Frank G Anderson แฟรงค์ จี แอนเดอสัน
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Editorial Archives (audio editorials) Arthive 2

19 January 2008
the Korat Post Online

That Korn Dhabbaransri has come into town to ostensibly pay respect to an ailing Luang Pho Khun is fact - unannounced are the real reasons that he suddenly appears, just before a reported 21 January 2008 press conference, possibly to be chaired by "slippery eel" Banharn Silpa-Archa, Chart Thai party leader. Just what will be said will become a matter of record, but suffice it to say that it won't amount to much. Banharn has shown the world that he doesn't mind maknig a fool out of himself, earlier vehemently vowing, before the Emerald Buddha, never to join ranks with Thaksin or his kind again, and now stepping back onto the stage with TRT nominee PPP. Korn may not get a ministerial portfolio, but is certain to benefit from Thaksin in this adherence to the old crony network in Thailand.

4 January 2008
the Korat Post Online

Just when you think things in Thailand can’t get any more unsettling, along comes a spider…this time in the guise not of something new but something relatively old and recent – the dissolution of Thailand’s major populist political party. This time it’s the People Power Party, a clear nominee if you have been keeping your eyes and ears open, of the former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the Thai Rak Thai party he founded.

Before you doubting Thomases out these begin throwing stones at the Democrats and blaming troublemakers for dealing what you think is unfairly with the PPP, look back and recall what Thaksin and Samak had both said, and what others in and out of the PPP have been saying. They will follow Thai Rak Thai policies, and indeed bring back, if possible, all those nasty 111 politicians who had made the mistake of joining TRT in the first place. Add to this that the PPP has its HQ in the old TRT HQ, that it uses the same TRT staff, and that it’s logo is nothing except a copy of the old TRT logo, and you seem to have a nominee for sure.

The big question then is what happens if the Thai Supreme Court does find the PPP illegal? Will the 23 December 2007 elections be voided? Will the Democrats take temporary control of the government?

31 December 2007
the Korat Post Online

27 December 2007
The Korat Post Online

"MANIPULATING THE MONARCHY"

The Thai Criminal Court recently gave media magnate Sondhi Limthongkul three years for defamation of former strongman premier Thaksin Shinawatra. The full charges included making baseless allegations against the former prime minister without trying to prove them, not following constitutional rules in building sentiment to overthrow Thaksin, seriously affecting social cohesion, trying to present Thaksin and his own supporters as opponents of the monarchy, portraying himself and supporters as close to the monarchy, trying to divide the people into those who are for and those who are against the monarchy, attempting to manipulate the monarchy as a tool to overthrow Thaksin. Sondhi's publisher was given two years' sentence but suspended because of never having committed a serious crime before.

His Majesty the king has previously told the Thai nation that he does not consider himself a supernatural being and that if he does something wrong he wishes to hear criticism so he can improve himself. The Thai courts, however, seem to be holding hard and fast to the rule that they are above criticism. Anyone publicly criticizing the courts has quickly found that defamation of the courts is a quick-draw weapon of choice in shutting up criticism. Some observers have also said, privately, the using of accusations against opponents that involve insults to the revered monarchy is a well-known weapon of choice in silencing opposition and legitimate inquiry.

The severity of the sentence against Sondhi Limthongkul is surprising, but not against the background of Thai politics and the social cohesion forced on the Thai people in the name of national security and affecting social cohesion. Just what social cohesion is is itself a matter of deep concern for all Thais. Does it mean "Sing off the same sheet or else!" or "Learn to go with the flow and keep your mouth shut."? It becomes a moot point when the monarchy is used, however, by vested interests to silence criticism and to gain favor among the Thai people. Anyone in Thailand can stand up and accuse someone else of insulting the monarchy, which is itself an attempt to manipulate the monarchy and perceptions involving it, without evidence and without any human compassion about the repercussions of baseless charges. "Deemed" is sufficient reason to be deported or put in jail in a land where respect for the monarchy is inculcated at an early age but where adults seem to feel that behaving in ways the monarchy has wonderfully demonstrated good behavior to be is not necessary to practice so much as it is to talk about.

When the nation's monarch has said that "I want to hear criticism when I do something wrong so I can improve myself," the Thai courts can hardly do less. They should allow criticism, listen to it, and refrain from possibly being viewed as unfairly using the defamation process here in Thailand when such action may in fact silence legitimate speech, no matter how distasteful it may be felt, without absolute proof, to be. That's democracy.

21 December 2007
The Korat Post Online

Is the PPP The Right Choice?

Samak - national leadership with a foul mouth...

Anyone who has been reading this paper's editorials should recognize that we are not exactly in favor of military dictatorships. A few may have misunderstood as well that we are in favor of a more benevolent dictatorship such as that which allegedly existed during the Thai Rak Thai/Thaksin Shinawatra period.
Thaksin's main selling points to the foreign observer involved what was viewed as economic growth and assistance to the poor in Thailand who had never really been given (according to many) such assistance. ) However, the overall cost to the Thai economy, and the individual Thai middle class member, as well as to the population in general, as a result of TRT policies has hardly been given a serious look. Those professing to support Thaksin and the TRT and its policies point to spot benefits provided to specific groups for the purpose of buying votes and popularity. Despite counter-arguments that in the west votes are also bought, it can be argued that they are not bought in the west from a largely gullible and uninformed electorate as they are here, but from people whose representatives have made themselves felt in Congress, in the press and among their communities. This is not the case in Thailand. Votes are literally bought and paid for, either with money or with reassuring promises that quickly evaporate into an emmpty palm once more.

Those who support Thaksin and the TRT are welcome to write in to this paper with five fact-supported arguments in the former Illusion Party's defense. As well, readers are more than welcome to listen to and watch ASTV, the Nation and other Thai and English language media that tells it like it is.

As to the period following this coming 23 December 2007 national parliamentary elections, there are several forecasts being offered, perhaps the most often one being of more unrest, violence and even more military interference in civil affairs. To this one needs to reflect on Thailand's history and assess who has been "in charge" from the beginning to the present. Thailand has been ruled/overlorded by privileged classes ranging from the monarchy to the military to corrupt politicians, all put into power and kept there by a population generally devoid of information and protection of human rights that would enable them to make better decisions during elections and in life in general. National security has also been used in Thaland by the military and political pundits to either justify another military intrusion into Thailand's political circus or to warn the public that the military is once again on the doorstep to knock over previous freedoms fought and died for. There is no doubt that this terrible scenario is not only possible, but by some measures certain to occur. The struggle by Thailand's institutions to retain their individual control over vested interests as they are viewed - and essentially, to hell with the people except too often in lip service only- is really at the heart of the so-called democracy struggle here in Thaland. The powerful groups don't care about democracy whether these groups are in the political sector or other. All they want is to keep bilking the public. That under one banner, the TRT-now PPP, the poor are somehow imagined to be the recipients of assistance and help they have long been deprived of, is nice to imagine but needs a bit more of a critical look before it can be accepted as fact. .

15 December 2007 the Korat Post Online Is Thailand's permanent military dictatorship merely finding itself today, and has it always been in the background undermining serious attempts at democraticizing the nation? It seems to, given continued refusal of the military sectors in the Kingdokm to step not just down but back and away from the affairs of State. The problem is, though, that the military hasn't just been representing its own interests - it has been supporting those of other national institutions that need to maintain the country's Status Quo system in which a democracy really has no place. Allowong real freedom in the country would upset too many institutionalized mini-dictatorships, much as those that are sadly today present in the world's greatest democracy, the United States. Just read a few authorative books on the Zionist lobby and you will get the point. In Thailand's case, the military has repeatedly stepped into civilian affairs to take the reins of power, handing them back to corrupt poitical interests in a quiod pro quo arrangement that has seemed, falsely, to work over the years. In a sense it was similar to that of the Saudi Wahabi-nationalist alliance that made Saudi Arabia a country the same year that Thailand became a constitutional monarchy - 1932.

Why Is Korat Constantly Behind?

