| Thailand's Establishment Supports Chaos |
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| Written by Giles Ji Unphakorn | |
| Tuesday, 07 October 2008 | |
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Since late in the evening of October 6, the ultra right-wing mob that calls itself the People's Alliance for Democracy has laid plans to lay siege to the Thai parliament. They came prepared with iron bars and crash helmets. Their plan, as always, was to create chaos in the hope that the military would stage a coup or that the ruling party would once again be dissolved by the courts. Their claim is that the present government led by the Peoples Power Party or PPP -- ex-Premier Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai in another name-- is illegitimate. The PPP and the previous Thai Rak Thai have consistently won large majorities in elections, proving that they are popular with the poor, who make up the majority of the population. This support from the poor is not surprising, since the party was the first elite party in 30 years to offer a universal health care scheme and public funds to develop the rural economy. The PAD's claim that the government is somehow "illegitimate" is based on the belief that the poor do not deserve the right to vote because they are too stupid. This belief is shared by the opposition Democrat Party, which supported the 2006 military coup and is now supporting the actions of the PAD by boycotting parliament. Previously the Democrats boycotted the 2006 elections because they knew that the poor would not vote for their monetarist and neo-liberal policies. The Democrats when in office set police dogs on peaceful protestors from the Assembly of the Poor. That protest was nothing like the PAD riots of the past few weeks. The Democrats also used public funds to bail out the banks in the 1997 crisis. The poor were told to fend for themselves. The PAD is calling for the defense of the military constitution of 2007, which has already restricted the electorate's right to vote for the Senate. They want to bring about a Suharto-style "New Order", in which only half of the parliament will be elected and the Prime Minister need not be an elected MP. On the morning of the 7th October, the police cleared one side of parliament using tear gas. This was to allow MPs to enter the building. The police made it clear that the PAD would continue to be allowed to protest outside the other entrance to parliament. However, the PAD responded by attacking the police with sharpened flag poles, homemade guns and their own tear gas grenades. In any other parliamentary democracy, the PAD leaders and their rioting supporters would have been arrested. They have been illegally occupying Government House for over a month. Yet the police have been told to "lay off the protestors" by people in high places. Every public institution and organization in Thailand is now compromised by this inter-elite conflict and the losers, as usual, are the poor: workers and small farmers. The monarchy has failed to defuse the situation. The queen has openly sided with the PAD mob. The courts are practicing double standards, attacking Thaksin and Thai Rak Thai/People’s Power Party corruption while ignoring illegal coups, mob violence and corruption by opposition politicians and the military. The military as always is on the side of the conservative royalists. The police are unable to act and the government lurches from crisis to crisis. The majority of academia is hopelessly compromised by its support for the coup and their support for decreasing the democratic space. Democratic principles have been thrown out the window by professors who teach "democratization" and the need for "the rule of law." Even the People’s Movement has shown itself not to be up to the job. Instead of building an independent political position at the side of the poor and oppressed, sections of the NGO movement supported the coup, the military constitution and the PAD. Rosana Tositrakul, the so-called NGO Senator, elected from Bangkok, has joined into ultranationalist fanaticism, especially over the ancient Khmer temple on the border with Cambodia that was almost conflated into a border skirmish. These people must bear responsibility for the recent injuries of both Thai and Cambodian troops in a needless border dispute. Rosana also disrupted parliament today, working with military-appointed senators. She believes that the poor are too stupid to be allowed to vote. Yet all these people bang on about the need for "good governance" and "accountability". Who are they themselves accountable to? The Thai economy is facing the full force of the global economic meltdown. It needs measures to protect the poor, income redistribution and a welfare state and peace for the three southern provinces. Thaksin and his top military men should have been clapped into prison long ago over human rights abuses in the south and the so-called War on Drugs, in which hundreds of people, many of them innocent, were killed. Yet this is never mentioned and Thaksin and his wife are seeking asylum in Britain while poor people from all over the world are sent home to die by the British government. We need to reform society to bring about progressive changes. This means expanding democracy, not allowing Thailand to slide back into the dark ages of dictatorship. But the task will only take place by forces in the Peoples' Movement – the left, the NGO networks, social movements and trade unions coming together to outline our own reform strategy. We cannot rely on the corrupt human-rights abusers in the government, nor the fascists of the PAD and their allies to achieve these aims.
