BTW, the editorial is headlined “Samak shocks, shames nation”. I wonder how people at the Bangkok Post can know what the “nation” thinks about Samak’s statement.
The whole interview is just embarrassing. Rivers gives him a clearcut opportunity to condemn the October 6 massacre, and Samak’s response is to summarily dismiss it, but not without lying about it first. Just astounding.
He also gives us this gem when asked whether he thinks Thaksin is guilty:
“I don’t think anyone can do something wrong if they don’t think it is wrong…”
At least now it’s clear that he’s equally inept with the media in both languages. His favorite tactic is to evade a direct question by replying with another question, either rhetorical or off topic, or both. Remember the “sinful sex” incident?
… actually, maybe a coup will be organised to prevent Samak proclaiming incidents in the name of the monarchy again? Another poisonous leaf in the kettle soon to be called black by the pot.
And this doesn’t concern only Samak. The PM office minister, the health minister, the interior minister, and the minister of science all came out with knee-jerk policy proposals. Chaloerm even dared talking back to Samak. There also is the issue of secretaries and advisors to ministers. So, it wasn’t that a brilliant start of the Samak I cabinet.
Thank you for this valuable opportunity for my husband to express his opinion through me in American English in regarding to Thai’s politics. He lives here with me for over 36 years; but, he always follow up news from his country there – in Thailand.
Straight to the points:
The Kingdom of Thailand used to have everything in terms of natural resources. But, due to their backward political tug-a-war among politicians, militaries, influential merchantile groups; caused the Thais majority did not get sufficient prosperity for their supposed to get.
To solve such challenges. the whole NATION need to elect the FAIR LEADERS to build A SOLID POLITICAL FOUNDATION. Thailand has more than 35 coups in 3/4 of a Century. Almost all Coups took the Country’s Political Power by Force; then, rewritten their new version of CONSTITUTION each time! That MUST COME TO AN END; Otherwise, the country will not have the CORE STRUCTURE to build on; therefore, there will not be Democratic Society.
Secondly, according to Thais culture, over reacted, but easy to forget, lack of good and sincer leaderships that the people can really count on for leading them the correct direction. So, people turn to any negative News Media that write with their own narrowed self feeling opionion to flame the situation into more violence negatively!
Then, the bad politicians along with Thai Military will attempt to take advantage on such worser situations; historically, led to many coups; so, the Political Infrastructure have to go back to Square One again!
And Again! And Again! For more than 35 times!
That situation, from outside looking in, if have a civilized Leader that is willing to provide a SOLUTION than negative destruction point of view, then, many of those problems can be solved instead of help flaming them to destruction.
What he hope to see is the GOVERNMENT MUST develop a SOLID and GOOD and FAIR POLITICAL FOUNDATION that whether rain or shine, the CONSTITUTION MUST BE SUSTAINED.
In most civilized Nations, their ARMED FORCE, COMMANDER IN CHIEF sworn in to guard and to protect their INSTITUTIONS. In Thailand coups from those Generals acted totally the opposited; per se, after took the Country by Force, the SOLDIERS destroyed the COUNTRY NATIONAL CONSTITUTION and rewriting that group’s version of LAW. If the CONSTITUTION still did not represent the Majority People’s Thais Citizen interest; there will be NO WAY for Thais Politics to move ahead.
What A good Government must built the CONSTITUTION for NO ONE, can easily run out with their TANKS or Special Forces, and torn down the own COUNTRY’s CONSTITUTION by Military Force! Such actions should be subjected to CHECK BILL to remove those GENERALS and back up power down to PRIVATE…
Without a SOLID PLATFORM or a good DEMOCRATIC Foundation, they will be NO TRUE Democracy in Thailand for the Majority People. Look! 76 years have past since 2475 B.E. 35 coups have ruined the Country and the people more than help. Yet, in this 21st Century, many Thais General are still want to take Thailand backward to rule their own people like those Burmese (Mynmar) bad Military Leaders.
Thanks to the Majority Thais Citizen stand up to vote againt those Military Backed Coup Controlled Government. Your people from the Whole COUNTRY must established your own LOCAL COMMUNITY to be strenght enough for your own POLITICAL SYSTEM. You need to be able to demand for better and fair justice for better future and life style locally. Local Elections throughout will be able to endure and ensure for future grassroot stronger People’s Democracy, and not totally have to depend on the Centralization from the same group of Politicians.
