I don’t support Thaksin, Frank. I see him as the lesser of two evils. Presently, I’m also looking for Thailand’s Barack, albeit Barack himself isn’t proven. The thing with the (Thai) Dems is that they are capable on paper, but each Dem government hasn’t had the overwhelming mandate Thaksin has, so is it really their fault for being ineffective? For your information, I voted for the Democrats. Also, rather than wait for Baracks to pop up, the Thai people really need to change from the bottom up and amend our attitudes like what Andrew pointed out.
Regarding the King being the center of political machinations, he hasn’t been machinating for a while now, but he still remains the epicenter of the network monarchy, and they have been performing a pretty central role in the political machinations.
One for the legal buffs: Under Thai law, is there a possibility of an action against companies such as Siam Cement (and other death merchants of their ilk) in negligence? I’m thinking along the lines of Donoghue V Stevenson (1932) and Lord Atkins duty of care.
OMG!! Such an action wouldn’t be construed as Lese Majeste, would it?
But I suspect it is not quite so simple. In the second half of last year, the FCCT held two sessions which touched on the monarchy. These complaints are an unsubtle way to warn the club against getting into the habit of this sort of thing. In this case the complaint is against the only journalist involved (not the three Thai achan, not the farang achan) because that sends a message to the club.
Jonathan was also the moderator for Jakrapob’s presentation. My suspicions on who is likely behind the event and why the Sri Sao Thewes crowd is not involved is based on the fact that someone has an agenda/problem against the FCCT. Someone has posted a few video links to my blog in the past on FCCT events and they use the cyberak name – video from Jakrapob presentation here and from Coup, Capital and Crown here. The profile states they work for Phyakrut and if you google Phyakrut you get his rantings here. If you scroll past his rantings on this page you will see he has scanned a letter the FCCT sent to him. This person is not a happy chappy. You should note the wording he uses “Khan tried to protect Thailand’s national interests”. He has also accompanied police in different raids as you can see from his videos. He has both videos, an agenda against the FCCT, and a crusader-type attitude.
btw, Jonathan was also the moderator when Jakrapob spoke.
It’s nice to see that Douangdeuane has got Dokked up and running at this level. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Lao studies conference in 2005, where I found out that she is an old friend of my wife’s aunt. It is a small world indeed.
In my experience private media producers in Laos truly have their work cut out for them in carving a path independent of the Ministry of Information and Culture. Even when one is producing non-controversial media forms, one’s right to exist is usually predicated on the maintenance of dense ties with key figures in the MoIC.
Pretty quick how people like Piyathida popped up. Either ironic or deluded, I’m not sure which, but I’m pretty sure it represents a typical royalist view really well. Uninformed, emotional, and irrational.
Piyathida, you are dumb. You posted on the wrong link in the blog and then you make crazy allegations without examples of justification. And you spice it with nationalist, and by implication, racist epithets.
Your statement above answered the question I just left you in another forum as well as confirming that, in your view, the king is NOT at the centre of political machinations.
So you’re a Thaksin supporter (albeit by default) these days? Most of my friends are too and they were all born here – and, who knows, maybe they are right, but I’d rather rub out the parties caught cheating and let the chips fall where they may.
How about some logical analysis? I have yet to see much anywhere, so (with some humor) this is how you might start justifying your stance. It would be a long way from pleasing any genuine academic with a proper point-by-point style, but this isn’t that type of forum.
Thaksin: Good Points – less of a throwback, less backward-looking, etc. etc.
Bad Points: crass nouveau rich wannabee, poor understanding of everything except how to make money, etc. etc.
X Factor: Maybe one day he will pull his head out of his ass.
Conservatives and Friends:
Good points – talk the talk (75 years and counting), etc. etc.
Bad Points – talk is cheap (ditto) etc. etc.
X Factor: Abhisit – the real deal or empty promise.
Bottom line: Will Thailand’s Barrak Obama please stand up!
Teth: your summary of how YOU think I think is half ripe and half raw i.e. half-baked. Strong confirmation that you WERE telling the truth about being Thai born and bred. Sorry about that.
