There must be a better way to say this on an academic website like New Mandela, but we are perhaps all familiar with the old saw with respect to athletic performance, play within yourself, don’t try to be more than you are. The idea is that you can’t do what you can’t do, and if you do what you can do that might turn out to be good enough, and it will be better than you’ll do otherwise. So, it seems to me, many commentators want to know more than they can know, while Prof. Thorn is willing to play within himself, within what the situation gives him to observe and describe. He uses the facts that are available, does as well as he can with those facts, and he comes up with reasonable analyses of what might be going on, not just all that can be seen. Perhaps there is some ‘behind the curtain’ reality that he does not capture, but — perhaps — all this is all that is really happening. Yingluc has faltered; Suthep sees an opportunity for advantage; he wants to muck things up and hopes that something more will come of that. What he wants is more destructive in the long term than what he wishes to be rid of. Yes.
I just don’t understand the benevolent attitude towards the Military. They still rule the country, right? Why on earth wouldn’t it be a serious possibility that they planted bombs in order to create public fear and help justify their own authoritarian grip on power? That happens A LOT in military dictatorships. Sometimes the obvious answer is also the most logical.
I met Nick several years back and had the chance to chat with him over some drinks. It was apparent that we have very different views of the world, politics, and economics- however Nick was nothing but cordial and engaged in a very pleasant conversation with me.
In my opinion it would have been very out of character for him to be acting aggressively towards the crowd, and frankly he is smart enough to know that it would be both detrimental to his work and put him in a bad position. In my opinion what’s more likely are more internet rumours put forth by those who are trying to rationalise the Internet witch hunt.
An extraordinary side-effect of the establishment’s kamikaze tactics since 2006 is that the prince is now less hated in Thailand than at any time previously in his whole adult life.
My interpretation of the political crisis, based on hundreds of interviews with sources, is that at the elite level it is an old-style succession struggle, with the establishment desperate to stop Vajiralongkorn becoming Rama X at almost any cost. Anyone interested to know details of the analysis can read it here.
. . . but can A-may Suu Kyi also be *Mother* to all the children of Myanmar who are not Buddhist but happen to be Animists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Zoroastrians, among others.
Vile monks are today openly spreading hatred — unheard of in living memory — and parading with placards denouncing spirit worship and *beastly* Islam. Not to mention the Christians in Kachin and Karen states forver under siege.
What price democracy?
The Burmese people are sick and tired of politics and warfare. They want their leaders to end their differences and make the country safe for diversity.
Instead of devoting massive sums of money to weapons, the *enlightened* leaders should divert them to combat ignorance, poverty and disease.
An extensive account from Nick about what happened can be read by clicking here. I don’t see why Nick should be expected to deny ridiculous accusations of unprofessionalism in the absence of any credible evidence that he ever provoked protesters during his career. It’s very telling that none of his detractors have been able to provide any evidence to back up their claims.
Dr. H (comment 3)
Groundhog day? Unfortunately a lot of blood had been spilt by the time the ‘chastisement’ was broadcast. For people’s sake, I hope there will not a ‘groundhog day.
Also, if this was to happen, wouldn’t there have had to have been some kind of admission?
An admission that ‘your man’ will step up in the future. After reading Mr. A MacG-M’s recent article, I was under the impression that an audience, with the characters in the initial posting, would not be possible.
in that case u don’t get my point, which is that – apparently – you don’t see oppression the same way i see it (in thailand) 24/day. i’m not here to make friends with www strangers nor do i expect www strangers to think i’m doing “quite well”.
Where are these persuasive accounts? Are you sure you didn’t just hallucinate them? Anybody who knows Nick Nostitz and the way he works will recognise the utter absurdity of your comments, and can draw their own conclusions about your credibility.
What happened is that former Democrat MP Jumpol Chumsai pointed out Nick from the stage and said he was a “Red journalist” who should be thrown out. Nick was then attacked. This version of events is not up for debate. It is what happened. Versions in which Nick somehow provoked the attack exist only in the fevered imaginations of dishonest apologists for the attack. Shame on you.
You were doing quite well until your last sentence. My duty is to my brothers and sisters who face oppression every day and not just my family.If you want Suthep’s black shirts to destroy Thailand that’s your choice. My duty as a human being is to fight injustice wherever I see it.
