… or will the Army act like Sarit in the 1950-60’s, building up the р╕Ър╕▓р╕гр╕бр╕╡ of the not-necessarily-popular R.X, and in turn using that aura of greatness to preserve its own totalitarian role in Thai politics.
Thanks for the report Nick. Meant to comment earlier but other things got in the way.
What I still do not fully understand is why Thai Studies academics at SOAS are so willing to provide a forum for propagandists for the royalist dictatorship in Thailand, the so-called “War Room”, who everyone knew in advance were on a mission from the regime. Do they actually believe that these people have come to SOAS to share knowledge in the spirit of academic scholarship? Hosting Sonthi Lim and Kraisak in October 2006 (on the anniversary of the 6 October ’76 massacre of students by royalist militias) was bad enough. But one would have thought they have learned something about the regime by now. Yet they are still willing to receive and provide a metaphorical academic loudspeaker to its propagandists. Not only willing but “very pleased”! Were they pressured into it by that bastion of conservative, feudal, anti-democratic Thai culture, the Royal Thai Embassy (whose silver spoon staff forget that their salaries are paid in large part by the taxes of Thai Rak Thai voters)? Or do these Thai Studies academics actually support the current regime? Or? Why are they so willing to turn themselves into an instrument of propaganda for a dictatorship?
If SOAS were to be consistent with the stance of its Thai Studies academics then this would mean that it would be obliged to host propagandists for the military regime in Burma. In fact, (students note) any subsequent criticism these Thai Studies academics might have of the regime in Burma would be hypocritical, given their demonstrated support for the one in Thailand. If they can’t show support for the democratically elected, exiled former PM of Thailand then they should certainly show no sympathy for another (internally) exiled democratically leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
Very disappointed with Sulak. Some phu yai (even good ones) don’t know when to retire.
It would be really helpful if anyone who went to the seminar at ANU could post a commentary of today’s events and summarise what Dr Surin talked about…for us too far away to attend…it’s a shame the UK dosen’t have more of these types of seminars
As far as I understand it, such “plots” have been going on ever since Vang Pao landed in the US. He has even been reported to have guaranteed seats in his future Lao cabinet in return for hefty “donations” from the Hmong-Lao community.
The US authorities have known about this for years. So why act now, when old Vang Pao is 70 years old? When did the authorities decide that his was not a liberation effort against a “rogue state” but instead a threatening and illegal plot? It seems that the US is working under the key word “security” rather than “freedom” these days. And their policy towards Laos is now one of promoting stability – whatever the cost to liberty – instead of change.
I don’t support bringing about change through arms. But was Vang Pao a serious threat? Surely his most “dangerous” years were through the 1970s and 1980s: but then, US priorities were different then. Vang Pao’s agitation for in regime change in Laos kept pressure on the LPRP government without the US having to lift a finger directly.
Seems like the US doesn’t see Vang Pao’s agitation as instrumental any more. I can’t help seeing this as yet another example of how the American War on Terror is in fact allowing and promoting terror by placing liberty and justice second to the ephemeral definition of security.
Perhaps, Dr Surin can also give us his take on the latest trend in Thai totalitarianism, i.e. Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham’s attempt to make everybody comply with the aim of national unity under a state-defined moral code of conduct. It would also be interesting to know what he thinks about the trend of establishing para-military groups in rural areas.
Fast forward five years…the Army continues to be the true power in Thailand, after having ‘fixed’ the constitution and oversaw the succession of Rama X to the throne (Bhumipul having passed away). Will the army act like Phibul, sidelining Rama X (they could never have done it while Rama IX was still around) and asserting their right to rule dictatorially over 80 million people, or will the army be more like Pridi (in the sense of being democratic with a sense of equality and social justice) and return power to the people (and pigs might fly).
gave me a real chuckle to read that ‘academics’ were discussing the grand “Sufficiency economy” theory. I thought everyone knew that it had as much meaning as yellow shirts and yellow wristbands. Thais are required to pay lip service to such foolishness, but I never thought foreigners would give it a second thought. I wonder if anyone at the presentation has actually been in a Thai village in the last 10 years.
