Last night Sombat Jantharawong said at the time he was the head of Thailand’s Students Federation and joined the 1973 political movement his enemy was the military junta. At the present, his enemy is the parliament dictatorship. So the aim of this demonstration is the enhancement of political reform.
In the spirit of jest from Andrew Walker’s Lets-all-vote-Democrats to solve Thailand’s never ending political turmoil, I am making this far out suggestion (nobody follow’s the basic boundaries of democratic precepts anyway in Thailand).
Suggestion 1: Thai voting age should be limited to 18 years old; meaning, anybody above that age will no longer be entitled to vote.
Suggestion 2: There will be sharing of powers on the basis of election results with the total term of 10 years. Sharing will on basis of percentage share of votes. Say Peau Thai Party wins 60%, then they get 6 years to rule and if Democrat Party wins 40% then they get to rule for 4 years. The caveat is the party who wins the lesser votes rules first.
That’s the standard response but ignores all other issues. Yes you are right and he will probably win another one. And you are absolutely right when you say there is no credible opposition. Does that mean he should be given the keys to Thailand and be allowed to do whatever he wants? Because he will you know. Surely what is lacking is functional checks and balances and without them this cycle must continue.
“The two sides that you are arguing from have done exactly the same things at different times in the last decade.” Well, one side has won a series of elections and the other side has lost. I think that’s a substantial difference.
I find it hilarious that people are arguing from a ‘for’ or ‘against’ position. The two sides that you are arguing from have done exactly the same things at different times in the last decade. They are both corrupt. I was once at a lunch with some very senior Thaksin party people that insisted to me that all foreigners have no concept of Thai politics because none of the players are any good and the only choice the people have to make is between dysfunctional corruption and functional corruption. They naturally spoke of themselves as the functional side of things. This was from the horse’s mouth as it were, about five years ago.
So handbags at twenty paces is getting a bit old. You won’t win an argument when both people are delusional. Wouldn’t it be better to debate some systematic checks and balances that may restrict the insanity on both sides of this divide. If the definition of madness is ‘doing the same thing over and over again hoping for a different result’ then we have been there for a while now and all of the political players are to blame.
Clara Holzer had another short letter to the editor in the Nation recently:
====================================
“By rejecting amnesty and risking lengthy prison time, Abhisit and Suthep show they are the true heroes of democracy”.
Will the Constitution Court order the Democrat Party dissolved now that Abhisit, Korn, Sutthep and other prominent Democrats have participated in street protests calling for the un-constitutional overthrow of the elected government?
It’s a good article and amusing. Unfortunately it gives the impression that there’s nothing wrong with Thaksin. What is said about the Democrats is very difficult to argue with. However, the present government’s disregard for the country and self-serving activities must be seen as the problem. Where I totally agree with the person that wrote this is that the Democrats are not the answer. That pretty much sums up where we are; problems without solutions. And as to what happens next, your guess is as good as mine.
In Burma, organised and widespread use of incendiary of any sort can only happen with the Sit-tut as the military is commonly called in the country but elevated by all the drooling suckers (national and international and once dissident “media” and the “Burmese Experts”) of the world’s most ruthless, virulent, irreverent and at once cowardly thugs lovingly and tenderly as “Tatmadaw” or “Pyithu Tatmadaw”.
Such Devil Worship-ping is not really a new phenomenon in human history of course for personal as well as communal reasons.
Two decades of thorough oppression, blatant discrimination and physical and mental threats which continues in abundance today along with continuous deprivations of even the most basic necessities and intentional and effective belittling being told “inferior” to the traditional rivals- neighboring countries” paradoxically induced people to comply with whatever they have to do or sell out even their own mothers to be like Thailand or Singapore with Supermarkets ( that hallmark of human and societal degradation) , Monorails, Big Roads, Rails , Shiny Buildings, Brothels and and 4G iPAD’s.
To that end instead of rising up and making their own destiny, they will be of utmost subservient to the ruling thugs who are seen as holding the keys for the expectant largess from so-called “Foreign Investment” hoping some bones might drop to their way.
So in today’s Burma where Sit-tut is more solidly in charge than ever and supported by the traitor-ous “Opposition”, Sit-tut can do no wrong. People nowadays step over each other to lie in supplication in front of blood stained yet cowardly bullying rapist thugs like Min Aung Hlaing who of course not so long ago had the silent approval of international communities and surely of the elevated “Media” to use Russian and Chinese pilots to bomb and attack using planes against other citizens of the country in the name of supporting the Papa Chinese’ interests. Interestingly, those people being attacked seem to be so happy to be associated with them as well. Stockholm syndrome on steroid!