At present, there is a frame in the cycling headline, on NM’s home-page, about the assault on Nick. A reasonable person would assume that the picture in that frame was Nick, showing his condition after being assaulted. But that is not the case. The picture is of somebody else, much more badly injured than Nick was.
NM is a very good web site, for the most part, but what I have described here is dishonest and inflammatory.
oppression is daily business in thailand. oppression of the poor isaan, oppression of the burmese/khmer/lao (check the numbers on slavery in thailand), oppression of the minorities (“chaow kaow”), oppression of muslims in the south, etc. if one wants to fight oppression where one sees it in thailand I reckon one’s fighting 24/7 (unless one’s blindfolded or plain ignorant)…
thailand has great people but there’s something very wrong with their mindset (in both red and yellow), with major thanks to the lack of education. nothing will change in this feudal country until they accept they are centuries behind on education and do something about it. giving out free laptops or tablets doesn’t change jackshit if people only use it for facebook or games.
ps. in thailand, as a farang, your only “duty” is to support the family of your thai wife and if you don’t have a thai wife, to spend money and do visaruns. there it ends, period.
Easy to criticise the yellows for their point of view but I remember all too well sitting in a small restaurant in Bangkok listening to a bunch of upcountry reds throw their weight around – living up to their stereotype.
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What does Suthep really want?
There must be a better way to say this on an academic website like New Mandela, but we are perhaps all familiar with the old saw with respect to athletic performance, play within yourself, don’t try to be more than you are. The idea is that you can’t do what you can’t do, and if you do what you can do that might turn out to be good enough, and it will be better than you’ll do otherwise. So, it seems to me, many commentators want to know more than they can know, while Prof. Thorn is willing to play within himself, within what the situation gives him to observe and describe. He uses the facts that are available, does as well as he can with those facts, and he comes up with reasonable analyses of what might be going on, not just all that can be seen. Perhaps there is some ‘behind the curtain’ reality that he does not capture, but — perhaps — all this is all that is really happening. Yingluc has faltered; Suthep sees an opportunity for advantage; he wants to muck things up and hopes that something more will come of that. What he wants is more destructive in the long term than what he wishes to be rid of. Yes.
Increasing insecurity in Myanmar
I just don’t understand the benevolent attitude towards the Military. They still rule the country, right? Why on earth wouldn’t it be a serious possibility that they planted bombs in order to create public fear and help justify their own authoritarian grip on power? That happens A LOT in military dictatorships. Sometimes the obvious answer is also the most logical.
Yesterday, tomorrow, Thailand
Thanks for your reply.
Now I can see your compassionate nature through your message,
Condemning the assault on Nick Nostitz
I met Nick several years back and had the chance to chat with him over some drinks. It was apparent that we have very different views of the world, politics, and economics- however Nick was nothing but cordial and engaged in a very pleasant conversation with me.
In my opinion it would have been very out of character for him to be acting aggressively towards the crowd, and frankly he is smart enough to know that it would be both detrimental to his work and put him in a bad position. In my opinion what’s more likely are more internet rumours put forth by those who are trying to rationalise the Internet witch hunt.
A royal intervention?
One day, said King Farouk of Egypt, there will be five kings left in the world: the four kings in the deck of cards — and the king of England.
Long live the king!
What does Suthep really want?
Here’s a guest post on my blog by Jakrapob Penkair which discusses Suthep’s rhetoric
http://asiaprovocateur.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/guest-post-by-jakrapob-penkair-sutheps.html
A royal intervention?
An extraordinary side-effect of the establishment’s kamikaze tactics since 2006 is that the prince is now less hated in Thailand than at any time previously in his whole adult life.
My interpretation of the political crisis, based on hundreds of interviews with sources, is that at the elite level it is an old-style succession struggle, with the establishment desperate to stop Vajiralongkorn becoming Rama X at almost any cost. Anyone interested to know details of the analysis can read it here.
Burma’s next president
. . . but can A-may Suu Kyi also be *Mother* to all the children of Myanmar who are not Buddhist but happen to be Animists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Zoroastrians, among others.
Vile monks are today openly spreading hatred — unheard of in living memory — and parading with placards denouncing spirit worship and *beastly* Islam. Not to mention the Christians in Kachin and Karen states forver under siege.
What price democracy?