Sad, but I can’t find anything written by Dr Surin Maisrikrod in either Chulalongkorn’s or Thammasat’s online library catalogs despite the extensive bibliography on his webpage. Often at the TIC (Thai Information Center) they put copies of articles by scholars in their collection. Does anyone know how you make recomendations? I sure would like to read his dissertation on IP rights.
“…the protagonist does not find an insect in his bed but turns into one…”
Yes, I remember now, turning into one is just as scary. Kafka’s “The Castle” is also pretty scary and is strongly reminiscent of situations when you have to deal with an all powerful yet invisible bureaucracy, the sort of zero transparency situations one often finds.
The U.S. television show “King of The Hill” (animated comedy)created by Mike Judge of “Beavis and Butthead” fame (infamy?) includes a character that is a Laotion immigrant in Arland Texas.
In an attempt to curry favor with a wealthy Laotion who controls membership of a very prestigious country club he becomes part of a plot to overthrow the Laotion government.
The plot includes a former Laotion General in charge of the operation…stranger than fiction indeed.
“…Debate over ways of avoiding pitfalls of the Thaksin period have [has?] focused on proposals for strengthening the democratic provisions of the 1997 constitution …”
If Dr. Surin is to discuss this “debate” (?) about avoiding the “pitfalls of the Thaksin period” one hopes that he also discusses how to avoid the “yawning chasm” of the post-September 19 period.
One should also bear in mind that this so-called “debate” has taken place under conditions of near total censorship, when the opposing side has been unable to present its side of the argument. So really the term “debate” is a misnomer. “Regime propaganda” would be a more appropriate term to use.
“…Strengthening the democratic provisions of the 1997 Constitution…” really? The new draft’s proposal for an appointed Senate (manipulated by you-know-who) is going to be more democratic than the elected one of the 1997 Constitution???!
“… A new constitution is currently being debated to facilitate Thailand’s return to democratic rule…”. One would have to be rather naive to believe that this Consitution is being designed (certainly not “debated”) to facilitate a return to “democratic” rule. Democratic rule is precisely the problem for the ratchakan state and those who feed off it, so the new Constitution will be drafted to do everything possible to reduce as much as possible the influence of elected politicians, ie. the true representatives of the people. It will then be called “democratic”.
Rule #2 of Thai politics: the name and the thing are never the same. (Those who frequent this blog already know my Rule #1).
It is rather spooky that a couple of soldier of fortune types could actually threaten to take over a whole Southeast Asian nation. Someone should really write a counterfactual what-if history of what could have happened if they hadn’t been stopped. Is the current Lao state that weak and vulnerable? Even if they had taken Vientienne, securing the rest of the country wouldn’t have been easy. Probably would have broken down into local warlordism following the same historical path as large parts of Burma.
The original PRD article didn’t provide any context, making it all sound rather strange and a little creepy. I mean Kafka wrote a story about this guy waking up one morning and finding a large insect in his bed. Recently, I’ve had a lot of insect experiences in rural Thailand, a swarm of bees entered our well last month and seem to be enjoying life there, there’s a scorpion that keeps coming back to our bathroom (mother says he finds the home cosy), and now I know why the neighbors cut back their trees, if you don’t your house will be invaded by caterpillars.
Now that the context is clear, it seems like yet another theme for Buddhism and Science. The idea of ants having “morality” isn’t nearly as far-fetched as it seems. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has an article on evolutionary game theory: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/game-evolutionary/
[…] achievements is available from the website of Kasetsart University.┬ Please note that according to Serf, “The PRD article failed to note that he was making a speech at the opening of an ant […]
The PRD article failed to note that he was making a speech at the opening of an ant museum. The caption reads
“Preserved specimens of various ant species from the Halabala wildlife sanctuary in Yala and Narathiwat provinces are on display at the Ant Museum, run by Kasetsart University’s forestry faculty.– PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD”
Not that this factlet changes anything said here since.