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written by SickofPAD , December 02, 2008
I am sick and tired of this stupid PAD taking over the airport and the weak government for not doing anything about it. Rumors had it that the queen is behind all this giving out money and orders for the PAD to take down Taksin for fear of his popularity and the end of the monarchy power. I think it's about time that the people in Thailand should realize that the monarchy are simply people and they should not be above and beyond the law. We, as the citizen of the modern democracy, should have to right to voice out our disagreements about the monarchy and how they have been the controling Thailand behind the scene all along with the help of the military and aristocrats.
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Mr
written by Paul2 , December 02, 2008
Today PAD wins for the sake of the country. The family which wants to take over the country is the Shinawatra family only. Karma will come back to the betrayers.
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PAD is not about democracy
written by Bill , November 29, 2008
People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is not about democracy. In fact, they are similar to the Founding Father of America who created the Electoral collage so that the uneducated poor did not elect a government that was not first approved by the people they deemed worthy of making such decisions.
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Thaskin did more for Thailand’s poor then any other PM, but he also ordered the killings of many with his “war on drugs” and his hard handed polices in the Muslim south. The poorer Thai’s were not blind to the corruption of the Thaskin government, there just saw this as normal Thai politics, and for the first time the government was helping them. report abuse
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Are you for them or US?
written by Reynard , November 29, 2008
I would advise you all to give both PAD and the PPP/TRT/UDD/DAAD the bum's rush. They are collectively taking Thailand to hell in a handbasket. It's purely a matter of the power-hungry squabbling over the pigtrough. The ordinary Thai citizen is continually hijacked by these cretins, and always gets nothing really worth having from them. Ji should have the courage not to cut a piece of slack for the fascists from either side. Dare for something better! Only way it will ever happen!
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Fascist PAD? Give us a break, Giles!
written by David Knapp , November 27, 2008
Sadly, Ji Ungphakorn's intemperate rhetoric is a good metaphor for the whole problem here. True, PAD leaders have shown complete scorn for the law and disregard for every consideration except their own delusional hunt for power. True, all the anti-democratic forces in the country are behind the PAD. To leap from these facts to saying the PAD is "fascist" is just as reasonable, and just as helpful, as the PAD banners decrying "devil government" and "murderer Somchai". The biggest threat to Thailand isn't corruption, Thaksin or the wrongheaded efforts of the elite to turn back the clock: it's the descent into blind demonization of everyone on the other side of a question--a contagion Mr. Ungphakorn seems to have picked up in a particularly virulent form.
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Testimony
written by Sirikit , November 26, 2008
That the PAD is allowed to paralyse Governmental functions and bring economic chaos is a testimony to the powerful interests behind the PAD conspirators.
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Partition
written by Sirikit , November 26, 2008
The best solution to the current Thai woes is not more military coups but to partition the country into poor rural north and urbanised Bangkok southern region.
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Tuksin is the truly criminal.
written by KonThai , November 05, 2008
Do these guys, including the writer, gain some money from Tuksin? Why do you call him and his government the "first elite party"? I am asking this because the writer seems like a Thai politician who is owned by Tuksin. In fact, his government and also PPP are the worst I have ever known, for each of their politician behave like a thief. They are people who took side with Tuksin because they gian money from him; and this brought the end to Thai Ruk Thai Party. Also, some children of Tuksin had cheated in their exams, and those of others behaved badly. Anyone can criticise the PAD and point out how they do wrong but do not praise Tuksin who is the real criminal and the real cause of all turmoils. He cares about only himself and do everything for his own business. Moreover, I can tell that Thai people love the king for he has done so much for Thailand while Tuksin did not do anything at all except hoping to take his (the king's) place. Also, now he is cursing Thailand in front of the world because he has come to his end.
