New Mandala

46 responses so far ↓

• 1 R. N. England // Sep 25, 2009 at 7:12 pm

  Most impressive. Jakrapob anticipates the judgement of History.
  If the absolutists had not built such a facade of lies, there would be less to condemn.

• 2 Nganadeeleg // Sep 25, 2009 at 7:36 pm

  “It was since the formation of the Thai Rak Thai party, when Thaksin became the Prime Minister in 2001 that we had tangible evidence that the “State within the state” in Thailand really exists”

  What did Thaksin do with that ‘tangible evidence’?
  and why did he allow the opposing/overarching side such a free kick by structuring his business & tax affairs like he did?

  Was he trying to have his cake and eat it too?
  (Things could have been different if only he was prepared to pay some tax).

  Now there is more talk of a ’settlement’ or reconcilation – I wonder if the final settlement will be better or worse than having paid tax on the Shin – Temasek deal in the first place?

• 3 sam-deedes // Sep 26, 2009 at 1:44 am

  Make the democratic government incapable, worthless and deserving to be destroyed, and if it appears worthy and gaining authority, the accusations are immediately raised on corruption, “dictatorship” and lèse majesté which can be deployed immediately to annihilate any oppositional voices.

  This is it. How can democracy mature if parties are never allowed to grow?

• 4 I-Moei // Sep 26, 2009 at 2:21 am

  Thanks to Andrew and the translator. Here’s my try at JP’s five constituents of the state within the state:

  1 Senior officials both civil and military that flourish constantly under the patronage system of the old power, and share out valuable power among themselves, sometimes coming into conflict.

  2 Mechanisms to wield state power such as ISOC, Special Branch, Foreign Ministry, Thai Airways, and PTT.

  3 Income-seeking groups, both old and new wealth, and the networking to convert new wealth into old or intermediate.

  4 Academics with expertise on controlling politics through law such as by constitution-making, and embedding power and self-interest in subsidiary laws.

  5. Agreements with the great powers, especially the US, to preserve mutual interests and avoid conflicting interests.

• 5 nobody // Sep 26, 2009 at 12:21 pm

  Every country has a state with in a state to some extent. It is just a matter of degree. Elected representatives hold greater to fealty to others than those that voted them in and fealty holding group manipulates.

  As well as the state Jakrapob sees there are others even in Thailand

  A quick look around up country also exposes another state within a state of the pro-Thaksin and also leftist groups.

  Mafia groups also work as a state within a state on a local level.

  Some would claim the police also work as a state within the state somewhat seperate from the group Jakrapob identifies.

  I am taking a state within a state here to mean an unofficial and unelected network that can influence.

  Jakrapob just uses this common concept to analyse one segment from his point of view and political bent. It is of course also a very old analysis in effect. Didnt McCargo write on Network monarchy and also the attempt to create network Thaksin to supercede it?

• 6 sam-deedes // Sep 27, 2009 at 1:56 am

  How many countries has nobody lived in? Is s/he trying to tell us that there is no qualitative or quantitative difference between the situation in Thailand and advanced democracies? (To make just one point, the ratio of officers to soldiers in the Thai army is 30x what it is in the US Army).

  Jakaprob’s state within a state holds power akin or greater than the elected government. None of nobody’s alternative examples comes even close.

• 7 Susie Wong // Sep 27, 2009 at 2:03 pm

  Thank you Jakrapob Penkair!!!

  The U.S., U.K. and China, did you hear what he said?

• 8 Frank G Anderson // Sep 27, 2009 at 4:35 pm

  I am inclined to sympathize with several of Jakrapob’s comments and points made, with a divergence on the so-called car bomb against his mentor Thaksin. I believe there was ample lack of evidence that there ever really was a car bomb per se, but rather that even Thaksin himself might have engineered the whole thing to generate sympathy on the one hand, and as a fake pass on the other to divert attention from his wrongdoings, most of which Jakrapob is hardly willing to admit to.

• 9 Srithanonchai // Sep 27, 2009 at 4:42 pm

  Jakrapop must be quite frustrated that he can reach the reds mainly through his columns in the Red News. In them, he can criticize the present red leaders for limiting their political direction by supporting Democracy with the King as Head of State, and of getting rid of Prem, while, from his perspective, they should establish more fundamental goals. He must have been upset when he saw the picture of his former colleagues signing the get-well-soon book for the king at Siriraj Hospital (wearing red ties…). He might have also disliked when Veera spoke of a “New Thai State” but limited this to a change of the monarchy similar to what had erlier happened in the UK and Japan. Would Jakrapop’s presence in Thailand make things any better for the reds, I wonder?

