Notdissapointed and I are fellow citizens walking down the street together, when we are confronted by a gunman who says, “Shut up or I will shoot you!”. I am cowardly enough to comply. Notdissapointed bows deeply to the gunman, turns to me and says, “Yeah, shut up you scumbag!”
Nice to have a copy of this to refer to, Graham.
After the Black Saturday fires in Victoria, Australia, SBY said “Australia’s misery is our misery and their success is our success.”
Time for wisdom, vision and courage to create the changes that are needed if we are going to get things working with the neighbours, from the ground up.
Please, please could you at least get one thing straight. Those that oppose the criminality of Prayuth do not necessarily support Thaksin, either now or in the past. Prayuth is a disgrace to Thailand, as is Suthep. Am I a Thaksin supporter? No, I am not.
I hate this military dictatorship so much. This is so long story from the beginning of Ne Win, and now U Thein Sein. When are we going to get Democracy.
The “Free the 14” propaganda campaign is spearheaded by US State Department agitators, literally funded by the US government. This includes of course Prachatai (http://altthainews.blogspot.com/…/us-funded-pro-democracy-p…), admittedly funded by the US National Endowment for Democracy (NED) (http://prachatai.org/english/aboutus), as well as other fronts funded by NED including “Scholars at Risk” (SAR) and it could be added New Mandala and ANU. New Mandala and ANU are funded and supported by NED connected to Kenneth Alderman a thaksin lobbyist, the tax evading Lowy Institute (paid NM to blog), Center for Strategic and Internatioanl Studies, and etc. So please show us your independent credentials. Because you can’t but love the ability of NM commentators to shoehorn hidden agendas into something resembling that of academia to lend legitimacy.
When every voice amid a particular campaign seeking political destabilization are funded by the EXACT same foreign organization, treason is afoot.
A lot of the so-called “scholars” supporting this latest propaganda front are ALSO all funded by NED: http://altthainews.blogspot.com/…/exposing-fake-academics-t…
Let’s not forget these same voices hiding behind “human rights” and “democracy” now, were all utterly silent, or even actively complicit when Thaksin Shinawatra and his criminal regime were mass-slaughtering thousands in the streets of Thailand, starting in 2003 with the “War on Drugs” and continuing there on after with crackdowns on protesters, the deployment of assassins, kidnappers, and even heavily armed terrorists and bombers.
The coup unfolded to stop this, but you’d never know that if you just listened to NED-funded propaganda. It would seem the coup just “took over” to end a “thriving democracy.”
Nothing could be further from the truth. This latest push by foreign interests to agitate political instability in Thailand is evidence we are FAR from any sort of end to this conflict. We must stay vigilant, active, and continue working on real solutions to drain the swamps Shinawatra and his foreign backers look in for their support.
Prime Minister Najib’s survival hangs on nothing. He has already been hung, like a Spanish Pheasant. He hung himself before Mahathir even had a chance. Mahathir merely pulled the noose a bit tighter. Malaysian politicians do not care about the nation (the one exception may be Noor Farida Ariffin, who has had credibility, for several years; but she has the ‘wrong’ gender). Not UMNO. Not PAS. Not DAP and not PKR (and certainly not Anwar). The Ringgit has dropped and so has Najib. The sharks already began circling two years ago. If Mahathir thinks Malaysians will buy into Mukhriz anymore than Tun, Najib, Anwar or Zahid, guess again. It is long past time, that Malaysia grew up, and stop acting like a spoiled child; some Malaysians are to blame as well by feeding into this passive-aggressive behavior of UMNO and PAS (in particular, but not exclusively). Sabah and Sarawak are at their wits end, being used day-after-day, by Putrajaya. Malaysia is psychotic and it needs psychotherapy. Given a thoroughly corrupted government, civil service, law enforcement, judiciary and Shari’a system, it’s a wonder Malaysia did not fold, the day after Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaimed with great pride, “Merdeka” ! This isn’t working for Malaysia. It’s the wrong side; the whole side. As Hing, in Graham Greene’s “The Quiet American”, tells his employer, the old, tired, lonely and very cynical journalist, Thomas Fowler, “Mr Fowler, we all have to take sides”. Unfortunately, Mr Fowler chooses the bad side and someone dies; his only male friend; it is well-past time, Malaysia made much better choices.