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clueless
written by zapp you , October 17, 2008
Most of the you are absolutely clueless about the situation in Thailand but you only rely on gossips,false news report and comments from foreigners.It's useless to explain it all and only if you people can wake up and mind your own business.Don't believe me?Go watch Zeigeist 1 & 2 on google video.Then you will relise how stupid and naive you people have always been.
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Royal Conspirator
written by Tansin , October 16, 2008
The Queen and royalist elements are the real conspirators to bring down the Government through the so called Bangkok business military elites called PAD and through the royalist judiciary. Only a return to absolute Monarchy and neo-fuedalism will satisfy their ambitions. The rural poors need to be defranchised and turned into serfs serving their royal, military and businessmen master. Even the average middleclass Bangkokian should be able to own a couple of serfs..
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written by what a mess , October 12, 2008
Thailand needs a REAL democracy!!!!!!!!!!!! Monarchy is obsolete and belongs only in fairy tales!
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Thai Truth, Lowly rated comment [Show]
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written by hahaha , October 10, 2008
Re: Thailand princess speaks at Connecticut school
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What a disappointment! I totally expected: "Yes, my mom is the one who is really 'behind the scene' Btw, my dad will only come out to give a blessing to the coup maker." report abuse
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written by Fanta , October 10, 2008
Finally, someone from the palace said something about the mob.
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-------------------------------------------------- Thailand princess speaks at Connecticut school Associated Press October 9, 2008 WALLINGFORD, Conn. - The princess of Thailand said Thursday that she does not believe protests in her home country are being staged to benefit the monarchy. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn talked about the importance of public service Thursday at the Choate Rosemary Hall prep school in Wallingford. She later headed to the University of Pennsylvania for a U.S.-Thailand education discussion. Her visit came amid the worst political violence in Thailand in more than a decade. Thousands of protesters have camped at the main government office complex to demand electoral changes and an end to corruption in Thai politics. In violent clashes on Tuesday, 423 protesters and 20 police were injured, Thai medical authorities said. One woman was killed, and a man died in what appeared to be a related incident. It was the worst political violence since 1992, when the army killed dozens of pro-democracy demonstrators seeking the ouster of a military-backed government. The princess was asked at a press conference following her talk whether she agreed with protesters who say they are acting on behalf of the monarchy. "I don't think so," she replied. "They do things for themselves." Asked why the king has not spoken out, she said, "I don't know because I haven't asked him." Protest leaders have called for the prosecution of people who insult the monarchy. One leader wants to abandon Thailand's popularly elected Parliament for one in which a majority of members would be appointed. Some academics have said the plan would enhance the power of the country's military and monarchy at the expense of the poor. "There are a lot of political problems," the princess said. "I told my friends, colleagues just to do what is their duty." http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-09192950.apds.m0355.bc-ct--thaioct09,0,6157926.story report abuse
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The real problem in Thailand
written by Hydra , October 10, 2008
There was a very good comment in the Daily Mail (U.K):-
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The cause of the political crisis in Thailand is that One Powerful Family support PAD. this family fears of losing power since the political party and political system are stronger under Thaksin. Million of Thai people still want Thaksin to be PM. The main and important actor in Thai politics after 1932 Revolution is This Powerful Family. Thai Citizen, Bangkok, 07/10/2008 15:36 The majority of Thais feel that Thaksin was good for them and for their country. they accept that he may also have benefitted, just like all the others before him who gave them nothing. They were better off and had hopeand future opportunities. He could not change the deeply embedded corruption overnight and no matter what his intentions had to go along with it. it is embedded in the Thai system and has in the past benefitted the "Elite". To change it will take time. When he came to power, much of the 'money flow' that had previously gone to the 'elite' either stopped or was