Vichai N.: Anyone who quotes the Bangkok Post is either na├пve at best, or should have their heads examined, at worst. Their slogan, “The Newspaper you can Trust”, is a big joke. I now fully understand how the “red-shirts” could have been provoked some years ago to want to burn down the building hosting that paper. Their readers┬┤ letters are particularly malicious and mendacious. They seem to have a little list of regular letter writers who compete with one another in slandering the government.By publishing these diatribes the paper thinks that it will influence public opinion, at least in the Anglo-Saxon world.Their efforts of date have not exactly paid off. During the present crisis the best and most reliable reporting and articles have come from the BBC ( Jonathan Head) and The New York Times ( Thomas Fuller).Truely excellent, truthful reporting.
Daniel Mattes forgot to mention that Uncle Boonmee won the Palm D┬┤Or at the Cannes film festival in 2010, and according to Wikipedia was passed uncut by the Thai film censorship board, though similar scenes had been cut from the director┬┤s two previous feature films.
The naming of indo warship is not a provocation, it is indeed a partial measured response for Sing’s long-time INSENSITIVE attitude: housing corrupt fugitives, dismissing extradition agreement, recent espionage etc, to name the few. So, indo don’t feel the need to change the name (and alas, USman Harun are their heroes, whatever the unreasonably reason.) I think Indonesians has been patient enough with Sing manouvers. ANd now this is only the beginning of indo response. And psstttt, (dont tell anybody …) in Indonesia, there are so many people willing to die to defend the honor. Maybe we will call them insane, dumb, crazy, illogical nuts or whatever. Their is no ‘nationalism as usual’. Take a close look: the red color in indo flag is DEFINITELY BLOOD RED, not pinky or some-cheerful red. They never think twice in giving their blood to their cause. I hope Singaporean don’t play fool +make mess with Indonesians. Indo are smiling nations indeed, but sometimes they play really really crazy. Yeah, I love it, I like it. Sings must imagine what to do when they are facing crazy mobs. Crazy mobs can do anything impossible. YEeeeeaaah. Whatever the world says !!
PS: Sing choose to approach US+AUS+other west,
definitely, RUS+CHINA and the like will readily align fast with Indo.
It’s appalling how politically uneducated the Thai educated classes tend to be… Europeans have learned some hard lessons from fascism and communism of the 20th century (the rule of self-appointed “good men” with no democratic controls), and drill it to children in schools. Thai schools don’t seem to teach any of that (quite the opposite).
What a splendid and insightful piece of writing this is! Most illuminating. I just wonder how a brainwashed nation exposed to fairy tales and propaganda, instead of proper education, can ever untie the Gordian knot, and achieve reconciliation. My sincere feelings of sympathy for Concerned but helpless Thai.
I don’t think Amnar Siamwalla was the target of the populist schemes so if he found them insulting who really cares. My wife’s mother who had six years of illness (and then death) did not find the health insurance scheme at all insulting.
“Actually, the Democrats are also vulnerable to dissolution – there is allegedly a clause in the 2007 charter that says parties that boycott two elections within eight years can be struck off.”
I don’t think so. The Demos are about as vulnerable to dissolution as those who occupied the airports in 2008 are vulnerable to serving time in jail.
I do not know much about the particular suicides but i do wonder about whether they are being used for propaganda purposes. And to arrive at a proper answer one has to be a little bit clinical. First, we would have to ask this question. On average, how many rice farmers suicide in a given period of time? On average, what are (if any) the reasons given for those suicides? Can the suicides be reasonably related to events that are not expressed by the suicide notes? And similar questions. Sorry to be so clinical but I just wonder about the reality of this epidemic of suicides.
Pardon my ignorance but I do not get the gist of your comment. The point is that I wonder why there are so many glossy THAI- language versions of expensive British and American monthlies in a country where the majority are poor. I find this rather offensive. Thailand seems to be two separate countries, one for the filthy rich, and one for the poor. The divide between rich and poor in Thailand is reputed to be the worst in Asia, and increasing.
Suthep’s role in the 2010 so called ‘military crackdown’ should not be referred here as an ‘alleged involvement’. He was not simply involved – he was the head of CMPO so he was at the crux of it. Just wanna highlight this so that people unfamiliar with Thai politics could understand how outlandish Suthep’s claim to be ‘moral person’ to rescue Thailand is. This is not to mention all corruption cases in the past.