The appalling attempts by both the Democrats and their supporters in the expat community to smear Nick and make excuses for the attack on him are shameful.
Andrew’s idea is not as fanciful as Vichai N, and others here, are saying. HRH The Crown Prince has ALREADY acted as wise counsel, urging talks. Other highly respectable figures – eg. former PM Anand are urging the same. But such talks would need Bumiphol’s blessing to suceed. Who knows ? – HMK may yet say “well done son”. I hope so. Here’s Anand’s perspective : http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Anand-calls-for-mutual-retreat-peace-talks-30220849.html
I think these photos will help counter the accusations that are rife in Bangkok that Nick Nostitz provoked the attack.
Yesterday (November 28), there was a libelous letter in The Nation by Clara Holzer from which I quote:
“I am not condoning violence, but for the sake of truthfulness–and before the Southeast Asian Press Alliance and Foreign Correspondents’ Club turn Nick Nostitz into a martyr–it is only fair to mention that he is not merely a reporter. He is allegedly also a notorious red-shirt sympathizer and police informant.”
“Could it be that these were the reasons for the crowd being incensed at him, rather than because of his reporter status?”
As someone who has successfully won a large damage settlement in a US Federal Court in the past, I have news for you, Clara, your letter is “defamation per se”, and I hope Nick Nostitz gets a good lawyer because you have libeled his professional career with malice. I hope he sues you for several million baht in damages. You have damaged his career, his livelihood, his principal means of support, and your use of the word “allegedly” isn’t going to spare you from your guilt.
Nick should also think about suing the Blue Sky Channel network and the Democrat Party, for allowing similar libelous comments and worse to remain posted on their Facebook page.
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Time to vote Democrat!
Oddest theory I’ve ever heard. Democrats are incompetent so vote for them on the off-chance they might get better?
What does Suthep really want?
Last night Sombat Jantharawong said at the time he was the head of Thailand’s Students Federation and joined the 1973 political movement his enemy was the military junta. At the present, his enemy is the parliament dictatorship. So the aim of this demonstration is the enhancement of political reform.
Time to vote Democrat!
In the spirit of jest from Andrew Walker’s Lets-all-vote-Democrats to solve Thailand’s never ending political turmoil, I am making this far out suggestion (nobody follow’s the basic boundaries of democratic precepts anyway in Thailand).
Suggestion 1: Thai voting age should be limited to 18 years old; meaning, anybody above that age will no longer be entitled to vote.
Suggestion 2: There will be sharing of powers on the basis of election results with the total term of 10 years. Sharing will on basis of percentage share of votes. Say Peau Thai Party wins 60%, then they get 6 years to rule and if Democrat Party wins 40% then they get to rule for 4 years. The caveat is the party who wins the lesser votes rules first.
Time to vote Democrat!
Ha ha ha ha.
What is to be done in Thailand?
That’s the standard response but ignores all other issues. Yes you are right and he will probably win another one. And you are absolutely right when you say there is no credible opposition. Does that mean he should be given the keys to Thailand and be allowed to do whatever he wants? Because he will you know. Surely what is lacking is functional checks and balances and without them this cycle must continue.
What is to be done in Thailand?
“The two sides that you are arguing from have done exactly the same things at different times in the last decade.” Well, one side has won a series of elections and the other side has lost. I think that’s a substantial difference.
A royal intervention?
Jim, I think the scenario was a joke! Geddit?
What is to be done in Thailand?
I find it hilarious that people are arguing from a ‘for’ or ‘against’ position. The two sides that you are arguing from have done exactly the same things at different times in the last decade. They are both corrupt. I was once at a lunch with some very senior Thaksin party people that insisted to me that all foreigners have no concept of Thai politics because none of the players are any good and the only choice the people have to make is between dysfunctional corruption and functional corruption. They naturally spoke of themselves as the functional side of things. This was from the horse’s mouth as it were, about five years ago.
So handbags at twenty paces is getting a bit old. You won’t win an argument when both people are delusional. Wouldn’t it be better to debate some systematic checks and balances that may restrict the insanity on both sides of this divide. If the definition of madness is ‘doing the same thing over and over again hoping for a different result’ then we have been there for a while now and all of the political players are to blame.
Assault on Nick Nostitz
Is Clara Holzer a real person?
For ages I thought the notorious PAD-supporting Nation-letter writer “Bangkok Dave” was a figment of Thanong K’s imagination.
But then he turned out to be a real person!
Assault on Nick Nostitz
Clara Holzer had another short letter to the editor in the Nation recently:
====================================
“By rejecting amnesty and risking lengthy prison time, Abhisit and Suthep show they are the true heroes of democracy”.
Clara Holzer
=================================
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Democrats-are-the-ones-doing-the-right-thing-30218623.html
Time to vote Democrat!