• 10 Susie Wong // Sep 28, 2009 at 9:22 am

  Can state within the state be considered as totalitarian form of governance? According to its definition, a model to classify states as totalitarian, a state had to exhibit six features:
  - an all encompassing ideology which in the Thai case is “nation, religion, the monarchy”;
  - led by one man which in this case Phumipon;
  - a system of terror of which Da Torpedo was sentenced for 18 years in prison on lese majeste charge, Sonthi Limthongkul was rained with bullets, Jakrapob Penkair and Ji Ungpakorn had to fled the country;
  - a near-monopoly on all means of mass communication which we all about the censorship;
  - a near-monopoly of instruments of force of which Phumipon is the head of the armed forces;
  - and a centrally controlled economy, in the Thai case the economy was controlled by the network monarchy patron-client system.

• 11 Frank G Anderson // Sep 28, 2009 at 10:37 am

  There is a serious question of real danger to John Doe from the military/amalgam of antagonistic parties that constitute Thailand’s ‘deep state’ similar to that discussed in Turkey. As John Doe stated in the past, if he hadn’t been careful he would have been killed.
  That open public statement from Doe has been discussed almost ad infinitum in Thailand to little avail because the state within a state, or the deep state, is without a sense of humor or tolerance. So it reinstates dangerous passages in the country’s constitution that legislate divinity and legitimate oppression, repression and suppression. All in the name of that guy John Doe that Robin Hood was trying to protect back then.

• 12 Igor Christodoulou (ic) // Sep 28, 2009 at 1:41 pm

  It is quite astonishing how the Kingdom of Thailand has succeded to convince the world of its democratic credendials while in fact it had been and it continues to be a totalitarian state with all its atributes (as mentioned by previous posters). Surely those must be Thai nationals, above all, who have to dismantle this far and wide network of lies and misinformation for their own benefit.

• 13 Frank G Anderson // Sep 28, 2009 at 1:59 pm

  It’s a touchy issue at the very least, of course. Time and time again I have spoken and written about the need for Thais to take these issues, including LM, to court but no one bothers because they are too afraid and don’t want to be chided by their fellow Thais as being un-Thai. This is the bottleneck – fear, intimidation, ignorance, mass hypnosis.

• 14 Frank G Anderson // Sep 28, 2009 at 8:22 pm

  Thought I would try my own hand, with the benefit of seeing what others have wrought, to smoothen the English translations of Jakrabhop’s five elements of the ‘Deep State,’ of state-within-a-state. I also cheated a bit with two online translation sources, comparing and trying to come up with a native English version that felt like it reads the way it was written in Thai.

  1. Both civilian and military senior officials constantly thriving under the patronage system of the old power cliques, who trade power back and forth like prize possessions and sometimes compete with one another.
  2. Mechanisms to completely control the Thai government, such as ISOC, the Special Branch, the Foreign Ministry, Thai Airways, and PTT (Public Company Ltd.).
  3. Groups acquiring revenue both from old and new asset sources, and the developing of networks to pipeline capital – whether from old or new wealth – for centralized use.
  4. Academics with specialized skills, especially to control the government using the law, such as producing a constitution, hidden strings to retain power and privileges under law that is subordinate (to them).
  5. Agreements with great foreign powers, especially America, in safeguarding joint privileges and not overlapping one another.

• 15 redrobin // Sep 29, 2009 at 11:55 pm

  Sam -Deedes. The ratio of officers to soldiers in the Thai army is 30x what it is in the US army. I noticed my friend the general seemed to have a lot of spare time so I asked him what he did on a typical day. He replied that as he had an inactive post he didn’t really do anything he reports for duty in the morning, the commanding officer reads a state of the nation report then they all have breakfast after that he is free for the rest of the day. he explained that while an inactive post ensured an easy life an active post is preferred as with an active post there is always a chance of making money. According to the general the most exciting time in the military is when a royal event is coming up, waiting to see who is chosen to be in attendance. This is a chance to put on the best dress uniform complete with accumulated medals and rub shoulders with the royals. As long as the military protects the royalty and the royalty protects the military they ensured an easy life.

• 16 reg herring // Sep 30, 2009 at 4:37 am

  Ditch Thaksin and we might be inclined to listen. Until you do that you will always be tainted by association with a corrupt policeman and his greedy-arse family. Until you do that your voice will have nothing wothwhile to add.