Excellent comment from Sven. Very erudite. Thank-you.This fairytale can only be taken seriously by rather na├пve, indoctrinated adults who have been brainwashed since childbirth. Voranai from the BP wrote an article about one month ago claiming that Thais are NEVER taught any history at school, only myth, and are brainwashed. Rather a risky statement in a country with press censorship. We all know what the brainwashing entails, en whom it concerns.
Since I really like Thailand I am very upset by the present state of affairs. The Thais deserve better than being manipulated by an unscrupulous elite. In education they are far behind Japan, Hongkong, Taiwan, and Singapore,in PISA scores for academic excellence, not because Thais are less intelligent, but because the Democratic Party has considered education more as a threat than a national asset. Just look at the prominence education receives in Malaysia. They spend 20% of the national budget on education!
What a sense of relief, what a joy the day Thais will finally be free, once and for all, from their oppressors. It would be the Thai equivalent in South-Africa of getting rid of the Apartheid state.
Yes, I have noted that in his romaticized nightly diatribes against all things Shinawattra, the ranting Sutheps fails – and indeed has always failed to mention – anything about corruption, nepotism etc. elsewhere, or at any other time, within Thai society.
Given this observation, it would appear that Thai lakorn is limited to only one – convenient? – villain of the piece.
Spot on George. This is a fairy tale. I really wish people in Thailand stop seeing things in black and white. This world is grey. “A knight in shining armour”could turn out to be just another villain in disguise.
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A Gramscian take on Thai politics
I cannot think of a phrase that is a better exemplar of the utter intellectual bankruptcy of modern inquiry in the humanities and social sciences.
Thailand’s election: 2 February 2014
Vichai N.: Anyone who quotes the Bangkok Post is either na├пve at best, or should have their heads examined, at worst. Their slogan, “The Newspaper you can Trust”, is a big joke. I now fully understand how the “red-shirts” could have been provoked some years ago to want to burn down the building hosting that paper. Their readers┬┤ letters are particularly malicious and mendacious. They seem to have a little list of regular letter writers who compete with one another in slandering the government.By publishing these diatribes the paper thinks that it will influence public opinion, at least in the Anglo-Saxon world.Their efforts of date have not exactly paid off. During the present crisis the best and most reliable reporting and articles have come from the BBC ( Jonathan Head) and The New York Times ( Thomas Fuller).Truely excellent, truthful reporting.
A Gramscian take on Thai politics
Daniel Mattes forgot to mention that Uncle Boonmee won the Palm D┬┤Or at the Cannes film festival in 2010, and according to Wikipedia was passed uncut by the Thai film censorship board, though similar scenes had been cut from the director┬┤s two previous feature films.
Indonesia: Why you so like that wan?
The naming of indo warship is not a provocation, it is indeed a partial measured response for Sing’s long-time INSENSITIVE attitude: housing corrupt fugitives, dismissing extradition agreement, recent espionage etc, to name the few. So, indo don’t feel the need to change the name (and alas, USman Harun are their heroes, whatever the unreasonably reason.) I think Indonesians has been patient enough with Sing manouvers. ANd now this is only the beginning of indo response. And psstttt, (dont tell anybody …) in Indonesia, there are so many people willing to die to defend the honor. Maybe we will call them insane, dumb, crazy, illogical nuts or whatever. Their is no ‘nationalism as usual’. Take a close look: the red color in indo flag is DEFINITELY BLOOD RED, not pinky or some-cheerful red. They never think twice in giving their blood to their cause. I hope Singaporean don’t play fool +make mess with Indonesians. Indo are smiling nations indeed, but sometimes they play really really crazy. Yeah, I love it, I like it. Sings must imagine what to do when they are facing crazy mobs. Crazy mobs can do anything impossible. YEeeeeaaah. Whatever the world says !!
PS: Sing choose to approach US+AUS+other west,
definitely, RUS+CHINA and the like will readily align fast with Indo.
Suthep’s romantic tale
Uneducated would be more appropriate.
It’s appalling how politically uneducated the Thai educated classes tend to be… Europeans have learned some hard lessons from fascism and communism of the 20th century (the rule of self-appointed “good men” with no democratic controls), and drill it to children in schools. Thai schools don’t seem to teach any of that (quite the opposite).