The Burmese people are sick and tired of politics and warfare. They want their leaders to end their differences and make the country safe for diversity.
Instead of devoting massive sums of money to weapons, the *enlightened* leaders should divert them to combat ignorance, poverty and disease.
And, pigs will fly.
A royal intervention?
HRH is already popular enough in countryside…
Condemning the assault on Nick Nostitz
An extensive account from Nick about what happened can be read by clicking here. I don’t see why Nick should be expected to deny ridiculous accusations of unprofessionalism in the absence of any credible evidence that he ever provoked protesters during his career. It’s very telling that none of his detractors have been able to provide any evidence to back up their claims.
A royal intervention?
Dr. H (comment 3)
Groundhog day? Unfortunately a lot of blood had been spilt by the time the ‘chastisement’ was broadcast. For people’s sake, I hope there will not a ‘groundhog day.
Also, if this was to happen, wouldn’t there have had to have been some kind of admission?
An admission that ‘your man’ will step up in the future. After reading Mr. A MacG-M’s recent article, I was under the impression that an audience, with the characters in the initial posting, would not be possible.
Yesterday, tomorrow, Thailand
in that case u don’t get my point, which is that – apparently – you don’t see oppression the same way i see it (in thailand) 24/day. i’m not here to make friends with www strangers nor do i expect www strangers to think i’m doing “quite well”.
Condemning the assault on Nick Nostitz
Nick Nostitz can adequately explain himself what happened AMM. Don’t you agree?
Yesterday, tomorrow, Thailand
Here’s an easy to follow guide on how to stay unbiased in Thai politics 🙂
Condemning the assault on Nick Nostitz
Where are these persuasive accounts? Are you sure you didn’t just hallucinate them? Anybody who knows Nick Nostitz and the way he works will recognise the utter absurdity of your comments, and can draw their own conclusions about your credibility.
What happened is that former Democrat MP Jumpol Chumsai pointed out Nick from the stage and said he was a “Red journalist” who should be thrown out. Nick was then attacked. This version of events is not up for debate. It is what happened. Versions in which Nick somehow provoked the attack exist only in the fevered imaginations of dishonest apologists for the attack. Shame on you.
Yesterday, tomorrow, Thailand
You were doing quite well until your last sentence. My duty is to my brothers and sisters who face oppression every day and not just my family.If you want Suthep’s black shirts to destroy Thailand that’s your choice. My duty as a human being is to fight injustice wherever I see it.
Condemning the assault on Nick Nostitz
At present, there is a frame in the cycling headline, on NM’s home-page, about the assault on Nick. A reasonable person would assume that the picture in that frame was Nick, showing his condition after being assaulted. But that is not the case. The picture is of somebody else, much more badly injured than Nick was.
NM is a very good web site, for the most part, but what I have described here is dishonest and inflammatory.
Yesterday, tomorrow, Thailand
oppression is daily business in thailand. oppression of the poor isaan, oppression of the burmese/khmer/lao (check the numbers on slavery in thailand), oppression of the minorities (“chaow kaow”), oppression of muslims in the south, etc. if one wants to fight oppression where one sees it in thailand I reckon one’s fighting 24/7 (unless one’s blindfolded or plain ignorant)…
thailand has great people but there’s something very wrong with their mindset (in both red and yellow), with major thanks to the lack of education. nothing will change in this feudal country until they accept they are centuries behind on education and do something about it. giving out free laptops or tablets doesn’t change jackshit if people only use it for facebook or games.
ps. in thailand, as a farang, your only “duty” is to support the family of your thai wife and if you don’t have a thai wife, to spend money and do visaruns. there it ends, period.
A royal intervention?
He already tried a gentler version of this… nobody listened to him:
http://www.bangkokbiznews.com/home/detail/politics/politics/20131124/545372/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AF%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B2.html
Yesterday, tomorrow, Thailand
The stereotypes I sarcastically referred to in my (misunderstood?) post are very alive and well it seems.
http://asiancorrespondent.com/116449/quote-of-the-day-we-are-rich-and-our-children-are-educated-in-bangkok/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BangkokPundit+%28Bangkok+Pundit%29
Easy to criticise the yellows for their point of view but I remember all too well sitting in a small restaurant in Bangkok listening to a bunch of upcountry reds throw their weight around – living up to their stereotype.