Further to your point about farmers being “ripped off by middle-men” it was PM Abhisit who began changing that system to one in which farmers received payments direct from the government and PM Yingluck who changed it back – presumably as a quid pro quo for political support from wealthy rice millers.
While the reds will accept anti-government demonstrations in the capital, they turn to violence when people in the provinces turn against them. This is a behavior they have shown earlier, although not as strongly as in this case. If the impression of massive support from the province vane, the whole concept of broad support for Thaksin will disappear. The cadres have to be kept in line, or else they must die. The great masters Pol Pot and Mao Zedong have shown how to do this. The reds of Thailand are just following their example.
Maybe if they were all Gramscians, the Royalists wouldn’t be so weak. They could be like Red Prince of the Pathet Lao, who managed to reduce Laos’ GDP to a level probably less than that of Rhode Island. Prince Souphanouvong spoke eight languages, all unintelligible, particularly to Laotian villagers.
Last night, armed men injured around 30 and killed 3 demonstrators in at an anti-government demonstration in Trat, apparently using guns and grenades. This is deeply tragic. Red democracy at work?
Trirat: There is an excellent article by Thomas Fuller in the Yew York Times of 19 February that complements your letter very nicely.The end-game does not look very bright for PM Yingluck, in fact, the judicial coup is almost complete, according to Democrat custom.
??? р╕Кр╕▓р╕зр╕Щр╕▓ is the term used to describe rice farmers. р╕Кр╕▓р╕зр╣Др╕гр╣И is used for other kinds of farmers. Almost all the Thai language press I have reading describe those protesters as р╕Кр╕▓р╕зр╕Щр╕▓. What papers are you reading?
Similarly I hold no hope that ‘I-Lerm’ will take responsibility fir his latest bone-headed decision i.e. to delay a ‘no brainer’ dawn attempt to re-take territory from the PRDC in favor of a mid-morning operation – apparently so the media would all be there to record his brilliant success. Instead the Thai police were routed easily in a complete fiasco. Lots of casualties, but PR win for Suthep.
If you’re referring to the “We deserve better” opt-ed that also appeared in The Nation (but was originally published in the FT, I think most of his points are covered by the article “A response to Vanina Sucharitkul” by NM guest contributor Chan Nilgianskul on this side.
He should have thrown in a few “…under military rule” or “…by the junta” when writing about Thaksin’s conviction (this is not to say that he is innocent – he is only in regard of the things he was finally convicted of, there was clearly no desire to convict him of the real failings for example during the drug war, because there is still widespread support for the measures taken at that time and after all it was initiated by a certain birthday speech …and that was R IX. still in his prime)
He also fails to mention that the amnesty would have cleared him as well of the responsibility for almost 100 death in 2010, but he surely got some signals from the judiciary that he wouldn’t get convicted anyway.
India is 3rd by GDP (Japan 4th) and Germany 5th, France and the UK come at 8th respectively 9th place, so it’s obvious this is focusing on the permanent security council members.
It is good that the permanent security council members at the UN are briefed concerning the iniquitous behaviour of the Democrat Party┬┤s attempt to grab power from an elected government by unconstitutional means.
Trirat: It appears to me that everything was pretty much a foregone conclusion right from the very start. What else can you expect when you have “yellow-shirt” courts, a “yellow-shirt” army, and a “yellow-shirt” Election Commission”? I am hoping that you are wrong in your assertions but I am afraid that you are spot-on.
You paint far too rosy a picture of the RTP, George. Part of the long-term animosity between the armed forces and the RTP undoubtedly revolves around the fact its having frequently strayed onto the patch of armed forces private enterprise, and vice-versa. And the RTP packs a far bigger punch than you give it credit for.
