Opinion....... shut up, put up, pay up.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... -up-pay-up
Printable View
Opinion....... shut up, put up, pay up.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... -up-pay-up
a very astute analysis I think from four Americans in an op-ed piece in the Bangkok Post, and an antidote to things like the crap Guardian article linked above:
Thailand needs a democratic, just society
The authors see themselves as "colour blind" - "we do not see that one side or another of the political fray is more or less virtuous", something that is often lacking in some of the local op-ed and commentary pieces, but regardless of your "colour" preference read the article and decide for yourself the value of their positive but challenging comments about the democratic future Thailand could make for itselfQuote:
Genuine, sustainable democracy has yet to take root in Thailand. Numerous coups and constitutions enacted and then torn up over the past 83 years tell the story. We ask ourselves, what is this democracy which these well-meaning foreign critics wish Thailand to restore? We wonder what is achieved by demanding Thailand hold elections right away, considering the repeated frustrations and disappointments after the several elections held over the past decade. Is there any reason to believe that yet another election will magically resolve ThailandтАЩs political paralysis?
bkkguy
"Colour blind"..... 'in support of elite politics'Quote:
Originally Posted by bkkguy
https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/
Quite right bkk guy. I'm at one with the author Nuat Namman in his excellent piece America needs Thai-style democracyQuote:
Originally Posted by bkkguy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuat Namman
In the US, democracy has been bought by the wealthy and the far-right. In Thailand, dictatorship has been brought about by the wealthy and the far-right.
The poor always suffer. And some want to ensure that its stays that way.
Co-incidentally (perhaps), in both countries, the darker your skin, the more likely you are to be denied your human rghts.
Government to remain in power until goals achieved - spokesman.
http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/51 ... -spokesman
WSJ: Thailand's Martial Rule.
ThailandтАЩs military dictator Prayuth Chan-ocha says he realized martial law was hurting the countryтАЩs reputation abroad. So last week he lifted martial law and declared instead that his orders will have the force of law.
Instead of only being able to hold dissidents for seven days without charge, the Thai military can now do whatever it likes. The last dictator to hold such powers, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, used them to summarily execute his opponents in the 1960s.
To the juntaтАЩs dismay, some disloyal Thais have тАЬmisunderstoodтАЭ Gen. PrayuthтАЩs magnanimous lifting of martial law. So Deputy Chairman Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan reassured the public that his bossтАЩs invocation of Article 44 of the military-imposed provisional constitutionтАФwhich allows the junta leader to issue any order deemed necessary for national securityтАФwonтАЩt change anything. It will only be used to тАЬmimicтАЭ the powers granted by martial law.
Advertisement
Military-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam offered an equally compelling reason for optimism: The Article, he said, тАЬcannot be applied to harm anybody until it is used.тАЭ
Gen. Prayuth was more blunt: Those who question his powers forfeit the protections of being Thai citizens. He appreciated the ability to act swiftly тАЬto apprehend people, if an incident occurs, without an arrest warrant.тАЭ But he also explained that he doesnтАЩt want to detain one suspect for even one day. In his heart he is a democrat: Otherwise, why would he have seized power?
Meanwhile, arbitrary detentions and prosecutions for thought crimes are on the rise. The junta has detained journalists and threatened media, most recently last week when Gen. Prayuth promised to close down publications that тАЬdonтАЩt write good things.тАЭ Four bombing suspects last month alleged they were tortured in police custody and smuggled photos of their injuries out of prison. The junta denied torture was used but barred the governmentтАЩs own human-rights body from interviewing the suspects.
Most critics of the junta are keeping their heads down and waiting to see the new permanent constitution it is due to unveil later this month. Enough details of how the charter will restrict democratic rights and perpetuate military control have already leaked that even the pro-coup Democrat Party has split with the generals. If ThailandтАЩs new strongman wants to crush resistance to the constitution, he may need the full power of Article 44.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/thailands-m ... 1428448751
I doubt it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Up2U (WSJ)
Charter drafters firm on preventing 'one - man rule'.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 57804.html
Did Prayuth tell you that himself last time your nose was firmly up his arse?Quote:
Originally Posted by lego
April 10, 2010 anniversary. Prayuth asks media to expose redshirt violence.