First of all, I reckon the dress as a Akha-Hmong mix…
If Khun Ladda is consequently promoting Thailand as a “Volksgemeinschaft” of the Siamese, then she should kick herself out of the office as she herself is of Chinese descent (her name indicates that – unless it is a married name…).
IMHO Miss Fahroong is doing justice for the ethnic minorties in Thailand who are denied citizenship, blamed for environmental destruction but being exploided excessively for the tourism industry. Virtually no pictoral representation of Thailand can forbear the inclusion of the so-called hill tribes who are used as the “noble savage” and the last stronghold of a exotic fairyland.
But want it or not: Unconsciously, common Thai people have included the hilltribes into the mindset of ‘Thainess’ to a certain degree, at least abroad. If a farang is wearing a Hmong shirt in Europe and meets a Thai, the Thai would say: “Oh you have a Thai shirt!” rather than: “You have a Meo shirt” (The question of who actually made the shirt left aside). As distance grows the national imaginary gets more inclusive and regional differences get blurred. Ms. Ladda seems to have forgotten about that.
She also seems to forget that outside Thailand, what is presented is as much Laotian as it is Thai – done by people from Isan.
And she definitely needs a lesson on what “culture” is meant nowadays….
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Electoral sabotage bears rich fruit
… or will the Army act like Sarit in the 1950-60’s, building up the р╕Ър╕▓р╕гр╕бр╕╡ of the not-necessarily-popular R.X, and in turn using that aura of greatness to preserve its own totalitarian role in Thai politics.
Report on SOAS event in London: “Thailand after the Coup”
Thanks for the report Nick. Meant to comment earlier but other things got in the way.
What I still do not fully understand is why Thai Studies academics at SOAS are so willing to provide a forum for propagandists for the royalist dictatorship in Thailand, the so-called “War Room”, who everyone knew in advance were on a mission from the regime. Do they actually believe that these people have come to SOAS to share knowledge in the spirit of academic scholarship? Hosting Sonthi Lim and Kraisak in October 2006 (on the anniversary of the 6 October ’76 massacre of students by royalist militias) was bad enough. But one would have thought they have learned something about the regime by now. Yet they are still willing to receive and provide a metaphorical academic loudspeaker to its propagandists. Not only willing but “very pleased”! Were they pressured into it by that bastion of conservative, feudal, anti-democratic Thai culture, the Royal Thai Embassy (whose silver spoon staff forget that their salaries are paid in large part by the taxes of Thai Rak Thai voters)? Or do these Thai Studies academics actually support the current regime? Or? Why are they so willing to turn themselves into an instrument of propaganda for a dictatorship?
If SOAS were to be consistent with the stance of its Thai Studies academics then this would mean that it would be obliged to host propagandists for the military regime in Burma. In fact, (students note) any subsequent criticism these Thai Studies academics might have of the regime in Burma would be hypocritical, given their demonstrated support for the one in Thailand. If they can’t show support for the democratically elected, exiled former PM of Thailand then they should certainly show no sympathy for another (internally) exiled democratically leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
Very disappointed with Sulak. Some phu yai (even good ones) don’t know when to retire.
Thai politics seminar at ANU
It would be really helpful if anyone who went to the seminar at ANU could post a commentary of today’s events and summarise what Dr Surin talked about…for us too far away to attend…it’s a shame the UK dosen’t have more of these types of seminars
Stranger than fiction?
As far as I understand it, such “plots” have been going on ever since Vang Pao landed in the US. He has even been reported to have guaranteed seats in his future Lao cabinet in return for hefty “donations” from the Hmong-Lao community.
The US authorities have known about this for years. So why act now, when old Vang Pao is 70 years old? When did the authorities decide that his was not a liberation effort against a “rogue state” but instead a threatening and illegal plot? It seems that the US is working under the key word “security” rather than “freedom” these days. And their policy towards Laos is now one of promoting stability – whatever the cost to liberty – instead of change.
