisaket Province and the person who died was a PAD weapons trainer who is ex-policeman & belonging to the Democrat Party (his younger brother-in-law is a Democrat MP).
If these three institutions mentioned above are destroyed, it does not take much to see the consequences. PAD wants to destroy the very framework of Thai democracy and implant a strategy for its own control through the Democrat Party. The assumption is that the rural masses are not fit to vote. I am surprised that many Political scientists and Political Economists have not been able to separate these issues out for serious consideration. In the 2007 Constitution it is named “Monarchy-Democracy” System (roughly translated). What PAD may be doing, though this is conjecture, is to destroy the democracy link to return power to the monarchy-military through the aristocrats (amaathayathipatai). The king’s power/authority must work through these three institutions mentioned above. PAD are destroying the monarchy, as Thais have lingering uncertainties over the nature of democracy (however defined) since 1932.
Goodbyedemocracy.
What happened on 7/10/2008?
What most people realize is: the rules of law was used by the police.
Frankly and unsarcastically speaking, people yearn for the merit of law.
Whither Thai democracy?
Jim, I am impressed the amount of information you gather. Three future scenario:
1) Thaksin comes back. He leads the country like LKY of Singapore. Kick Sondhi and his opponents out. He became a good leader.
2) He could never comes back. Military Leaders lead it into the Burmese Stlyle.
3) We become so unstable with corrupted leader we become like Phillipines. The leader can be any one here including Thaksin, Sondhi, any crook.
What other scenarios I missed? Can anyone please fill in.
Whither Thai democracy?
“Thailand is not like Burma”
Yes, not yet.
The king and Prem are 80+ old and no one live forever. If the elite succeed in their revolution to install half select/elect democracy and substantial increase in military influence on political position.
I seriously doubt those select and military holding prime, juicy position would suddenly have a change of heart and make way for more elect representative in the future. There can be two ways, either they relish their power or increase their influence.
Guess which way every military dictatorship in the world choose…
Connors takes aim at conventional wisdom
It might be helpful to make the usual distinction between tactic and strategy.
Walker on Radio Australia
Dates, details of royal funeral.
Many NM readers will be interested to know the details of the funeral of Phra PiNang. A fairly comprehensive & brief coverage, including dates & descriptions of the 6 processions is here:
http://photojourn.wordpress.com/2008/09/15/thailands-royal-cremation-set-for-six-days-in-november/
Sorry if this is slightly off-topic. I know many anthropologists & others are waiting for these details, couldn’t find anywhere else to put it (as the abbot said to the acolyte).
Interesting interview on Radio Oz. Doesn’t need defending. OF COURSE anthopologists talk about politics – it’s absolutely in their portfolio.
What happened on 7/10/2008?
An article from http://thaiintelligentnews.wordpress.com/2008/
unedited by a Thai writer:
QUOTE “Two years ago about 20,000 people marched on the Privy Council home, under the banner of NorPorKor. The protesters were protesting the Privy Council because they believed the Privy Council engineered the coup of the KorMorChor (Junta, 2006-7 CNS). The protest was peaceful-no guns, bombs, and stick such as the recent PAD protesters carried. As the protest continued, the police ultimately charged the protesters in an attempt to capture the protesters leaders.
What occured at that point is very much the same as the recent clashes between the PAD and the police-minus the weapons on the NorPorKor side.
…” (ENDQUOTE)
Whither Thai democracy?
I do not think that Thailand will revert to Burma style Government, we walk too far toward democracy. The worst case possible is Prem’s style government (Thai-style democracy aka. Half democracy-half aristocracy).
Whither Thai democracy?
As Thais are predominantly Buddhists, nominal or otherwise, they should be careful to discern truth out of illusion. We see today that many Thais are misled by illusion. This is essentially what we must undo to make Thailand a nation of enlightenment.
Whither Thai democracy?
“Is Thailand heading towards emulating Burma? Let’s see.”