in danger of doing so. It was going into other pockets. Even the money from drugs and the underground lottery, which had been enjoyed by the hypocrites, was curtailed. the responsibility for the casualties of the war on drugs cannot be blamed only on Thaksin. This was a very complex issue. Unfortunately, the 'elite' will pin anything they can on him. He needed a vast amount of money, not necessarily for his own benefit, but to enable him to fight the real problem in Thailand - the monarchy. It is always claimed that all Thais love the king. They have been braiwashed into saying so from childhood. they are also forbidden to say or think otherwise. The subject of the monarchy cannot even be discussed. Now many Thais realize that the king and his family are responsible for the divisions in the country. It is a case of divide and rule. The monarchy is responsible for their poverty, lack of education, equal opportunities and all things that those in a democracy enjoy. The 'elite' cannot afford to have a population who are educated and are in an economic position to oppose them. There can be no democracy without a revolution to rid Thailand of the Adams Family and all their hangers-on. I have discussed this with Thais who dare not even discuss it with their family and friends, and in every case they hate the royals. Only those who are part of the huge extended royal 'family' (the yellow shirt brigade) benefit, and they rule the Thai people by inspiring fear. Many of the P.A.D. followers are sadly being used by the royals. Come back Thaksin, help your countrymen to rid themselves of this monarchical dictatorship and return everything they have taken from the Thai people. Show them the same mercy as their ancestors showed to their subjects. I am sure that I speak for millions of Thais who are afraid to speak for themselves. report abuse
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written by G R E E D , October 08, 2008
A person who doesn't wear yellow tinted glasses knows that the Royal Family -especially, the Queen- is behind this mess.
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Karma is a bitch, be careful. report abuse
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the worst: same old faces wherever you look
written by Shan , October 08, 2008
The elite power-mongering is what depresses me most in this country.
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PPP and PAD make no difference. New faces don't get a chance EVER. The administration of the whole country is "old ginger", grown on feudalistic, corrupt structures that no one can ever challenge without being called "communist" (haha, yes, it, still exists and is a threatening option in Thailand), anti-democratic (or anti-populist, meaning: against selling out the country like the PPP/Thaksin people want) or anti-royalist (apparently the worst, meaning against the old elites losing their monopolies). Personally I think a SEVERE shake-up is the only chance this country has to find its place in the 21st century. So let the riots go on and people die...perhaps a serious trauma is what is needed here. The appointment of Somchai, btw., is a sad joke. Too sad to be real. report abuse
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Half truth from a man called Giles
written by Liar Exterminator Association , October 08, 2008
Deputy PM Chavalit Yongchaiyut resigned immediately after death and serious injuries were reported. Giles Ungpakorn, a self-proclaimed human right activist, chose not to talk about.
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Democracy in the making, according to Giles
written by ใจสู้สู้ , October 08, 2008
BREAKING NEWS:
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Deputy Police Spokesman says the 22 year-old girl, Assumption Univ student, was killed because her bag contains grenades, which were accidentally self-detonated!?! Another award-winning investigation by Thai Police. http://www.komchadluek.net/specialreport/breakdownmob/specialreportnews.php?id=373 Can you see why even a doctor lost his temper? report abuse
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Most Thais are sick of the PAD
written by Colin , October 08, 2008
The vast majority of Thais I talk to, which is a lot as I live there, are sick and tired of the PAD. Though some may not like the government, they are fed up of their lives being disrupted by a bunch of spoilt brats like Sondhi. Let democracy take its course.
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written by MyTwoCents , October 08, 2008
A somewhat emotional article, but pretty much on the mark IMO. It's sad to see a country like Thailand that has come such a long way since the end of WW II sliding backwards this rapidly. Once, during the eighties and nineties, Thailand was seen as a beacon of political stability, economic growth and relatively democratically run to boot. When I arrived in Thailand in 2001, even in the aftermath of the crisis of 97 there was a sense of optimism in the air-despite it's economic difficulties, Thailand was going to struggle through.