• 17 redrobin // Sep 30, 2009 at 11:43 am

  reg herring. I am not a Thaksin fan. I too would like to see a new start with a new leader

• 18 BAD DOG // Oct 1, 2009 at 2:12 am

  Living in Denial

  Presumably, some of the “petty details” that Mr. Jakropob seems unwilling to actually name include Thaksin’s rampant corruption, his trampling on the 1997 Constitution and both Jakrapob and Thaksin’s blatant lies and incitement to violent revolution during the Songkran riots – and in Jakropob’s case afterwards as well.

  These hypocrites have some nerve to try and claim the moral high ground – they are no better and certainly not much different than those they accuse.

  “See the new boss – just like the old boss”

  Pete Townshend, (The Who) ‘Won’t get fooled again’

  It’s the Law of Karma in Action: eventually you reap what you sow, boys. Try honest means to honest ends next time.

  BAD DOG.

• 19 Frank G Anderson // Oct 1, 2009 at 11:36 am

  It’s an old lawyer’s joke, but illustrates this kind of anti-morality:

  There was an up and coming young lawyer who had started making his reputation but had run into the typical challenges that life offers and had already made certain life compromises. He was having a tough time and wished for some help.
  Suddenly the Devil appears before him and spoke.
  “I will make you very famous. I will offer you all the riches you ever wanted. I will make the most beautiful women in the world fight over themselves for you. I will provide all the satisfaction that any man, anywhere, could ever hope to achieve.”
  The lawyer listened, but then asked, “And what do I have to do?”
  The Devil answered, “You have to sell me your soul, the souls of your mother, children, wife, girlfriends and colleagues.”
  The lawyer interrupted, “What’s the catch?”

• 20 BAD DOG // Oct 1, 2009 at 1:17 pm

  FRANK:

  Good joke!

  Thanks for the laugh – there’s a bit of ‘bad dog’ in every ‘good dog’.

  Your reply also seems to confirm the old saying:

  ‘To really understand someone, you have to speak the same language’

  BAD DOG.

  PS: Ref. ‘The Devil’s Advocate’ (Al Pacino)

• 21 Srithanonchai // Oct 1, 2009 at 4:19 pm

  “Thaksin’s rampant corruption” > Such as in the rubber sapling and 2-3 digit lottery cases…

• 22 Ned Sherrin // Oct 1, 2009 at 5:30 pm

  Srithonchai. Yes, rampant corruption. I also have my own evidence of murder by the family concerned. The fact that other elite members are unable to nail Thaksin properly doesn’t surprise me very much. They are, of course, worried about compromising their own parasitic activities. You know as well as I know that the elite here is totally incapable of reining in the worst excess of its own. All the more reason to label them ALL useless. We do ourselves no favors by naming our slight favorites in this crass power struggle. THEY have to learn to deserve OUR respect the hard way.

• 23 Chris Beale // Oct 1, 2009 at 11:18 pm

  Well one thing all of above shows – without any doubt – is that Thaksin still stirs immense controversy. Love him or loath him, Thaksin’s still very much alive and kicking.
  Sooner or later, Thailand’s elite either come to terms with him – or Thailand breaks apart, and ceases to exist as one country.
  Isaarn and Lanna become a new country – backed by China Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
  The genie genius can not be put back into the bottle.

• 24 Frank G Anderson // Oct 2, 2009 at 1:09 am

  If any predictions re. Thailand’s future are made, I would go for one that calls not for any breakup of the country. Instead Thailand seems to be heading toward a more militant and superficial existence, illusion and exploitation the rule of the day.
  Sorry for the lack of optimism…

• 25 Ned Sherrin // Oct 2, 2009 at 4:22 am

  Indeed it is his ‘genius’, as described by Chris Beale, that makes him such poor stuff. The country is awash with self-proclaimed geniuses of almost no practical experience in anything except bluster, backstabbing and baloney. It’s a change that’s needed. Not more of the same bullshit from a bunch of raging egotists. And yes, I definitely include the weasel Jakkraphob in that assessment. If he had any real values, he would build his own political movement, instead of cliinging on to Thaksin’s shirttail.