11 December 2007

Even with the start of the first day of the 24th Korat-based SEA Games 2007 on 6 December, it was clearly evident to visitors and locals alike that the facilities were far-overbuilt and over-designed. While some of the earlier thinking by officials may be judged to be logical in terms of planning to use the three billion Baht sports complex as a northeast Thailand regional sports complex, the practicality of matching expenses was once again overlooked and/or ignored in the heat of the glory moment. Whether inside the 20,000 seat capacity outdoor stadium – which was over 90% empty most of the time, or in other venues throughout Korat, including the Mall – the number of unused seats outnumbered the occupied seats at ratios of ten to one or more. There were exceptions, but they were far and few between.

The rationale for construction of the new 80th birthday Celebration of His Majesty the King’s sports complex (SEA Games et. al) was that it would provide facilities for repeated sports events after its construction and serve as a draw for all of NE Thailand’s athletes to come to Korat to practice and compete. That Korat’s economic infrastructure is uncertain at best, and certainly non-transparent, is well known. Observers, Thai and foreign alike, have often commented that Korat’s city fathers just don’t know how to manage the city, or that they have vested interests that prevent them from effective management. These are observations, of course, and should be treated as such. Yet when one travels to Ubol and Khon Kaen, for example, one notes appreciable differences between city traffic and general organization that will not be found in Korat.

Are Korat’s city fathers just too short-sighted, unable to see ahead far enough on an international scale to make better decisions? That was just one foreign trade mission’s observation some time ago when its members visited the city and local chamber. When it proposed millions of dollars in potential industrial investment, it was told that the local chamber knew what Korat needed and it was agricultural based industry, not what the foreign trade mission hade in mind.
“They should think more internationally!” said the foreign trade mission’s leader as he led the team back to Bangkok never to return.

Thinking big has become a Thai penchant for success. It doesn’t work, and is illusionary. Everyone can drum up support and enthusiasm, but drumming up success seems to be something that even those disappointed with the results don’t seem to care too much about. Apathy? Absolutely.

1 December 2007
the Korat Post Online

...in full support...

This editorial is in full support of the Lawyers’ Council of Thailand and residents living near Suvannabhumi International Airport who had petitioned Thailand’s Central Administrative Court to stop flights at the airport from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am to allow the population nearby to have a decent night’s sleep. Although the issue of noise was of paramount concern even before the airport was built and later commissioned, it was sidestepped against the backdrop of vested interests who designed, built and now operate the airport.
This writer was recently at Heathrow International Airport in London, in fact, were there are no night flights between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. When I asked airport staff the reason for this, they indicated that aircraft noise was the issue and that the government had gone along with peoples’ right to have a decent night’s sleep.

That the Thai court has not seen similarly, and in fact, has cited 166 flights during the said hours at Bangkok’s new megalith airport and signed contracts that would be breached should such a nighttime ban be enacted. That the court seems to be catching up to the initial issues in the first place is staggering.
Residents in the area were always against the airport because of environmental impact, including noise, but Thai officials and business/political interests went ahead and like other coveted projects that are ram-rodded down the throats of unwitting and unwilling residents, proceeded with a huge lemon. Don Meung International Airport would have met Thailand’s air travel needs for the next ten years with minimal investment and minimal redesign or alteration. Instead, the financial advantages that were felt to belong to Thailand’s elite again won the day.

Despite certain contract breaches that Heathrow had experienced, it still went ahead with a nighttime flight ban. Bangkok should do the same thing as the airport is poorly designed (crappy according to many long-time residents of Thailand), and should never have been built. It made several very rich people even richer and left a big headache for the general public who really had no say in the airport’s construction.

We fully support the residents of the area in their endeavors, up to and including peaceful demonstrations and interruption of nighttime airport operations. Justice will never be served in Thailand by the country’s institutions, including the courts, unless justice for the people is preserved in the first place rather than referred to courts to seek after-the-fact compensation.

Thai Public Relations Department Loses Press I.D.s

SEA GAMES press passes lost enmasse!

On 30 November 2007, senior staff at Korat's Public Relations office informed this newspaper that over 150l media I.D. SEA Games passes it had submitted to Bangkok for processing and approval (and return in time for the SEA Games) had been lost. Not a trace has been found. Based on the loss, the PR office has had to scurry around and resubmit most of the dozens of press I.D. applications to Bangkok in the hope that this second group is not lost.

Obtaining information about SEA Games from officials has been difficult at best. While local officials have been relatively polite and informative to the limit they can, arrangements have been out of their hands because of high political personality involvement with SEA Games. It's not a new issue for Thailand. For example, the Royal Thai Army owns, operates and controls the local Korat race track and related facilities - as well as indirectly some bars and other entertainment venues. Yet that so many press passes could be lost, as is the case now, reflects on the weakness of the system. Essentially it is a weakness of not delegating responsibility and authority. Everyone has to stand around waiting for Suwat Liptapanlop, or the Minister of Sports and Tourism, or local influential people to to things that needed to be done a long time ago. English language has been a real issue as well. Thai officials profess to be interested in improving the level of English spoken by their staffs and partners, but at the same time frown on fellow Thais who use English too much as an inroad into Thai culture.

Readers have asked what they can expect as visitors here to Korat for the 24th SEA Games 2007. Here are some ideas, which should be considered with the proverbial grain of salt.

1. Emergency medical treatment - this is a particularly sensitive issue. Although this newspaper has many times pointed out to municipal and provincial officials the need for a true emergency traffic lane in town, no measures have been taken to put this into effect. Obviously this can have a serious impact on anyone injured or sick at SEA Games venues who need emergency treatment. Ambulances in Thailand also get sparse recognition and are often bound up in uncaring traffic.
2. Violence against your person - As many press reports in Thailand have indicated, foreigners are just as open to violence as are Thais. Sometimes even more so because foreigners may be caught off guard by preying gangs or ruffians and be misled into situations that lead to violence such as rape or theft, even in some extreme cases, fatal violence. The Thai judicial system deals with such issues the same way that Thai society does - preserving the Thai national image is paramount and punishment per se is far on a back, back burner. One of Thailand's leading politicians for example, Chalerm Yambumgrung, has a son who allegedly shot a policeman to death and has apparently gotten away with it. Influential people in Thailand, whether politicians or businessmen, have little regard for you as a person or entity unless you are bringing money to them - or in the case of unwitting women, sex. The advice here is that if you are female, do not allow yourself to become closely involved with any Thai males on your own. Always have a male companion you can trust. Sadly as well, Thai men often have a problem with alcohol and anger management. This dangerous combination can lead to you being hurt or even killed. Avoid the likelihood of this by taking special care to be with someone you trust and who can help handle such situatons.
3. Official promises or reassurances - These are worth the paper they are not written on. Thai officials will assure you, very friendly and smiling, that they will take care of this and take care of that. This is not likely to happen, although there are exceptions. If you have a problem that involves money, violence or other serious affairs, see both the police and legal counsel to pursue justice. Unless you do, justice will be found wanting.
4. Hot line for problems - If you are in or have been in or think you are likely to be in any situation that you feel uneasy about, call 191 for police or as this number is often busy or just doesn't answer, call us at 083-100227. Give your return number, name and location, and state the problem. We will work with you to try to resolve it either with advice, or if that is not likely to work, with physical presence and conflict resolution techniques.

28 November 2007

SEA Games & National Elections

Thai Rak Thai, Chart Pattana or Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana
- they are still under Suwat Liptapanlop.

Whether foreign visitors to Korat's SEA Games 2007, being held from 6-15 December 2007, will have to dodge a bullet or two while here is open to quesiton, thanks to Thailand's unique political system, ostensibly marketed as democratic but certainly within the confines of oppressive and corrupt supply and demand votes marketing. In many instances, for example, when a foreign firm or business enterprise wishes to bid against an existing Thai/Chinese competitor for a large job, he has to hire a firm to assess feasibility in terms of danger to himself, family and associates from Thai Chinese interests who don't fool around. The political scene in Thailand is hardly any different, as illustrated by the fact that hundreds of police, including some of the kingdom's best, are now hunting around for gunmen and assassins who are hired to gun down political competitors or to otherwise scare/bribe them off the ticket to keep room for the old cronies as represented by Dr. Warraran Channakul, officially meung Korat district 1 MP candidate but in fact a dyed in the wool supporter, front man and representative for Suwat Liptapanlop, former head of the Chart Pattana Party that he led to dissolution - sort of. In fact, the Chart Pattana was dissolved but then merged into the highly corrupt Thai Rak Thai monolith that conducted national elections in 2005 that His Majesty the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, called un-democratic.

