Some more nonsense today from the junta and The Nation’s rural-phobic columnists that seeks to deny independant political will in the Thai electorate. Pro-democracy rallies against the military regime are dismissed as a rent-a-mob (were Sondhi’s rallies ever described in these terms?) and pro-democracy commentators are branded as fundamentalists. This is contrasted with the “patriotic” citizens who report on the supposed “undercurrents.” Is the ideological ground being prepared for an even stricter crackdown? The Nation reports:
General Saprang Kalayanamitr, an assistant Army commander who is also assistant secretary-general of the CNS, said he had learned that politicians linked with deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra were preparing to spend money to get people to join what may be an organised mass protest against the junta. He said patriotic Thais had been giving information about the movement of a hired group of protesters and he would like to thank them.
…Saprang said yesterday those who join the anti-coup protest on Sunday will either be hired by politicians with ill-intentions or fundamentalist democracy lovers. The general said people should not be fooled by “bad politicians” who may be trying to engineer the protest so that it gets out of control and ends up in possible bloodshed, so the junta-installed government will crumble.
“I think they are either hired guns or just free-spirited bookish-type people who want to see an ideal democracy that only exists in textbooks,” the general said. “In the real world we should make society the best we can … but I would like to tell the fundamentalist or ideologically-imbued academics to understand that the armed forces love democracy no less than democracy-loving politicians.”
If condemning the overthrow of a thrice-elected government amounts to being “free-spirited and bookish” then I am happy to be so labelled. But I don’t accept that this involves a “fundamentalist” commitment to an “ideal democracy”. Most commentators who have condemned the coup fully recognise the inadequacies and abuses of the Thaksin government, including its manipulation of some democratic institutions. It was an imperfect democracy, far from ideal. But its imperfections were widely discussed and, on balance, the electorate continued to support the incumbent government.
There is nothing fundamentalist or idealist about respecting and accepting the view of the electorate.
12 responses so far ↓
1 Frustrated // Dec 6, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Vichai N,
How can you support people like Saprang and the guys he serves? Are you insane?
2 nganadeeleg // Dec 6, 2006 at 7:47 pm
Andrew said:
“Most commentators who have condemned the coup fully recognise the inadequacies and abuses of the Thaksin government, including its manipulation of some democratic institutions. It was an imperfect democracy, far from ideal. But its imperfections were widely discussed and, on balance, the electorate continued to support the incumbent government.
There is nothing fundamentalist or idealist about respecting and accepting the view of the electorate. ”
Makes you wonder how well educated the electorate is, or do they just like taking money to vote (and to protest) ?
3 nganadeeleg // Dec 6, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Even Nicholas seems to know about Thaksins supporters being ‘orgainised’ to protest. The following is a quote from his post on 16th August after attending a pro Thaksin rally:
http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/?p=171
“Even his critics admit that Thaksin survives because of support from his rural base. At this rally in Chiang Rai, “the people”, or at least those who were “organised” to attend, showed their “encouragement” for their leader and his policies. With their Royal yellow shirts and with their tri-colour flags, this Northern Thai Prime Minister has retained a remarkable level of adoration among “his people”. Only time will tell if this is enough to keep his self-appointed role as defender of the nation and its many poor.”
Maybe Thaksin was accumulating his wealth and dodging tax just so he could become more philanthropic.
4 Vichai N. // Dec 6, 2006 at 11:54 pm
To Frustrated – I have no choice. It was either the junta or Thaksin Shinawatra. The junta offerred me hope while Thaksin only threatened my country, my King, and my democracy.
Sure the Junta would have their faults but so far those faults have been acceptable and have not been truly threatening. I believe the Junta will return Thailand to elected rule after the Thai constitution is reformed in about 12 months time.
I am patient not insane.
5 Frustrated // Dec 7, 2006 at 9:47 am
To nganadeeleg,
Just like Vichai said that he has no choice. The people of Chiangrai as well as the rest of Thailand have no other choice better than Thaksin and his party. They considered that having the right to vote (get paid or not) is better than living under martial law and waiting for guns and tanks supported charity work. I don’t think people of Chiangrai or anywhere else in Thailand are less educated at least politically educated than people of Bangkok who support the coup. People supports of coup because they think that coup can serve them or their interest will be looked after, people who support Thaksin did that and still do for the similar reasons. I don’t think people of Chiangrai or the rest of Thailand or anywhere else on earth would expect holy or saintly acts all the times from their elected leaders as long as their major interests are served.
6 nganadeeleg // Dec 7, 2006 at 7:13 pm
I dont expect ‘holy or saintly’ acts from elected leaders – I will settle for honesty and integrity.
7 thanakarn // Dec 7, 2006 at 9:17 pm
Surely you jest Frustrated to even suggest that Thaksin deserves another run to govern?
Thaksin, among other things, was an extrajudicial mass murderer. His family evaded taxes and is embroiled on other corruption allegations. Thaksin was a conflicted dishonest ruler .. .
Preposterous!
8 Republican // Dec 8, 2006 at 4:33 pm
“Honesty and integrity”, like using the threat of violence to overthrow a democratically elected government, tear up the Constitution, and appoint a Cabinet, Legislative Council and Government Boards full of cronies! 555, “Amazing Thailand”, where educated people can say such ridiculous things (only in Thailand!). Talking of mass murder, when will the monarchy apologise to the families of the Thammasat students massacred in 1976 by royalist paramilitaries? As the king said, “the King Can Do Wrong”.
9 Republican // Dec 8, 2006 at 8:21 pm
Tax and the Monarchy: “Maybe Thaksin was accumulating his wealth and dodging tax just so he could become more philanthropic…” Again, one might say exactly the same of the monarchy’s business dealings, but on the tax issue I confess I am not sure: do the King and the royal family actually pay any tax? There was a big furore when it was revealed in the UK over a decade ago that the Queen did not pay any tax. I understand that that anomaly has been rectified and she does now pay tax. What about Thailand’s royals?
10 5555 // Dec 9, 2006 at 9:25 pm
It You have a bit sense you can feel that there’s something absolutly wrong.
I’m so tired when I’m hear the gozzip about royal family.
because Its so much much much in Thailand.555
11 anonymous // Dec 10, 2006 at 8:02 am
The personal income of the Thai royal family is exempt from income taxes. Property sales by the royal family are also exempt from taxation.
However, companies owned by the Crown Property Bureau have to pay corporate income taxes just like any other company.
12 Republican // Dec 10, 2006 at 8:51 pm
Thanks for this clarification. In the spirit of the self sufficiency theory, and all the furore surrounding Thaksin’s tax avoidance, surely the Royal Family should be required to pay tax on their property sales and income just like everyone else. Why the double-standard?
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