I don’t support bringing about change through arms. But was Vang Pao a serious threat? Surely his most “dangerous” years were through the 1970s and 1980s: but then, US priorities were different then. Vang Pao’s agitation for in regime change in Laos kept pressure on the LPRP government without the US having to lift a finger directly.
Seems like the US doesn’t see Vang Pao’s agitation as instrumental any more. I can’t help seeing this as yet another example of how the American War on Terror is in fact allowing and promoting terror by placing liberty and justice second to the ephemeral definition of security.
Thai politics seminar at ANU
Perhaps, Dr Surin can also give us his take on the latest trend in Thai totalitarianism, i.e. Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham’s attempt to make everybody comply with the aim of national unity under a state-defined moral code of conduct. It would also be interesting to know what he thinks about the trend of establishing para-military groups in rural areas.
Electoral sabotage bears rich fruit
Fast forward five years…the Army continues to be the true power in Thailand, after having ‘fixed’ the constitution and oversaw the succession of Rama X to the throne (Bhumipul having passed away). Will the army act like Phibul, sidelining Rama X (they could never have done it while Rama IX was still around) and asserting their right to rule dictatorially over 80 million people, or will the army be more like Pridi (in the sense of being democratic with a sense of equality and social justice) and return power to the people (and pigs might fly).
Sufficiency and the rich
gave me a real chuckle to read that ‘academics’ were discussing the grand “Sufficiency economy” theory. I thought everyone knew that it had as much meaning as yellow shirts and yellow wristbands. Thais are required to pay lip service to such foolishness, but I never thought foreigners would give it a second thought. I wonder if anyone at the presentation has actually been in a Thai village in the last 10 years.
Thai politics seminar at ANU
Sad, but I can’t find anything written by Dr Surin Maisrikrod in either Chulalongkorn’s or Thammasat’s online library catalogs despite the extensive bibliography on his webpage. Often at the TIC (Thai Information Center) they put copies of articles by scholars in their collection. Does anyone know how you make recomendations? I sure would like to read his dissertation on IP rights.
The ant analogy
“…the protagonist does not find an insect in his bed but turns into one…”
Yes, I remember now, turning into one is just as scary. Kafka’s “The Castle” is also pretty scary and is strongly reminiscent of situations when you have to deal with an all powerful yet invisible bureaucracy, the sort of zero transparency situations one often finds.
Stranger than fiction?
The U.S. television show “King of The Hill” (animated comedy)created by Mike Judge of “Beavis and Butthead” fame (infamy?) includes a character that is a Laotion immigrant in Arland Texas.
In an attempt to curry favor with a wealthy Laotion who controls membership of a very prestigious country club he becomes part of a plot to overthrow the Laotion government.
The plot includes a former Laotion General in charge of the operation…stranger than fiction indeed.
Thai politics seminar at ANU
A couple of comments:
“…Debate over ways of avoiding pitfalls of the Thaksin period have [has?] focused on proposals for strengthening the democratic provisions of the 1997 constitution …”
If Dr. Surin is to discuss this “debate” (?) about avoiding the “pitfalls of the Thaksin period” one hopes that he also discusses how to avoid the “yawning chasm” of the post-September 19 period.
One should also bear in mind that this so-called “debate” has taken place under conditions of near total censorship, when the opposing side has been unable to present its side of the argument. So really the term “debate” is a misnomer. “Regime propaganda” would be a more appropriate term to use.
“…Strengthening the democratic provisions of the 1997 Constitution…” really? The new draft’s proposal for an appointed Senate (manipulated by you-know-who) is going to be more democratic than the elected one of the 1997 Constitution???!