The question thus arises, given even the king's opposition to past Thai Rak Thai machinations, why these guys can't just accept that the people of Thailand need something much more than par for the course corruption that they have been saddled with in each preceeding election to date?
That Samak Sundaravej, thrown off Thai Army TV for making allegations and inferences against the king's top adviser privy council president Gen. (ret) Prem Tinsulalonda, is now running at the top of national popularity for the post of prime minister in the coming elections is shocking and disgusting in the extreme. Samak has a foul mouth, is as bad or worse than his minion Thaksin Shinawatra in being hot-tempered and largely ignorant, is short of apologies and thinks that he can run the country better than those who are much better qualified than he is. Samak, the TRT crowd, the Chart Pattana crowd, the Ruam Jai Thai group, all are in it for power and money. They talk about helping the people, but they are more often helping themselves and for some strange reason, no one can find bribe receipts. We ask Suwat, finally, what happened at Klong Daan and why isn't this prime example of corruption out in the open?

12 November 2007

Human Garbage?

Thai politicians would not be such an easay target for charges, let alone suspicion, of hanky-panky, aiding and abetting criminal activity and ignoring the interests of their constituents, king, nation and religion if they exercised a few basic options at their disposal - transparency, honesty, responsibility, and real Buddhist precepts. But over the years, Thai politicians [very much like their counterparts elsewhere around the globe) have adopted very untransparent, dishonest, irresponsible ethics as well as false Buddhist ethics. They then bring all this to an apex when they run for elections.
It is already a foregone conclusion who will win the 23 December 2007 parliamentary elections in Thailand - the [former TRT?] crooks - in Korat, for example, the Suwat Liptapanlop clan has been identified as holding the reins for Thaksin and cronies. Aided by an electorate that is deprived, ignorant and easy to buy off with money or promises and then shrug off with disdain, these old hacks will again seat in Parliament, perhaps reorganized somewhat, [erhaps chastised somewhat, but nonetheless still back where they were, making the same mistakes, taking the same things for granted, taking advantage of the people, nation and religion that put them there, as well as insulting the monarchy that they claim to respect and revere so much.
"The King Never Smiles" is not just a book - it is a reflection on the tragic side of the Thai political scene where the voter really does not have a great deal to do with how the nation is run or whether it will survive the next political crisis. With a scary parallel to this here in the United States, we the voters - in Thailand, in the US, or elsewhere - need to take stock of the thousands of crooks, thieves and incompetent leadership we have put into office or allow to be appointed and to shovel out this human garbage.
Given mankind's millennia-long history, however, this seems an impossible task. And not just for the time-being.

29 September 2007

Why Israel Is Successful

Having been here in the northeast United States now for some six weeks, this editor has seen and heard some of the uniquely American things that go on, including television, the social scene, politics and the media – the latter, of course, dominated by the pro-Israeli lobby.
One of the latest goings-on has been a move by the unions here to unionize tables and other sections of the nearby Foxwoods Casino, owned by the American Indian Mohegan tribe. According to the Federal Government, the employees of the casino have a right to be represented by a union. This is the same government, albeit centuries later, that once decided that the Red Man was not even human, and that lands white settlers took did not belong to the Indian.
That the Red Man has been conquered is a fact: that we, the descendents of those who conquered him continue to not only accept this historical injustice but that we relegate it to a past reality that we all have to live with now, flies in the face of the same situation that is present in Palestine. There a nearly-conquered people have fought for decades to retain their independence, with a huge difference from our example. That difference has to do mainly with technology and accessibility.
Where the American white settler managed to conquer Native Americans with advanced technology and overwhelming numbers, Israelis in the Middle East are beset by different challenges from the same situation. Those challenges have to do with the dog not only having teeth, but being able to bite as well. To put it out of parlance, Arabs in the region have the will and the way to fight back. Neither Washington nor Tel Aviv is happy with this reality.

11 September 2007

Tragedy But Awareness

Today, 11 September 2007, marks the sixth anniversary of the worst attack that has ever been perpetrated against a civilian population by a terrorist organization. On this date six years ago, a radical group with Islamic fascist leanings attacked the Pentagon, the World Trade Center, and attempted to probably ram another plane into the White House. The last failed when the passengers on the doomed pasenger plane tried to take back what was rightfull theirs - life, freedom, and the right to a safe passage.
Islamic fundamentalists, however, prone to violence and abrogation of human rights, took it upon themselves to destroy any semblance of human compassion, all in the name of Allah, in the name of Islam, in the name of combatting what they claimed to view as Western, and largely American, injustices in the world.
It is possibly unimaginable for most of us to be able to agree with the rationale that led to these needless deaths in attacks that had certainly led us into World War 3 if not at its doorsteps. Yet, there was a rationale. The West, Americans and the civilizaiton that spawned them had to be punished for the wrongs they were committing against 'innocent' Arab and Muslim populations around the world. And who better to punish them than a Don Quiote who did not brandish a sword at windmills so much as his interpretation of the Koran against the west.
Many who recognize the wrongs that the west, the US and Israel have committed in the Middle East and elsewhere will easily appreciate the mad rationale that Osama BinLaden used when he opened Pandora's box. That the world had a great deal ot do before then, that it already had a lot to make up for in wrongs committed in history, Bin Laden did not care to consider. He undertook, in a mad and Satanic attack, to commit murder against thousands of innocent persons who did not deserve to die. Like many Islamic fundamentalists, he did this with religious fervor and fully recognizing that he would be killing many people, men, women, and children of various races, various nationalities, various religions. when his guided planes struck, many Muslims around the world applauded. They did this knowing that it was wrong to kill, that the attack was essentially something that was wrong, but for the most part also accepted and praised the attack because somehow Allah, their version of God, was empowering his servants to begin evening the score!

"Why I Am Not A Muslim" is only one book among hundreds, only one narrative among thousands describing the falsehoods perpetrated by plagarism and lack of logic in the Korat as written and as interpreted by fundamentalists. "Believe or you will be killed" is a refrain that many Muslims have been able to garner from the Koran, and they are devoutly committed to enforcing this wrongness described in the chapter of Revelations that tells mankind not to add to what was already written in the Bible. But Mohammed had to add, he and his disciples had to disobey God's word, to kill when God himself demanded that man not kill.

Is Islam a religion or a massive error? Serious scholars must assess this matter because it has taken us to the brink of the kind of infighting that has already become, if somewhat spotted, planetary.

Read one confused American's account of his conversion to Islam Confusion.

24 August 2007

We apologize for late updating of these pages. Your editor and spouse are currently Stateside enjoying the cool weather in Connecticut, shortly to drive to Western New York for family business.

That Samak Sundaravej has been elected head of the new political party that calls itself People Power but that certainly appears to be another rubber-stamped Thai Rak Thai greedly coalition, one needs to assess Thailands future in terms of political, social, and of course, economic development and well-being.
In terms of the latter-most, if we pay any credence at all to soothsayers and observers who cited financial wrongdoings during the TRT years, then Thailand's economy is headed for a nosedive that will precipitate another '97' kind of crisis in Asia. This is because of the populist policies creataed by TRTto garner votes and to maintain public support for a pretence at governance. The people in the southern region of Thailand were not fooled by this, although their northeast counterparts were in rejecting the country's new constitution.
That the People Power party is now a vibrant entity and headed by this social outcast who is better known for not being afraid to speak his mind that he is known for having a mind [that is, his intellectual propensity is sometimes criticized by anyone with an intellect], spells a cloudy sky and bumpy road for Thailand's domestic and foreign policies. Where before foreign business interests had doubts whether Thailand would climb out of its economic uncertainty and proceed toward 'enlightened' development, those doubts can now be cemented into confidence that the country's near-future polities will be populist, contradictory and shaky at best.
It's a shame because the new constitution, albeit engineered by the coup leadership and appointed legislative assembly, is a more solid document than the one dissolved in 2006. The loopholes that Thaksin and his cronies used to amass so much power and influence are generalyl gone, and the ability of any one political party to dominate politics has been generally prohibited. But not entirely. As with the current reorganization with Samak and the ilk thereof working behind the scenes to get old cronies back together, it appears that the fundamental crooked nature of Thai politicians in general will continue to dominate the country's policies and its actions. Whether this will place the government to be in direct conflict once again with the military - and as some say, certain members of a 'high institution', remains a major question. In summary, it seems that the old way of doing things has done just what any good virus does - modified itself so it can carry on its destructive business.
Investors?
Seek less-murky markets, but certainly wait until this one begins to show its hand.

