I generally agree with your comments on human trafficking and child sexual exploitation – but that is also such a highly complex issue in which much more qualified researchers/commentators have and are addressing. For instance, just being a relatively richer, politically stable country sharing thousands of kilometers of borders with some of the world’s poorest (and for quite a long time, unstable polities) is a critical factor. It is a big challenge on how to deal with unethical capitalism – and again, it is a global issue not limited to Thailand’s border. Thailand getting lots of global press on this is also partially due to the relatively free and open media (bar PMThaksin’s and the CNS political related actions). Maybe if the elites are not sweeping this under the carpet, it’s a good sign that they acknowledge the problems exists – but are, unfortunately, much too slow to redress it.

Huh? I don’t know where you came up with that conclusion. I’m actually a linguist and language educator by trade, specializing in socio-pedagogy and intercultural pragmatics.

You must be more advanced in your practice. I certainly don’t claim to be an arhant; (Besides, I’ve already pledged myself to the Bodhisvatta vows.) however, I could be more advanced in my practice than you, or I could not. I’d rather not discuss that subject in a public forum; if you’d like, I’d be more than happy to continue that discussion by e-mail.

“Just as it’s simplistic and convenient to blame the West/America/et al. for all of Thailand’s ills, as you do.” Do tell where I did that or please read my post more carefully

I read your posts most carefully, and where you say that is when you state: This is the context that I view Paul Handey’s book – the aim is neo-colonialism which is to ‘civilize’, ’sterilize’ the Thais. It want [sic] to convert the Mahidols into the Windsors, it want [sic] to convert the animist Thais from their magical mumbo-jumbo, the idolatory, the Jatukam Ramathep, Palad Khik and Buddhist amulet nonsense. It [Western "neo-colonialism"] wants to do that through belittlement – to make Thais a global laughing stock for worshipping a ‘false god’ (and by extension all false gods/spirits). It is clearly uncomfortable with Thai culture and identity and its long historical links to the monarchy. It can’t wait for Thai society to become ‘modern’ and ‘developed’ to become like ‘us’ in the West.

However, I do duly note you comment in #4

And where have I wrote the monarchy is above criticism?

I never claimed you wrote that. I merely stated that criticism of the monarchy is problematic for someone of your religious creed. Noteing that, I think we agree on more that we disagree. I wholeheartedly agree with you when you write:There were so many figures and agents as influential and critical, for better and for worse, particularly at the pinnacle of their careers (AjarnPridi Bhanomyong, FM P.Pibulsongkram, Sarit and a very long line of generals up to the present GenSonthi; the many godfathers and tycoons whether in the city or provinces up to the present PMThaksin…etc…etc…). We have to clearly diffentiate here – HM the King is not running the country (he never did) – at any time, a large ‘alliance of interests’ is. However, unlike you, I think the cult of personality that formulates your religion supports the tyranny of the stratocracy rather than tempers it. (For it combines both the first and last refuge of scoundrels: patriotism and religion). Indeed, if the Chakris were seen as more like the Windors, then these “scoundrels” [i.e. Pridi, Pibulsongkram, Sarit, et al.] wouldn’t be able to use the karmaphala generated by the good deeds of His Majesty, the King, to obfuscate their own nefarious deeds.

With metta,
Lleij

P.S. Thailand is not ” a global laughing stock for worshipping a ‘false god’” Thailand is a global laughing stock due to its unconscionable refusal to seriously combat the human trafficking and child sexual exploitation that occurs inside its borders.

Also thanks for identifying my schizophrenia! You must be more advanced in your practice (maybe an arahant?) – while my ‘vessel’ towards Buddhist nirvana is, as you put it, schizoprenic.

“Just as it’s simplistic and convenient to blame the West/America/et al. for all of Thailand’s ills, as you do.” Do tell where I did that or please read my post more carefully (note that in #4 I also wrote “…We all are and we are all accountable for the problems of the world today”).

And where have I wrote the monarchy is above criticism? I merely called for a more comprehensve, evenhanded and careful treatment that considers historical and cultural contexts. Besides, my position has been clear in a previous post – good karma has to be earned.

With an attitude that puts down “Pious devaracha-worshiping animist” could be a possible reason you are “suffering” in Thailand mate. Move to Australia!

You replied: “Andrew (#9) asks whether I believe vindictive Thaksin was capable of stooping so low purvey malicious anti-monarchy videos? I believe Thaksin Shinawatra was capable of stooping much lower Andrew Walker.”

So you didn’t answer the question. What you did was create your own question and answered that.

Also, it’s quite easy for people to save the clips and circulate them themselves. It’s virtually impossible to ban this kind of stuff.

Maybe it’s this realization that is the real reason why Sittichai P. resigned so quickly.

To interpret the video we have to consider the current political situation. You would have to think that Thai Rak Thai is winning the propaganda war right now. Things are going pretty terribly for the government and the junta. Politically Thai Rak Thai are looking good. The Democrats and Chat Thai will be branded as the parties that supported the dictatorship. Phalang Prachachon has a good chance of being the largest party in parliament after the next election, unless the military carries out some crackdown on the party or there is a blatant attempt to rig the elections, both of which are risky strategies. Samak has already publicly promised that if Phalang Prachachon wins government they will issue an amnesty for the 111 executives of Thai Rak Thai that were banned from politics by the Constitutional Tribunal. Then, perhaps a dissolution of parliament could be engineered, followed by new elections in which the Thai Rak Thai politicians could contest – under whatever name – with a promise to abrogate “the Dictators’ Constitution” and return to the “Peoples’ Constitution” of 1997. Presumably Thai Rak Thai would win again, and we would be back to the situation before the coup. Once Phalang Prachachon-Thai Rak Thai was in power a purge of the royalists, especially in the military, would then take place. Also, one would think that they would crack down on the Privy Council. Prem would have to go. Another factor in Thai Rak Thai’s favour is the international image of the government and the junta, which is at its lowest ebb and is getting worse. Worst of all for them, the monarchy’s role in the coup, and its stance vis-à-vis democracy in Thailand is becoming the object of increasing international media attention, which will have an effect on the monarchy’s domestic image. This was a key theme of the YouTube videos. If the military and the royalists were to intervene again in some way the international response would be far stronger than the mild reprimand last September. Thaksin, on the other hand, is projecting the image of a true democrat and neo-liberal globalizer – exactly what the international community wants – while at the same time demonstrating to his supporters at hom his nationalism, willingness to compromise and loyalty to the throne.

So things are very bad now for the coup plotters and the monarchy. Thus the videos can be seen as offering a deal to the Palace: you can take the easy way out and let Prem and the junta and the other coup plotters be the fall guys for everything that has happened, and let us back. Or, we have the power to make things very difficult for you, not least by publicly implicating you in the coup on the Internet and showing to the world that you are the real obstacle to democracy in Thailand.