He’s not the King yet. He may not be shining [now]…But after he becomes the King I’m confident he can be shining … it’s not his time yet. But when the time comes I think he will be able to perform.
- Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra quoted in Richard Lloyd Parry, “Ousted Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra calls for ‘shining’ new age after King’s death”, 9 November 2009.
15 responses so far ↓
1 Chris Fry // Nov 9, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Interesting to read the comments in The Times to Lloyd-Parry’s article at least those from obviously Thai readers.Ignoring the generally execrable English (which is obviously forgivable), one is struck not only by the ferocity and intellectual incoherence of most of them but particularly the fanatical attachment to the “peculiar institution”, to use a possibly useful euphemism borrowed from the United States.
I’m assuming this response is an ASTV organised one but perhaps it’s not.I suppose there could be hordes of Thai- Chinese urbanites who routinely turn to the Times web edition for edification and enlightenment.
2 Chris Beale // Nov 10, 2009 at 12:28 am
Is this hysteria due to fear that Thaksin is gaining the upper hand ?
Is he cynically goading the now very old “Palace circles” into a blind fury of massive over-reaction ?
This is certainly not going to be a repeat of 1976.
Is the PM who followed 1976 still a Privy Councillor ?
Should n’t such gentlemen be asked to retire – before their over-reaction totally splits Thailand apart ?
3 Athita // Nov 10, 2009 at 2:32 am
As a Thai, I’m ashamed seeing some my fellow Thai are credulous and too easy to ‘panic’ to the news.
One reason that I found, they are under media controlled especially from the Nation, and ASTV.
Both stations have some competition. The Nation is selling its share to public but the major shareholder, from “the Chungrungruangkijs” family (was in Thaksin’s cabinet) is not holding the major stake anymore. The Nation then has to spread its reporter to another TV stations.
This news was twisted by ASTV. Many Thai who already hate Thaksin, would be angrier without considering the whole context.
They are blindly accusing someone they hate, and they call it’s patriotic.
4 Portman // Nov 10, 2009 at 7:51 pm
They are pretty gullible indeed but if they object to criticism of HMK, they can find plenty to object to in the interview. Thaksin’s sentiments towards HMK in the interview can only be described at best as “damning with faint praise”, despite his well rehearsed but hollow sounding expressions of loyalty. Implying that HMK’s hand picked advisers are self serving manipulators who deliberately misinform HMK and HMQ for personal gain is not terribly flattering and hardly seems the sentiment of some one who claims that he would willingly give up his own life as well as volunteer the lives of his family members for them.
It is this very gullibility that Thaksin seeks to exploit in selling himself as a champion of the poor and democracy, rather than the ruthless murderer and power and money grubber he is.
5 rirkrit // Nov 10, 2009 at 8:25 pm
As a Thai and not yellow (ASTV) or red or blue or green, it irks me to read comments like the two Chris’s left above. There are many Thai who are articulate and can have the ability to grab simple concepts like manipulation and propaganda and interventionist (colonialist, imperialist, communist, capitalist and ignoramus). Hate Thaksin is not the issue here, and to me that’s giving too much credit to such a person who is in as deep as any of his political compatriots. If you could read Thai, you would be able to read (or perhaps there is a translation!) of Thaksin’s statement which denies and in some respect discredits the interview. But that is an old switch and bate, Thaksin has been playing with this country, with his fellow reds, and with the silent majority of Thailand.
Yes, I said silent majority of Thailand and by the way I live in the village of Suthep just in Chiang Mai, I wouldn’t exactly describe it as urban. And there is a creeping feeling that those who have been asleep are just about to be roused up but such commentaries by Farangs who don’t really know what they are talking about. By people who take advantage of ignorance and blind by the light of the word “Democracy”, while all the time not ever really knowing what that means or how it feels.
Chris Fry comment about attachment to the Monarchy, is forgivable in some sense but again illustrated the ignorance of how Thai people identifies themselves in our culture. We don’t have a puffy Queen of a Monarch, we have a hard working Monarch who worked and spent all his time for the betterment of his people. Even, ignorant Farangs, should be able to see and recognize this. And we are not afraid to mention the Monarchy, as we are not, using his Highness or to comment on the institution to our self serving end like Mr. Thaksin.