This reminds me of the prelude to the Student Revolution of 1973. Twelve democracy advocates were arrested and charged with treason. By October 13, 1973 there were more than 500,000 people in the streets of Bangkok demanding their release.
Now, in 2015 we have 14 democracy advocates who have been arrested and charged with sedition, to be tried in a military court. We must show up in Bangkok and show our support, and demand their immediate, unconditional release. No bail requests! Release them immediately!
What on earth is the Prime Minister of a ‘democratic’ country doing (I paraphrase from today’s Bangkok Post) ‘making a suggestion to the “judicial side” on how to handle the issue”? I naively thought that the judiciary whether civilian or military was supposed to be independent of politics and that political interference was a major reason for the need for the military to take over the running of the country.
Since even before 1932, Siam/Thailand has consistently, repeatedly and proudly deflected, ignored, denied, re-interpreted, denounced and pretended not to be engaged in human rights violations – particularly state sponsored repression and terrorism. So it’s continuing success that we witness today should come as little surprise. Ancient Chinese proverb: The flea hides in long hair.
“Moot?” Not. The Thai military courts are illegal and inappropriate by any global measure of decency. You make a point of making points but ignore the initial point – they are civilians robbed of freedom by military and its minions. You also are making the same kind of baseless arguments you accuse others of making without proof. Thaksin paid and supported, etc. Like your calibre across the board, Thaksin is the sole problem with society and the elite/army is forever blameless and never need be held accountable. Have you ever lived in a village? Have you ever wondered why Thailand’s worlds of boxing and horse racing are dominated by the Army? Just wondering.
“Guest of the state of their own choosing.??” The grammar is indicative of error by native speaker. Should be “”at their own choosing…” The misuse of “of” is revealing in that it intimates the state is some form that the students choose. This is, obviously, NOT the case. When the state – really a military entity – commands such power, authority, fear and intimidation, let alone ability to arrest, hold in remand and judge in military courts (totally unheard of in a civilized democracy) the state is far and beyond a form that the students nor anyone with a mind toward humane freedoms would ever envision for others let alone self. So let us not be cute and use words like “guests,” which insults the lowest intelligence.
Too, note that what was legal yesterday today is not and what is legal today will likely be illegal tomorrow IF… Thailand’s boringly repetitive national security and threat/defamation mantras are not unique, they are not forgotten by legitimate historians and they are proof to all people everywhere that the worst danger to each and every one of us is the danger of being force-fed ruinous doctrine.
The claim that the students are financed by Thaksin and his supporters is absolute rubbish. Their safe house, where they were arrested, for example, is a foundation owned by Ajarn Sulak, who may be many things – but definitely not a supporter of Thaksin. The students are very clear about keeping distance to both UDD and Phua Thai Party. Their advisers are mostly Thammasat Ajarn, not politicians.
Secondly – it is no secret that the students could ask for bail but refuse so as they do not acknowledge the jurisdiction of the military court. Not asking for bail is part of their protest strategy. That they could walk out of prison any time though is another wrong claim. They could walk out if they ask for bail, and the court would grant them bail, which is only up to the court to decide. Asking for bail does not necessarily mean that they will be granted bail.
Naturally, the student’s are opposed to the coup, that is why they have planned a sit in protest on May 22 at the BACC, where they were arrested with undue force (i was there, and so were around a hundred other members of the media – both local and international). Which has set this whole thing into motion.
All that is happening now is on the military itself, because it over-reacted at a small and symbolic protest, which, if it would have been left alone, would have been over in 30 minutes.