My husbands travelled for more than 50 countries through out the World. He has seen enough; understand what can be done for the sake of the people; so that the Majority Thais Citizens could be able to helping themselves.
Survey: People happy with Samak! (it’s all about solid 50%)
Bangkok University poll: Thais happy with PM
(BangkokPost.com) – Samak Sundaravej may be widely thought of being ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s lapdog, but Thailand’s new prime minister seems to have the majority of the public’s trust.
A Bangkok University poll disclosed that 50 per cent of respondents are happy with the Samak administration while only 35 percent are dissatisfied. 15 percent of those questioned preferred not to comment.
And only just days of being in office, marks out of ten are already being given out to cabinet ministers.
Most people believe deputy prime minister and commerce minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan is a star performer so far, followed by industry minister Suwit Khunkitti and prime minister and defence minister Samak Sundaravej.
The public has the least faith in interior minister Chalerm Yubamroong. He scored a lowly 4.7 out of 10.
Maj Gen Sanan Kajornprasart did slightly better with 4.84 points while natural resources and environment minister Anongwan Thepsuthin got a respectable 4.9 points.
BP (13 Feb. 08)
‘Citizenship’ for the hill tribes of Northern Thailand.
Here we go again.
I agree with polo – I cannot count the number of times that citizenship has been mentioned for the hill tribespeople, often in the same breath as border control and domestic security. Although safety is a crucial element along Thailand’s perimeter (particularly with Burma/Myanmar), the issue of the hill tribespeople’s citizenship, in this latest announcement as before, is likely to be nothing more than a drive to register rather than an official recognition of these ethnic minorities and their lengthy residency (often from birth) in Thailand.
However, when citizenship for the hill tribespeople issues arise, several other considerations must be made, which often involve questions that are unlikely to be answered.
First is the conceptual differences between ‘citizenship’ and ‘nationality’ are often confused in Thailand. They may be similar legally (can someone comment on this?), but are certainly different in a social, ethnic context. Although the Thai for citizen and national is often the same – р╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Кр╕Щ (bpra╠А-chaa chon) – Thais insist that they are Thai, not citizens of Thailand, and would be offended otherwise. This, however, is not the case for the hill tribespeople, who are labelled citizens to be incorporated into the social systems, however limited, to allow for better monitoring by the central Thai government. They are never really permitted total and complete access to and acceptance into Thai society.
Second, the granting of citizenship, although welcomed for its improved access to healthcare, education, electoral rights and so on, is more often a political tool to integrate younger hill tribespeople – Thainise – into mainstream Thai culture than a true gesture of official recognition. This pseudo recognition is, in effect, a two-sided sword, both which sting the hill tribespeople: by recognising their existence, the hills tribespeople are offered a glimpse of Thai culture and educated to work within its systems, but this also incurs a removal from their hill tribe communities and traditions, effectively causing cultural isolation. The granting of citizenship has never been an official recognition of ‘true status’ as it rarely (if ever) leads to ethnic minorites becoming fully participating and accepted members of the Thai state.
I wonder if anyone else has any opinions on this. It is an incredibly difficult situation – is a pseudo status (with strings) better than no status at all? – that requires sincere and in-depth discussion and research. Sadly, the latest (and late) announcement by the Thai government is unlikely to include any revised (read: improved) considerations for the hill tribespeople and their state-recognised status, and it will only continue the stream of previous round-ups that all too regularly occur.
Frankly, I don’t think these ‘surveys’ from Assumption can be taken seriously. One sees reports of them periodically, and the only interesting thing is the (usually) ridiculous interpretation given by the academics, if we can use the term loosely, who design them. As in the current case. I suspect they are part of Assumption’s PR programme, aimed at getting them into the press, & playing on middle-class fears about the disintegration of (the entirely false construction of) Thai morality.