Most of us have probably already read that controversial book. I thought it was no big deal myself. One actually wonders if we will ever be able to read a similar heavily-detailed expose against the massive conflicting private enterprise operations of supposed civil servants. But I don’t suppose you think that is relevant, do you? Personally, I do. Especially, since the whole (hidden) point of maintaining an figurehead has long been to give such powerful people a form of protection that is always beyond criticism. These are issues that really do need to be tackled, if anything is ever to improve here. Neither minor reforms or populist policies are ever really going to break that mold. And it’s no great wonder that the system has become so heavily factionalized since a certain policeman became the PM.
Do you really think Chalerm is a formidable politician? Sarcasm perhaps? Formidable thug, blowhard, drunkard, incompetent machiavellian, and armed bully more like. I don’t know about Suthep’s drinking habits, but they would certainly seem to have the rest of those entirely negative qualities in common. They are absolutely made for each other to fight against. But there is NO good reason why the rest of the population has to carry the can for their stupidity. We really do need to make it very clear to the both of them that they do not own this country.
(1) The British project of Malaysia led to socio-political stability and economic growth. The Sukarno project eventually led to between 100,000 or 500,000; some say maybe up to 3 million Indonesians being killed by people linked to the Suharto administration. So which in your opinion is a better project for the ordinary citizen?
(2) Are you personally proud of Konfrantasi? If yes, why, if no, why.
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The weakness of the Thai royalists
Your Hero Mr. Suthep and his protestors will go down in history as the instigators of civil war in Thailand. With that madman there is no compromise.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
So no ‘watermelon soldiers’? No rejection of the Democrat Party’s suit against Pheua Thai? No ‘secret ballot’ violations?
The weakness of the Thai royalists
These propaganda cartoons from the reds may be of interest for some here. Expertly done and very scary:
http://pantip.com/topic/30746057
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Further to your point about farmers being “ripped off by middle-men” it was PM Abhisit who began changing that system to one in which farmers received payments direct from the government and PM Yingluck who changed it back – presumably as a quid pro quo for political support from wealthy rice millers.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
More news about the attack in Trat last night:
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bomb-gun-attack-anti-government-rally-trat-injures-40/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bomb-gun-attack-anti-government-rally-trat-injures-40
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Eight-year-old-girl-succumbed-to-injuries-30227530.html
While the reds will accept anti-government demonstrations in the capital, they turn to violence when people in the provinces turn against them. This is a behavior they have shown earlier, although not as strongly as in this case. If the impression of massive support from the province vane, the whole concept of broad support for Thaksin will disappear. The cadres have to be kept in line, or else they must die. The great masters Pol Pot and Mao Zedong have shown how to do this. The reds of Thailand are just following their example.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Maybe if they were all Gramscians, the Royalists wouldn’t be so weak. They could be like Red Prince of the Pathet Lao, who managed to reduce Laos’ GDP to a level probably less than that of Rhode Island. Prince Souphanouvong spoke eight languages, all unintelligible, particularly to Laotian villagers.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
It’s also worth pointing out that the factory paint jobs on Thai combine harvesters are amazing!
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Last night, armed men injured around 30 and killed 3 demonstrators in at an anti-government demonstration in Trat, apparently using guns and grenades. This is deeply tragic. Red democracy at work?
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Trirat: There is an excellent article by Thomas Fuller in the Yew York Times of 19 February that complements your letter very nicely.The end-game does not look very bright for PM Yingluck, in fact, the judicial coup is almost complete, according to Democrat custom.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
??? р╕Кр╕▓р╕зр╕Щр╕▓ is the term used to describe rice farmers. р╕Кр╕▓р╕зр╣Др╕гр╣И is used for other kinds of farmers. Almost all the Thai language press I have reading describe those protesters as р╕Кр╕▓р╕зр╕Щр╕▓. What papers are you reading?
Thailand’s election: 2 February 2014
Similarly I hold no hope that ‘I-Lerm’ will take responsibility fir his latest bone-headed decision i.e. to delay a ‘no brainer’ dawn attempt to re-take territory from the PRDC in favor of a mid-morning operation – apparently so the media would all be there to record his brilliant success. Instead the Thai police were routed easily in a complete fiasco. Lots of casualties, but PR win for Suthep.
