Yet another inflammatory and unbalanced anti-monarchy post. I’m sure it will be a surprise to Thaksin Shinawatra that “Thailand is in practice an absolute monarchy”.
Well said Frank, but on the other hand lese majeste allows the King to play a legitimate political role in a grave political crisis, such as in 1992, when he used his reserve powers to order the two warring generals, Suchinda and Chamlong, to stop fighting and start talking using his good offices to re-establish public safety and national stability. As in most modern democracies, the Thai king reigns, but he does not rule. Moreover, his reserve powers come from his ‘barramee’ or accumulated merit so, for good or ill, the influence of his successor is sure to be far less. So there’s really no excuse for anyone to go on about cutting off heads or establishing a republic.
Well, most Jews in Kerala aren’t named “Thomas.” That’s a name typically taken
be Kerala Christians who are members of the
Syriac or Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church,
one of the St. Thomas Christian Churches
in Kerala. But if you say so; just strange you don’t have a typically Malayalam Jewish name like most Cochin or other Keralite Jews.
The King was certainly smiling (indeed eyeballing PM Thaksin at close range) on prime-time TV when he said to him that he (Thaksin) had ears – but didn’t hear, had eyes – but no vision, and that in cartoons he was always drawn with a satellite spinning around his head. Similarly, the King was smiling at Thaksin when he told him (again on prime-time TV) that ‘The King can do wrong’. Unlike Thaksin, of course.
Yes, end game is approaching and lobbing a few grenades at their own people, as pathetic as it is, still isn’t working. The protests are drying up on Suthep and Chinese New Year is approaching so he needs to act fast. Suthep’s backers will need to move toward end game. What will it be? An “outrage” attack to be pinned on reds? I hope not, but fear that’s what they’ll do. Clearly they have no worry or care about anyone but seeing that their “patron” moves forward.
A claim repeated ad nauseum for which I have never seen a convincing argument in the 35 years since I first came back to Thailand. Of course there are pros and cons associated with lese majeste, but vitriol and inductive reasoning should have no place in honest debate.
As intended, the bullets and bombs aimed at anti-government protestors seem to be having a negative effect on attendance. However they also seem to have increased the pace of erosion of public support for the government.
On the other hand, the Democrats have usually been there as a ‘safe pair of hands’ to clean up after the shit has hit the fan (e.g. after Gen. Suchinda, after the East Asian Financial Crisis, after the Global Financial Crisis) and have thus been financially handicapped as well as politically handicapped by heading weak coalition governments.
The government is looking increasingly shaky – hence it is now playing the violence card with shootings and bombings of protesters. But at least you are honest in that you put the government ahead of the people. 13/0 LOL
Because the 71% are represented by a government which only cares about the form of democracy, not for the substance of democracy, not for democratic checks and balances, not for the rights of the minority, not for any opposition voices at all, and not for Thailand – just for itself.
Reminds me of the saying,’A committee is a group that tried to design a horse and produced a camel’. The final statement was intended to show that a group of Thais could at least agree on something without agreeing entirely (this in private from one of the principals). Hence no mention of the election date.
[…] (or not), a long-time strategic partner of the United States, and a long-time, though coup-prone (18 total, 11 successful, and counting, or not) democracy, is having another political meltdown. Here, I’m not going […]
The White publications accusing the Burmese of (as Plan B correctly pointed out) centuries old practice of using the word “kalar” as always and intentially derogratory is real criminal conspiracy to foment killing animosities among the populave who have lived side by side for centuries with no mortal problems.
Current disaster started after big disgruntlement among the populace especially around Mandalay was soaring high againstthe Chinese for their ruthless commercial dominance and rising land prices. It also happened because of the active incitement, conduct and co-ordination by none other than Thein Sein fronted Sit-tut who are constantly praised and supported by the verysame international communities now calling “thief”.
Rather than defuse the situation, such feel good looking ” conferences” spending money enough to feed a typical small townfor a week in Burma at posh hotels, it simply advertise and normalise the conflict which is in deedtge realintentionof the international communities who have this last pristine land on earth to “do”.
If you look around, you will also find some Burmese people give their favourite Koren soapstars’ names to their dogs as well. And even though there is no dog grooming salons, dogs are loved dearly by a lot of people.
And this recurring disparaging of Buddhists not killing yet eating meat is tiresome. Buddha himself died after eating meat as last meal. And that fish drowning theme by Amy Tam is never really talked as such in Burma perhaps except in the ex- pat clubs existing for poking fun at the hypocrit natives.