• 26 Chris Beale // Oct 3, 2009 at 3:57 pm

  Let me make it absolutely clear : I am not “calling” for anything.
  Certainly not the break-up of Thailand.
  I am simply observing and reporting what I see, hear, and read as I travel around.
  The danger of break-up has been warned of by numerous illustrious others, including one of the best-ever former Prime Ministers – Anand Panyarachun. And His Majesty The King has voiced concerns about “ruin”. It is good to see a Unity Campaign at long last being launched.
  It is not long ago the PAD’s Sondhi was publicly saying “civil war has now begun”. The cost of this to ordinary Thais, and the wider region, would be horrendous. I applaud the efforts being made by all those of goodwill to find a compromise. Though this is sadly proving elusive at the moment, I pray the Thai genius for compromise will eventually succeed once again.

• 27 BAD DOG // Oct 5, 2009 at 1:36 am

  Yes, Ned. “Ugly crony capitalism” indeed i.e. ‘ugly’ even for Thailand.

  Of course, progress is not aided by Thais like Srithanonchai when they give in to their penchant (like his namesake) for ‘monkeying around’ – good with words but not much good at anything else.

  However as many of the older generation lately seem to be giving up on progress towards a properly functioning democracy, perhaps we shoudn’t be too harsh, although they do seem rather bereft of ideas compared to young guns such as columnist Voranai Vanijaka or even stalwarts like Sanitsuda Ekachai, if not intellectual phonies like Nattakorn Devakul and of course Thaksin himself.

  As someone once said, Thais are more your close in shore fisherman than those who venture out into deep waters. Or as an Asian asked in the title of his book, ‘Can Asians Think?’ Of course they can, but both the quality and quantity are too low to press effectively for fundamental reforms because the school system here in Thailand at least is designed to maintain the status quo.

  BAD DOG.

• 28 Johpa Deumlaokeng // Oct 5, 2009 at 2:36 am

  Susie Wong wrote: “Thank you Jakrapob Penkair!!! The U.S., U.K. and China, did you hear what he said?”

  I would imagine that the masters often listen to the acolytes. I see little difference, apart from style, between the Jakrapob’s description of the Thai situation and the situation in other countries. Here in the US the main difference is that it is more the corporations that acting collectively behind the scenes, rather than individuals, after they obtained the same rights as individuals with protection under the 14th amendment to the US constitution. Thailand also differs from the US and the UK with the military being involved as major actor, although there are rumored to be right wing forces within the US attempting to co-opt the US military. But the other descriptions that Jakrapob notes, such as the elected government being there “for the sake of the country’s image” is as true in the other countries as it is in Thailand. Or, to plagiarize from one the great Southeast Asian scholars of our times, all these nation-states are but “imagined communities” with the powers in the background engineering the image no differently than Disney’s engineers when planning a theme park.

• 29 R. N. England // Oct 5, 2009 at 7:02 pm

  Johpa Deumlaokeng (28) insults the world’s democracies by suggesting that they are on a par with Thailand, where the royal/military mafia treat the people’s representatives with such utter contempt.

• 30 Frank G Anderson // Oct 5, 2009 at 9:32 pm

  5 October 2009

  Unfortunately once again, even the people’s representatives treat the people with utter contempt, depending on who the representatives are, of course. If they really hail from grassroots honest activists who are seeking justice, they will likely die trying. If they are aligned with the normal politic where promises are better than results, then no, they will not be treated with contempt. They will, instead, be welcomed and allowed to pipeline money to that fabled central machine that determines how long Thailand will remain Sakdina Siam.
  I am not sure just how deeply some of the commentators on this blog become entrenched with local groups, private citizens and officials at various levels, but in my experience it is difficult to find someone, anyone, who will act on the behalf of the right thing per se. There are a few, but to cite either the police, the upper echelon elites or militarists without also including general society may not be adequately analytical.

• 31 R. N. England // Oct 6, 2009 at 1:33 pm

  I agree with you, Frank G Anderson (30), about the generally low standard of public morality in Thailand. This contrasts with the often high level of morality on a personal and family scale. However, history elsewhere provides good evidence that the concentration of real power in elected institutions is a mechanism that selects for higher public standards. Democracy improves public morality: it’s not a system that works only for the high-minded.

• 32 Chris Beale // Oct 7, 2009 at 6:29 pm

  Suzie Wong – you’re certainly wrong speaking about the US military, or many others , as some sort of monolith which can be taken over by extreme right-wingers. Even when Hitler did this in Germany, there was opposition to him from within the Wehrmacht.
  Today’s Thailand is certainly not Hitler’s Germany, and the Thai military has a long, long history of factionalism, almost in-built into the Chulalomklao Military Academy class system.
  For decades they’ve also been far better at suppressing their own population, than defending Thailand. But since May ‘92 they have become a lot more professional, in a US sense, and have performed honourably in peace-keeping roles such as East Timor, and other hot-spots. For this I greatly respect them. And especially respect their sacrifices under the appalling conditions they are fighting with in Thailand’s deep South.

