Thailand's political turmoil as seen from Isaan

The International Herald Tribune, associate newspaper to the New York Times, has an interesting article based on interviews with Isaan farmers, of the North-East's view of the political turmoil in Bangkok. Remember that the vast majority of bar boys are also from Isaan. The accompanying photograph includes the fabled buffalo so many members have contributed towards buying - http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/13/asia/thai.php

This week's Economist has a story summing up the troubles. It ends "The national tourist board, alarmed by the slump in bookings, has been flying in foreign journalists to show that the country is safe for foreigners. It probably is, so far. But with the chaos unchecked, the question is how safe it is for Thais." - http://www.economist.com/world/asia/dis ... d=12380909

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The Thais complain that the BBC never shows anything good about Thailand. Well, that's all been going on a long time, peak tourissm or not. I'd bet the downturn has less to do with that and paralyzed government (again, new?) but a lot more to do with just the downturn in the global economy than the news.

Interesting articles, particularly the first. The only bridge left between the haves and the majority have-nots in Thai society is the King. The PAD are widening the gap at a time when the King's ability to intervene can no longer be relied on. A very dangerous tactic. I don't share the complacent view of some on this board that Thailand is somehow immune from serious unrest. And while the Army officers are on the PAD's side, most of the people holding the guns are the sons of the rural poor from Isaan and elsewhere. Instead of thinking about what they can do for themselves, the PAD and its supporters should start to think a little about what they can do for the majority of their fellow countrymen. That would be to everyone's benefit in the long run.

By the way, Homi, the animal in the photo is a cow not a Kwai!

[jimnbkk]

In the Washington Post this morning was a very short story about the Queen attending the funeral of a PAD supporter killed in the 'unpleasantness' last week. The story speculated that this was tacit approval by the King of the PAD. Can this be true?

The Thais complain that the BBC never shows anything good about Thailand. Well, that's all been going on a long time, peak tourissm or not. I'd bet the downturn has less to do with that and paralyzed government (again, new?) but a lot more to do with just the downturn in the global economy than the news.

Huh? Could you try saying that again?

In the Washington Post this morning was a very short story about the Queen attending the funeral of a PAD supporter killed in the 'unpleasantness' last week. The story speculated that this was tacit approval by the King of the PAD. Can this be true?

So some news reports, such as ABC, have said:

Thailand's revered Queen Sirikit will attend the funeral on Monday of an anti-government protester killed in clashes with police a week ago, the protest group said, the strongest sign yet of royal backing for the street movement.

The IHT article and the views in it are echoed by a number of Thai friends of mine, some of whom had previously voted for the Democrats as they did not like the Thaksin "cult". None would now vote for the Democrats, or any party connected with them, on the grounds that although Thaksin may have stolen Thailand's money, the Democrats were trying to steal their votes and their rights. Surprisingly astute for what the PAD consider a bunch of uninformed peasants .

[sjaak327]

In the Washington Post this morning was a very short story about the Queen attending the funeral of a PAD supporter killed in the 'unpleasantness' last week. The story speculated that this was tacit approval by the King of the PAD. Can this be true?

So some news reports, such as ABC, have said:

Thailand's revered Queen Sirikit will attend the funeral on Monday of an anti-government protester killed in clashes with police a week ago, the protest group said, the strongest sign yet of royal backing for the street movement.

The IHT article and the views in it are echoed by a number of Thai friends of mine, some of whom had previously voted for the Democrats as they did not like the Thaksin "cult". None would now vote for the Democrats, or any party connected with them, on the grounds that although Thaksin may have stolen Thailand's money, the Democrats were trying to steal their votes and their rights. Surprisingly astute for what the PAD consider a bunch of uninformed peasants .

The pad is using the uninformed and uneducated people stance, purely to explain their new politics. Almost nobody outside of PAD is buying it though

The only bridge left between the haves and the majority have-nots in Thai society is the King.

That's certainly the propaganda the Palace consistently pump out. Their view of the current fracas is now pretty obvious - the Queen chose to preside at the funeral of one of the PAD demonstrators

The only bridge left between the haves and the majority have-nots in Thai society is the King.

That's certainly the propaganda the Palace consistently pump out. Their view of the current fracas is now pretty obvious - the Queen chose to preside at the funeral of one of the PAD demonstrators

The King is still a bridge in the sense that he has the support of the rural poor as well as the Bangkok elite. If civil war threatened, the King's influence could still probably prevent it. If the Crown Prince succeeded him, I doubt he could keep the two sides apart.

The King is still a bridge in the sense that he has the support of the rural poor as well as the Bangkok elite.

That rather begs the question of why so many of the Bangkok elite feel the need to accuse one another of lese majeste. There are many in the Bangkok elite who aren't so stupid as to know (and reject) what the Palace is up to