I’m not so sure rewarding their anti-democratic activities would send the right message to them
Time to vote Democrat!
Will the Constitution Court order the Democrat Party dissolved now that Abhisit, Korn, Sutthep and other prominent Democrats have participated in street protests calling for the un-constitutional overthrow of the elected government?
Time to vote Democrat!
It’s a good article and amusing. Unfortunately it gives the impression that there’s nothing wrong with Thaksin. What is said about the Democrats is very difficult to argue with. However, the present government’s disregard for the country and self-serving activities must be seen as the problem. Where I totally agree with the person that wrote this is that the Democrats are not the answer. That pretty much sums up where we are; problems without solutions. And as to what happens next, your guess is as good as mine.
Increasing insecurity in Myanmar
In Burma, organised and widespread use of incendiary of any sort can only happen with the Sit-tut as the military is commonly called in the country but elevated by all the drooling suckers (national and international and once dissident “media” and the “Burmese Experts”) of the world’s most ruthless, virulent, irreverent and at once cowardly thugs lovingly and tenderly as “Tatmadaw” or “Pyithu Tatmadaw”.
Such Devil Worship-ping is not really a new phenomenon in human history of course for personal as well as communal reasons.
Two decades of thorough oppression, blatant discrimination and physical and mental threats which continues in abundance today along with continuous deprivations of even the most basic necessities and intentional and effective belittling being told “inferior” to the traditional rivals- neighboring countries” paradoxically induced people to comply with whatever they have to do or sell out even their own mothers to be like Thailand or Singapore with Supermarkets ( that hallmark of human and societal degradation) , Monorails, Big Roads, Rails , Shiny Buildings, Brothels and and 4G iPAD’s.
To that end instead of rising up and making their own destiny, they will be of utmost subservient to the ruling thugs who are seen as holding the keys for the expectant largess from so-called “Foreign Investment” hoping some bones might drop to their way.
So in today’s Burma where Sit-tut is more solidly in charge than ever and supported by the traitor-ous “Opposition”, Sit-tut can do no wrong. People nowadays step over each other to lie in supplication in front of blood stained yet cowardly bullying rapist thugs like Min Aung Hlaing who of course not so long ago had the silent approval of international communities and surely of the elevated “Media” to use Russian and Chinese pilots to bomb and attack using planes against other citizens of the country in the name of supporting the Papa Chinese’ interests. Interestingly, those people being attacked seem to be so happy to be associated with them as well. Stockholm syndrome on steroid!
Review of Singapore, ASEAN and the Cambodian Conflict
[…] http://www.newmandala.org/2013/10/10/review-of-singapore-asean-cambodian-conflict-tlc… […]
Assault on Nick Nostitz
Well said Arthurson.
The appalling attempts by both the Democrats and their supporters in the expat community to smear Nick and make excuses for the attack on him are shameful.
However, they are not that surprising.
A royal intervention?
Andrew’s idea is not as fanciful as Vichai N, and others here, are saying. HRH The Crown Prince has ALREADY acted as wise counsel, urging talks. Other highly respectable figures – eg. former PM Anand are urging the same. But such talks would need Bumiphol’s blessing to suceed. Who knows ? – HMK may yet say “well done son”. I hope so. Here’s Anand’s perspective : http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Anand-calls-for-mutual-retreat-peace-talks-30220849.html
Assault on Nick Nostitz
I think these photos will help counter the accusations that are rife in Bangkok that Nick Nostitz provoked the attack.
Yesterday (November 28), there was a libelous letter in The Nation by Clara Holzer from which I quote:
“I am not condoning violence, but for the sake of truthfulness–and before the Southeast Asian Press Alliance and Foreign Correspondents’ Club turn Nick Nostitz into a martyr–it is only fair to mention that he is not merely a reporter. He is allegedly also a notorious red-shirt sympathizer and police informant.”
“Could it be that these were the reasons for the crowd being incensed at him, rather than because of his reporter status?”
As someone who has successfully won a large damage settlement in a US Federal Court in the past, I have news for you, Clara, your letter is “defamation per se”, and I hope Nick Nostitz gets a good lawyer because you have libeled his professional career with malice. I hope he sues you for several million baht in damages. You have damaged his career, his livelihood, his principal means of support, and your use of the word “allegedly” isn’t going to spare you from your guilt.
Nick should also think about suing the Blue Sky Channel network and the Democrat Party, for allowing similar libelous comments and worse to remain posted on their Facebook page.
JOM magazine
Indeed it is; irony that is.
JOM magazine
Thanks Peter — well spotted.
On another note — “Living” Malaysia and “Leaving” Malaysia — an interesting irony.