There is an end game and it is to be in the best negotiating position when a new modus vivendi emerges to replace the winner-take-all strategy which Thaksin has always used and which has been so divisive. Moreover,an election before reform will be a non-result as Thaksin will just co-opt the smaller parties to form another parliamentary dictatorship where he continues to pull the strings from Dubai. But the feeling on the street is that Suthep is on top, and that the bombings and shootings are doing real damage to the government’s popularity, the democratic dilemma being that, for those who wish to exercise their democratic rights, any vote they cast will likely legitimize a government which has a history of trampling on human rights and democratic checks and balances.Thailand is decades overdue for a ‘New Deal’and unless Thaksin changes his spots,it will never get one from him.
“Matt Walton draws from literature on race and white privilege/white supremacy in the United States, as a lens through which to examine Burman privilege in Myanmar”
Wonder what make this ‘west useless careless policy’ any different from others.
Here creating a persecuted/persecutor classes. As in Karin/Bamar, Kachin/Bamar and next xxx/Bamar
Two birds with one stone!
Criticizing a tradition, that is longer than one own for the used of the word Kalar, while the obvious cause “west useless careless policy induced deprivations of a citizenry” are again conveniently ignored.
Never mind, Vichai N. After election reform, I will have 0 votes, you and Suthep (etc., etc.) will have 0.33 votes (because you might love Thailand, but lack knowledge), Natthawut, Thida, Sunai etc. will have 2 votes, people in the Nittirat group will have 3 votes. But I will compromise with you and give only 1 vote (or perhaps only 0.66)to Arisaman, Rambo Isarn, and Jatuporn. People in Isarn, Northeast and East will get 2 votes, as well as those living in the non-core areas of Bangkok. Voters in the Democrat-dominated South will get 0.66 votes each (like those in inner Bangkok). This model should lead to a well-balanced election result.
Oh don’t be silly. It’s simply a fact that southerners, on average, have darker skins than residents of Bangkok. Noticing physical differences is not stereotyping.
Only 300,000? Yellow-shirt partisans I’ve talked to here in Songkhla have implied in their conversations with me that anyone who estimates less than five million for Suthep’s crowds is a paid informant of the “Thaksin regime”.
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The King Never Smiles?
Yet another inflammatory and unbalanced anti-monarchy post. I’m sure it will be a surprise to Thaksin Shinawatra that “Thailand is in practice an absolute monarchy”.
The King Never Smiles?
Well said Frank, but on the other hand lese majeste allows the King to play a legitimate political role in a grave political crisis, such as in 1992, when he used his reserve powers to order the two warring generals, Suchinda and Chamlong, to stop fighting and start talking using his good offices to re-establish public safety and national stability. As in most modern democracies, the Thai king reigns, but he does not rule. Moreover, his reserve powers come from his ‘barramee’ or accumulated merit so, for good or ill, the influence of his successor is sure to be far less. So there’s really no excuse for anyone to go on about cutting off heads or establishing a republic.
Beyond bigotry: Unravelling ethnic violence in Rakhine
Hmmm..
Well, most Jews in Kerala aren’t named “Thomas.” That’s a name typically taken
be Kerala Christians who are members of the
Syriac or Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church,
one of the St. Thomas Christian Churches
in Kerala. But if you say so; just strange you don’t have a typically Malayalam Jewish name like most Cochin or other Keralite Jews.
Thoughts of a pro-government leader
Interesting interview. Thanks
The King Never Smiles?
Hence the dismissive summation by the populace at large i.e. “Nothing new.”
The King Never Smiles?
The King was certainly smiling (indeed eyeballing PM Thaksin at close range) on prime-time TV when he said to him that he (Thaksin) had ears – but didn’t hear, had eyes – but no vision, and that in cartoons he was always drawn with a satellite spinning around his head. Similarly, the King was smiling at Thaksin when he told him (again on prime-time TV) that ‘The King can do wrong’. Unlike Thaksin, of course.
The shutdown: In honor of NN
Yes, end game is approaching and lobbing a few grenades at their own people, as pathetic as it is, still isn’t working. The protests are drying up on Suthep and Chinese New Year is approaching so he needs to act fast. Suthep’s backers will need to move toward end game. What will it be? An “outrage” attack to be pinned on reds? I hope not, but fear that’s what they’ll do. Clearly they have no worry or care about anyone but seeing that their “patron” moves forward.
This is our struggle, no doubt
A claim repeated ad nauseum for which I have never seen a convincing argument in the 35 years since I first came back to Thailand. Of course there are pros and cons associated with lese majeste, but vitriol and inductive reasoning should have no place in honest debate.
This is our struggle, no doubt
As intended, the bullets and bombs aimed at anti-government protestors seem to be having a negative effect on attendance. However they also seem to have increased the pace of erosion of public support for the government.