I saw one about 3 years ago, for instance on ‘gigs.’ It suggested that the average number of gigs per respondent (males & females between the ages of about 14 and 28 ) was 7. A gig is an intimate & affectionate friend who is an alternative to one’s ‘official’ partner. One may have sex with him/her, but not necessarily. Although it is quite usual for one’s other friends to know of the existence of the gig, it is hidden from the partner. All hell breaks loose when a partner finds out. (I once saw a tertiary student pushed into a khlong by his outraged girl-friend over this issue. I was told that she also had a gig or 2.) My colleagues & I felt the figure of 7 was rather excessive, even given that we are constantly amazed at how promiscuous the kids are, when they seem, on the surface, to have such committed relationships.
The most amazing thing about all this to me is not the degree of promiscuity, which is not limited to the age-group in the ‘gig’ survey. It’s the degree to which middle-class Thai people, vast numbers of whom have gigs & patronise male & female sex workers, ritually pretend to be shocked about such things when they become public, as if they had no idea they were going on. It seems to be all part of the elaborate charade that is social behaviour here. It is indeed fascinating.
For example, I am looking forward to the new War Against Drugs (already boastfully foreshadowed by the wonderful new PM – he’ll have it sorted in 90 days), when everyone will be pretending that it is not an outrage that the cops, who ‘can do anything’ have gone out and perpetrated their Final Solution on thousands of victims with complete impunity yet again. They will no doubt be pretending, as they are still doing re. the last one, that it couldn’t have been the cops who were going around in hit squads; they were simply criminals, drug dealers, with short haircuts and access to supplies of police-issue ammunition. Well, of course the victims were drug dealers, everyone knows that. Even criminals who are silencing their gang-members make silly mistakes about who their gang-members are, & kill children & lottery-winners who seem to be ‘unusually rich.’And so what if a few of the killers really were police officers – the karmic value of murdering a drug dealer is equivalent to that of squashing a mosquito. A senior magician-monk has said it.
It would be interesting to see a comprehensive review of the number of times the government has granted “citizenship” to hill tribes over six decades (or more). Many times it has not been true or real citizenship and has not covered all those qualified. It seems that sometimes these weren’t much more than registrations of people. At the same time, the authorities have argued that such declarations have encouraged hilltribe immigrants from Burma etc, probably true but never dealt with and used to discriminate.
Interestingly, many people who frequently talk about democracy tend to advocate undemocratic measures to deal with political crises.
Is Samak really someone’s puppet? If so, is it really matter? The matter, in my opinion, is that the majority of Thai people have chosen the party who represent them in the parliamentary system by a democratic means.
The matter is how the new government function to ensure the rule of law, stability as well as prosperity for the people, especially the poor whose voice tended to be downplayed by many Bangkokians who thought that only were they qualified to vote.
Let the elected government do their job. And if they cannot, it is the people to bring them down.
Your recent comments regarding “managing” broadcast media have got many people worried about your real intentions. There is a sense of de’ja vu.
Track records show most politicians in your position will always seize the opportunity to cow broadcast journalists, in order to make sure the ruling party has the upper hand, by shamelessly turning the government media outlets into a propaganda machine. As is always the case, the minister will use an “invisible hand” to block critics and opposition. This time, the stakes are higher when you signal that you want to meddle in the newly established Thai PBS.
Late last year when you were on the other side of the political divide, you complained bitterly about the unfair treatment by most broadcast media outlets. But as you know, during successive governments, journalists working for the Public Relations Department and MCOT who want to keep their careers have had to abandon their professional integrity and bend over to their political master’s whim. It was the same when Thai Rak Thai was in power.
In the past, I was involved for many years in the BBC-sponsored media training in Thailand for both Channel 9 and Channel 11 journalists. But almost all of my trainees found it difficult to implement “public service editorial code” e.g. accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, etc, in their work environment because of the influence of the “invisible hand”.
I am writing this letter because you were once an accomplished journalist, and now you are in the position to make history by breaking this vicious circle, and set free all broadcast media. You could break new ground by creating a level playing field and introducing a sense of fair play to the prime minister’s weekly political broadcast. It is only fair to allow the leader of the opposition to make his case shortly after the PM’s broadcast. This is the normal practice among broadcast media in truly democratic countries.
Your other challenge is to allow the tradition of “public service editorial values” to take root in both Channel 9 and Channel 11 and resist any pressure from your own cabinet colleagues to use the “invisible hand” to influence news and current affairs programming. It is only fair to allow those journalists and their senior managers to do their job professionally without any threat to their jobs.