Referendum Passes. Sort of…

19 August 2007
The Korat Post

The huge yet expected referendum count for the proposed new 2007 Thai constitution may not have surprised anyone, but it did amaze most. The issue is with demographics, in particular the northeast which has historically been easy to buy and influence, and the south which has always been pro-Democrat. It seems that in the northeast, where the Thai Rak Thai party has convinced locals that it is an angel in waiting, the public remains so convinced and cast its aspirations accordingly, voting soundly against the referendum. As of the time of this editorial, the Nation newspaper website indicated 2.3 million yes votes and 3.9 million no. In comparison, the south indicated 2.3 million yes and 300,000 no. The north was much closer with a 2.3 million yes and 2.1 million no vote. Bangkok surprised no one with a 1.4 million yes and half that with no votes. Nationally it was a 13 million to 9 million votes in support of the new constitution – at the time of this writing. As most observers who have followed Thai politics will know, the southern vote is representative of the feelings the people in the region have for the former Thai Rak Thai government, full of corrupt politicians, and who have been protesting for decades over corruption and government bias against them. The situation in the northeast is directly the opposite, with a widespread perception that Thaksin Shinawatra was the greatest thing since sliced bread, and that the current plight of northeasterners has nothing to do with the corrupt politicians they put into office.
Nong Khai was a case in point with the referendum: 69,000 for, 200,000 against. Likewise Sisaket province voter turnout was 145,000 for and 350,000 against. Voters in the northeast region have been traditionally pliable with bribes, ice cream and assured pats on the back to the point where they vote for whoever they are told to – or paid to.  

As to the implications of the vote, it's still a bit early to tell. However, the new constitution having passed the referendum test will be officially ratified by the government, and a schedule for elections be officially announced. Just how deeply ingrained old guard thinking is in Thailand is apparent in the northeast vote and in some of the foolish choices the country seems set to make, including having former governor Samak head a major political party.

18 August 2007

US War Efforts Hurting Everyone

The American wars in first Afghanistan, where they were needed, and then in Iraq, where they were definitely not needed, are taking their toll on the world economy. At home in the United States, the expenses of paying for wars on two fronts are eating into domestic entitlements and major infrastructure repair funding, domestic municipal maintenance and even into health care. But does the Bush Administration mind? Hardly. Having melded patriotism with agreeing with their version of events and what to do about them – send more Americans to die and to kill – Bush, Cheney and ilk have not bothered taking into account the human aspects of this war in Iraq in particular; if they had, they would never have begun it. But apparently Saddam was making the Bush family angry and what better way to get that anger off your shoulder by sacrificing the lives of innocent thousands, even hundreds of thousands, to get rid of the headache and make yourself feel better? What better way, indeed!
It was abundantly clear since the junior Bush was a child that he should never had been given the reins of power to rule the country, which he is currently doing – ruling. Ruling by ignorance, ruling by decree, ruling by stupidity. Democratic institutions and morality apparently mean little or nothing to him, and he is determined to wreak havoc on anyone and everyone who either disagrees with him or who appears to disagree. Wonderful legacy to a fading power…
Earlier on these pages we put forth the proposition that the Baath Party in Iraq should be reconstituted, under close US supervision as possible, and then permitted to take back Iraq for the Iraqi people. Saddam Hussein, despite how evil he was, pales in comparison to the mess President Bush and ilk created for us today.

Can Thailand's Institutions Survive?

It may be that Thaksin's rise to power was made possible by a society so corrupt that it is now too late to reform posivitely.

Sudarat Keyuraphan, alleged by more than just one local Thai observer to be a minor wife of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and having given birth to a Thaksin progeny with an uncanny resemblance to Thaksin, came to Korat’s Mall on 4 August 2007 to sit before the city’s finest to announce support for abrasive Samak Sundaravet [http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=39090] to head the TRT replacement party People Power. While posing before photographers and the local media, she joined her father in casting a Jatukham Ramathep icon, supposedly giving the new party even more optimism in its promised success. Events like this are newsworthy in some aspects, but they are generally merely a rewash of the old guard under new clothing grabbing back power that they should never have had in the first place. There are real fears now that the same old Thai Rak Thai factions will again coalesce like termites on thin plywood to undermine whatever is left of Thailand’s institutions. Many also fear that the TRT remnants will eventually relegate the revered monarchy to a totally back seat with absolutely no role in government administration. This has been one of the main issues that the military purported to justify its 19 September 2006 takeover of the government, but the possibility that some parts of the democratic process have finally taken hold in the kingdom to undermine the nation’s highest institution is not only a fear but may be a reality in which only time will tell.

Three Thousand

30 July 2007

With forty years of coming and going in Thailand under my belt, observing what happens in the Land of Smiles, Land of the White Elephant, or as it was once known and today still has supporters to change the name back, Siam, is at once an art form and a full-time occupation. What happens in the kingdom is so different, and yet often so similar, to what happens in America that it is sometimes merely a matter of blithe understanding to encompass events, people and culture as it now exists in Bangkok and throughout the rest of this nation of sixty three million. At other times fathoming the rationale for what takes place is so demanding, so odd to be accurate when you were yourself born in another culture that arriving at an odd concept seems almost natural. After September 11, 2001 I spoke with many Thai people about what they thought. Were they surprised? Shocked? Saddened? Yes to these questions…and yet an occasional “They got what they deserved.” That three thousand people could have been crushed by three million tons of brick, stone, glass and steel by the impact of two airliners and that this could still be regarded as “they got what they deserved” is indescribable. How do you reach into your soul to try to find understanding – or at least a semblance of comprehension – about a viewpoint like this? This ability to perceive something so alien to our own social ethic and yet to fully comprehend it is the bane and blessing of many Americans who have extensive overseas experience working, living, and traveling the four corners of the globe. Stay long enough in one place and you begin to get an idea of what life is really about – from another viewpoint. Thailand also had some three thousand deaths when its former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a military-led coup on 19 September 2006, conducted his anti-drug war. The three thousand were cited by his government as victims of each other – that is, drug merchants killing other drug merchants to silence them. Nothing said about police killing drug merchants to keep them quiet, of course. Under Thaksin’s administration, it seemed that the police could do no wrong. This writer drove into town one morning to shop at a local supermarket and drove by a strangely askew pickup truck. I stopped to see what the problem was. The driver’s door was wide open. Inside, slumped under the steering wheel and in a pool of blood generated by a nine millimeter bullet was the driver. There are now over three thousand Americans killed in the war in Iraq, with the number growing by the day. In a sense these are also extrajudicial killings – the men and women killed were never tried nor found guilty of anything: they served their nation and died from outright malice and purposeful intent on the part of terrorists to inflict the greatest harm with the greatest toll.

The above cartoon appeared in the 23 July 2007 issue of the Thai Post. Translated by the Korat Post.

23 July 2007
the Korat Post Online

Prognosis?

