Thaksin phae mai pen kha mai tai (Taksin: neither defeat nor death) (2009) by Nongnut Singhadecha (ISBN: 9789740204282). The book chronicles the downfall of Thaksin Shinawatra and his political successors. This is an interesting example of popular political discussion that is commonly read in Thailand. It sells for 100 Baht at bookstores. The 136 pages are illustrated with some topical B&W photographs. The author expresses views which are often expressed in Southeast Asia, but would be difficult for some to accept. For example:
… แต่รัฐบาลใดก็ตามหากปราศจากการสนับสนุนจากกองทัพย่อมไม่สามารถยืนหยัดอยู่ได้ เพราะอย่าลืมว่านี้เป็นธรรมชาติของประชาธิปไตยของชาติในเอเชียตะวันออกฉียงใต้ที่ทหารยังคงเป็นผู้มีบทบาทสำคัญทางการเมืองแม้ไม่ทางตรงก็ทางอ้อม
เหตุที่ทหารในเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ยังมีบทบาททางการเมืองนั้นมีปมเหตุสำคัญมาจากการที่ผู้นำรัฐบาลของประเทศเหล่านี้มีปัญหาคอร์รัปชั่นอย่างกว้างขวาง (p. 134)
…government without military support would not be able to stay in power. Don’t forget that this is the nature of democracy in Southeast Asian nations, the military will always play a significant direct or indirect role in politics.
The military in Southeast Asian nations still play an important role in politics, the main reason is because leaders of these governments generally have the problem of corruption.
[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of our Book Zone feature. For further information on the featured publications contact Saowapha Viravong at sviravong@nla.gov.au]
The first paragraph is totally acceptable to me. At least it is true for Thailand.
However, the second one is more problematic. Some says it is because of the US influence back in ~ B.E. 2500. Sarit and subsequent governments have received enormous support from America. Fighting communism in SEA countries comes with a cost of military dictatorship.
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This writer Nongnut Singhadecha is strongly biased against Thaksin. Her work should be taken with a grain of salt.
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I read and re-read that second paragraph – trying to decide which of two meanings is intended.
1) That military intervention is necessary to deal with the corruption of Southeast Asian (civilian) governments – e.g. advertised core reason for the September 2006 coup being to “end the Thaksin government’s corruption”
2) That the military leaders are themselves corrupt and will naturally gravitate to where they can profit more (cf. Sutton’s Law – “Why do I rob banks? Because that’s where the money is……” )
According to Pasuk/Sungsidh’s study “Corruption & Democracy in Thailand”, military governments in Thailand have historically been significantly more corrupt than the civilian ones – though it should be stressed that the difference is only a matter of degree.
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Those two paragraphs seem to state a non-controversial obvious that crosses all governments and throughout SE Asia too.
Although myself I tend to read works and consider them whether written by pro-or anti-thaksin writers, I guess if we follw the advice on post two we should also ignore the writngs of all pro-Thaksin writers too to ensure we dont end up propagandized. Personally I prefer all forms of input unedited. We are all capable of maiking our own infoprmed decsions without being told what we should consider worthy or not.
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Nongnut is a regular columnist of Matichon newspaper. When Thaksin was in power, her dissenting views could be quite refreshing at times. Later, until now, she has become rabidly anti-Thaksin/Red.
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All I can say is, I would rather spend my 100 Baht to buy a pack of toilet paper towel rather than this biased writer like Nongnut.
She’s absolutely blinded and full of prejudice, and, a pro-military pet?? should I say that?
Thailand has been under those general Prime Ministers for decades, any civilians would end up with the same old charge, corruption. Didn’t those military governments corrupt?
The latest coup made those generals new millionaire. Gen. Saprang appointed as board director of TOT, and TAT. How much did he get paid?
Nongnut, where have you been?
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This is a problem in Thailand. I do not understand why the author correlates the matter to other SEA countries. This is an example of some Thai people’s ideology that Thailand is always superior to many countries in the region in terms of democracy and economy. They fail to acknowledge that a country like Singapore is much more democratic than Thailand. Also, because of its democratic stability, Malaysia’s economy grows gradually and passes its rival, Thailand.
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Thai proverb;
หนีเสืิอ ปะจรเข้
Escaping a tiger then facing a croc.
Agonizing situation in Siam.
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What is currently happening in Thailand is no longer simply a Thai matter :
it threatens to drag the region into very dangerous waters.
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As an institution, the Military in a dictatorship replaces the individual corruption of civilian politicians with the institutionalized corruption, the individual violence of many thuggish politicians with the wholesale violence, and the individual racism of extreme-right-wing politicians with the national racism.
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Hla Oo,
Hear, hear!
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