Thailand

User avatar
Nonc Hilaire
Posts: 6168
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 1:28 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Nonc Hilaire »

Adding newmandala.org to my RSS feeds.
“Christ has no body now but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks among His people to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses His creation.”

Teresa of Ávila
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

Yes, New Mandala has several informed writers on SE Asian matters. Access to it in Thailand is generally blocked. Asia Sentinel is another source of information on current Thai matters - often blocked in Thailand, e.g.

"Thailand's New King: Who is he Really?"
http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/th ... he-really/
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

The Prince addressing his subjects on the day he ascended the throne:
""Throughout my reign I will never rule you as a king. I will protect you as a parent, care for you as a brother, and serve you as a son. I shall give you everything and keep nothing."

Those were obviously not the words of the Thai Prince, who is no doubt planning his next overseas junket and the portion of the royal fortune (10's of billions of $'s US) he would squander, accumulated on the toil of the poverty-stricken Thai masses. Rather, they were the words of the considerably more intelligent and responsible newly-crowned King of Bhutan a few years back.

"Enter the Dragon King"
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2009/ ... king200905
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

"No really, there will be elections this year"
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/ ... awit-says/
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

"The elections promised for 2017 may not happen after all"
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinion/2 ... out-shame/

Khun Pravit no doubt has an escape plan ready.
noddy
Posts: 11318
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:09 pm

Re: Thailand

Post by noddy »

an exciting race has now started.

will east asia trust its plebs with elections before the west stops trusting them.

place your bets.
ultracrepidarian
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

Elections? "Empty junta promises" (Human Rights Watch).

"Thailand: Rights Crisis Deepens Under Dictatorship"
https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/01/12/tha ... ctatorship
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

"Thainess"
http://www.newmandala.org/grieving-thainess-2017/

Unusually thoughtful array of comments appended.
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

U.N. says Thailand leaves legal loophole for torture, disappearances"

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thail ... SKBN16720K

Dark days in the Kingdom . . .
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

"Thai soap angers family of Myanmar's last King"
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asi ... 89348.html

The Burmese have an obvious counter to this - create their own soap opera based on the escapades of the Thai royal family over the years. Endless entertainment.
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

"Thailand approves purchase of Chinese tanks"
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/br ... s/30311314

In an exclusive interview yesterday with renowned investigative reporter Jimbo, Generalissimo Field-Marshal Head-Honcho Prayut Chan-ocha justified acquisition of more tanks:

"We have to look at history, Jimbo. For example, when Siam was invaded by the Japanese, we surrendered after only 3 days. Heck, had we some tanks, we could have held out for at least another couple of days. But, in truth, those US tanks acquired after the war served the nation well. In military coup after military coup they were at the vanguard of our brave troops as they marched on Government House. However, at the start of the latest coup, it was a major embarrassment seeing those rusty old hulks rumbling down Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Imagine how that must have looked to the rest of the world!

"And, Jimbo, concerning the controversy over the need for Thailand's navy to have some submarines. There are rumors out there that narwhals are expected to invade Thai waters soon. When that happens, we will just blast them apart with torpedoes and sell their tusks to the Chinese - a win-win proposition.

"Now you will have to excuse me. i'm late for my appointment to go torture some malcontents."
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

"The Curse That Haunted Bangkok"
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/ ... years-now/

Don't think one must have any particular interest in Thai matters in order to appreciate this account.
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

"Thailand moving in the wrong direction three years on from coup"
http://aseanmp.org/2017/05/22/thailand- ... from-coup/

A mildly-stated view. What we have is a knuckle-dragging military dictatorship entrenching its corrupt looting of Thai economic resources at the expense of the Thai working class. Quite naturally, the parasitic royal family, wealthy beyond belief, is complicit in the subjugation of powerless Thais.
User avatar
Typhoon
Posts: 27242
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:42 pm
Location: 関西

Re: Thailand

Post by Typhoon »

They're simply trying to ensure that the King can afford some new clothes:

Image
May the gods preserve and defend me from self-righteous altruists; I can defend myself from my enemies and my friends.
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

"The king of Thailand is jittery about his image (and his country's democratic past)"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dem ... 6b9fcc1ab7

"He is clearly very serious about reintroducing royal absolutism, and not at all interested in defending democracy or free speech. (khun Pavin, in exile) '
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

King survives assassination attempt -
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... irsoft-gun

Media in Thailand are apparently not being allowed to report on this . . .
User avatar
Typhoon
Posts: 27242
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:42 pm
Location: 関西

Re: Thailand

Post by Typhoon »

Jimbo wrote:King survives assassination attempt -
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... irsoft-gun

Media in Thailand are apparently not being allowed to report on this . . .
:lol:
May the gods preserve and defend me from self-righteous altruists; I can defend myself from my enemies and my friends.
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

In 1932 Thais took bold steps towards establishing a constitutional monarchy responsive to the needs of the people. Then, corrupt military honchos, unable to resist the opportunity to loot Thailand of its wealth, headed up governments up through the 1980's, with passive royal family members being allowed to indulge themselves as they wished.

Thaksin then appeared. Elected governments were successful in improving the lives of Thai working class folks. This the generals found intolerable, and in successive coups reinstated military dictatorship with royal family backing.

But maybe the generals have overplayed their hand. The loathsome Rama X may be taking Thailand back to pre-1932 days. The Thai military may now have to get in line after the King in accessing the trough.

http://www.ozy.com/flashback/when-thail ... rchy/79605
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

Thaksin denounces judicial tyranny

"Last week, junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said the government had no influence over the courts . . ."

"The military government has promised to hold an election next year . . ."

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asi ... al-tyranny
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

Elephant battle 400 years ago questioned - doubter faces prison . . .

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10 ... -year-old/
User avatar
Typhoon
Posts: 27242
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:42 pm
Location: 関西

Re: Thailand

Post by Typhoon »

Many countries in SE Asia now seem to be in a race to return to an imperfect past.
May the gods preserve and defend me from self-righteous altruists; I can defend myself from my enemies and my friends.
User avatar
Miss_Faucie_Fishtits
Posts: 2150
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:58 pm

Re: Thailand

Post by Miss_Faucie_Fishtits »

From the link:
The military government has urged the public to wear black-and-white and TV stations have been told not to schedule overly-joyful material and to reduce their colour saturation by 40%.
Lèse Majesté crosses a line when it goes beyond respect for an iconic cultural identity towards trying to modify reality itself. The icon suffers from this dissonance as this leaves the population with no other choice but to give priority to cognitive congruence.....'>........
She irons her jeans, she's evil.........
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

"After Year of Mourning, Thailand's Divisions Remain"
https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/com ... ons-remain

". . . since 2014 the net worth of the Forbes Thailand rich list has risen by one-sixth, as has the military budget." Is it any wonder that the elite are anxious to defer elections?
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

Zimbabwe army takes over
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimb ... SKBN1DF025

Major General SB Moyo has just revealed the contents of a congratulatory communication from Thai military junta chief Generalissimo Field Marshal Head Honcho Prayut Chan-ocha, but containing this reservation - "It's one thing to oust another dictator, as you have done. But it cannot match my accomplishment in ousting a freely-elected government here. However, I stand ready to advise you of our time-honored techniques of screwing working-class people, torturing and disappearing malcontents, and hogging the trough. Good luck. Prayut
Jimbo
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 7:21 am

Re: Thailand

Post by Jimbo »

The King "is just an irrelevant side show"

https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com ... side-show/

Giles Ji Ungpakorn is an academic based in England who would no doubt be disappeared should he venture back to Thailand under the junta thumb. He is a pro-democracy communist with some unique views.
Post Reply