But your biggest challenge is to resist any temptation to meddle with the Thai PBS. The country has suffered serious political malaise partly because many media outlets have lost their credibility and public trust. They say gutter press breeds gutter politics, or the reverse may be true. Thai PBS is moulded on the BBC model, recognised as the world’s most trusted broadcaster.
“And I must congratulate Kh Noppadon for taking this public stance against right-wing Roman Catholic tight-arsedness, since his employers are one of Bkk’s main promoters of Opus Dei.”
Thanks for that background information which really is more interesting than the survey numbers.
My gripe is with overuse of surveys. In depth interviews bring out the issues better IMHO.
Surveys usually raise so many methodological questions themselves, like what people are thinking when they read the questions and what the results actually mean.
With breakdowns so close to 50% you could almost get the same answer flipping a coin, i.e. respondents might not even be reading the question but instead picking an answer at random like they sometimes obviously do on tests.
At the university I taught at all you had to do was measure the relative size of the condom section of stores at the foot of campus, with a tape measure for instance (something I thought of doing many times after being surprised by its size), and compare that with the relative size of the paper and pencil section. This seems like pretty hard evidence.
I saw Rambo in dvd at a friends house and it was really violent, lots of blood and gore. My friend in the States said that it was one of the most violent movies he’d seen in a while, I wouldn’t be surprised if 90% of the movie is blurred out or banned in Thailand completely.
I mean come on its Rambo and besides, if we’re gonna have to pay to see the movie, shouldn’t we deserve to see the original version that wasn’t censored. Either ban the movie completely or leave it alone, blurring is just stupid and annoying!!!
I find these data highly worrying. It is rather strange that half of the young population find sexual relations not normal! What about other natural activities like eating, sleeping etc.? Is this an indicator for the spreading of psychotic disorders among students? Fortunately, the sample was limited to Bangkok. This might explain quite a few of current dynamics in Bangkok like elections etc. Perhaps the farmers are more down to earth with regards to natural matters even though they voted for PPP.
Jonfernquest: ‘Given that the students are from Assumption’ : it doesn’t actually state that. The age is given as 12 to 19, so it’s most unlikely. (No offence intended, I think you may have read it & responded a little hastily. I’m a great fan of your work in Bkk Post – one of the few good things aimed at developing critical thinking, using the media as it should be.)
I’m surprised, from what I know of Thailand, that the figure is so low. (Perhaps the surveys were made by nuns, & put the kids off.) Less than 50% of glandular youth say they will have it off in what is an extremely promiscuous and predatory society (but only behind the scenes) on a day promoted (thanks to the Yanks, but EAGERLY taken up by the local traders) as a lovefest.
St V’s Day is very Thai in Thailand. Red roses are given out massively, even indiscriminately, in workplaces and social environments. They are accompanied by SIGNED cards ( a significant departure from the Western tradition, where the idea is to have the recipient guessing who might have sent the bouquet or card)Heterosexual males give roses to their male colleagues and friends, without any implication of sexual attraction – it’s completely acceptable.
‘ “It’s worrying because 48.9 per cent of respondents also see sexual relationships as normal and about personal rights,” said Noppadon Kannika of Assumption University….’ Yes, that is a worryingly low figure. And I must congratulate Kh Noppadon for taking this public stance against right-wing Roman Catholic tight-arsedness, since his employers are one of Bkk’s main promoters of Opus Dei.
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Samak’s disgrace
BTW, the editorial is headlined “Samak shocks, shames nation”. I wonder how people at the Bangkok Post can know what the “nation” thinks about Samak’s statement.
Samak’s disgrace
The whole interview is just embarrassing. Rivers gives him a clearcut opportunity to condemn the October 6 massacre, and Samak’s response is to summarily dismiss it, but not without lying about it first. Just astounding.
He also gives us this gem when asked whether he thinks Thaksin is guilty:
“I don’t think anyone can do something wrong if they don’t think it is wrong…”
At least now it’s clear that he’s equally inept with the media in both languages. His favorite tactic is to evade a direct question by replying with another question, either rhetorical or off topic, or both. Remember the “sinful sex” incident?
I’m frightened.
Samak’s disgrace
… actually, maybe a coup will be organised to prevent Samak proclaiming incidents in the name of the monarchy again? Another poisonous leaf in the kettle soon to be called black by the pot.