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These days Thailand has to be one of the more depressing countries in the world. Depressing, not just for the Thai people, but also because it makes you despair about all those other developing countries in the world that are similar to Thailand, in that they managed to reach the first rungs of the ladder on the way to full economic and political development, but are still struggling with economic problems, a wide income gap and authoritarian traditions that die hard. Today Thailand - tomorrow....Brazil, South Africa, China ? report abuse
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written by MyTwoCents , October 08, 2008
A somewhat emotional article, but pretty much on the mark IMO. It's sad to see a country like Thailand that has come such a long way since the end of WW II sliding backwards this rapidly. Once, during the eighties and nineties, Thailand was seen as a beacon of political stability, economic growth and relatively democratically run to boot. When I arrived in Thailand in 2001, even in the aftermath of the crisis of 97 there was a sense of optimism in the air-despite it's economic difficulties, Thailand was going to struggle through.
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These days Thailand has to be one of the more depressing countries in the world. Depressing, not just for the Thai people, but also because it makes you despair about all those other developing countries in the world that are similar to Thailand, in that they managed to reach the first rungs of the ladder on the way to full economic and political development, but are still struggling with economic problems, a wide income gap and authoritarian traditions that die hard. Today Thailand - tomorrow....Brazil, South Africa, China ? report abuse
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How did you write such article?
written by Vorapoap , October 08, 2008
--
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The PAD's claim that the government is somehow "illegitimate" is based on the belief that the poor do not deserve the right to vote because they are too stupid -- This is totally wrong, PAD never said that. PAD said everyone should be properly educated. But Thaksin's government and his proxy never really intend to develop education in Thailand, so those poor people kept on voting for corrupt politicians for a short term benefit. And on morning of 7 october, Thai police didn't follow standard procedures to break the mob. They didn't talk to a PAD leader there, they didn't use a loud speaker, they just appeared with launchers and fire at PAD report abuse
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THAILAND : IN GRIP OF POLITICAL DEADLOCK
written by CWI MALAYSIA , October 08, 2008
Neither the present political parties nor a military takeover, will resolve the current crisis as long as the social and economic needs of the rural and urban population are not met. However, this is unattainable under the profit-oriented market economy that has been supported by the monarchy, military and the ruling and opposition political parties. Only a democratic socialist planned economy that is based on the fundamental needs of all could find permanent solutions to the economic and social needs of Thai society.
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http://asocialistmalaysia.blog...lock.html report abuse
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failed state
written by john lim , October 08, 2008
Thank you for writing this article. With this kind of article, more and more Thais will learn about the truth behind this gruop. The pictures get clearer everyday. Somethings must done with this constitution. Thailand is becoming a FAILED STATE soon. A civil seems to be unavoidable.
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Aitian
written by Aitian , October 07, 2008
Well, Well, Well... the Royals and the Bangkok Elites do not want give the power to the people (or should we say POOR people). If you disenfranchise and try to silence them they dont have a choice but demand a separate homeland for them. The PAD hooligans and their Royalist backer are sowing the seeds for breakup of the country. If this goes on .. it wont be long before we see country balkanized.
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This is what really happening in Thailand
written by Siamist , October 07, 2008
Giles, you're absolutely right. The PAD is so stupid for throwing their democracy they've been fighting for and longing for a new democracy which is smokescreened by an absolute monarchy. The queen has taken side already. The truth is out there. Many Thais realized now who really is behind the riot by masterminding the PAD's movement.
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written by Insider , October 07, 2008
I would invite you guys to check out Shawn Crispin's article for non-partisan, insightful analysis.
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http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JJ08Ae01.html You'll see what professionalism is and how professionalism is different than some partisan, emotional piece of writing. report abuse
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written by Insider , October 07, 2008
I would invite you guys to check out Shawn Crispin's article for non-partisan, insightful analysis.
Votes: +6
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JJ08Ae01.html You'll see what professionalism is and how professionalism is different than some partisan, emotional piece of writing. report abuse
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The TRUTH
written by saowanee , October 07, 2008
This is the turth - an inconvenient truth.
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You are right but alone
written by Geo , October 07, 2008
It's like Thai people want to see their country to die.
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A kind of National Suicide. report abuse
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