• 33 Ralph Kramden // Oct 7, 2009 at 9:40 pm

  Chris: When you say: “But since May ‘92 they have become a lot more professional, in a US sense, and have performed honourably in peace-keeping roles such as East Timor, and other hot-spots. For this I greatly respect them. And especially respect their sacrifices under the appalling conditions they are fighting with in Thailand’s deep South,” perhaps you leave out the respect you must have for these professionals in running the 2006 coup and for their professionalism at Kru Sae and Tak Bai where they left more than a few dead.

• 34 Çhris Beale // Oct 8, 2009 at 12:35 am

  Ralph – yes, I respect them for the 2006 coup. Their professionalism especially – no-one was killed. The coup was necessary as a pre-emptive counter-coup against Thaksin’s own coup, which would have happened very shortly if the royalist troops had not moved. Remember Newin’s thousand rifles ready to slaughter in the center of Bangkok ?
  Krue Sae and Tak Bai happened under Thaksin. Nothing I’ve written shows any support for those massacres, so stop your immature twisting of my words.
  I don’t support what has happened since the 2006 coup : there now needs to be a reconciliation with Thaksin and the Red-Shirts, to avoid civil war. But I do praise General Anupong for avoiding
  another coup – which will almost inevitably be very bloody, and possible a trigger to all-out civil war. Anupong has shown remarkable restraint under extremely difficult circumstances.

• 35 Frank G Anderson // Oct 8, 2009 at 10:24 am

  There is some claim that Anupong may have arranged the Sondhi assassination attempt….restraint?

• 36 Ralph Kramden // Oct 8, 2009 at 10:27 am

  Chris: In a sensible argument, you can’t really have it both ways. The army can’t be professional and engage in unprofessional behaviour like running coups (in most definitions, “professionalism” in the military means being non-political and under civilian control). In fact, at Kru Sae, the military acted against government orders. That’s unprofessional. No twisting of words, just pointing out the obvious.

  On Newin’s supposed forces, give me some evidence. I have searched for anything other than a statement of this “fact” by coup leaders or PAD and have found none.

• 37 BKK lawyer // Oct 12, 2009 at 12:33 am

  Chris Beale @32: On a separate post (Thailand’s military: perpetually political, forever factionalized, again ascendant) you said @15:

  “My impression of the Thai military is that it is one of the world’s most fractious, faction-ridden collection of gangs posing as a united army for the world’s camera’s, but little else.

  “Only better than an African rabble because of US training.

  “…

  “The Thai military has never won a foreign war – except the brief skirmish celebrated at Bangkok’s Victory Monument. …”

  You don’t even agree with yourself.

• 38 Frank G Anderson // Nov 17, 2009 at 4:54 pm

  Quite an interesting set of objectives on http://www.generalprem.com/foundation.html

  Note that conformity, obedience, loyalty, sacrifice and even two that generally don’t exist here, truth and honesty, are included.

  Sounds like indoctrination and dogma to me, but who am I?

• 39 Nobody // Nov 17, 2009 at 6:59 pm

  FGA (C38). Interesting indeed. If you ever mix with people from usually an older generation and often but not always a wealthier background you hear values like these mentioned quite a bit. And we mustnt forget that elders are never wrong;) You hear it from the younger generations a lot lot less whatever background and family they come from. Those that hold these values will probably not like the Thailand they see develop over the next few generations but then again most who mention these values now will not be around in a few generations. It is a bit like Canute and the sea

• 40 dubbed // Nov 18, 2009 at 12:48 am

  this article by jakrapob is quite similar to mccargo’s ‘network monarchy’ both in form and substance. one has to live thailand and interact with its bureaucracy of C-9 level up, state enterprise technocrats, police and army figures to truely feel what he is stating. while impossible to prove one can feel ‘the state within a state’ quite strong as it is pervasive throughout. cheers to jakrapob for his extremely insightful perspective into thai political society.

• 41 Frank Lee // Nov 20, 2009 at 11:15 pm

  “What’s in a name?” WS

  “State within a state” sounds so much more sinister than ‘the old boy network’, but essentially they connote the same concept – certainly not a meritocracy. As the saying goes,

  “It ain’t what you know, it’s who you know.”