Samak’s disgrace
On a day of acknowledgment here, there is a great deal of irony witnessing denial so callously on display from a leader there.
Samak’s disgrace
And this doesn’t concern only Samak. The PM office minister, the health minister, the interior minister, and the minister of science all came out with knee-jerk policy proposals. Chaloerm even dared talking back to Samak. There also is the issue of secretaries and advisors to ministers. So, it wasn’t that a brilliant start of the Samak I cabinet.
The electorate and the “acute state of Thai politics”
Thank you for this valuable opportunity for my husband to express his opinion through me in American English in regarding to Thai’s politics. He lives here with me for over 36 years; but, he always follow up news from his country there – in Thailand.
Straight to the points:
The Kingdom of Thailand used to have everything in terms of natural resources. But, due to their backward political tug-a-war among politicians, militaries, influential merchantile groups; caused the Thais majority did not get sufficient prosperity for their supposed to get.
To solve such challenges. the whole NATION need to elect the FAIR LEADERS to build A SOLID POLITICAL FOUNDATION. Thailand has more than 35 coups in 3/4 of a Century. Almost all Coups took the Country’s Political Power by Force; then, rewritten their new version of CONSTITUTION each time! That MUST COME TO AN END; Otherwise, the country will not have the CORE STRUCTURE to build on; therefore, there will not be Democratic Society.
Secondly, according to Thais culture, over reacted, but easy to forget, lack of good and sincer leaderships that the people can really count on for leading them the correct direction. So, people turn to any negative News Media that write with their own narrowed self feeling opionion to flame the situation into more violence negatively!
Then, the bad politicians along with Thai Military will attempt to take advantage on such worser situations; historically, led to many coups; so, the Political Infrastructure have to go back to Square One again!
And Again! And Again! For more than 35 times!
That situation, from outside looking in, if have a civilized Leader that is willing to provide a SOLUTION than negative destruction point of view, then, many of those problems can be solved instead of help flaming them to destruction.
What he hope to see is the GOVERNMENT MUST develop a SOLID and GOOD and FAIR POLITICAL FOUNDATION that whether rain or shine, the CONSTITUTION MUST BE SUSTAINED.
In most civilized Nations, their ARMED FORCE, COMMANDER IN CHIEF sworn in to guard and to protect their INSTITUTIONS. In Thailand coups from those Generals acted totally the opposited; per se, after took the Country by Force, the SOLDIERS destroyed the COUNTRY NATIONAL CONSTITUTION and rewriting that group’s version of LAW. If the CONSTITUTION still did not represent the Majority People’s Thais Citizen interest; there will be NO WAY for Thais Politics to move ahead.
What A good Government must built the CONSTITUTION for NO ONE, can easily run out with their TANKS or Special Forces, and torn down the own COUNTRY’s CONSTITUTION by Military Force! Such actions should be subjected to CHECK BILL to remove those GENERALS and back up power down to PRIVATE…
Without a SOLID PLATFORM or a good DEMOCRATIC Foundation, they will be NO TRUE Democracy in Thailand for the Majority People. Look! 76 years have past since 2475 B.E. 35 coups have ruined the Country and the people more than help. Yet, in this 21st Century, many Thais General are still want to take Thailand backward to rule their own people like those Burmese (Mynmar) bad Military Leaders.
Thanks to the Majority Thais Citizen stand up to vote againt those Military Backed Coup Controlled Government. Your people from the Whole COUNTRY must established your own LOCAL COMMUNITY to be strenght enough for your own POLITICAL SYSTEM. You need to be able to demand for better and fair justice for better future and life style locally. Local Elections throughout will be able to endure and ensure for future grassroot stronger People’s Democracy, and not totally have to depend on the Centralization from the same group of Politicians.
My husbands travelled for more than 50 countries through out the World. He has seen enough; understand what can be done for the sake of the people; so that the Majority Thais Citizens could be able to helping themselves.
Samak’s disgrace
Hmm … and this during the first week in office.
A foretaste of what’s to come I gather.
A few more blunders like this and HE Samak seriously has to run for cover.
Samak must resign!
