A few months ago the blog operated by prolific commentator Colonel Jeru (also known as Jeroo) went offline and it has not returned. It used to be available here. And he hasn’t been on New Mandala for months. Do any readers know what happened to the Colonel?
In one of his last comments on New Mandala he characteristically argued that:
If Andrew Walker can vote, I am almost certain he will vote for PPP knowing Andrew’s softness to the Reds and his disdain of the yellows (which Andrew presumes to be everybody else’s). Fonzi, that ThailandJumpedtheShark, and, I suspect BangkokPundit (who had been giving his rah rah and more rahs for a PPP-ChartThai coalition) too, will vote Samak-Chalerm party.
Republican is definitely a hardcore Thaksin sympathizer and will vote for Chalerm.
His special brand of bombastic comment is missed by many.
17 responses so far ↓
1 Grasshopper // Apr 6, 2008 at 12:57 pm
He definitely cannot have been censored, so it must be an intellectual crisis. Like when an artist tears up their work in a fit of despair after having an epiphany that they had not taken into account before.
There is noticeably an unfortunate absence of pro-elite commentary on New Mandala.
2 BangkokDan // Apr 6, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Was wondering the same where he is.
Tried to find his legendary dialog between Bush and Samak – but even the old blog-content isn’t on-line anymore.
Anyone got a copy?
3 jonfernquest // Apr 6, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Grasshopper: “There is noticeably an unfortunate absence of pro-elite commentary on New Mandala.”
That’s one way of reducing the incredibly complex multi-dimensional reality in Thailand to one overly simplistic dimension. People do worry about things other than politics. The economy, for instance. People are worried about political stability and the economy, elite or non-elite, realise yet another election will have the same result. If opinion polls and demographics were advanced enough, you could even plot the dynamics of these changes in different sectors of society. Instead we create simplistic categories, elite/non-elite.
Also New Mandala hasn’t made any postings on the recent kick fights over constitutional amendments (now I’m afraid of being kicked for saying that), exactly how much is to be amended, and is it really as easy as that? two weeks…boom,…new constitution!, or on the approaching court decisions on certain party leaders that would initiate automatic party dissolution. A broad sector of society is worried about that.
Also as political commentator Nattakorn pointed out another factor that may have something to do with it:
“In effect, the dream of seeing Thai Rak Thai party (TRT) not entirely manipulated by one man with all the say has accidentally transformed into reality.”
4 Grasshopper // Apr 7, 2008 at 12:39 am
Of course Jon, but economic stability is largely in the hands of the elite. The elite are Thailand. Not the silly villagers who voted PPP in exchange for sacks with $HK written on them. Ah… Jeru was so good at simplifying things. I see I have lit the same spark in you Jon that Jeru fired in us all.
The universality of Andrew Walker (and farang academics in general) being wrong, indifference to a silly constitution because the King is great, enforcing rural stupidity, knowing democratic poison, seeing the scourge of Thaksin and populism – sadly, these ideals and perceptions are all waining from me.
With nothing to do, I have made a tribute poster:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2392626036_f2001507cb_o.jpg
5 Srithanonchai // Apr 7, 2008 at 1:38 am
“has accidentally transformed into reality” > Actually, no, because PPP is not TRT.
Re the dissolution, Thonbai Thongbai commented (in BP, March 30, 2008): “And this is the price we paidfor disbanding a party — ministers whose names we have never heard of, or with credentials and qualifications that are so out of sync with their portfolios that one can’t help but wonder whether they can really do their jobs. So the question is: Do we really want to continue down this path? Amend if we must, but if you aks me, only selectively, and the parties should be spared.”
On the other hand, a law professor at Thammasat University thought (in Matichon, April 7, 2008): “Article 237 can be compared to a strong medicine to cure a chronic fever. This medicine will have to be used for a period of time first, before it can be replaced by a weaker medicine. If we discontinue this medicine by amending Article 237, this chronic illness will spread widely, because it will be immune against medicine. There will be no medicine left which is strong enough to solve [the problem].”
