Barney Frank and the Thai regime

An excellent short essay by David Streckfuss, good historical summary of Thai politics and for coup to be on the right side of history:

http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy ... Streckfuss

I couldn't see any reference to the obvious point that Prayuth plans to be the 16th Earl of Warwick de nos jours.

[cottmann]

An excellent short essay by David Streckfuss, good historical summary of Thai politics and for coup to be on the right side of history:

http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy ... Streckfuss

Sreckfuus explains the Buddhist underpinning of the Thai coup culture as:

This pattern [of a coup d'etat and self-issued amnesty and constitution] seems inexplicable unless we look at the practise as ritual purificationтАФa public act certified by Thai Theravada Buddhism that recognizes a sacrifice (staging a coup), acknowledges a necessary murder (the killing of a constitution), and rewards giving (a new constitution, a new political order).

Source: David Streckfuss, "Truth on Trial in Thailand: Defamation, Treason and L├иse-majest├й," London: Routledge, 2011. page 122.

[Up2U]

Today much of the religious programming has been restored. I see the DMC channel and other Buddhist stations, however I do not see the Islamic stations.

[Up2U]

Here is open letter from an American businessman living in Thailand who believes the media misrepresented the coup and doesn't understand the reasons.

http://www.tatnews.org/open-letter-mino ... -heinecke/

and here is a reply from David Streckfuss:

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... at-it-too/

[roguebear]

Thanks for the point counter point articles Up2U. Streckfuss' points were much better presented than his previous writings and the comments following his response to Heineke were very interesting.

[Up2U]

I hope everyone is happy under the coup because it's going to be here for a long time and forget anything resembling an elected government:

http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/th ... k-and-awe/

[Oliver]

The generals may be clowns but they know that any free and fair election will result in their opponents being returned to power. And Suthep and his military chums would quickly find themselves charged with treason.
The best we can hope for is an internal coup from within by middle-ranking officers committed to democracy and the emancipation of all Thais, not just the Bangkok elite. Democrats and socialists like Hugo Chavez, for example. Of course, there was Colonel "Daeng". But he was assassinated by the same people who organised the coup.

[Up2U]

A TIME magazine report:

http://time.com/2892755/thailand-coup-j ... -vanished/

Any further news on how certain Thais are enjoying their vacation in England?

[Up2U]

This report was long awaited and the results were not unexpected.

http://www.theguardian.com/global-devel ... CMP=twt_gu

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 36790.html