A Gramscian take on Thai politics
What a splendid and insightful piece of writing this is! Most illuminating. I just wonder how a brainwashed nation exposed to fairy tales and propaganda, instead of proper education, can ever untie the Gordian knot, and achieve reconciliation. My sincere feelings of sympathy for Concerned but helpless Thai.
The King Never Smiles?
I don’t think Amnar Siamwalla was the target of the populist schemes so if he found them insulting who really cares. My wife’s mother who had six years of illness (and then death) did not find the health insurance scheme at all insulting.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
“Actually, the Democrats are also vulnerable to dissolution – there is allegedly a clause in the 2007 charter that says parties that boycott two elections within eight years can be struck off.”
I don’t think so. The Demos are about as vulnerable to dissolution as those who occupied the airports in 2008 are vulnerable to serving time in jail.
It’s pretty well stitched-up.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
I do not know much about the particular suicides but i do wonder about whether they are being used for propaganda purposes. And to arrive at a proper answer one has to be a little bit clinical. First, we would have to ask this question. On average, how many rice farmers suicide in a given period of time? On average, what are (if any) the reasons given for those suicides? Can the suicides be reasonably related to events that are not expressed by the suicide notes? And similar questions. Sorry to be so clinical but I just wonder about the reality of this epidemic of suicides.
Indonesia: Why you so like that wan?
Is Indonesia going back to Sukarno era nationalism-socialism?
http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-6195.html
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Dear Sir,
Pardon my ignorance but I do not get the gist of your comment. The point is that I wonder why there are so many glossy THAI- language versions of expensive British and American monthlies in a country where the majority are poor. I find this rather offensive. Thailand seems to be two separate countries, one for the filthy rich, and one for the poor. The divide between rich and poor in Thailand is reputed to be the worst in Asia, and increasing.
A Gramscian take on Thai politics
Suthep’s role in the 2010 so called ‘military crackdown’ should not be referred here as an ‘alleged involvement’. He was not simply involved – he was the head of CMPO so he was at the crux of it. Just wanna highlight this so that people unfamiliar with Thai politics could understand how outlandish Suthep’s claim to be ‘moral person’ to rescue Thailand is. This is not to mention all corruption cases in the past.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Try that again:
http://0.static.wix.com/media/1d6312daad92175727bbdbc68849644e.wix_mp_1024
The weakness of the Thai royalists
Just curious Pam, were you advising Mark in this photo, or is he advising you?
Suthep’s romantic tale
I don’t think Suthep’s fans have low IQ, just naive.
The weakness of the Thai royalists
In the business lounge of your hotel….yes, right:) that puts things in perspective on your judgement Mr.
Suthep’s romantic tale
Excellent comment from Sven. Very erudite. Thank-you.This fairytale can only be taken seriously by rather na├пve, indoctrinated adults who have been brainwashed since childbirth. Voranai from the BP wrote an article about one month ago claiming that Thais are NEVER taught any history at school, only myth, and are brainwashed. Rather a risky statement in a country with press censorship. We all know what the brainwashing entails, en whom it concerns.
Since I really like Thailand I am very upset by the present state of affairs. The Thais deserve better than being manipulated by an unscrupulous elite. In education they are far behind Japan, Hongkong, Taiwan, and Singapore,in PISA scores for academic excellence, not because Thais are less intelligent, but because the Democratic Party has considered education more as a threat than a national asset. Just look at the prominence education receives in Malaysia. They spend 20% of the national budget on education!
What a sense of relief, what a joy the day Thais will finally be free, once and for all, from their oppressors. It would be the Thai equivalent in South-Africa of getting rid of the Apartheid state.
Suthep’s romantic tale
Yes, I have noted that in his romaticized nightly diatribes against all things Shinawattra, the ranting Sutheps fails – and indeed has always failed to mention – anything about corruption, nepotism etc. elsewhere, or at any other time, within Thai society.
Given this observation, it would appear that Thai lakorn is limited to only one – convenient? – villain of the piece.
I wonder why?
Suthep’s romantic tale
James & neptunian you should have read this more carefully; it was written tongue-in-cheek.
Suthep’s romantic tale
Spot on George. This is a fairy tale. I really wish people in Thailand stop seeing things in black and white. This world is grey. “A knight in shining armour”could turn out to be just another villain in disguise.