Yesterday, 22 July 2007 was a watershed event in Bangkok, Thailand, as government officials attempted unsuccessfully to stop anti-government protestors and supporters of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from marching to the home of General Prem Tinsulalonda, Privy Council President. In the end the anti-government crowds, calling for the resignation of General Prem, Privy Council President, arrived in front of Prem's home and managed to litter the lawn by throwing hundreds of items over the property fence, as well as tossing steel barracades against the home's gates.
All along, even before his ouster, Thaksin Shinawatra was trying to indicate, obliquely, that General Prem - and very possibly by intended implication another personage - was behind the effort to oust him from power. That Thaksin himself was also behind various efforts, some alleged only, others clearly indicated, to reform Thai society into an image he deemed appropriate for his own interests, is clear to many, argued against only by those blinded by Thaksin's popularity.
The current political problems in Thailand, being associated with Thaksin and former Thaksin supporters, sometimes seem to represent little more than a power grab on the one hand and a reticence to let go of power on the other. The exact identities of those power-holders and power-grabbers is itself not totally unclear to the experienced Thailand observer given Thailand's history and frequent explosions of political violence whenever the prospect of truly free choice meets the reality of truly corrupt social greed and demanding patrons, further confused by social apathy - a historial indifference to anything except self. The observation may seem harsh, especially to the casual observer who visits Thailand and is understandably impressed by surface appearances - which, as it turns out, are the country's main attractions. ancient relics, tantalizing food and impressive entertainment, a lucid sex industry, corrupttion that aids the continuation of injustice at every social level, including into the Sangha. But once the casual observer becoems an aware resident, long-time investor or becomes partly enmessed with Thai society, the superficiality of all of this becomes readily apparent.
The main issue in the current protests remains [and began] as a protest against the military taking over the Thai government on 19 September 2006 and overthrowing a landslide-elected government headed by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The actual coup was precipitated by several factors, one of which is maintained to be Thaksin's efforts to replace the Thai monarchy with his own presidency, to relegate the country's highest-esteemed institution into a true figurehead without any signatory powers whatsoever relating to the administration of government. Since the coup on 19 September 2006, gradual reassembly of anti-government protest groups has progressed. Former Thai Rak Thai party members, confident of being able to organize a new party with the old guard occupying leadership positions, are gearing up to take the reins of power once again, but are awaiting the outcome of current developments. Obviously they hope that the ruling junta will be overthrown and cave into frequent demands to restore the 1997 constitution - itself at the center of weakensses that led to Thaksin having gained so much power and influence and allowing a degree of corruption in the country that had never been witnessed in its history.

The current morass alarmingly indicates to the more politically astute that the Thai socio-political scene is still very abrasive and pockmarked despite development along the path to demoncracy since the 1932 coup that replaced the country's absoluty monarchy with a constitutional monarchy. However, that the Thai military and police still retain near-absolute power if and when they feel the need to use it bespeaks a great deal in terms of the country's future, not just for investment, but more importantly for the preservation - on the one hand - and growth - on the other - of the country's basic institutions and its smooth transition into a new form of socio-political entity that will provide stability and freedom of choice.

This is really where much of the problem lies.
Thais have not historically been very endearing toward the important compromise that has to be made when stability and choice come together, always choosing for the former without realizing that the latter can be achieved if the former is truly and responsibly allowed.
If the country's institutions and government persevere in attempting to preserve only traditional power structures it seems that traditional power bloc conflicts will continue, inhibiting important investment on the one hand and of course, personal freedom.
Prognosis?
Difficult to say.
Unless Thai society really reforms, and is allowed to reform by its rulers and political machine, it will remain in a darkened corner of the political world manuevering from time to time as it is now doing, not making progress but gradually edging toward an abyss.

20 July 2007
Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court of Georgia
244 Washington Street Room 572,
State Office Annex Building Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Phone: (404) 656-3470 FAX: (404) 656-2253

Attorney General Thurbert E. Baker
Phone: 404-656-3300 FAX: 404-657-8733
E-mail: agbaker@law.ga.gov
Generlow Wilson

Dear Honorable Justices: In what should - in today’s society - have been treated as a misdemeanor, Genarlow Wilson was sentenced to ten years in prison for oral sex with a minor. In 1998, our nation’s president went on a nationally televised news conference to say, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” As a result of having abused this country’s honor and decorum in the citadels of the capitol, Clinton got off the hook. Getting off the hook is not the issue in Genarlow Wilson’s case, however. This young man made a mistake and overstepped the law, as did the younger lady who consented to have oral sex with him. I am not sure if the honorable justices have seen the plethora of pornography now spread across the world and easily accessible on Yahoo’s main search engine page alone, but it is evident that there is a widespread and in my view, negative change in social attitudes toward sex and pornography. This change does not, of course, solely warrant overturning of Wilson’s sentence, but it must have a bearing on the court’s decision that will either set him free or continue his already two-year incarceration. The letter of the law and the spirit of the law are intertwined as they are so regularly in supreme court cases. On the one hand there is the obligation of the court to ensure justice is properly administered, and on the other to ensure that our country’s youth are protected as much as they can be. That there is a subsequent law now in effect that mandates a maximum one-year sentence with no felony record for instances such as the Wilson case likely came about only because of Genarlow Wilson and the young lady he had consenting oral sex with. But the more equitable teen justice now available to our country’s citizens in the State of Georgia was not available to Wilson when he transgressed the law. It is absolutely certain that Wilson deserved some sort of punishment for what he did, but we must not allow contributory factors, such as the girl’s willingness, to be ignored in passing a final decision in this case. Social attitudes toward sex have changed, as said above, and not for the better. But if we pursue harsh sentences, or uphold those already mandated, out of disregard, or in spite of, these changing attitudes, then we do a disservice to all. I wonder just how many parents of even those members of the Georgia community know whether their daughters’ pornographic images are online now. The issue is not only about the defendant in this case but about the girl who willfully participated with him in having oral sex. Yes, an adult should know better, and older people in sexual relationships should hold themselves to a higher ethical standard. A problem, however, is that there is a huge landmass of immoral perceptions sweeping across the globe, and good men and women are often caught up in it. It is perhaps the area of perception that is involved here, among other issues. The perception by Genarlow Wilson that it was all right to have the girl give him oral sex, and a perception by the girl that it was all right to provide it. This joint and now often a community perception is a tacit acceptance of the legitimacy of the act but not of its illegality. If our nation can contribute more to educating our youth and adults alike, and promoting healthy sexual values instead of regressing constantly, we will serve justice much more than by handing down harsh prison sentences to our country’s gifted men and women who will one day serve justice and our country in roles of leadership. Mercy, compassion, understanding, recognition of the law and of the obligation of the scales of justice (they must be calibrated from time to time) mandate overturning Wilson’s conviction. In any event, for what is certain to be a day to remember, this is to wish the Supreme Court of Georgia well and to express hope that a trying two year incarceration will come to a just end. Sincerely, Frank G Anderson American Citizens Abroad (ACA) Representative, Thailand [Written in a personal capacity]

15 July 2007

Problem With Vehicle I.D. Throughout Thailand

Here we are today with another report of a motorcycle ride-by shooting in which a person was killed by people riding a motorcycle without license plates. Just what the problem is with Thai authorities on the total failure to enforce such an important traffic regulation as having license plates on vehicles is one of the new wonders of the world.
Walk by any place in Korat where motorcycles are parked and you will find dozens, dozens of bikes without any plates at all. Forget, of course, the fact that they also don't like to use headlights after dark. But just keep in mind that these motorcycles without plates is freedom to rob and kill without any responsibililty or accountability. No one can trace your vehicle.

People, let's get our act together and begin making enforcement a priority.

11 July 2007

Dummies with Phones...

Yes, I have done it but now make a rule of not doing it. 'It' being using a cell phone while driving. The situation in Thahiland in particular has gone out of control. Literally. Even people driving motorcycles are holding on with one hand, negotiating a corner against a red light and talking on the phone! How dumb can you get? Pretty dumb. Basically, you really don't need to be on the cell phone while driving unless you are a medical doctor and there is some sort of emergency that requires your immediate assistance or attention. Or, perhaps, you are another emergency service provider that is needed on the spot. Fireman, policeman, etc., ...but not a teacher, parent, child, worker, superviser, staff, athlete, comedian or other run-of-the-mill citizen who merely wants to be convenient when not being safe.
Thailand's statistics on use of cell phones while driving and relationship to accidents are lacking because the country does not take an activist approach to many important issues and as a result, its academics and investigative reporters don't ber down on things like dummies who use cell phones while driving.
I know darned well that anyone using a cell phone while driving is not concentrating on the much more important task of driving like he or she should be. It's impossoble. One half of your brain is working on the call, the other half on what's left. So, give society a fair break and tear your ears away from the cell phone. Puleassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...............

BBC journalist Alan Johnston freed on the 4th of July 2007.

4 July 2007

The release today of BBS reporter Alan Johnston comes in contrast to the totally unjust release in the United States of "Scooter" Libby, found guilty of leaking the name of a CIA operative and as a friend of President George W. Bush being left off the hook. We can all rejoice around the world at Alan's release, and Americans at home can tally up another mark against a president who should never have been elected in the first place. A president that has caused so much death and destruction, incompetantly and with malice. Another Libby in the past also lent ill repute to the office of the President.