Frank Lee
PS: BTW do you prefer Thaksin these days? A lot of my friends do.
Mariner, don’t be afraid of lese majeste. If you’re afraid of it, you’re more likely to say something inadvertently about it and find yourself in Bangkwang too. Or maybe that’s what you want subversively, revolution from behind the prison walls!
The whole problem of lese majeste scares me and should, you. I don’t want to break the law but how is anyone to know just what is and isn’t the right side of the ‘line’ if alleged derogatory remarks are never published?
Can I refer to His Majesty as Thailand’s ‘Asbestos king’ (impervious to chemical/physical attack)? Can I talk of the greed of commercial companies which are royally controlled without this being interpreted as a slight on the royal person?
If J. Head can be hauled before the courts -and here is someone who has never dared voice even the mildest criticism of Thai monarchy publicly- then we all have cause for concern. Luckily the authorities are reluctant to act against foreigners, mindful of the adverse publicity which follows.
(Slightly off subject: You do know that New Mandala is a ‘subversive’ website, of course?)
Jonatharn Head of the BBC has been insulting the monarchy after taking payment from Thaksin and Jakrapop – this is dirty farang media and the FCCT is guilty also of doing this bad thing for money
the BBC is not real and lies – Thai people are not stupid! We know what BBC and Jonathon are doing
many ugly story on BBC website also, these media will go to HELL!
Who is “fixing” and for whose end? Every “fix-it” action in Thailand’s political arena it seems provoke a counter reaction. Every good deed must not go unpunished . . . et al.
But at the center these political machinations? Thaksin or Prem? Who are the virtuous and who are vile? Take your pick.
The December election is not over. The attempt to “fix” it in favour of the anti-Thaksin forces is just taking a bit longer than they had initially planned.
Doesn’t if just disgust you when commercial companies, and others with vested interests in the asbestos industry, try and justify the use and sale of their products on the grounds of ‘public interest.’ The argument here in Thailand goes like this: You must understand the kingdom is a poor country and asbestos products are desperately needed for the public good given the expense of alternatives. Trust us! We have your best interests at heart!
Here, for example, is Srichant Uthayopas, director of the Industrial Works Department’s Hazardous Substance Control Bureau:
“A substitute for chrysotile would be costly, and I see no reason to pay more for one. Safety and environmental protection are important, but economics is more so.”
The truth is rather different. Asbestos products are only cheap if companies which make them are not obliged to spend vast sums of money ensuring the production process is not hazardous. Once companies become liable for compensating workers for health hazards, for supplying adequate ventilation, face masks and ensuring respirable fibers are not released into the atmosphere, then the production process becomes prohibitively expensive. It is in the commercial interests of Siam Cement and others that the Thai public are not aware of the dangers their products pose.
The cheapness of asbestos products in Thailand arises simply from the fact that safeguards are not in place to protect workers and the public: There is no labelling of asbestos content, there is a system which ensures asbestos related injuries/deaths are not reported (see earlier post) and there are downright lies (see previous posting relating to Siam Cement) to the the effect that chrysotile asbestos is safe.
The truth is simple: asbestos makes some people in Thailand extremely rich; profits come from concealing the health dangers and commercial enterprises like Siam Cement are not charities motivated by concerns of public interest.
A final point: if asbestos is so necessary as Srichant Uthayopas states then why does so much of it find its way onto residential buildings as a purely decorative facades?
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What hope of amending attitudes?
I don’t support Thaksin, Frank. I see him as the lesser of two evils. Presently, I’m also looking for Thailand’s Barack, albeit Barack himself isn’t proven. The thing with the (Thai) Dems is that they are capable on paper, but each Dem government hasn’t had the overwhelming mandate Thaksin has, so is it really their fault for being ineffective? For your information, I voted for the Democrats. Also, rather than wait for Baracks to pop up, the Thai people really need to change from the bottom up and amend our attitudes like what Andrew pointed out.
Regarding the King being the center of political machinations, he hasn’t been machinating for a while now, but he still remains the epicenter of the network monarchy, and they have been performing a pretty central role in the political machinations.