  “Ah! There lies the rub!” WS

  So who wants to support a pointless (?) radical reform party, or do you consider that Abhisit is doing pretty much all a reasonable person could expect him to – given his circumstances?

  Personally, I think he’s ok – except for his liking for Barry Manilow (I mean, really! ) – but, I digress.

  Frank Lee / Bangers.

• 42 Better dead than either Yellow & Red // Nov 21, 2009 at 9:53 pm

  Until not very long ago, Jakraphob was part of the state-within-a-state himself, as part of the PM’s overly-obsequious PR apparatus. But just as governments have oppositions, so Thailand has, at any given time, an opposition state-within-a-state. And Jakrapob demonstrates by the shovelful he is in the fold by his bold political pronouncements. And his threats. In other words a very silly person who feels big just because he has the backing of some criminally-minded soldiers and policemen with guns. This is just the sort of cheap loud-mouthed do-nothing politician that this country breeds best. But to the rest of us mere mortals, who continually have to clean the mess of these spoilt-rich political brats, he has absolutely no use whatsoever. Just another parasite on the make!

• 43 John Hawkins // Nov 22, 2009 at 1:29 am

  I’ve only just seen this page, so my apologies for my belated comments.

  The only surprise for me is the surprise that some have expressed on here regarding Mr. Penkair’s ‘revelations’.

  The network of patronage that enables the country to be ‘managed’ by a second, more powerful, state is hardly invinsible, or operating behind the scenes as some would suggest. The arrogant impunity with which it operates is evident at all levels within the public arena.

  My connections with a diverse group of Thai professionals have, for me at least, revealed some interesting disclosures. The local rural amphurs that fraudulently claim debt relief intended for non existent poor farmers, local kamnans whose children are awarded education scholarships, despite their less than average abilties and local bank branch managers who are willing to give loans in return for under the table payments.

  Of course, in these cases, the very public result of clandestine wheelings and dealing is there for all to see, but not to comment on, at least in public.

  Anecdotal and unsubstantiated as they may appear, these sad stories seem real enough to me, reported as they were by people with a genuine concern for the people they work for. And I don’t mean their bosses.

  Elsewhere on here, some have commented on the ‘generally low standard of public morality’ in Thailand. I would also suggest that for many, a sense of personal morality and public responsibilty is pushed aside by fear. The fear of being left behind and disadvantaged if one does not play the same game, or the fear of being beaten or killed if one protests against the unfairness of the system.

  The network of patronage does start from the top and has spread its all pervasive tentacles throughout the many layers of Thai society.
  And it is never going to go away. There is simply too much at stake for some people to lose.

• 44 Chris Beale // Nov 22, 2009 at 2:19 am

  It seems to me Thailand needs a “cooling off” period.
  Something like the former great US Senator Daniel Moynihan called for “benign neglect” after the riots which split America during the late 1960’s.
  The best way to achieve this would be through a Regency government, under Her Majesty The Queen – when the unfortunate day comes that His Majesty is no longer with us.

• 45 Frank Lee // Nov 22, 2009 at 1:08 pm

  After his blatant lies about Thaksin’s love of democracy, one place I’m sure Mr. Jakraphob would feel right at home would be on Fox News – although I doubt he could teach them anything new about selling snake oil.

  Speaking of which, most Bangkok people I know are moderates who have lost any sympathy they may have had for extremists – whether they be yellow or red – because they are both seen as cynical opportunists representing different sides of the same elitist coin.

  Why would they be willing to tolerate Thaksin Inc. a second time when, not only did he blow a historic opportunity to begin fundamental reforms and instead institute a rather virulent strain of “ugly crony capitalism” which included a brazen and sustained attempt to monopolize state power by any and all means , but he appears to have not learned a thing. The again, people who insist on doing all the talking and never listen to others never do. As for political reconciliation, that would have to start with saying sorry.

  Alas, pigs might fly and dogs may stare at airplanes high in the sky.

  Frank Lee / Bangers

• 46 John Hawkins // Nov 22, 2009 at 11:13 pm

  Thaksin never intended to implement real political reform of any kind. His early years as a police office and junior minister taught him well enough that cronyism and the patronage system, so firmly embedded in Thai politics and society at large, was all he needed to achieve his self-serving interests, and establish himself as the new ‘Phu Yai’ of his and future generations.

  I honestly think that any of the Thai voting public is just simply too naive to think that any Thai politician has their real interests at heart.

  There is always another agenda at stake here, the one that services numerous domestic and off shore bank accounts, I imagine.

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