“… A new constitution is currently being debated to facilitate Thailand’s return to democratic rule…”. One would have to be rather naive to believe that this Consitution is being designed (certainly not “debated”) to facilitate a return to “democratic” rule. Democratic rule is precisely the problem for the ratchakan state and those who feed off it, so the new Constitution will be drafted to do everything possible to reduce as much as possible the influence of elected politicians, ie. the true representatives of the people. It will then be called “democratic”.
Rule #2 of Thai politics: the name and the thing are never the same. (Those who frequent this blog already know my Rule #1).
The ant analogy
Jon, do you mean Kafka’s “Die Verwandlung”? If so, the protagonist does not find an insect in his bed but turns into one…
Stranger than fiction?
It is rather spooky that a couple of soldier of fortune types could actually threaten to take over a whole Southeast Asian nation. Someone should really write a counterfactual what-if history of what could have happened if they hadn’t been stopped. Is the current Lao state that weak and vulnerable? Even if they had taken Vientienne, securing the rest of the country wouldn’t have been easy. Probably would have broken down into local warlordism following the same historical path as large parts of Burma.
The ant analogy
The original PRD article didn’t provide any context, making it all sound rather strange and a little creepy. I mean Kafka wrote a story about this guy waking up one morning and finding a large insect in his bed. Recently, I’ve had a lot of insect experiences in rural Thailand, a swarm of bees entered our well last month and seem to be enjoying life there, there’s a scorpion that keeps coming back to our bathroom (mother says he finds the home cosy), and now I know why the neighbors cut back their trees, if you don’t your house will be invaded by caterpillars.
Now that the context is clear, it seems like yet another theme for Buddhism and Science. The idea of ants having “morality” isn’t nearly as far-fetched as it seems. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has an article on evolutionary game theory:
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/game-evolutionary/
And there’s a famous book on this topic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_and_the_Theory_of_Games
These ants are really going to keep me awake at night.
Stranger than fiction?
Why didn’t Vang Pao just say it was part of the War On Terror TM?
Stranger than fiction?
And thus the U.S.’s betrayal of the Hmong is complete.
Sufficiency and the rich
[…] achievements is available from the website of Kasetsart University.┬ Please note that according to Serf, “The PRD article failed to note that he was making a speech at the opening of an ant […]
Sufficiency and the rich
http://www.bangkokpost.com/050607_front.jpg
The PRD article failed to note that he was making a speech at the opening of an ant museum. The caption reads
“Preserved specimens of various ant species from the Halabala wildlife sanctuary in Yala and Narathiwat provinces are on display at the Ant Museum, run by Kasetsart University’s forestry faculty.– PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD”
Not that this factlet changes anything said here since.
Spot the Thai national dress
First of all, I reckon the dress as a Akha-Hmong mix…
If Khun Ladda is consequently promoting Thailand as a “Volksgemeinschaft” of the Siamese, then she should kick herself out of the office as she herself is of Chinese descent (her name indicates that – unless it is a married name…).
IMHO Miss Fahroong is doing justice for the ethnic minorties in Thailand who are denied citizenship, blamed for environmental destruction but being exploided excessively for the tourism industry. Virtually no pictoral representation of Thailand can forbear the inclusion of the so-called hill tribes who are used as the “noble savage” and the last stronghold of a exotic fairyland.
But want it or not: Unconsciously, common Thai people have included the hilltribes into the mindset of ‘Thainess’ to a certain degree, at least abroad. If a farang is wearing a Hmong shirt in Europe and meets a Thai, the Thai would say: “Oh you have a Thai shirt!” rather than: “You have a Meo shirt” (The question of who actually made the shirt left aside). As distance grows the national imaginary gets more inclusive and regional differences get blurred. Ms. Ladda seems to have forgotten about that.
She also seems to forget that outside Thailand, what is presented is as much Laotian as it is Thai – done by people from Isan.
And she definitely needs a lesson on what “culture” is meant nowadays….
Sufficiency and the rich
From my experience, I don’t think that there is a great degree of difference in the happiness of Germans and Thais. Thais might even be happier.