Asbestos in Thailand
One for the legal buffs: Under Thai law, is there a possibility of an action against companies such as Siam Cement (and other death merchants of their ilk) in negligence? I’m thinking along the lines of Donoghue V Stevenson (1932) and Lord Atkins duty of care.
OMG!! Such an action wouldn’t be construed as Lese Majeste, would it?
Lèse majesté and the BBC
But I suspect it is not quite so simple. In the second half of last year, the FCCT held two sessions which touched on the monarchy. These complaints are an unsubtle way to warn the club against getting into the habit of this sort of thing. In this case the complaint is against the only journalist involved (not the three Thai achan, not the farang achan) because that sends a message to the club.
Jonathan was also the moderator for Jakrapob’s presentation. My suspicions on who is likely behind the event and why the Sri Sao Thewes crowd is not involved is based on the fact that someone has an agenda/problem against the FCCT. Someone has posted a few video links to my blog in the past on FCCT events and they use the cyberak name – video from Jakrapob presentation here and from Coup, Capital and Crown here. The profile states they work for Phyakrut and if you google Phyakrut you get his rantings here. If you scroll past his rantings on this page you will see he has scanned a letter the FCCT sent to him. This person is not a happy chappy. You should note the wording he uses “Khan tried to protect Thailand’s national interests”. He has also accompanied police in different raids as you can see from his videos. He has both videos, an agenda against the FCCT, and a crusader-type attitude.
btw, Jonathan was also the moderator when Jakrapob spoke.
Lèse majesté lives on
Mariner – what are you doing visiting a subversive website?
Piyathida – were you the same person who posted the comment on my blog? It reads very similiar. Not bored spamming everyone?
Something for the whole family!
It’s nice to see that Douangdeuane has got Dokked up and running at this level. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Lao studies conference in 2005, where I found out that she is an old friend of my wife’s aunt. It is a small world indeed.
In my experience private media producers in Laos truly have their work cut out for them in carving a path independent of the Ministry of Information and Culture. Even when one is producing non-controversial media forms, one’s right to exist is usually predicated on the maintenance of dense ties with key figures in the MoIC.
Lèse majesté lives on
Pretty quick how people like Piyathida popped up. Either ironic or deluded, I’m not sure which, but I’m pretty sure it represents a typical royalist view really well. Uninformed, emotional, and irrational.
Lèse majesté lives on
Piyathida, you are dumb. You posted on the wrong link in the blog and then you make crazy allegations without examples of justification. And you spice it with nationalist, and by implication, racist epithets.
Lèse majesté lives on
Decoding this one:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/04/14/politics/politics_30070733.php
Rahu = R. 9
“bad karma” = “I need to ha siang”
What hope of amending attitudes?
Thanks Teth,
Your statement above answered the question I just left you in another forum as well as confirming that, in your view, the king is NOT at the centre of political machinations.
So you’re a Thaksin supporter (albeit by default) these days? Most of my friends are too and they were all born here – and, who knows, maybe they are right, but I’d rather rub out the parties caught cheating and let the chips fall where they may.
How about some logical analysis? I have yet to see much anywhere, so (with some humor) this is how you might start justifying your stance. It would be a long way from pleasing any genuine academic with a proper point-by-point style, but this isn’t that type of forum.
Thaksin: Good Points – less of a throwback, less backward-looking, etc. etc.
Bad Points: crass nouveau rich wannabee, poor understanding of everything except how to make money, etc. etc.
X Factor: Maybe one day he will pull his head out of his ass.
Conservatives and Friends:
Good points – talk the talk (75 years and counting), etc. etc.
Bad Points – talk is cheap (ditto) etc. etc.
X Factor: Abhisit – the real deal or empty promise.
Bottom line: Will Thailand’s Barrak Obama please stand up!
Thai studies conference underway
To Teth and Ladyboy Friend,
Teth: your summary of how YOU think I think is half ripe and half raw i.e. half-baked. Strong confirmation that you WERE telling the truth about being Thai born and bred. Sorry about that.
Frank Lee
PS: BTW do you prefer Thaksin these days? A lot of my friends do.