29 June 2007

The following was sent to T&G today, 29 June 2007
Tilleke's permanent residency permit article in today's Bangkok Post was timely and somewhat informative. However, besides other comments that follow, there are at least two errors or 'deviations' that needed closer editorial review. 1. In the section covering humanitarian category, it is stated "...and their combined income must have been at least 30,000 Baht in the past two years." I believe this figure is not correct, and in any event should also be qualified by a pro rata reference: that is, "30,000 Baht per month, etc." Even then, however, the figure seems low - I believe it is closer to 800,000/12) I am in the final stages of applying for permanent residency myself, and have been visiting Immigration quite often as a result. The figure of 800,000 Baht per year seems to be what Immigration generally seeks as income, based either on 800,000 Baht in the bank when you go for your visa extension, or 800,000 Baht in annual income, or a combination to total 800,000 Baht. So it is rather unclear as to what that 30,000 Baht figure really represents. 2. The combined income reference in the same article paragraph is also new to me. Not once has Immigration (either one year or PR) asked my Thai wife what her income was. 3. The paragraph regarding criminal clearance (in the US, FBI's CJIS) is also somewhat unclear. The issue is not whether the foreign residence permit applicant has been imprisoned or not, but that he or she has no current or outstanding criminal record. It is presumed that the article refers to being a current felon or ex-felon. In fact, even felons are able to have their records expunged and obtain voting rights as well as the ability to hold public office. This process varies from state to state in the US and sometimes not even the governor of the state in which the crime and incarceration took place can expunge the record: it is stipulated in some states that only the President has that authority. 4. Perhaps as important, or more so, than the above three points is the initial reason given for desirability of PR status. Although it is convenient to not have to extend a visa each year, possibly the greatest benefit is (and I am surprised that this was not covered more fully in the article) the ability to later request and receive Thai nationality. The result of this would be, of course, to make the foreigner a Thai citizen with all the legal rights, privileges and responsibilities that the benefit entails. 5. Immigration is also prone to having more "compassion" or to lean more in the way of favoring the application not only, as in the article referenced, out of humanitarian reasons in that the foreign spouse wishes to stay to support his Thai wife, but that being marriage to the same Thai national for a long time, and having children from the same marriage - children who are "in the Thai system" in school, employment, etc. - also play a part in favorably impressing Immigration. Thai language capability is also important, but probably plays a lesser degree of importance than the facts of having been married to the Thai national as a first and only marriage and having children who are now grown or partly grown from this marriage. 6. As regards evidence of having paid personal income tax here in Thailand, I was also surprised by the article's lack of coverage on this. In fact, I have consulted with the Revenue Department, Immigration, and several other officials, all of whom told me that because my pension was from abroad and taxed in the United States, that I need not pay taxes on it here in Thailand - even though the money is transferred from abroad. If Tilleke has an update on this important issue it would be appreciated. 7. Lastly, the fees aspect of the permanent residence permit application process. I have found that tens of thousands of Baht (I was informed that the standard up-country fee for 'handling' a PR application for a foreigner is 80,000 Baht) and many weeks can be expended in obtaining documents required by Immigration, and in obtaining notarization by the respective embassy and certification afterward by the Minister of Foreign Affairs...let alone translation fees. It seems beneficial to T&G online readers that if any of the above can be incorporated into an online update on the T&G website that everyone would benefit. Best regards, Frank G. Anderson, Korat

21 June 2007

Jack Nickolson and Adam Sandler share what they may consider a
moment of humor at recent MTV awards. Nickolson seems to be a
bit inundated by all the stupidity around him - in Hollywood.

I very briefly watched a segment of the recent MTV awards where Jack Nickolson, who has had some very good acting parts in his time, was given the "Best Villain" award. However, the slush cup award would better have been left on the floor of a cheap theater than being proudly shown on the shelves of one's lifelong accomplishments. No wonder he wore sunglasses - probably crying. Bernard Goldberg wrote 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America (Harper Collins), 2005. In it he went through some of America's mmost public figures, mostly in the media, some in politics, whom he feels should be attributed with messing things up so much that the people who have their acts together (we sane ones!) consider responsible for fouling up our nation so badly that we can't stand it anymore. In fact, any such book could easily put together 1000 or 100,000 such poor role models for the rest of us. We have an America today that shuns, in fact, the idea of role models. We have made even this sacrosanct concept a subject of junior high school debate, trying, perhaps in some sick way, to have our progeny uncover the real truth behind our ancestors’ insistence that bad role models lead to bad societies and good role models lead to good societies. So what has taken place is that we are told there is no such thing as bad or good, and that these two ultra-religious concepts need to be put into perspective whenever we talk about being bad or good. How many people, and how many times, have you heard “There is really no such thing as good or bad – it all depends. Indeed! It depends on how stupid you are. Stupid used to mean without information and unknowing, without interest in uncovering what lies beneath, so to speak. Stupid used to mean that certain people said dumb things because they did not know any better. Now stupid means having an opinion that flies against the majority. Now stupid means being a patriotic American and believing anything the government tells you. Well, Michael Moore, for all his iconoclast nature, has said, in a Letterman interview, “After Iraq, I don’t need to have my government tell me who my enemies are.” A great statement, and a reminder of a much earlier and similar one by Cassius Clay who said, “I don’t have any argument with those Viet Cong.” You might as well have driven a truck bomb into a crowded market. Here we were with a widely-known sports personality telling America that the Vietnam War was a mistake. And it was. Now we have a president, a very stupid one, telling us that the war in Iraq is making America safer. Does Bush know something a two-year old does not? Let’s see… two war fronts are better than one, invading a sovereign nation that poses no direct threat against us is fine and not really a war crime, a crime against humanity… Reverting to Goldberg’s book briefly, at the very end, he covers the book’s overall main message: “So, what is it that so many Americans want? It’s actually pretty simple. We want a little more appreciation for the values that most of us – liberals as well as conservatives, Democrats as well as Republicans - used to take for granted: civility, mutual respect, a semblance of decency, and yes…a little old-fashioned love of country, too. Is that asking too much?” It’s not. But from what I have seen in many of the faces, hearts and minds of Americans that I meet overseas –those who are abroad living with host country nationals, working, serving in the military or diplomatic corps, etc. – is a wide disparity in attitudes toward our country of birth. Many Americans living overseas, for example, hate our country. Oh, they say they hate the administration or hate the society, but overall it becomes bunched up into one big hatred of America. And this is often with good reason. America has served as a beacon for many who cherish freedom and opportunity, and now it is becoming a pillar of cynicism and cancerous imperialism that thinks nothing of remote aircraft flying around someone else’s neighborhoods directing missiles into our midst but demands protection from the same thing. America had one huge enemy when it was a nation still run by its native sons and daughters who cared a great deal more for it than we really do today. That enemy was not Islam or terrorism or stupidity…it was run-away imperialism. Today in America the same attitude is being guarded by something called a Patriot Act. Yes, our nation has enemies and needs to be protected, but demanding loyalty in legislation is not going to keep America strong. We need to get rid of many of those people in Goldberg’s book, rid of so many politicians like Bush and Cheney and Wolfowitz and others who pull our value system down and trod over it with personal misbehavior that they must be aware of themselves but apparently just don’t care. The consequences of these people’s actions and words have mired our nation into another war, and this time it seems that the price is far too high for us to bear.

