Just FYI – not related to your name choice, but srithanonchai-the folk tale (I keep in in small letter from distinguishing from your call sign) generally talk of him as “cunning or smart in the way of cheating” there are ‘funny’ tales that srithanonchai tries to interpret other people’s say for his own good or in some cases treat them literally [like the episode on building chedis, or when asking for land in a 'small amount' in the amount that 'a cat will twirl when clubbed on the head']. This is the context, though not heard everywhere in the news, why Thaksin critics can call him ’srithanchai’ because it fits this description (the dark side, not the light side).

Sidh: Agreed- “better talk about the Bright—Side of Life , Weehew whew whew [whistles to the tune of the song]” especially if you’re at tourist and looking away from time from the troubles

Karmablues good points, good info.

Guys sorry for putting this “srithanonchai Thai folk tales” on the thread, which is away from the agenda.

Kuson: Some time ago, I read an English translation of the Srithanonchai tales. The one you mentioned (clean your brother inside out) thouroghly disturbed me, and I also found it rather tasteless and gross. So, I think, I am not a Srithanonchai of this kind. Till Eulenspiegel, as far as I remember from my childhood days, is an altogether much funnier character. I am not a legal Srithanonchai either. I haven’t heard or read about anybody referring to Thaksin as a Srithanochai.

Sidh, I’m not sure what “wooly cuty” is either- googled it, and it came back to this thread! Must be a local slang for something.

But I googled “Srithanonchai”, and he who claims this name, if he did so after knowing, what it means in Thai, is a not-so-moral character;

“A comparative study of Till Eulenspiegel and Srithanonchai as trickster tales / Siriporn Sriwarakan
ปี 1999
book jacket
สาระสังเขป This thesis has two main objectives: to make a comparative analysis of Till Eulenspiegel and Srithanonchai in terms of their trickster tale characteristics and to compare their protagonists and antagonists. The study shows that while the two tales have their own distinctive elements, they have some characteristics in common. Firstly, both tales originated in the oral tradition,… Secondly, they share common motifs of literal interpretation, tricks, impossible tasks and uncleanliness. Thirdly, both also have similar techniques of jokes; namely word playing (using words vaguely and playing with homophones) and conceptual witty joking (playing psychological tricks, using faulty reason and asking no-answer questions). However, since they originated in different social and cultural contexts, these two tales have some characteristics peculiar to themselves. Firstly, the role and social status of the protagonist and antagonist in each tale are different from their counterparts in the other. Till Eulenspiegel acts as an “outsider” and leads a free lifestyle. Srithanonchai acts as an “insider” and becomes a famous nobleman. Till’s opponents are mostly craftsmen while Srithanonchai often has conflicts with his king. Secondly, the sex motif is found only in Srithanonchai. Thirdly, each trickster uses different strategies in his word plays: Till Eulenspiegel plays with ironical words and social formulae whereas Srithanonchai plays with idioms, obscene words and synecdoche. Trickster tales play not only an entertaining role but also a psychological one for the people in each society. They are, therefore, valuable subjects for comparative analysis as universal products of intellectual creation”

For example of a “Srithanonchai” tale: Srithanonchai was told by his parents to babysit his little brother many times. One time he gets lazy and ’smart’ after being told “to wash your brother inside and out”. He kills his sibling, skins his brother and washes his sibling’s internal intestines, to the shock of his parents, and to the dark entertainment of Srithanonchai. Its quite tasteless, ironic ‘jokes’, and the name is used in a bad connotation. Another information is Thaksin is often called a “Srithanonchai”.

But I will not and won’t connect this character to the “Srithanonchai” in this thread, if the behaviour is different and if it is shown in any other form, as any “Adolf” could be a very good person, but one bad apple “Adolf Hitler” spoils it once.

Nice intervention into the discussion by another “academic”. I propose (especially to those who wish to have an honest discussion of the issues) to keep the discussions here , rather than move to a new thread, so that people’s attention are not diverted away from the many informative comments that have already been made on the topic in this “Time to go home” thread about the PAD.

So I will be making comments on the “Thuggery and madness” post by Andrew here in this thread, and invite others to do the same.

the PAD is not content with protest within a democratic framework

But is the PAD protesting within a democratic framework? Sorry that I can’t , as usual, tow the “academic” line, but the PAD are protesting against mafia-led TRT/PPP governmental criminal syndicate, which is by no means a “democratic framework”.
The barbaric rampage by 700 or more Thaksin Reds (backed by brother powerful local PPP politician who is Deputy Agriculture Minister) against peaceful protesters whom the Police seemed unwilling to protect is a manifestation of the undemocratic framework. The Thaksin government’s murder with impunity of 2500 fellow Thais in war on drugs, and murder of 78 minority Muslim villagers in the South, are also classic manifestations of the very undemocratic framework which the PAD are protesting in.

And they have explicitly rejected the expression, and resolution, of political differences through electoral processes

It’s not just about “political differences” though. For myself, and many anti-Thaksins out there, it is about BRINGING THE CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE. Yes, the man who plundered the country like no one else has done before, and murdered several thousand fellow Thai citizens for a marketing stunt. So, I am not ashamed to say that I reject
“judgment by elections” because CRIMES (especially the very serious ones commited by Thaksin and Co.) were NEVER meant in any democratic society to be judged by “electoral processes”. These matters are to be resolved by judicial processes , like ALL democratic countries in the world do.

They have stoked nationalist passions which have bought Thai-Cambodia relations to the brink of conflict…

… If indeed Udon Thani’s political thugs have caused the death of a PAD protester, then they have given the PAD a martyr that its undemocratic and increasingly discredited cause so desperately needs

Again, I am bewildered by “academic” logic. So stoking nationalist passions by the PADs must be condemned, BUT the condemnation for the deliberate escalation of violence by the Thaksin Reds is not the violence itself but rather that such violence has created a martyr?? I guess in the world that we live in, the human dignity and value of life of a person can be taken away from people depending on which political views one holds. It is a sad world indeed.

For me, the stoking of unreasonable nationalism should be condemned, by what the Reds have done in Udon and several other provinces should also be condemned. In fact, I find the latter act much much more likely to led to very dangerous situations for Thailand. Kuson has already spoken about the Tit-for-Tat scenario which could be very destructive. I just pray that the PAD protesters will remain committed to non-violence against the barbaric rampages by the Reds, otherwise things will get very ugly indeed.
In fact, this deliberate escalation of violence by the Thaksin Reds (especially if it doesn’t stop) will be opening the road to what most of us fear the most, ie. a military coup. So, the question is, perhaps this is what Thaksin wants? ie. provoke coup, make PAD and opponents the scapegoat, and then return to power as a hero of democracy.