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1428663115
Bomb blast in Koh Samui.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32259612
Koh Samui blasts "political".
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 57907.html
Car stolen from the deep south used in Koh Samui blast.
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11
Wait until someone works out how to pack one of these new low-cost drones with explosives. That's when the fun's really going to start.
An interesting essay, The Story of Thaksin Shinawatra.
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v36/n12/richard-ll ... shinawatra
NYTimes: Trickery and false promises in Thailand.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/04/11/op ... &referrer=
Former US envoy to North Korea nominated for post to Thailand. (wonder if there is a hidden message as he has experience in dealing with dictators)
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/former-us-env ... 25835.html
Washington Post : Thai junta enjoys absolute power while opposition quietly bides its time.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/tha ... story.html
the Bangkok Post had a not that interesting article on where Pheu Thai goes from here:
Shinawatras still Pheu Thai 'trademark'
I was more taken with the reader comments than the article itself, particularly one from Post reader Dystopia:
this comment garnered 100 "thumbs up" and 111 "thumbs down" - a country still divided indeed!Quote:
Imagine any legitimate democracy tolerating its government being run from abroad by a convicted felon on the run. The fact that upwards of 40% of the population think this is perfectly ok says so much about ignorance, self-interest and moral bankruptcy in this country. Is it any wonder that Thailand is such a hopeless mess?
bkkguy
Clash over Samui blast risks probe.
http://bangkokpost.com/news/security/52 ... isks-probe
More about the new Ambassador nominee.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 58015.html
U. S. scraps Cobra Gold prep meeting.
http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/52 ... on-meeting
The Diplomat's take, Car bomb explodes at Thai resort.
http://thediplomat.com/2015/04/car-bomb ... ai-resort/
A look inside the Bangkok Post from a foreign reporter's perspective.
Pork, bullets, and the dismal state of journalism in Thailand
http://www.cjr.org/criticism/thailand_bangkok_post.php
Junta resists "divisive" referendum.
http://bangkokpost.com/news/general/530 ... referendum
A rebuke from the BP.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... -statement
BP: Prayuth, Past 6 months a success.
http://bangkokpost.com/news/politics/53 ... -a-success
A rebuke from Thai Ambassador. http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/04/17/op ... ?referrer=Quote:
Originally Posted by Up2U
BP 6 months of success has a very fascist looking photo followed by an illusion to "mussolini made the trains to run on time". Interesting report.
I think that really was an illusion, as any Google search will show.Quote:
Originally Posted by roguebear
Bloomberg: Thai constitution aims to put brakes on political parties.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... -for-polls
Newsday: Thai charter, weakening political parties, ready for review.
http://www.newsday.com/news/world/thail ... 1.10283500
The NRC to endorse "draft" charter. (the first sentence is a must read)
http://m.bangkokpost.com/topstories/532647
It's a week old but still relevant. "Teflon Thailand starts to flake"
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special ... s-to-flake
Poll: Thais unhappy with economic effort. (don't put too much trust in these polls)
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... ffort-poll
Unofficial English draft of Thai constitution and 1997 (People's) Constitution (for reference).
Nikkei Asian Review: What's next for Thailand's new constitution?
http://asia.nikkei.com/Viewpoints/Persp ... nstitution
Bloomberg: What's wrong with Thailand's new constitution.
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2 ... nstitution
Prayuth's achievement report fails in some critical tests.
http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/tjkcS
Thailand drops in world tourism rankings.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... m-rankings
U. S. ignores own laws to ignore imports of Thai fish caught by slave labor.
http://bangkokpost.com/news/special-rep ... -by-slaves