The shame that Khun Athita feel (ashamed…of fellow Thais) is exactly how the fugitive ex prime minister wants us, the Thai people, to feel, to shame us into thinking that he, Thaksin alone can govern (actually that’s wrong, he runs this country like he runs SHIN Corp.) this country. He speaks of how (now retracted) he thinks Thailand needs to have reform, which has been taken to imply (Republic) is the future of the country. Inextricably this reforms can only come from him, since he is now outside of the institutions (present government and the corrupt bureaucracy, the Bureaucracy of Institutions), but as a Thai, I know that Thaksin is part of the problem and he is one of the part this country will wake up to when such a time comes. As a part of this reform, it will first involve Thaksin coming back to face the reality of his corruption charges, since he is a coward and a paranoid (Who was gunned down in the streets of Bangkok? Not the man sitting pretty in Dubai! For sure.) delusional power (translate into cash) hunger, that is unlikely. But that is a first scenario of reform, should the courts be political or unjust, and if Thaksin really believes in his statement that the people loves him, then he has no fear. He should start his long march from Phra Viharn temple to Bangkok, politics or unjust judicial system, he will then prove himself (to me and the silent majority) to be as selfless and in the service of his people, red, yellow, blue and green as he has been saying.
BTW I am self organized like all grassroots movements and I don’t need the propaganda for anyones colors to know and to feel how I feel about my country, and the situation in Thailand is a far cry from the conditions faced everyday by our neighbors to the left and to the right, and all around. And I know I will not stand by to see corrupt selfish, self serving, politician like Thaksin or any with the likes of Thaksin run this country to the ruins as they like to see it. The silent majority will be raising, and don’t misinterpret the voice of the Thai people like you Farangs have been doing, it is our country and we will take it back. We will take it back to our beliefs, and believe that we are Thai and we respect ourselves and others, and democracy will be borne from such a respect.
6 Chris Beale // Nov 10, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Rirkit – I appreciate your comments both here, and your later ones. I apologise to you. You are quite right – I can not read Thai, so do not know as much as you about what is happening.
7 New: Thaksin, Cambodia, PAD, new lese majeste charges and more « Political Prisoners in Thailand // Nov 11, 2009 at 1:19 am
[...] New Mandala has several posts regarding the Times interview with Thaksin (although we suspect a hoax on this one for the Not the Nation tone) but see here as well, Kasit Piromya on the same interview, and the prince. [...]
8 michael // Nov 11, 2009 at 2:48 am
rirkrit: “we will take it back” Goodonyer! Who from?
9 Magnus // Nov 11, 2009 at 2:52 am
Unlike any of its neighbours, Thailand managed to keep its independence throughout the period of western colonialism. That is the proud heritage of a country whose rulers and citizens showed remarkable intelligence in adopting and adapting foreign ideas and influences.
That is why it is a shame to see contributors such as rirkrit lapse into ranting against “ignorant Farangs” who don’t understand Thailand’s unique ways.
Thailand is unique, but its citizens are just as deserving of an open society offering opportunities for all as those of countries in the west. Thai-ness is a concept that is too easily used by certain sections of society to suppress open discussion by other sections of society.
10 Ralph Kramden // Nov 11, 2009 at 12:39 pm
I’m trying to think of a society that isn’t unique.
11 Juan Carlos // Nov 11, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Rirkrit: ‘Puffed-Up Queen’? People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
12 michael // Nov 11, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Agreed! And rirkrit, who is this “puffy Queen of a Monarch” you refer to? Surely not QEii, who, in her 80s, is still working the long hours she always has. I know that you would be guilty of LM if you specifically named anyone(the law here applies to insults to any monarchs, not only the Thai one), but I’m wondering if the sort of insult you have made could be used to charge you as ‘an insult to monarchs in general.’ (But it’s OK, I won’t tell anyone you’re an insulter of monarchs. I don’t support the law, although I have no reason to break it.) Do you know of any monarchs who don’t work hard all their lives?
13 BKK lawyer // Nov 11, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Magnus: You and others who still believe the myth that “Thailand managed to keep its independence throughout the period of western colonialism” should read Thongchai Winichakul’s “Siam Mapped” and Chaiyan Rajchagool’s “The Rise and Fall of the Thai Absolute Monarchy”.
During colonialism, there was no “Thailand”; it was Siam. And Siam did not include most of the territory that is now Thailand; it was the greater-Bangkok area. After the Bowring Treaty, the British acquired considerable control over Siam itself and the surrounding area, even though they did not actually colonize it. The British got what they wanted without the need to colonize it (and hence bear the burden of governing and administering it).
Many have argued that what is now Thailand was indeed colonized — by Bangkok-centered Siam.
14 Tench // Nov 11, 2009 at 7:48 pm
rickrit, just a quick warning re. your “puffy Queen of a Monarch” comment. You do realise the current Thai lese majeste laws also apply to other heads of state? Basically, well done on not specifying which monarch you were refering to.
And don’t mention her name in future, unless you want to risk some jail time.
15 somsri // Nov 15, 2009 at 1:58 am
Rerkrit: The silent majority is perhaps the opposite of what you described. They are not so ignorant as you think they are. They will take back the country too– not the way you depicted. Thaksin is not the problem but was a victim of a cruel plot. Many rural Thais support him because of the injustice he has received and he deserves good respect as someone who has done much to his country. Demonizing him is something many Thais think unjust and want to undo.
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