19 June 2007

It's amazing how cowardly and snivelling powerful people become when they lose power and find themselves at the marcy of such things as justice!
At the moment Thaksin Shinawatra himself has not broken down - in public, although certainly in the pricvacy of his hotel room he is probably kicking the dog. However, for her part, Thaksin's powerful wife, Khunying Pojamarn Shinawatra, has just had her attorney inform Thailand's assets scrutiny committee that she'd really love to show up to give testimony about things like ill-begotten wealth, but she has a medical condition that precludes her from coming back to Thaiand at this particular moment in history. Hmmmm..... The committee is not so easily fooled, however, and has told her lawyer that he has seven days to come up with a better foundation in regard to evidence as to what really ails the former First Lady of the Land of Smiles. And what ails the lady? She has said she is suffering from (1) a headache, and (2) an irregular heartbeat. Now if I had become embroiled in multimillions, even billions, of dollars of wealth being illegally accrued and transferred back and forth like wind chimes in a hurricane, I think I would also have a headache and irregular heartbeat.
Another poetic justice element of this matter is that Thaksin and his wife, while they were holdling the reins of power, kind of transferred billions of Baht in shares and corporate holdings to their children and maid, thinking, by golly, there would be no consequences to this - and there would not have been if the two were still head of government here. But His Majesty the King, God bless him, once again came to his people's aid and declared Thaksin's machinations of an election undemocratic and as a result, they were voided by the courts. It is the Thai courts as well that originalyl got Thaksin off the hook for asset concealment when he was first elected, but being nice and accommodating people, Thai society and officials figured that it would be a waste of the electorate if they did not allow Thaksin to take power. How wrong they all were and how much bigger a price was paid later! An object lesson, certainly, but it is doubtful whether it will realyl evern be learned here or not.
To top all this off, there is a well-known former anti-Thaksin activist who had many times publically called Thaksin a traitor and one who ruined Thailand....well, this same guy is now going around saying he loves Thaksin! How much did THIS take?

Remember? "Threat to the media = Threat to the people" Subhatra Pumiprapas

07 June 2007 Article
PrachaThai English website

The fact that the junta sent armed troops to watch over TV stations in the eve of the judgment day May 30, went by with the Thai media's sound of silence. Eerily silent There was only a statement by the September 19 Network against Coup d'etat condemning the threat to the media: "...As long as there are armed troops deployed at TV stations or any media, the media can hardly report the people well-balanced news, as it at least has to censor itself." The silence of media-represented organizations opens for numerous interpretations. As on April 5, the global media day, last year, almost a thousand of Thai media professionals including reporters, editors, and owners came out to fight the threat against the media, with a slogan: "Threat to the media = Threat to the people" Incidentally, the three media-represented organizations including Journalists' Association of Thailand, Broadcasters' Association of Thailand, and Reporters' Confederation of Thailand, jointly declared: "We are united to fight for rights and freedom based on principles of ethics and rightfulness. We believe that the freedom of media is the freedom of the people, and threat to the media is a threat to the people and Democracy, obstructing development of righteous civil society." A year goes by at a blink of the eye. The media organizations and the media itself was nonchalant with the incident, and there was almost no report on newpapers. This is not the first time that the media turns a bind eye on the junta's threat. Since the September 19 coup last year, the junta and its installed govenment have repeatedly interfered and threatened the media and people's communications in various forms: closing down hundreds of community radios, censoring certain individuals and broadcast programs, shutting down websites, summoning editors to seek 'cooperation', as well as threatening many foreign news agencies. However, the junta's attempts have been given sound cooperation by the media. There has yet to be any protest against the 'threat to the media'. Sometimes, the media even helps the junta oppose dissenting media. Furthermore, certain communications academics claim that the junta's 'asking for cooperation' was in the open, not surreptitiously suppressing. As Assist. Prof. Dr Pirongrong Ramasut of Communications Faculty of Chula said in a forum with Thai expatriats in Germany on May 19, that "After the September 19 coup, the Council for National Security and the government exercised their power to control the media, but it is different from the Thaksin era in that the media control is transparent, not forced, and most media adopt self-censorship in reporting news with high sensitivity." Last month, Freedom House, an international organization, reported its recent survey on 'independence of world's media' which has dramatically declined. Thailand is among countries whose media freedom is in recession, and terrible under the coup. Among its peers in the region are Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Philipines, and Fiji. It comes as no surprise that the Thai junta has had the same response to the global community's reactions as that of its peers in other countries: no response. However, the indifference of Thai media to the threat is not only different from the media in other countries who stand up for freedom of the press under coup d'etat. The silence of Thai media goes against what Thai reporters, editors, and media owners as well as the three media organizations declared last year. The 13-point declaration was released to the world community. One point of the declaration reads: "We, the media, oppose all forms of threat to the media. We declare to the world that all Thai media do not tolerate any threat in the past and at present. We call for immediate stop of the threat. Any threat to any media is deemed a threat to the media as a whole." A year goes by like a 'fantasy'. Translated by Ponglert Pongwanan Source: Remember? "Threat to the media = Threat to the people"

Guest Editorial

"Democracy Is Not For China"

by William R. Stimson

Out from China comes the repeated argument that it can handle its own internal affairs without meddling advice from foreigners about democratization. True, China [see China Watch, Ed.] will likely evolve a unique mode of government that fits its needs and aspirations. But, to the extent those aspirations include global leadership, that government better be a democracy. This is because of the kind of exceptional individuals China will need, not just in politics, but in all areas, if it sets out on this course. As regards these, we turn naturally to the work of psychologist Abraham H. Maslow, whose belief was that to those nations most successful in producing such individuals belongs the future. Maslow tells us that the making of these highly-developed individuals requires a good society, which he defines as one that fosters the fullest development of human potential. This is a society that is anti-authoritarian, anti-controlling. It places a greater stress on spontaneity and autonomy than on stability and external control. Healthy and superior people, Maslow found, do not like to be controlled. They can make their own choices and need to be free to do so in order to grow to their full potential. If someday soon China is to rise to the level of global leader, it must come up with ways to solve these problems we all persist in creating - the erosion of human trust, the destruction of the environment, the persistence of poverty, exploitation, and inequality of opportunity. It must implement systems to mobilize all of our individual and collective inner resources, and bring out in our societies, our communities, our families, our individuals - and our approach to problems - more of the whole human capability that we all have within as a latent potential. These farther reaches of our human nature await the right environment to emerge and to express themselves. That environment is an open and free democratic society; where corruption, mismanagement, greed, and waste can be challenged; and where ordinary people can organize in ways of their own choosing and disseminate whatever ideas they want. Democracy is not for China. It's not for the Chinese. It's for every country, every people. To lead, China will have to become its champion. It's more urgently needed at this time in history than ever - not for outer reasons, but for inner ones: to call up the human intelligence, creativeness and sensitivity required to solve the really big problems ahead. * * *
William R. Stimson is an American writer who lives in Taiwan.

31 May 2007

Suwat Banned for Five Years, along with his brother Thewin.

