What really surprises me is the extreme contrast between the southern provinces and the northeast. Can anyone provide with an explanation? Why does Lampang stands out in the north?
Great post serf.
Apart from the heading offshore aspect, I agree entirely (unusual for me).
That’s why I’ve been banging on for months about the electorate having to be more discerning.
The only way things can get any better is if the electorate keep turfing out (rejecting) politicians until finally they get the idea that they need to change (improve).
I had no problems with giving Thaksin a go, but he should have been rejected once his true colors were apparent.
I know it’s more complex when there are vested interests, no good alternatives, and obvious dangers, but at least it would be a start.
That’s also why I am really pissed off at TRT for rolling over to Thaksin instead of moderating his worst behaviors.
(look where it has got them !)
Thailand’s revolution of sorts and not an even half-decent politician in sight. Just more of the same boring old pro-monarchist Thaksinite & military fascist neanderthals. Both have blood on their hands. Nothing here worth achieving martyrdom for, for us plebs. Anyone who wants to achieve something real for themselves and their family would be better off taking their skills to live in another country where they will be appreciated – whether they be laborers, skilled workers or intellectuals. Who would really want to spend the rest of their lives subsidizing scum like Thaksin, Samak, the two Sonthis and the CP.
The country has never been split so obviously. The new government needs very quickly to get its checkbook out and start developing something in the countryside. Schools, roads, hospitals all need to be built in the NE and the South.
There should be massive tax breaks for business in Isaan and the south, and a few of the Bangkok big wigs should go there and plant rice for a season or two just to see how dire life up there can be. Then they should start working together with Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and Malaysia to get the damn duties down so that these regions can start becoming export bases with trade between these countries but with export bases in Isaan and the South not just peppered around Bangkok.
Thank god the PM term is only limited to 8 years, although this might simply mean that people try to fill their pockets that much quicker.
Not exactly a resounding yes was it. And the old TRT stronghold has made its feeling very clear.
The next government is going to have to get the development bandwagon running hard in the North East to stop trouble up here I think. Looking around my home town, business is down, various shops closing, and yet the local govt is spending money on bratoo meung! Can’t they find something more beneficial to spend the money on in the countryside?
All this election has accomplished is statistically proven that Thailand is currently engaged in a “cold” civil war between the North/Northeast and the Central/South.
Now it’s business as usual, but look on the bright side:
– Thaksin is gone, but his policies are not forgotten (ignore at your peril)
– Samak or Chavalit for PM? (pity the PM’s term is limited to 8 years)
By the way, the “spin” is already being put in place. The Nation’s editorial says: “The outcome of the referendum did not put an end to the polarisation of Thai politics, which is split between the urban middle class and the rural poor. Although the majority of people in this country voted for the promulgation of the constitution drawn up by the military-appointed Constitution Drafting Assembly and passed by the National Legislative Assembly, it will take time to achieve normalisation of the political process.” This is dumb. Many urban people voted against the constitution and only 14 million of 45 million voted for the constitution. But, heck, what does that matter to the military-loving Nation editors.
The results are going to scare the pants of the conservatives, the military leadership and the palace. Get ready for even more propaganda and, I fear, more repression and dirty tricks. The message that the troglodytes will draw from this result is that they need to be blunter in getting what they want. Sonthi B. said as much today.
Military Admirer is bitter when he should have rejoiced at the Manchester City win vs. United.
Military Admirer too should have rejoiced that the ballot was able to decide how the junta should exit . . . orderly for the generals to fade away.
If Military Admirer wishes to count the ‘no shows’ as Thaksinites, ok and with the wish that with your new recount, your bitterness will be diminished.
The VOTE has spoken and the VOTE did not speak well of Thaksin.
Jeru, it is great to see you making the best of a bad outcome for the military you seem to love and obey. So all of those no voters and those who didn’t bother to even show up count for nothing! And, they were all Thaksin supporters in your binary world. What monumental arrogance and blindness. I am betting that you’ll now be saddling up to support your military generals as they seek to take more extreme measures to ensure a particular outcome on the election. And that will be justified by this result; got to keep all them Thaksinites under control!
Looking at the site posted in comment #1, I find it hard to see how the No vote lost big in the North. The Yes vote didn’t win by a large margin there at all, as the count stands at the moment. The Yes vote won by a huge margin in the South, obviously and a 2-1 margin in the Central region. As the vote stands right now.
[…] interview┬ has been┬ posted in two parts.┬ The first part focussed on the general field of Southeast Asian Studies and Professor Hewison’s career.┬ The […]
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The pink zones
Very composed on SBS tonight Andrew! 🙂
The pink zones
What really surprises me is the extreme contrast between the southern provinces and the northeast. Can anyone provide with an explanation? Why does Lampang stands out in the north?
14.7 out of 45. An endorsement for the junta?
Great post serf.
Apart from the heading offshore aspect, I agree entirely (unusual for me).
That’s why I’ve been banging on for months about the electorate having to be more discerning.
The only way things can get any better is if the electorate keep turfing out (rejecting) politicians until finally they get the idea that they need to change (improve).
I had no problems with giving Thaksin a go, but he should have been rejected once his true colors were apparent.
I know it’s more complex when there are vested interests, no good alternatives, and obvious dangers, but at least it would be a start.