This is our struggle, no doubt
On the other hand, the Democrats have usually been there as a ‘safe pair of hands’ to clean up after the shit has hit the fan (e.g. after Gen. Suchinda, after the East Asian Financial Crisis, after the Global Financial Crisis) and have thus been financially handicapped as well as politically handicapped by heading weak coalition governments.
2 Yeses 2 Nos
The government is looking increasingly shaky – hence it is now playing the violence card with shootings and bombings of protesters. But at least you are honest in that you put the government ahead of the people. 13/0 LOL
2 Yeses 2 Nos
Because the 71% are represented by a government which only cares about the form of democracy, not for the substance of democracy, not for democratic checks and balances, not for the rights of the minority, not for any opposition voices at all, and not for Thailand – just for itself.
2 Yeses 2 Nos
Reminds me of the saying,’A committee is a group that tried to design a horse and produced a camel’. The final statement was intended to show that a group of Thais could at least agree on something without agreeing entirely (this in private from one of the principals). Hence no mention of the election date.
Counting Thailand’s coups
[…] (or not), a long-time strategic partner of the United States, and a long-time, though coup-prone (18 total, 11 successful, and counting, or not) democracy, is having another political meltdown. Here, I’m not going […]
Sleeping dogs
The White publications accusing the Burmese of (as Plan B correctly pointed out) centuries old practice of using the word “kalar” as always and intentially derogratory is real criminal conspiracy to foment killing animosities among the populave who have lived side by side for centuries with no mortal problems.
Current disaster started after big disgruntlement among the populace especially around Mandalay was soaring high againstthe Chinese for their ruthless commercial dominance and rising land prices. It also happened because of the active incitement, conduct and co-ordination by none other than Thein Sein fronted Sit-tut who are constantly praised and supported by the verysame international communities now calling “thief”.
Rather than defuse the situation, such feel good looking ” conferences” spending money enough to feed a typical small townfor a week in Burma at posh hotels, it simply advertise and normalise the conflict which is in deedtge realintentionof the international communities who have this last pristine land on earth to “do”.
If you look around, you will also find some Burmese people give their favourite Koren soapstars’ names to their dogs as well. And even though there is no dog grooming salons, dogs are loved dearly by a lot of people.
And this recurring disparaging of Buddhists not killing yet eating meat is tiresome. Buddha himself died after eating meat as last meal. And that fish drowning theme by Amy Tam is never really talked as such in Burma perhaps except in the ex- pat clubs existing for poking fun at the hypocrit natives.
The shutdown: In honor of NN
There is an end game and it is to be in the best negotiating position when a new modus vivendi emerges to replace the winner-take-all strategy which Thaksin has always used and which has been so divisive. Moreover,an election before reform will be a non-result as Thaksin will just co-opt the smaller parties to form another parliamentary dictatorship where he continues to pull the strings from Dubai. But the feeling on the street is that Suthep is on top, and that the bombings and shootings are doing real damage to the government’s popularity, the democratic dilemma being that, for those who wish to exercise their democratic rights, any vote they cast will likely legitimize a government which has a history of trampling on human rights and democratic checks and balances.Thailand is decades overdue for a ‘New Deal’and unless Thaksin changes his spots,it will never get one from him.
Sleeping dogs
“Matt Walton draws from literature on race and white privilege/white supremacy in the United States, as a lens through which to examine Burman privilege in Myanmar”
Wonder what make this ‘west useless careless policy’ any different from others.
Here creating a persecuted/persecutor classes. As in Karin/Bamar, Kachin/Bamar and next xxx/Bamar
Two birds with one stone!
Criticizing a tradition, that is longer than one own for the used of the word Kalar, while the obvious cause “west useless careless policy induced deprivations of a citizenry” are again conveniently ignored.
The shutdown: In honor of NN
Never mind, Vichai N. After election reform, I will have 0 votes, you and Suthep (etc., etc.) will have 0.33 votes (because you might love Thailand, but lack knowledge), Natthawut, Thida, Sunai etc. will have 2 votes, people in the Nittirat group will have 3 votes. But I will compromise with you and give only 1 vote (or perhaps only 0.66)to Arisaman, Rambo Isarn, and Jatuporn. People in Isarn, Northeast and East will get 2 votes, as well as those living in the non-core areas of Bangkok. Voters in the Democrat-dominated South will get 0.66 votes each (like those in inner Bangkok). This model should lead to a well-balanced election result.
The shutdown: In honor of NN
Oh don’t be silly. It’s simply a fact that southerners, on average, have darker skins than residents of Bangkok. Noticing physical differences is not stereotyping.
The shutdown: In honor of NN
Only 300,000? Yellow-shirt partisans I’ve talked to here in Songkhla have implied in their conversations with me that anyone who estimates less than five million for Suthep’s crowds is a paid informant of the “Thaksin regime”.