Comments on: Thinking like a Thai Army general

By: Sidh S.

Sidh S. — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 03:05:49 +0000

Yes Nganadeeleg, “Citizen Dog” is a powerful movie, both in imagery and satirical content – but in a too abstract way to be a hit at the box-office (his “The Unseen” is a more direct, ‘traditional’ ghost story which I really enjoyed).

I think the ‘Talok Cafe’ crew are naturally more adept at communicating to the Thai masses. Ok, they produce lots of terrible (but makes heaps of money stuff, especially if it feels ’straight from the stage’) – but once in a while they produce gems (or even ‘moments’ within the film) that conveys sharp, critical observations of societal conditions. I personally think Mum and Jaturon Jokmok are great talents to watch – especially if they ‘get their own way’. However, they might be too specific, too local to effectively communicate with the international audiences. (some movies I like from this crowd so far: Mum’s lead role in “Midnight my love”, his movie “Yam Yasothon”; Jaturon’s movies – “Koy teh Yom”, “Toot soo fat” (the latter a straightforward Chinese triad comedy – but done very well)…

By: nganadeeleg

nganadeeleg — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:36:14 +0000

Sidh: I like most of Pen-ek’s films, and “Monrak Transistor” is one of my favorites (I have it on VCD).

Amusing, but sad, and it would only have taken a few changes in thought & actions for things to have been much better.

FWIW, my all time favorite Thai movie, to date, is Wisit Sasanatieng’s “Citizen Dog”.

By: siangmiang

siangmiang — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:30:23 +0000

In case you ever want to see Samak slurping over a bowl of Yen Tow Faa, stop by the famous noodle shop on Aree Phaholyothin Soi 7. He eats there about twice a week. I even ordered his special, too bad I think Yen Tow Faa tastes rotten though.

By: Colonel Jeru

Colonel Jeru — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:14:57 +0000

Has any of you ever been to a restaurant with the “Samak Aroy” (’Samak Delicious’) sign? Well I had my lunch in one such restaurant today. The restaurant was at Mahachai (too bad my favorite Khun Toom restaurant was not open which forced me to try my luck, or my bad luck, elsewhere). The food was expensive, the crab was NOT fresh and lousy, and the rice was terrible! Only the fish was passable but fails my standard for Thai cuisine.

This is the first I had tried a “Samak Aroy” recommended restaurant (I did not notice until too late at the Cashier’s counter) and I was sorely disappointed. And scared too! Because Samak could very well be Thailand’s next PM, and judging by his culinary standard, I can predict the Kingdom’s governance too, under him, will be just as disappointing or worse.

By: Sidh S.

Sidh S. — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:25:56 +0000

Thanks Nganadeleg.
“Amusing” yet “so sad”, it does reminds me of Pen-ek’s film “Monrak Transistor”. I’ve only seen it once (even if it is one of my favorite movies), but that’s the feeling I always get just thinking of it. Whatever happens next, the story of Thai democracy is ‘bittersweet’ – as it has always been. We’ll come out the other end ‘damaged’ but ‘wiser’ – and ‘hopeful’ (at least that’s what I hope).

By: nganadeeleg

nganadeeleg — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:12:47 +0000

Sidh: Thanks for the amusing (to me) predictions – they would be funny if they were not so sad.

By: Sidh S.

Sidh S. — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:37:20 +0000

If the Democrats can form a coalition government?
The court cases against PMThaksin will go through due process. The ending should not differ too much from Prachai Leophairatana’s case but significantly in scale (PMThaksin would likely get a few decades jail term, but he won’t be there to serve it ofcourse). The Thai parliament returns to its lively times with Samak-Chalerm in opposition. PPP will try it’s hardest to destabilize the government ofcourse, as the longer it spends in opposition, fundings from PMThaksin will dry up, and MPs will naturally start to leave for more favorable pastures. Abhisit will need both luck and strong support to pull through as it will be the hardest two years of his life – that would be the most time he has to establish himself as a viable leader to reduce the influence of the cult of Thaksin (an uneviable task). However, if he is like PMChuan before him – and is a man of strong (elitist) principles, he may not last too long. He has to learn the dark arts and apply it quick (it is a good sign that he has already visited the astrologers). The ‘alternative’ Thai democracy (to PMThaksin’s model) depends much on him.

By: Sidh S.

Sidh S. — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:14:12 +0000

If PPP wins big, Samak/Chalerm + the internal security bill may return absolute power to PMThaksin. But I also think Samak/Chalerm with lots of power will also start to reveal their own agendas, independent of Thaksin’s intents – which I think is mainly to get ‘his’ money back and pave a way for his return to power. What timeframe this would happen will depend on how fast the security bill + money can break the Thai courts will to drop all cases. The challenge is to get this done before Samak-Chalerm messes up and offends everyone in society (which is also a great ‘opportunity’ for Thaksin to stage a grand entry, welcomed by a million people, at Suvarnabhumi to ’save’ the country).

In this scenario, the urban middle-classes and the PAD will be back on the streets. This would likely lead to an inevitable violent crackdown mainly carried out by the police – mainly with batons, tear gas and not guns. The courts will be back on side with PMThaksin and the oppositions will be charged/jailed. This will be a long drawn out process taking months until the will of the middle class is broken and Thaksin becomes absolute ruler.

Thaksin rules for another 10 years and here there are two scenarios – the Philipines/Indonesia under Marcos/Suharto or Malaysia/Singapore under Mahathir/Lee Kuan Yew. Thailand may become worse off as the Shinawatras enters the 10 ten Forbes list of richest families – leading to Thaksin’s eventual downfall and a post-Thaksin blossoming of democracy. Or Thailand may achieve the wealth levels comparable to Malaysia/Singapore and the reigns are handed to Paethongthan, Thaksin’s youngest daughter.

The discredited military have probably long resigned to this inevitability in handing the reigns to GenAnupong and not GenSaprang (who, with GenSonthi, is exiled in England and becomes avid ManUnited fans). PMThaksin, a fast learning that he is, will have totally neutralize and co-opt them this time (everyone, no matter how resistance at the first and second instances, has a price)…

By: Colonel Jeru

Colonel Jeru — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:56:42 +0000

If PPP wins big, does it really matter who the nominee-PM will be? Mr. Frank of Manchester City will be calling all the shots anyway according to his usual form, all the TRT . . . correction I mean PPP . . . members will be merely clapping their fists loudly unless the clutched cash bonuses from Potjaman defeat the decibels.

By: Srithanonchai

Srithanonchai — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:57:47 +0000

They are not at all “banned from politics.” This is the short hand version used by the Thai press, but it does not make it any more correct. Please, consult the Political Party Act to find out precisely what they are banned from. When this organic law was deliberated by the CDA and the NLA, some factions indeed wanted to expand the prohibitions to include a total “ban from politics.” This was seen as “too harsh,” e.g. by usually hawkish Prasong Sunsiri. The ECT, via its “recommendation,” tried to realize what was rejected during the deliberations through the backdoor. It tried to act like a back-up legislator and court. This is a typical case of trying to replace the rule of law by political interests. One might call this the “Srithanonchai method” which is so widely used in Thai legal circles.