Naturally, the students use their arrest as part of their peaceful protest against the military junta. And so far, they quite successfully outsmarted the junta.
Roy, there you go again. Hearsay and unsubstantiated accusations – he said, they said, you said.
Throwing out biased and prejudicial words such as: ‘conspired’, ‘documented’ and ‘mentioned’ ‘possible’ by the (English) local press. But no mention of proof or reference to Thai language press making for good in-depth investigative accusations as is the wont of NM and NMites.
In a country with a rule of law, the accused have been charged and awaiting their day in court. This is no kangaroo court where a verdict is within days or weeks. These many charges will take years to resolve. This is called a justice system. Not to be judged by unsubstantiated accusations.
And now we come back to democratic students. Stay tuned to the local Thai press and social media to get reports of evidence found in their lawyer’s car of collusion between the students and old regime. Once this damning evidence came out, the support for the students melted away. It’s leaving a bad smell Roy.
A civilian court set up by the military junta to persecute an elected government and civilians is called “kangaroo court” in democratic and polite societies. I’m no fan of Thaksin. If you want to debate intellectually, please get over Thaksin. The point in this discussion is the rights of those students are being violated. One wise man once wrote to this effects; if you ignore when the rights of your enemy is violated, you also allow your right to be violated. Pardon my inadequate English.
All in the past? How long that’s gonna last?
Democracy in the bud, as clear as mud.
Amnesty a given, to all their crimes.
Times ain’t achanging till their death knell chimes.
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Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
Not disappointed is obviously a follower of land destroyer. Honestly we should all just ignore his nonsense.He contributes nothing to the debate
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
Notdissapointed and I are fellow citizens walking down the street together, when we are confronted by a gunman who says, “Shut up or I will shoot you!”. I am cowardly enough to comply. Notdissapointed bows deeply to the gunman, turns to me and says, “Yeah, shut up you scumbag!”
Building mateship, not subs
Nice to have a copy of this to refer to, Graham.
After the Black Saturday fires in Victoria, Australia, SBY said “Australia’s misery is our misery and their success is our success.”
Time for wisdom, vision and courage to create the changes that are needed if we are going to get things working with the neighbours, from the ground up.
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
Can’t compare to the millions who took to the streets to oppose yingluck regime. Or should you remind yourself of that fact?
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
To not disappointed
Please, please could you at least get one thing straight. Those that oppose the criminality of Prayuth do not necessarily support Thaksin, either now or in the past. Prayuth is a disgrace to Thailand, as is Suthep. Am I a Thaksin supporter? No, I am not.
Do you ‘like’ the Tatmadaw?
I hate this military dictatorship so much. This is so long story from the beginning of Ne Win, and now U Thein Sein. When are we going to get Democracy.
Sad.
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
The “Free the 14” propaganda campaign is spearheaded by US State Department agitators, literally funded by the US government. This includes of course Prachatai (http://altthainews.blogspot.com/…/us-funded-pro-democracy-p…), admittedly funded by the US National Endowment for Democracy (NED) (http://prachatai.org/english/aboutus), as well as other fronts funded by NED including “Scholars at Risk” (SAR) and it could be added New Mandala and ANU. New Mandala and ANU are funded and supported by NED connected to Kenneth Alderman a thaksin lobbyist, the tax evading Lowy Institute (paid NM to blog), Center for Strategic and Internatioanl Studies, and etc. So please show us your independent credentials. Because you can’t but love the ability of NM commentators to shoehorn hidden agendas into something resembling that of academia to lend legitimacy.
http://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu/Supporters/index.php
When every voice amid a particular campaign seeking political destabilization are funded by the EXACT same foreign organization, treason is afoot.