Survey: People happy with Samak! (it’s all about solid 50%)
Bangkok University poll: Thais happy with PM
(BangkokPost.com) – Samak Sundaravej may be widely thought of being ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s lapdog, but Thailand’s new prime minister seems to have the majority of the public’s trust.
A Bangkok University poll disclosed that 50 per cent of respondents are happy with the Samak administration while only 35 percent are dissatisfied. 15 percent of those questioned preferred not to comment.
And only just days of being in office, marks out of ten are already being given out to cabinet ministers.
Most people believe deputy prime minister and commerce minister Mingkwan Sangsuwan is a star performer so far, followed by industry minister Suwit Khunkitti and prime minister and defence minister Samak Sundaravej.
The public has the least faith in interior minister Chalerm Yubamroong. He scored a lowly 4.7 out of 10.
Maj Gen Sanan Kajornprasart did slightly better with 4.84 points while natural resources and environment minister Anongwan Thepsuthin got a respectable 4.9 points.
BP (13 Feb. 08)
Crown, Caricatures and Critics, and other papers
Thanks for this link.
Interesting papers to read and reflect upon.
Upland citizenship
‘Citizenship’ for the hill tribes of Northern Thailand.
Here we go again.
I agree with polo – I cannot count the number of times that citizenship has been mentioned for the hill tribespeople, often in the same breath as border control and domestic security. Although safety is a crucial element along Thailand’s perimeter (particularly with Burma/Myanmar), the issue of the hill tribespeople’s citizenship, in this latest announcement as before, is likely to be nothing more than a drive to register rather than an official recognition of these ethnic minorities and their lengthy residency (often from birth) in Thailand.
However, when citizenship for the hill tribespeople issues arise, several other considerations must be made, which often involve questions that are unlikely to be answered.
First is the conceptual differences between ‘citizenship’ and ‘nationality’ are often confused in Thailand. They may be similar legally (can someone comment on this?), but are certainly different in a social, ethnic context. Although the Thai for citizen and national is often the same – р╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Кр╕Щ (bpra╠А-chaa chon) – Thais insist that they are Thai, not citizens of Thailand, and would be offended otherwise. This, however, is not the case for the hill tribespeople, who are labelled citizens to be incorporated into the social systems, however limited, to allow for better monitoring by the central Thai government. They are never really permitted total and complete access to and acceptance into Thai society.
Second, the granting of citizenship, although welcomed for its improved access to healthcare, education, electoral rights and so on, is more often a political tool to integrate younger hill tribespeople – Thainise – into mainstream Thai culture than a true gesture of official recognition. This pseudo recognition is, in effect, a two-sided sword, both which sting the hill tribespeople: by recognising their existence, the hills tribespeople are offered a glimpse of Thai culture and educated to work within its systems, but this also incurs a removal from their hill tribe communities and traditions, effectively causing cultural isolation. The granting of citizenship has never been an official recognition of ‘true status’ as it rarely (if ever) leads to ethnic minorites becoming fully participating and accepted members of the Thai state.
I wonder if anyone else has any opinions on this. It is an incredibly difficult situation – is a pseudo status (with strings) better than no status at all? – that requires sincere and in-depth discussion and research. Sadly, the latest (and late) announcement by the Thai government is unlikely to include any revised (read: improved) considerations for the hill tribespeople and their state-recognised status, and it will only continue the stream of previous round-ups that all too regularly occur.
Sufficiency economy more popular than sex
Frankly, I don’t think these ‘surveys’ from Assumption can be taken seriously. One sees reports of them periodically, and the only interesting thing is the (usually) ridiculous interpretation given by the academics, if we can use the term loosely, who design them. As in the current case. I suspect they are part of Assumption’s PR programme, aimed at getting them into the press, & playing on middle-class fears about the disintegration of (the entirely false construction of) Thai morality.
I saw one about 3 years ago, for instance on ‘gigs.’ It suggested that the average number of gigs per respondent (males & females between the ages of about 14 and 28 ) was 7. A gig is an intimate & affectionate friend who is an alternative to one’s ‘official’ partner. One may have sex with him/her, but not necessarily. Although it is quite usual for one’s other friends to know of the existence of the gig, it is hidden from the partner. All hell breaks loose when a partner finds out. (I once saw a tertiary student pushed into a khlong by his outraged girl-friend over this issue. I was told that she also had a gig or 2.) My colleagues & I felt the figure of 7 was rather excessive, even given that we are constantly amazed at how promiscuous the kids are, when they seem, on the surface, to have such committed relationships.