Thailand’s election: 2 February 2014
certainly seems like the Shinawatras – and the Red Shirts – are going to fight back, hard – very hard indeed. Yingluck will move her government’s capital to Chiang Mai – i.e. effectively : SECESSION – rather than resign : http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Yingluck-goes-on-the-offensive-as-battle-gets-toug-30227481.html
Thailand’s election: 2 February 2014
If you’re referring to the “We deserve better” opt-ed that also appeared in The Nation (but was originally published in the FT, I think most of his points are covered by the article “A response to Vanina Sucharitkul” by NM guest contributor Chan Nilgianskul on this side.
He should have thrown in a few “…under military rule” or “…by the junta” when writing about Thaksin’s conviction (this is not to say that he is innocent – he is only in regard of the things he was finally convicted of, there was clearly no desire to convict him of the real failings for example during the drug war, because there is still widespread support for the measures taken at that time and after all it was initiated by a certain birthday speech …and that was R IX. still in his prime)
He also fails to mention that the amnesty would have cleared him as well of the responsibility for almost 100 death in 2010, but he surely got some signals from the judiciary that he wouldn’t get convicted anyway.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
India is 3rd by GDP (Japan 4th) and Germany 5th, France and the UK come at 8th respectively 9th place, so it’s obvious this is focusing on the permanent security council members.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
It is good that the permanent security council members at the UN are briefed concerning the iniquitous behaviour of the Democrat Party┬┤s attempt to grab power from an elected government by unconstitutional means.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Trirat: It appears to me that everything was pretty much a foregone conclusion right from the very start. What else can you expect when you have “yellow-shirt” courts, a “yellow-shirt” army, and a “yellow-shirt” Election Commission”? I am hoping that you are wrong in your assertions but I am afraid that you are spot-on.
Thailand’s election: 2 February 2014
You paint far too rosy a picture of the RTP, George. Part of the long-term animosity between the armed forces and the RTP undoubtedly revolves around the fact its having frequently strayed onto the patch of armed forces private enterprise, and vice-versa. And the RTP packs a far bigger punch than you give it credit for.
Most of us have probably already read that controversial book. I thought it was no big deal myself. One actually wonders if we will ever be able to read a similar heavily-detailed expose against the massive conflicting private enterprise operations of supposed civil servants. But I don’t suppose you think that is relevant, do you? Personally, I do. Especially, since the whole (hidden) point of maintaining an figurehead has long been to give such powerful people a form of protection that is always beyond criticism. These are issues that really do need to be tackled, if anything is ever to improve here. Neither minor reforms or populist policies are ever really going to break that mold. And it’s no great wonder that the system has become so heavily factionalized since a certain policeman became the PM.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
The banner image on NM right now reads “Do not feed the monkeys”. Nich and Andrew: Food for thought?
Thailand’s election: 2 February 2014
Do you really think Chalerm is a formidable politician? Sarcasm perhaps? Formidable thug, blowhard, drunkard, incompetent machiavellian, and armed bully more like. I don’t know about Suthep’s drinking habits, but they would certainly seem to have the rest of those entirely negative qualities in common. They are absolutely made for each other to fight against. But there is NO good reason why the rest of the population has to carry the can for their stupidity. We really do need to make it very clear to the both of them that they do not own this country.
Indonesia: Why you so like that wan?
Hi Marhaen,
Interesting views. Two questions for you:
(1) The British project of Malaysia led to socio-political stability and economic growth. The Sukarno project eventually led to between 100,000 or 500,000; some say maybe up to 3 million Indonesians being killed by people linked to the Suharto administration. So which in your opinion is a better project for the ordinary citizen?
(2) Are you personally proud of Konfrantasi? If yes, why, if no, why.
Thank you for sharing your views.