Stick to your archaeology pit, please.
Thailand is not like Burma because since 1976 it has had a strong center led by a strong king.
Burma started out as just the socialist “paradise” that you emulate.
Look where it ended up.
WFP spokesman on Cyclone Nargis
Thanks for this helpful post. New Mandala readers following the Cyclone Nargis response may also be interested in the report Post-Nargis Analysis: The Other Side of the Story, released by a newtwork of local organisations on October 16th. The report states that:
Pali
This is something about Pali on the northern Thai fringe, or about Sri Lanka in the Chiangmai valley: The term Lawa was used in reference to highland outsiders in Lanna and Shan States. Its longer form is Damilawa , and is said to derive from the Sanskrit Damila, the same term as informed the Buddhist Sri Lankan ethnic term Tamil for their non-Buddhist Others. The root of the term lay in Sinhalese chronicle accounts of the state and its dark-skinned enemies. Thus, along with the localization of Buddhism in mainland Southeast Asia came certain aspects of ethnic ranking and prejudice that contributed to rulers’ ability to contextualize in universalistic terms their rule and the peoples that it excluded. Many Chiangmai chronicles used the term Tamilla for Lawa. Some used the term Milangka. Wilangka, a variant on that term, was used among Lawa in reference to their chief who lost out to the lowland forces. Milangka is derived from Milakkha, the Pali language equivalent to the Sankrit Mleccha (“savages”). Pali had replaced Sanskrit as the language of sacred learning in Theravada Buddhist mainland Southeast Asia by the twelfth century (according to Strong’s Uppagut book, pp. 171-185).
Interview with a “disaster worker recently returned from Burma”
great interview!!! thank you so much.
can you imagine such a thing in our society?
“There were examples such as helicopters laden with emergency relief supplies landing in the (equally devastated) wrong village, and questioning the local leaders to ensure they were in the right place. When asked, if incorrect, people would direct them to the correct village despite needing those same supplies.” it is amazing
I also agree with the aid worker that demonizing the military hasn’t helped and will not help in the future either. we need to engage to build trust!
thanks again for this interview
What happened on 7/10/2008?
Thank for report the true story.
Now news in thailand are control by PAD.
They report only badthing from polices but they dont told about
carbomb , guns and PAD hit polices.
I dont know wtf with my country.
sorry for my bad english.
Whither Thai democracy?
Well said Jim,
Most readers, if they bother to analyse the situation and research a little on the background of the PAD and democratic party will arrive at the same conclusion. Thaksin and TRT though cannot be said to be clean, is not anywhere as corrupt as the previous govt.
Thaksin’s main crime was the attempt dismantling of the old elite power structure. This includes govt / administration and the underground (Thai mafia – the people who control prostitution and niteclubs in Thailand, drug lords etc)
His other crime, as far as the old elite is concern is to spend Govt money on the rural poor. Its a crying shame that the so called educated Thais labeled it as “populist”. Spending on rural development and amenities should be mandatory for govt. That’s the only way out of the perpetual poverty cycles that third world countries suffer from.
Blood rather than ballots
As had to be expected, Phujatkan (October 15) made good use of the Queen’s presence at the cremation of a women who died during the police attempt to control the PAD. The Queen is quoted as having said that she was a good girl who protected the Monarchy and the Nation. She was worried about all PAD protestors, and would later send some flowers to them. More than that, she “did what nobody could have hoped for” — she stopped in front of Sondhi Limthongul, who was lined up with other PAD leaders to see off the Queen. She briefly told him something that could not be disclosed to the public. “But when the ASTV and Phuchatkan teams as well as the other PAD leaders learned about what she had said to Sondhi, they were encouraged to vigorously fight on for Nation, Throne and the people.”