That’s also why I am really pissed off at TRT for rolling over to Thaksin instead of moderating his worst behaviors.
(look where it has got them !)
14.7 out of 45. An endorsement for the junta?
Thailand’s revolution of sorts and not an even half-decent politician in sight. Just more of the same boring old pro-monarchist Thaksinite & military fascist neanderthals. Both have blood on their hands. Nothing here worth achieving martyrdom for, for us plebs. Anyone who wants to achieve something real for themselves and their family would be better off taking their skills to live in another country where they will be appreciated – whether they be laborers, skilled workers or intellectuals. Who would really want to spend the rest of their lives subsidizing scum like Thaksin, Samak, the two Sonthis and the CP.
The constitutional count
The country has never been split so obviously. The new government needs very quickly to get its checkbook out and start developing something in the countryside. Schools, roads, hospitals all need to be built in the NE and the South.
There should be massive tax breaks for business in Isaan and the south, and a few of the Bangkok big wigs should go there and plant rice for a season or two just to see how dire life up there can be. Then they should start working together with Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and Malaysia to get the damn duties down so that these regions can start becoming export bases with trade between these countries but with export bases in Isaan and the South not just peppered around Bangkok.
Thank god the PM term is only limited to 8 years, although this might simply mean that people try to fill their pockets that much quicker.
14.7 out of 45. An endorsement for the junta?
Not exactly a resounding yes was it. And the old TRT stronghold has made its feeling very clear.
The next government is going to have to get the development bandwagon running hard in the North East to stop trouble up here I think. Looking around my home town, business is down, various shops closing, and yet the local govt is spending money on bratoo meung! Can’t they find something more beneficial to spend the money on in the countryside?
The country has never been so split I fear.
14.7 out of 45. An endorsement for the junta?
All this election has accomplished is statistically proven that Thailand is currently engaged in a “cold” civil war between the North/Northeast and the Central/South.
All that’s left now is to choose the fighting anthems of both sides, every great civil war has had them: the English Civil War had When the King Enjoys His Own Again for one side and Lili Burlero for the other. For the American Civil War, we, of course, have The Battle Hymn of the Republic and Dixie.
So any suggestions for songs representative of the sides in this conflict, my fellow New Mandalaians?
The pink zones
And I thought the outcome of the referendum was supposed to restore “unity” amongst the Thai populus.
Excuse me while I puke.
Interview with Professor Kevin Hewison – Part Two
Nicholas-
I also appreciate the effort you are putting into these interviews.
The constitutional count
Now it’s business as usual, but look on the bright side:
– Thaksin is gone, but his policies are not forgotten (ignore at your peril)
– Samak or Chavalit for PM? (pity the PM’s term is limited to 8 years)
The constitutional count
By the way, the “spin” is already being put in place. The Nation’s editorial says: “The outcome of the referendum did not put an end to the polarisation of Thai politics, which is split between the urban middle class and the rural poor. Although the majority of people in this country voted for the promulgation of the constitution drawn up by the military-appointed Constitution Drafting Assembly and passed by the National Legislative Assembly, it will take time to achieve normalisation of the political process.” This is dumb. Many urban people voted against the constitution and only 14 million of 45 million voted for the constitution. But, heck, what does that matter to the military-loving Nation editors.
14.7 out of 45. An endorsement for the junta?
The results are going to scare the pants of the conservatives, the military leadership and the palace. Get ready for even more propaganda and, I fear, more repression and dirty tricks. The message that the troglodytes will draw from this result is that they need to be blunter in getting what they want. Sonthi B. said as much today.
The constitutional count
Military Admirer is bitter when he should have rejoiced at the Manchester City win vs. United.
Military Admirer too should have rejoiced that the ballot was able to decide how the junta should exit . . . orderly for the generals to fade away.
If Military Admirer wishes to count the ‘no shows’ as Thaksinites, ok and with the wish that with your new recount, your bitterness will be diminished.
The VOTE has spoken and the VOTE did not speak well of Thaksin.
Interview with Professor Kevin Hewison – Part Two
Another great interview
The constitutional count
Jeru, it is great to see you making the best of a bad outcome for the military you seem to love and obey. So all of those no voters and those who didn’t bother to even show up count for nothing! And, they were all Thaksin supporters in your binary world. What monumental arrogance and blindness. I am betting that you’ll now be saddling up to support your military generals as they seek to take more extreme measures to ensure a particular outcome on the election. And that will be justified by this result; got to keep all them Thaksinites under control!
The constitutional count
Jeru,
Looking at the site posted in comment #1, I find it hard to see how the No vote lost big in the North. The Yes vote didn’t win by a large margin there at all, as the count stands at the moment. The Yes vote won by a huge margin in the South, obviously and a 2-1 margin in the Central region. As the vote stands right now.
The constitutional count
Look at it this way Andrew Walker: Thaksin won himself a winning football team (so far), but he lost everything else.
Only in the NorthEast was the NO vote winning. Everywhere else, the NOs (representing Thaksin, representing the banned TRT party), lost and lost big.
Interview with Professor Kevin Hewison – Part One
[…] interview┬ has been┬ posted in two parts.┬ The first part focussed on the general field of Southeast Asian Studies and Professor Hewison’s career.┬ The […]
The constitutional count
Real time results here;
http://202.60.199.51/en/?zone=0
More noise in Chachoengsao
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