The most amazing thing about all this to me is not the degree of promiscuity, which is not limited to the age-group in the ‘gig’ survey. It’s the degree to which middle-class Thai people, vast numbers of whom have gigs & patronise male & female sex workers, ritually pretend to be shocked about such things when they become public, as if they had no idea they were going on. It seems to be all part of the elaborate charade that is social behaviour here. It is indeed fascinating.
For example, I am looking forward to the new War Against Drugs (already boastfully foreshadowed by the wonderful new PM – he’ll have it sorted in 90 days), when everyone will be pretending that it is not an outrage that the cops, who ‘can do anything’ have gone out and perpetrated their Final Solution on thousands of victims with complete impunity yet again. They will no doubt be pretending, as they are still doing re. the last one, that it couldn’t have been the cops who were going around in hit squads; they were simply criminals, drug dealers, with short haircuts and access to supplies of police-issue ammunition. Well, of course the victims were drug dealers, everyone knows that. Even criminals who are silencing their gang-members make silly mistakes about who their gang-members are, & kill children & lottery-winners who seem to be ‘unusually rich.’And so what if a few of the killers really were police officers – the karmic value of murdering a drug dealer is equivalent to that of squashing a mosquito. A senior magician-monk has said it.
Upland citizenship
It would be interesting to see a comprehensive review of the number of times the government has granted “citizenship” to hill tribes over six decades (or more). Many times it has not been true or real citizenship and has not covered all those qualified. It seems that sometimes these weren’t much more than registrations of people. At the same time, the authorities have argued that such declarations have encouraged hilltribe immigrants from Burma etc, probably true but never dealt with and used to discriminate.
Samak must resign!
A very prevocative massage!
Interestingly, many people who frequently talk about democracy tend to advocate undemocratic measures to deal with political crises.
Is Samak really someone’s puppet? If so, is it really matter? The matter, in my opinion, is that the majority of Thai people have chosen the party who represent them in the parliamentary system by a democratic means.
The matter is how the new government function to ensure the rule of law, stability as well as prosperity for the people, especially the poor whose voice tended to be downplayed by many Bangkokians who thought that only were they qualified to vote.
Let the elected government do their job. And if they cannot, it is the people to bring them down.
Samak must resign!
Worrying signs from Mr.Jakrapob’s intention to “manage” the media. I just hope he doesn’t mean it (haven’t they learn anything at all?)…
See Bangkok Post editorial today:
http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/12Feb2008_news18.php
And Mr.Suwanban’s letter to Bangkokpost:
http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/12Feb2008_news25.php
Open letter to Jakrapob Penkair
E-mail: [email protected] / Snail mail: 136 Na Ranong Road, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Your recent comments regarding “managing” broadcast media have got many people worried about your real intentions. There is a sense of de’ja vu.
Track records show most politicians in your position will always seize the opportunity to cow broadcast journalists, in order to make sure the ruling party has the upper hand, by shamelessly turning the government media outlets into a propaganda machine. As is always the case, the minister will use an “invisible hand” to block critics and opposition. This time, the stakes are higher when you signal that you want to meddle in the newly established Thai PBS.
Late last year when you were on the other side of the political divide, you complained bitterly about the unfair treatment by most broadcast media outlets. But as you know, during successive governments, journalists working for the Public Relations Department and MCOT who want to keep their careers have had to abandon their professional integrity and bend over to their political master’s whim. It was the same when Thai Rak Thai was in power.
In the past, I was involved for many years in the BBC-sponsored media training in Thailand for both Channel 9 and Channel 11 journalists. But almost all of my trainees found it difficult to implement “public service editorial code” e.g. accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, etc, in their work environment because of the influence of the “invisible hand”.
I am writing this letter because you were once an accomplished journalist, and now you are in the position to make history by breaking this vicious circle, and set free all broadcast media. You could break new ground by creating a level playing field and introducing a sense of fair play to the prime minister’s weekly political broadcast. It is only fair to allow the leader of the opposition to make his case shortly after the PM’s broadcast. This is the normal practice among broadcast media in truly democratic countries.