In what some reporters in Thailand termed a marathon verdict, the Thai Constitutional Court on 30 May 2007 engaged the nation and many parts of the world in nearly a day-long reading of cases and verdicts against the country’s oldest political party, the Democrats, and the country’s political limelight party, Thai Rak Thai. Both parties were accused of electoral fraud in connection with wrongdoing up to the 2 April 2005 parliamentary elections in Thailand that were subsequently declared void because they were non-democratic. The elections were held by Thaksin Shinawatra despite opposition parties boycotting them. As a result of the elections, Thai Rak Thai won a nearly 100% presence in Parliament and was prepared to enforce a one-party rule in the Kingdom. Thailand’s revered king His Majesty Bhumibol Aduldadej, who has traditionally been held to be above politics but who, in fact, has many times offered sage advice to the country’s political leadership, stepped in to say that the elections were un-democratic. He encouraged the Thai courts to follow up with their own just resolution of the matter, and as a result, the elections were declared null and void. This newspaper has been in court several times, first as plaintiff and then as defendant in fraudulent counter claims, and has faced the uncertainty that each litigant faces when preparing to hear a court verdict. You never really know until the judge reads the sentence. Yesterday, May 30, 2007 was a cliff-hanging question mark during the verdict readings as each judge completed his own long reading of a section of the plaint, summary of witnesses and evidence, the court’s analysis and the issues that needed to be adjudicated, and finally the court’s findings. Late in the afternoon after reading began at slightly before 13:30 hours, the court ruled that the country’s oldest political party, previously led by who has often been called a favorite of His Majesty, Chuan Leekpai, had not committed the wrongdoings it was charged with by Thai Rak Thai supporters and officials. Generally the western world and democracy armchair activists have chided the Thai scene as it now stands with an elected prime minister ousted and a military junta controlling the government. Thailand’s reputation as a developing democracy that may be a model in the region was severely damaged in the 19 September 2006 takeover by the Thai military (many maintain that the issues involved fundamental differences between the Royal Household, specifically His Majesty, and Thaksin Shinawatra who had, many times, been seen scowling in the presence of the King when being scolded for lacking tolerance, having double standards and being temperamental). Yet, the possibility that a stronger democracy, one that can defend itself against the likes of Thaksin and his political monolith, may develop out of the ashes of ridding the country of a political party that achieved prominence by the worst kind of electoral fraud imaginable – that is, by undermining the basis of democracy and then using electoral results to engineer a complete dictatorial takeover of the country’s institutions, including the monarchy – is difficult for most westerners to accept, or even visualize. Yes, dictatorships can emerge from democratic processes, as has happened often around the world, in and out of the Islamic world as well, but postulating that a democracy can emerge from a military-ruled government is anathema for many – although surprisingly, this is exactly what the west is asking to occur in Burma. How many decades has the Burmese government been pressured to reform democratically, and what happened when democratic elections were held there? Thaksin Shinawatra, despite his thick armor and over and covert undermining of democracy in Thailand, did say one thing that made sense: Thailand’s system of human rights is better than that of Burma or Cambodia! But this editor’s wife is fond of saying, “If you want to compare yourself to something, compare yourself to something good and not something bad.” Being relatively less evil or less dictatorial is hardly a measurement. Many readers and other observers on what’s been happening in Thailand are quick to come across with denunciations and accusations about how the military junta is dictatorial and usurped the 2005 elections and democratic government, without being privy to grass-roots issues, generally in Thai language, that pre-dated the junta’s taking over of government. Some of these readers have written us to accuse us of favoring dictatorships and siding with those that destroy or undermine democracy. And a few have become indignant and excited when told that unless they are fluent in Thai and have been involved in information gathering from when the current political morass began, that they probably really don’t know what’s going on. In fact, is this not why the State Department, intelligence agencies and others employ staff who read and are fluent in foreign languages – so they can obtain accurate and dependable information? Of course, having the information does not mean that it will be used properly or even understood or assessed as it should be, but at least it’s there and can be used by wise hands and minds. The issue is, of course, not only with decision makers and readers but with the preconceptions that they start out with and how those interfere with a just and even logical process of sorting the chaff from the wheat. There is also the issue of living in glass houses. The United States has begun and continues to conduct the most wrongful criminal action of this century, the war in Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of people, mostly Iraqis, have been killed, the preponderance of whom were killed by American bombs and outcomes of US military presence in Iraq. Warned that an American invasion of Iraq would destabilize the Middle East, the Bush administration nonetheless went ahead and grabbed the proverbial tiger by the tail. Now Bush wants others to resolve a conflict he was very foolish and irresponsible in beginning. Many who support Bush in this also oppose the current Thai political reform process.
Think about it. And, think whether the new elected government surely coming may be Democrat-led, and whether its current leader may become Thailand's new prime minister.

Help Stop (1) Iraqi Deaths and (2) the Iraq War 21 May 2007 the Korat Post Online Editorial Comment Protests have grown around the world against the Bush administration for its human rights recklessness and corruption. While men and women of honor and bravery are dying in Iraq, and while Iraqis are paying the highest price in being held victim of this wrongful war, Bush so far remains aloof and adamant that the killing will go on. This is not a war about protecting democracy or freedom - it never was. Whether you are an American or not, you can help put an end to this wrongful war by contributing to the growing protests. There are many ways. If you don't have a lot of personal time but do wish to make a small and meaningful financial contribution toward impeachment of President Bush, please check this website and join with others in bring an end to this charlatan's tragic error.

Is this the way to protest? To end the war?

24 May 2007

Luxury.com Sounds like a great website, right? Well, go to Lucury.com and you will come up with a blank page, 'cept for the words "Welcome to the future home of Luxury.com!" And how long has this message been on the webpage? Ten years. Or thereabouts. domain registrants often sit on website addresses waiting for the golden goose to lay the golden egg, but we wonder how long this particular registrant plans to hang onto this website address? Luxury.com was created back in 1997. Details: Levosky, Michael k56sw7tg8hd@networksolutionsprivateregistration.com ATTN: LUXURY.COM c/o Network Solutions P.O. Box 447 Herndon, VA 20172-0447 Phone: 570-708-8780 Record expires on 21-Dec-2011 Record created on 22-Dec-1997 Database last updated on 06-Oct-2006 Perhaps a question to ask at this point is why create a website and register (and pay) for it for fourteen years, and apparently do nothing with it. As well, why not be inventive enough to at least put an email contact on the page to direct someone to you? A mystery that perhaps readers would care to unravel for us....? Perhaps the holder is waiting for an offer of $100,000 or more?

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Recent reports of American naval maneuvers off the coast of the Islamic Republic of Iran may not officially be bothering the Iranians, but the message that is not being conveyed perhaps is that there is more to the exercises than the exercises themselves. US intelligence services are not all putting posters on the wall about what they heard or where, or for that matter, what they are recommending to their government to do both over the short term and long term. However, that Islamic Crusaders may have literally jumped the gun on 11 September 2001 is worth considering, as well as the possibility that by now western intelligence is showing that this world war had to come about sooner or later - that Bin Laden may have acted too quickly, rather than biding his time for another ten years when he could have put in place a crippling attack on the American heartland is a good question. Thus we head over to the Persian/Arabian Gulf to try to guess what it is exactly that America hopes to achieve. Is a direct confrontation with Iran imminent or not?

14 May 2007

TRT & Democrat Parties Dissolved!

Is this the headline that will haunt the two political parties afer Decision Day on 30 May 2007? The Thai government is prepared to issue a judgment either dissolving both parties, one or the other, or neither one. What does it depend on? One factor must be, indeed, severe repercussions that are predicted by many in the south where the Democrat Party stronghold is. With Muslim insurgency as a crescendo at the moment, any more exacerbations may be the proverbial camel that broke the straw’s back – er.. you know what I mean – any decision to dissolve the Democrats might just be one extreme action that moderate militants in the south can not allow to go by without some sort of serious response. Surely this possibility must be one the minds of decision makers here in Thailand. Another problem is that if, for example, Thai Rak Thai is disbanded and the Democrats not, then there will be significant protects by TRT supporters. So what is likely to happen? We predict that neither party will be dissolved. There may be a suspension, and individual punishment against certain personalities, but other than that the two parties will be allowed to continue – even if there is an interim order that prohibits them from joining in elections. It would be a particular shame to see the Democrats going belly-up. This party, despite having had some of its leadership and prominent members fall into a wrongful situation now and again, its overall benefit to the nation far outweighs any liability.

The Wrong Thing For The Right Reason?

12 May 2007

Trying to push its weight around, or just trying to attain justice?
Thailand’s rightful protests against inciteful depictions of the country’s revered monarch on YouTube at first led to little, but perseverance seems to have paid off, that together with threats of legal action – civil and criminal – so that Google has agreed to and has in fact removed some of the offensive material. Yet, Thailand’s Information and Communications Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom is now demanding the identities of Internet users who posted the offensive material online so they can be prosecuted for lese majesty. In a sense this is all fine and well. His Majesty is indeed a very, very revered figure in Thailand and has gained worldwide respect for His Majesty’s many works on the behalf of his nation. Yet the Thai royal family is not without fault, and the king not long ago told the nation that he wants to be aware of criticism against him so he can know when he is wrong and to make personal corrections. On the other hand, going after specific individuals who put material online raises many other points to consider, not just the most basic freedom of speech issues that sometimes seem to be taboo – in terms of assaulting them - in America and some other countries. One must now consider just how far any country, Thailand this time but others, such as the United States, in enforcing its laws upon others around the world. Radical Islam wants world domination under Sharia. No surprise there. But now Thailand seems to want to extend its own laws concerning lese majesty today and what else tomorrow to the Internet. This is by a country that has so far refused internal pressures to repeal its 1941 Printing Act that gives the government the power to close down newspapers and put editors and writers in jail. This is by a country with a dismal human rights record that in some sense seems to be laughing at the world in exercising its autonomy in the human rights area by saying “We don’t give a damn.” Thailand is involved in several contentious issues these days, combined which present the kingdom as something less than the wonderful image it wishes to represent itself with. Although not alone in the world community in wanting others to believe what it wants, Thailand is more or less in a delicate position. It wants tourism and trade revenue but won’t accede to adequate and deserved monitoring of human rights in the country. In a tragic historic sense this is justified. Over centuries the separation between the rulers and the ruled has become so solidified that the rulers can not accept the principle that the ruled deserve equal treatment a