A lot of the so-called “scholars” supporting this latest propaganda front are ALSO all funded by NED: http://altthainews.blogspot.com/…/exposing-fake-academics-t…
Let’s not forget these same voices hiding behind “human rights” and “democracy” now, were all utterly silent, or even actively complicit when Thaksin Shinawatra and his criminal regime were mass-slaughtering thousands in the streets of Thailand, starting in 2003 with the “War on Drugs” and continuing there on after with crackdowns on protesters, the deployment of assassins, kidnappers, and even heavily armed terrorists and bombers.
The coup unfolded to stop this, but you’d never know that if you just listened to NED-funded propaganda. It would seem the coup just “took over” to end a “thriving democracy.”
Nothing could be further from the truth. This latest push by foreign interests to agitate political instability in Thailand is evidence we are FAR from any sort of end to this conflict. We must stay vigilant, active, and continue working on real solutions to drain the swamps Shinawatra and his foreign backers look in for their support.
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
555 good one, I heartily agree.
Najib Razak’s gamble
Prime Minister Najib’s survival hangs on nothing. He has already been hung, like a Spanish Pheasant. He hung himself before Mahathir even had a chance. Mahathir merely pulled the noose a bit tighter. Malaysian politicians do not care about the nation (the one exception may be Noor Farida Ariffin, who has had credibility, for several years; but she has the ‘wrong’ gender). Not UMNO. Not PAS. Not DAP and not PKR (and certainly not Anwar). The Ringgit has dropped and so has Najib. The sharks already began circling two years ago. If Mahathir thinks Malaysians will buy into Mukhriz anymore than Tun, Najib, Anwar or Zahid, guess again. It is long past time, that Malaysia grew up, and stop acting like a spoiled child; some Malaysians are to blame as well by feeding into this passive-aggressive behavior of UMNO and PAS (in particular, but not exclusively). Sabah and Sarawak are at their wits end, being used day-after-day, by Putrajaya. Malaysia is psychotic and it needs psychotherapy. Given a thoroughly corrupted government, civil service, law enforcement, judiciary and Shari’a system, it’s a wonder Malaysia did not fold, the day after Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaimed with great pride, “Merdeka” ! This isn’t working for Malaysia. It’s the wrong side; the whole side. As Hing, in Graham Greene’s “The Quiet American”, tells his employer, the old, tired, lonely and very cynical journalist, Thomas Fowler, “Mr Fowler, we all have to take sides”. Unfortunately, Mr Fowler chooses the bad side and someone dies; his only male friend; it is well-past time, Malaysia made much better choices.
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
He does not deem himself and his dictatorship to be political, merely a national rescue mission out to do sacred duty.
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
This reminds me of the prelude to the Student Revolution of 1973. Twelve democracy advocates were arrested and charged with treason. By October 13, 1973 there were more than 500,000 people in the streets of Bangkok demanding their release.
Now, in 2015 we have 14 democracy advocates who have been arrested and charged with sedition, to be tried in a military court. We must show up in Bangkok and show our support, and demand their immediate, unconditional release. No bail requests! Release them immediately!
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
What on earth is the Prime Minister of a ‘democratic’ country doing (I paraphrase from today’s Bangkok Post) ‘making a suggestion to the “judicial side” on how to handle the issue”? I naively thought that the judiciary whether civilian or military was supposed to be independent of politics and that political interference was a major reason for the need for the military to take over the running of the country.
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
Since even before 1932, Siam/Thailand has consistently, repeatedly and proudly deflected, ignored, denied, re-interpreted, denounced and pretended not to be engaged in human rights violations – particularly state sponsored repression and terrorism. So it’s continuing success that we witness today should come as little surprise. Ancient Chinese proverb: The flea hides in long hair.
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
“Moot?” Not. The Thai military courts are illegal and inappropriate by any global measure of decency. You make a point of making points but ignore the initial point – they are civilians robbed of freedom by military and its minions. You also are making the same kind of baseless arguments you accuse others of making without proof. Thaksin paid and supported, etc. Like your calibre across the board, Thaksin is the sole problem with society and the elite/army is forever blameless and never need be held accountable. Have you ever lived in a village? Have you ever wondered why Thailand’s worlds of boxing and horse racing are dominated by the Army? Just wondering.