Your other challenge is to allow the tradition of “public service editorial values” to take root in both Channel 9 and Channel 11 and resist any pressure from your own cabinet colleagues to use the “invisible hand” to influence news and current affairs programming. It is only fair to allow those journalists and their senior managers to do their job professionally without any threat to their jobs.
But your biggest challenge is to resist any temptation to meddle with the Thai PBS. The country has suffered serious political malaise partly because many media outlets have lost their credibility and public trust. They say gutter press breeds gutter politics, or the reverse may be true. Thai PBS is moulded on the BBC model, recognised as the world’s most trusted broadcaster.
Are you up to the challenge?
SOMCHAI SUWANBAN
Essex, England
Sufficiency economy more popular than sex
“And I must congratulate Kh Noppadon for taking this public stance against right-wing Roman Catholic tight-arsedness, since his employers are one of Bkk’s main promoters of Opus Dei.”
Thanks for that background information which really is more interesting than the survey numbers.
My gripe is with overuse of surveys. In depth interviews bring out the issues better IMHO.
Surveys usually raise so many methodological questions themselves, like what people are thinking when they read the questions and what the results actually mean.
With breakdowns so close to 50% you could almost get the same answer flipping a coin, i.e. respondents might not even be reading the question but instead picking an answer at random like they sometimes obviously do on tests.
At the university I taught at all you had to do was measure the relative size of the condom section of stores at the foot of campus, with a tape measure for instance (something I thought of doing many times after being surprised by its size), and compare that with the relative size of the paper and pencil section. This seems like pretty hard evidence.
Rambo off the menu in Thailand?
I saw Rambo in dvd at a friends house and it was really violent, lots of blood and gore. My friend in the States said that it was one of the most violent movies he’d seen in a while, I wouldn’t be surprised if 90% of the movie is blurred out or banned in Thailand completely.
I mean come on its Rambo and besides, if we’re gonna have to pay to see the movie, shouldn’t we deserve to see the original version that wasn’t censored. Either ban the movie completely or leave it alone, blurring is just stupid and annoying!!!
Sufficiency economy more popular than sex
Maybe, the problem lies with “Ajarn” Noppadon and his limited expertise in constructing meaningful questionnaires.
Sufficiency economy more popular than sex
I find these data highly worrying. It is rather strange that half of the young population find sexual relations not normal! What about other natural activities like eating, sleeping etc.? Is this an indicator for the spreading of psychotic disorders among students? Fortunately, the sample was limited to Bangkok. This might explain quite a few of current dynamics in Bangkok like elections etc. Perhaps the farmers are more down to earth with regards to natural matters even though they voted for PPP.
Samak must resign!
Don’t forget the current Parliament building is on Crown land. They probably want to keep sweet with the landlord.
(Old music-hall song:
‘If you’ve never been in love with the landlady’s daughter –
You can’t have another piece of pie!’ )
Sufficiency economy more popular than sex
Jonfernquest: ‘Given that the students are from Assumption’ : it doesn’t actually state that. The age is given as 12 to 19, so it’s most unlikely. (No offence intended, I think you may have read it & responded a little hastily. I’m a great fan of your work in Bkk Post – one of the few good things aimed at developing critical thinking, using the media as it should be.)
I’m surprised, from what I know of Thailand, that the figure is so low. (Perhaps the surveys were made by nuns, & put the kids off.) Less than 50% of glandular youth say they will have it off in what is an extremely promiscuous and predatory society (but only behind the scenes) on a day promoted (thanks to the Yanks, but EAGERLY taken up by the local traders) as a lovefest.
St V’s Day is very Thai in Thailand. Red roses are given out massively, even indiscriminately, in workplaces and social environments. They are accompanied by SIGNED cards ( a significant departure from the Western tradition, where the idea is to have the recipient guessing who might have sent the bouquet or card)Heterosexual males give roses to their male colleagues and friends, without any implication of sexual attraction – it’s completely acceptable.
‘ “It’s worrying because 48.9 per cent of respondents also see sexual relationships as normal and about personal rights,” said Noppadon Kannika of Assumption University….’ Yes, that is a worryingly low figure. And I must congratulate Kh Noppadon for taking this public stance against right-wing Roman Catholic tight-arsedness, since his employers are one of Bkk’s main promoters of Opus Dei.