Lèse majesté lives on
Mariner, don’t be afraid of lese majeste. If you’re afraid of it, you’re more likely to say something inadvertently about it and find yourself in Bangkwang too. Or maybe that’s what you want subversively, revolution from behind the prison walls!
Thai South and Malay North
I’d love to review the book and get a free copy. I lived there from 1969 to 1972 and have visited reguarly and keep up with the reading
Lèse majesté lives on
The whole problem of lese majeste scares me and should, you. I don’t want to break the law but how is anyone to know just what is and isn’t the right side of the ‘line’ if alleged derogatory remarks are never published?
Can I refer to His Majesty as Thailand’s ‘Asbestos king’ (impervious to chemical/physical attack)? Can I talk of the greed of commercial companies which are royally controlled without this being interpreted as a slight on the royal person?
If J. Head can be hauled before the courts -and here is someone who has never dared voice even the mildest criticism of Thai monarchy publicly- then we all have cause for concern. Luckily the authorities are reluctant to act against foreigners, mindful of the adverse publicity which follows.
(Slightly off subject: You do know that New Mandala is a ‘subversive’ website, of course?)
Lèse majesté lives on
Jonatharn Head of the BBC has been insulting the monarchy after taking payment from Thaksin and Jakrapop – this is dirty farang media and the FCCT is guilty also of doing this bad thing for money
the BBC is not real and lies – Thai people are not stupid! We know what BBC and Jonathon are doing
many ugly story on BBC website also, these media will go to HELL!
What hope of amending attitudes?
Both are vile, but at least Thaksin is the more modern, forward-looking one. Yes, its sad the choice boils down to this.
Colonel, when you say your blog isn’t worth the time, why not at least keep it up and not update instead of tearing it all down?
What hope of amending attitudes?
Who is “fixing” and for whose end? Every “fix-it” action in Thailand’s political arena it seems provoke a counter reaction. Every good deed must not go unpunished . . . et al.
But at the center these political machinations? Thaksin or Prem? Who are the virtuous and who are vile? Take your pick.
What hope of amending attitudes?
The December election is not over. The attempt to “fix” it in favour of the anti-Thaksin forces is just taking a bit longer than they had initially planned.
Asbestos in Thailand
Doesn’t if just disgust you when commercial companies, and others with vested interests in the asbestos industry, try and justify the use and sale of their products on the grounds of ‘public interest.’ The argument here in Thailand goes like this: You must understand the kingdom is a poor country and asbestos products are desperately needed for the public good given the expense of alternatives. Trust us! We have your best interests at heart!
Here, for example, is Srichant Uthayopas, director of the Industrial Works Department’s Hazardous Substance Control Bureau:
“A substitute for chrysotile would be costly, and I see no reason to pay more for one. Safety and environmental protection are important, but economics is more so.”
The truth is rather different. Asbestos products are only cheap if companies which make them are not obliged to spend vast sums of money ensuring the production process is not hazardous. Once companies become liable for compensating workers for health hazards, for supplying adequate ventilation, face masks and ensuring respirable fibers are not released into the atmosphere, then the production process becomes prohibitively expensive. It is in the commercial interests of Siam Cement and others that the Thai public are not aware of the dangers their products pose.
The cheapness of asbestos products in Thailand arises simply from the fact that safeguards are not in place to protect workers and the public: There is no labelling of asbestos content, there is a system which ensures asbestos related injuries/deaths are not reported (see earlier post) and there are downright lies (see previous posting relating to Siam Cement) to the the effect that chrysotile asbestos is safe.
The truth is simple: asbestos makes some people in Thailand extremely rich; profits come from concealing the health dangers and commercial enterprises like Siam Cement are not charities motivated by concerns of public interest.
A final point: if asbestos is so necessary as Srichant Uthayopas states then why does so much of it find its way onto residential buildings as a purely decorative facades?
Bangladesh to Burma “friendship” road
we will hop india all so mad road to thialand from burma?
Lèse majesté and the BBC
Dog Lover, I realize, but its always interesting to bring up the British situation.