Thus, this group of people see the Constitution Drafting Committee as a group of doctors who commanded superior professional knowledge about Thai politics, the patient. This hierarchically superior position gave, and give, this group the right to decide instead of the patient.
6 Historicus // Apr 7, 2008 at 6:10 am
As the one who suggested that Jeru be designated Colonel because he was putting the military’s line, I miss his military-royalist position. I wonder if he lost his job when PPP took government? Was he really paid by the military to counter-blog? (I’m hoping that by being provocative, we might stir the good Colonel)
Grasshopper: you are absolutely right that the pro-elite perspective has been kind of lost. At the same time, the royalist-military elite seems to be working away. The act of voting in December has not seen an end to the struggle between the competing elites.
7 Teth // Apr 7, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Now that Jeru is gone as is the military’s idiocy, I feel like I’ve have a lot less to say. Ah well. We shall see how things are in the Colonel’s camp eventually.
8 nganadeeleg // Apr 7, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Maybe Jakrapob has done a Praya Pichai on the Colonel?
9 nganadeeleg // Apr 7, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I also miss Vichai N, Taxi Driver, Nirut and Patiwat – a big HELLO to you all if you are still reading.
10 fall // Apr 7, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Oh, he will be miss.
Many times his comments brought a reply that really got you thinking. About what are be advocated or point being discussed.
11 Col. Jeru // Apr 8, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I am not even sure I should continue commentating . . . but here I am anyway just to be sure that Samak or Chalerm will NOT be suspected of Colonel Jeru’s vanishing act.
I purposedly “murdered” the Jeroo wordpress blogsite to “discourage” myself from getting overly engrossed at blogging . . . Anyway on the average I was getting 75 hits a day, and there was only two or three days when I got 300 hits. So I felt Jeroo website was not good enough to invest my time in.
Ngana: Vichai N and Colonel Jeru are one and the same person . . suffering multiple personality disorders.
enuff said!
12 Taxi Driver // Apr 9, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I’m still here Ngarn. Have been very busy lately so haven’t had the chance/time to read NM on a daily basis as I would like to. Once this busy spell is over I will drive my cab again.
13 nganadeeleg // Apr 10, 2008 at 9:44 am
Vichai N and Colonel Jeru are one and the same person . . suffering multiple personality disorders.
I personally preferred the Vichai N persona. His commentry on Thaksin’s culpability in the war on drugs was classic – I saved it for posterity here: http://nganadeeleg.blogspot.com/2007/08/thaksins-culpability-in-war-on-drugs.html
Taxi Driver: I’ve always suspected the taxi driver and Nirut were one and the same – is another confession due?
Hobby
14 Observer // Apr 10, 2008 at 3:55 pm
And nganadeeleg is Hobby? It’s all getting very confusing. I wonder if I am someone else too.
15 colonel jeru // Apr 10, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I have always known hobby and ngana to be one and the same . . .
In fact I am also sure Samak Sundaravej and Bangkok Pundit are also one and the same. Samak and Pundit have such affection for Thaksin . . and both believe that corrupt politics is the norm anywhere. But it is the cunning and genius of Bangkok Pundit to be able disguised himself as Samak . . . feigning mangled English!
Andrew Walker of course is no other than Dodi’s father – Al Fayed considering their openly deep animosity against royalty!
16 Grasshopper // Apr 11, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Observer, it’s you here. Hello me!
*commence Dr Who theme music*
17 Observer // Apr 11, 2008 at 9:07 pm
GH,
That’s not nice to do to an already confused person. Now, I’ll be spending the whole holiday wondering who else I am and how to get in touch (or stay away).
Leave a Comment
Please note: New Mandala encourages vigorous debate. However, for the moment we will only be publishing high-quality comments that make original contributions to discussion. There will, of course, still be space for pithy, humorous, eccentric and cheeky input. Short and sweet will usually trump long and involved. Repetitive ranting, unimaginative point-scoring and idle abuse will not be entertained. Comments which carry a real name are also more likely to be approved. Thank you for your ongoing interest and contributions.