After Princess Sirindhorn had said in an interview that the PAD was not working for the monarchy but for themselves, the ultra-conservative aristocrat Pannada Diskun, who works as an advisor at the Ministry of Interior, sent a fax to Phuchatkan explaining that papers such as Khao Sot had inappropriately used the princess’ remarks for political purposes. However, her statement did not mean what people were made to believe it meant. In fact, it was a diplomatic and wise statement that reflected that the Monarchy was above politics.
I wonder what Khun Panadda will say to the ASTV, Phuchatkan and PAD people, who obviously interpret the Queen’s presence at the cremation and her remarks as strong political statements encouraging a certain course of further political action by the PAD. The UDD/DAAD people will certainly perceive the act and the words in a similar way, but interpret them rather differently….
Blood rather than ballots
Much of what is written here is based on a naive (or more likely feigned naivety) that Thailand, as a predominantly ‘Buddhist’ country, its people must be peaceful and passive – and so, by extension, political protests must be based on the ideal of Ahingsa (as practiced by Gandhi and Aung San Su Kyi). PAD does not fit this mold so the simplistic conclusion that they must prefer blood rather than ballots.
We must remember that the PAD wasn’t like this since day 1, they were a once bunch of TycoonSondhi’s TV fan, that when Sondhi was taken off public TV for being critical of PMThaksin, they followed his live show to Lumbhini Park. They have evolved and hardened over the years in response to multiple tactics, usually violent or threat of violence (e.g. @ World Trade), employed against them.
We must also remember that they have attempted to cultivate a nationwide network to stage rallies and protest. We must remember that when they were in Udon, a TRT/PPP territory, to hold a peaceful rally, the local powers that be colluded with the police, violently oppressed them (and I don’t recall New Mandala strongly condemning such acts then). How can a democratic “educational campaign” be carried out in that gangster-territorial atmosphere?
We also must remember the deep culture of the violence-prone “Third Hand” (whether real, fabricated or employed) – often unruly arm of the security forces.
We must also remember, with 7th Oct as a clear evidence, of the ineptitude and incompetence of the security forces in crowd control and protest dispersals. Buying Chinese gas-bombs was questionable in itself, failure to test them for its impacts and training on how to shoot them (not at the crowd! Even for American or European-made gas-bombs!) beforehand is criminal. To repeat that mistake over the course of the day is also criminal. And this is already a vast improvement on their recent history of crowd control at Udon or Takbai.
As I’ve mentioned in many posts, I don’t support all of PAD’s actions and visions. While PMThaksin is the last person I politically trust, I thought PMSomchai’s calmness and willingness to talk is a breath of fresh air in this political atmosphere. I believe (maybe naively) that talks has already begun and hoped that things might just get resolved both short (maybe televised, facilitated public forums over backroom meetings and phone calls) and long term (societal inclusive constitutional amendment). The police mistakes on Oct 7th is tragic and now people who had met and talked (PMChavalit and Chamlong), presumably in sincerity, are pointing fingers at each other and accusing each other of lying…
Walker on Radio Australia
“Why is Andrew talking about the political turmoil in Bkk? I thought he is an anthropologist.”
Exactly. Unfortunately western states have to see Thailand through whatever distorted glasses are available to them. It’s not like Thai Studies is selling like hotcakes in western countries.
Take for instance the Financial Times most popular source on Thai politics, Giles Ungpakorn who is a member of a Trotskyist organisation advocating world revolution.
Blood rather than ballots
I completely agree with you, but it was unlikely to happen that way. The whole thing would turn upside down, if the unarmed / unshielded police walked straight into PAD, and PAD started to attack police without a reason. This PAD’s marathon protesting campaign has developed too far to behave like that.. you should also consider what happened in August 29 where police clashed into PAD and hit old men and women. You should also consider about the fear among PAD that police let the red shirt dressed up as police to attack PAD…
The line has been crossed. If people can’t step back, people will need to draw another line in front of them. It is sad but true..
PS. About Aung San Suu Kyi, I also agree with you…. probably I just forgot to put the word “in Thailand” in the statement.