Thailand will soon quiet down, the economy will once again boom and visitors will throng to its temples and beaches. And, with any luck, this king will be around for a good while longer to savor his victory.
- Extracted from W. Scott Thompson, “Bhumibol, Thailand’s remarkable king”, Los Angeles Times, 11 December 2008.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Soraj Hongladarom // Dec 12, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I just read the Manager Daily website and the PAD said that if the new government is not to their liking they will come out again, this time as many as 500,000 people! So this is not over yet, and Thompson’s idea that Thailand will be back to its prosperous way seems to be premature. However, I doubt that they could gather as many as a tenth of what they claim, considering that more and more people know their insides.
I wonder what they would be doing if Thaksin is no longer in the picture. To keep their momentum and power going the PAD needs Thaksin. They are so dependent on him….
2 Constant Petit // Dec 12, 2008 at 5:49 pm
With all due respect, the last paragraph of Professor Thompson’s article seems to express pure wishful thinking. The situation in Thailand is hardly so easy.
3 george bartlett // Dec 12, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I doubt it will return to the days that were. This latest travesty had too greater international effect. There are other equally interesting countries now pulling in the ex-Thai traveller.
Perhaps this is an opportunity for Thailand to take stock and look a little inward and whilst improving the politics, try to cease the other rather shocking activities that it persists in carrying out. Protecting the human rights of the many disadvantaged would be a a step in the right direction. Maybe practicing a little of the Buddhist philosophy would help people find the compassion that is now so much lacking in the country.
4 doctorJ // Dec 12, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Quote:…..in a thousand ways tried to cut him down to size.”
Thompson need to be more specific and what’s the evidences?
I found this article of Thompson a bit oversimplified and a bit optimistic.
The situation is far from”..Thailand will soon quiet down…” , on the contrary it will end up in a rather opposite direction.
Call me a pessimistic if you prefer to , but I’m a bit realistic too. Time will tell.
5 Joy // Dec 13, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I agree with Dr J. Please do not belittle(whether intentionally or not) the dissent voices within Thailand. Our voices may not be that powerful right now but they will continue to strengthen and grow into maturity some day. Please avoid reinforcing the stereotype of Thai people as ’sabai sabai’, ‘Mai pen rai ‘(’never mind” ), or simply passive.
I see myself (and Dr. J as well)as belonging to another group of Thais who do not fit into this stereotype ( which is promoted by mainstream Thai culture and some foreigners alike) and we will continue to hold on to our belief that Thailand can change for better (no matter how long this will take).
6 David Brown // Dec 21, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Joy, Dr J?
I am also very suspicious of the sabi sabai thing and the other phrase….
“cultures such as Thailand which value consensus, conformity and community much more than confrontation and competition.”
I winder if its this culture that means the rich can manipulate the society to their benefit?
where the legal system is manipulated by the rich, all the way from people in cars with dark window tinting bluff the traffic police up to the Privy Council conspiring to convict Thaskin and the rich can support thugs to defeat a strong democratically elected government… ?
most human beings aspire to peaceful coexistance but again most recognise that ability for independent thinking is a requirement of growing up from being a child
who reinforces the culture and why is it perpetuated?
7 doctorJ // Dec 24, 2008 at 3:15 pm
David Brown: it’s the culture given from the ruling class for ages. This “patronage/client”norm(also ways of living and lines of thinking) request absolute obedience and leave no room for questioning. Either abiding the rules and live a peaceful(?) live,or questioning the rulers and face all kind of troubles .
What kind of rules?The rulers’opinions are the rules,there’re no written one(even if it did have,the rulers can easily overrule the “rules”)
This kind of relationship reflected from the ancient socioeconomic status of the vast peasants who had no right to own any plot of land.
All land belonged to the king who allowed the peasants to harvest in his land,and pay back taxes in return. All the peasants’ fate depended on the mercy of the king.
This kind of relationship do remain and can be trace in the modern Thai society, for at least in the way of thinking. Thai students do not question their teachers,argueing is considered impolite.
This oppressive culture dominates Thai lives for centuries ,the root goes so deep that most are unawared of its existence. That’s why Thais always come to an excuse like”you don’t understand Thai”. In fact they don’t aware of what lie beneath their line of thoughts .
Hope this will not confuse you even more…
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