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
“Guest of the state of their own choosing.??” The grammar is indicative of error by native speaker. Should be “”at their own choosing…” The misuse of “of” is revealing in that it intimates the state is some form that the students choose. This is, obviously, NOT the case. When the state – really a military entity – commands such power, authority, fear and intimidation, let alone ability to arrest, hold in remand and judge in military courts (totally unheard of in a civilized democracy) the state is far and beyond a form that the students nor anyone with a mind toward humane freedoms would ever envision for others let alone self. So let us not be cute and use words like “guests,” which insults the lowest intelligence.
Too, note that what was legal yesterday today is not and what is legal today will likely be illegal tomorrow IF… Thailand’s boringly repetitive national security and threat/defamation mantras are not unique, they are not forgotten by legitimate historians and they are proof to all people everywhere that the worst danger to each and every one of us is the danger of being force-fed ruinous doctrine.
Carving up Cambodia’s forests
[…] Carving up Cambodia’s forests – New Mandala Human relocation and Chinese developments threaten the country’s largest national park. […]
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
“notтАЛdisappointed”
The claim that the students are financed by Thaksin and his supporters is absolute rubbish. Their safe house, where they were arrested, for example, is a foundation owned by Ajarn Sulak, who may be many things – but definitely not a supporter of Thaksin. The students are very clear about keeping distance to both UDD and Phua Thai Party. Their advisers are mostly Thammasat Ajarn, not politicians.
Secondly – it is no secret that the students could ask for bail but refuse so as they do not acknowledge the jurisdiction of the military court. Not asking for bail is part of their protest strategy. That they could walk out of prison any time though is another wrong claim. They could walk out if they ask for bail, and the court would grant them bail, which is only up to the court to decide. Asking for bail does not necessarily mean that they will be granted bail.
Naturally, the student’s are opposed to the coup, that is why they have planned a sit in protest on May 22 at the BACC, where they were arrested with undue force (i was there, and so were around a hundred other members of the media – both local and international). Which has set this whole thing into motion.
All that is happening now is on the military itself, because it over-reacted at a small and symbolic protest, which, if it would have been left alone, would have been over in 30 minutes.
Naturally, the students use their arrest as part of their peaceful protest against the military junta. And so far, they quite successfully outsmarted the junta.
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
Roy, there you go again. Hearsay and unsubstantiated accusations – he said, they said, you said.
Throwing out biased and prejudicial words such as: ‘conspired’, ‘documented’ and ‘mentioned’ ‘possible’ by the (English) local press. But no mention of proof or reference to Thai language press making for good in-depth investigative accusations as is the wont of NM and NMites.
In a country with a rule of law, the accused have been charged and awaiting their day in court. This is no kangaroo court where a verdict is within days or weeks. These many charges will take years to resolve. This is called a justice system. Not to be judged by unsubstantiated accusations.
And now we come back to democratic students. Stay tuned to the local Thai press and social media to get reports of evidence found in their lawyer’s car of collusion between the students and old regime. Once this damning evidence came out, the support for the students melted away. It’s leaving a bad smell Roy.
Solidarity with imprisoned Thai students
A civilian court set up by the military junta to persecute an elected government and civilians is called “kangaroo court” in democratic and polite societies. I’m no fan of Thaksin. If you want to debate intellectually, please get over Thaksin. The point in this discussion is the rights of those students are being violated. One wise man once wrote to this effects; if you ignore when the rights of your enemy is violated, you also allow your right to be violated. Pardon my inadequate English.
Myanmar needs to forgive tax dodgers
All in the past? How long that’s gonna last?
Democracy in the bud, as clear as mud.
Amnesty a given, to all their crimes.
Times ain’t achanging till their death knell chimes.