Comments on: Abhisit’s human rights challenge

By: Michael Secomb

Michael Secomb — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:27:08 +0000

Ahbisit’s admission that it appeared official elements had towed the Roohinya out to sea and abandoned them was refreshingly frank, but failed to go far enough. He says he’s trying to find out who did it. I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting. No-0ne is going to step forward and admit guilt.
Ahbisit’s statement that the refugees were fleeing economic not political persecution is a meaningless distinction since one of the ways the Burmese regime is accused of carrying out political persecution is to to punish people economically, such as by burning their villages, stealing their animals, destroying their crops and sowing poison in their land.
Ahbisit would know this perfectly well, of course, since he’s a very smart and outward-looking person. Unfortunately, he appears to be a prisoner of the competing powers in Thailand at the moment and, since he appears to owe his position at least partly to tacit military support for the Democrats and his power does not rest on a popular majority of votes, I guess we can expect to see him walking a tightrope for some time to come. Perhaps elections would be a good idea later this year – if they delivered a popular majority to Ahbisit and the Democrats, and did not result in a revival of the Thaksin faction, which is, of course, a very big danger.
It is, of course, true that Thailand has a perfect right to defend its borders and favour its citizens over refugees from neighbouring countries. But Thailand also has international obligations to observe, and right now the eyes of the world are not too impressed with what they’re seeing. In such an environment, my opinion is that les majeste prosecutions just make the current government look weak and desperate.

By: Arthurson

Arthurson — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:29:05 +0000

The new minister of ICT, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are making things pretty warm for journalists, academics, and other social critics in Thailand right now. There seems to be a chilling effect on both the news the news folks are willing to cover and the topics they are willing to comment upon. The Foreign Affairs Ministry just instructed Royal Thai embassies around the world to publicize to foreigners just how seriously the Thai government considers lese-majeste accusations, a move that I don’t think is going to cast Thailand in a very favorable light with potential tourists. These ministries are being led by … appointees of the Democrat led government, so while their aim may be to stiffle UDD dissent, they are giving Thailand a black eye with the international media and causing many expats to question how much longer they really want to spend living in Thailand. One academic I know, an Australian, said he would submit his review of the economic impact on tourism caused by the current troubles to his Thai university the day he gets on the airplane to head back home!

By: Michael Secomb

Michael Secomb — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:08:52 +0000

Can’t see Abhisit having the guts to take on the military over the Rohinya accusations. It would be commiting suicide, given Abhisit sneaked into the PM’s office with a wink and a nod from Gen. Anapong, the Army chief.
I wonder if the military is behind the pressure to crack down on public discussion using the les majeste laws?

By: Arthurson

Arthurson — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:25:08 +0000

Ralph Kramden:

Thai Airways International (THAI), which has 51% government ownership, admitted on Friday that the firm need 34 billion Thai baht to stay afloat, according to The Nation on Monday, January 26, 2009. This was followed by a call today by prominent economist Ammar Siamwalla that the entire board of directors should be sacked before the Finance Ministry bails them out with any more money. So it looks like they are indeed in grave financial difficulty. THAI lost Bt6.6 billion in the first 9 months of last year, and the 4th quarter losses are expected to reach annual net losses of over Bt9 billion. Among other blunders, they locked in paying $100 per barrel for jet fuel in a 9-month hedging contract from last July!

I am puzzled and disturbed to see no new media coverage in either the Bangkok Post or The Nation on any of the human rights issues discussed in this blog. There was a very meek opinion piece by Kavi Chongkittavorn backing Thailand’s call for a “focus-group” meeting of ASEAN nations on the Rohingya refugee issue in the January 26 Nation, but no coverage of the new photos and revelations by international media sources CNN, Time magazine, or InTheNews.co.uk.

By: max

max — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:17:08 +0000

I’m sorry Mr. Anderson, but it seems that your PAD-bolstering academic friend are unlikely being deterred because they are passively afraid,
but rather they have been very actively PAiD.

The comprehensively aggressive elite-client strategy of coercion/deception has formed the underpinnings of the premeditated violence and provocation of PAD public outreach probably means your conveniently tongue tied professor buddies are sitting on a much heftier bundle than Wichai from the construction crew was delivering the physical blows to supplement the PAD cheap shots hurled from the ethically and intellectually bankrupt Thai ivory tower.

By: David Brown

David Brown — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:32:07 +0000

Talking of the Thai government and human rights.

Has anyone else noticed that the Thai Global Network satellite TV channel, which is an offshoot of Thai Army Channel 5 in Thailand has just changed its style.

The channels style has been generally appropriate for overseas Thai wanting to keep in touch with Thai culture, general news and royal family activities. Not enough harder news about political movements, etc., for some.

Suddenly, from Sunday morning 25 Jan, we have what seem to be semi-erotic music videos on almost constant display… the display also includes spinning pokies style gambling wheels and a Jackpot motif

does this signal that Thailand’s porn and gambling industries are reopening for serious business?

have they or will they be legalised?

is it related to the appointment of Pornthiwa Nakasai as Commerce Minister, supposed owner, or daughter of the owner, of Poseidon?

By: Frank G Anderson

Frank G Anderson — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:57:01 +0000

Of course…even as a PAD-in-principle supporter, I find the PAD to have taken the same turn “they all take” here in Thailand – wanting to lead the parade, not wanting to work with others of slightly different mind, purposely twisting logic and truth to fit their purposes, etc. It’s just a Thai game, unfortunately, more than it is PAD.
A well known Thai intellectual told me recently that academics here in Thailand were afraid, and that was why they did not join together to fight this pogrom in court.

By: Thai "Humen are created equal"

Thai "Humen are created equal" — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:23:45 +0000

Mr Daid Reid, You are right.

“There is little hope for change from within Thailand. The only thing that can really be done to improve the situation is to get more international observers on the ground and for other countries to take a more outspoken approach in their diplomacy with Thailand.”

We, Thai people who are now fighting with the elites and the military for “democracy” really need your help. Please help us bring in true democracy and human right to our land.

Thai from USA

By: Ralph Kramden

Ralph Kramden — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:34:02 +0000

Oh no! The red shirts hit Santi Asoke people with footclappers, held tiny, peaceful rallies and wrote letters to foreign diplomats! Savages! Wasn’t it Santi Asoke people who were caught with a truckload of weapons in the good old days of PAD?

PADites seem tp remain active, threatening people and organisations they consider enemies.

By: Srithanonchai

Srithanonchai — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:12:49 +0000

Another “peaceful” UDD protest?

Red-shirts take over PAD rally site

Some 2,000 red-shirt supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra Saturday stormed through a security cordon of nearly 1,000 police officers to seize the stage of People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators. The PAD’s Roi Et chapter had earlier announced a speech event, from 6pm Saturday, at Suan Somdet Phra Sinakarin Park. The red-shirts submitted a written objection on Friday to the Roi Et governor to stop the event. The red-shirts were led by former People Power Party MP Nisit Sinthuprai and Pheu Thai Party MPs Sakda Khongpetch, Kitti Somsab and Warawong Phansila. At 3pm Saturday some 2,000 red-shirts stormed through the police security cordon at the park and managed to seize the stage. This forced some 30 PAD supporters, who were preparing for the event, to remove signs, musical instruments and the whole stage in fear for their safety.
The Nation, 25 January 2009