New Mandala readers who have come to know Nick Nostitz through his blog posts (such as this classic), his photographs (like some of these graphic ones) and his books will want to check out a recent profile and interview by Matichon. It is all in Thai.
The interview covers Nick’s career as a photo-journalist in Thailand, accusations that he is a “red shirt” and thoughts about some of the distressing events he has witnessed. It also includes final reflections on Thai political culture after his almost twenty years in the kingdom.
Nick also speaks about his hopes for the future, and his plans to move, at least for a while, back home to Germany. Nick is a tremendous contributor to collective understanding of contemporary Thailand. His photographic work is, in key respects, without peer. When he leaves Thailand he will definitely be missed.
Congratulations Nic. Would love to see a translation.
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Nick Nostitz’s postings and books are invaluable if one is trying to follow what is going on in Thailand’s political scene nowadays. As to being accused of being a red shirt, that reminds me of an old labor union song from the 1960s, “You ain’t done nuthin’ till you’ve been called a ‘Red’!”
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If you want to tease “Nick,” call him by his full name: Nikolus Moritz Georg Karl Freiherr von Nostitz! Old German nobility…
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Very late in the day but another piece of evidence to support my oddball theory(though supported by anecdotal evidence – see Thai Visa passim) that foreign sympathisers of the redshirt movement tend to be of middle class or patrician background and/or well educated while foreigners hostile to it tend to be slightly dim and/or of plebeian background.Among Thais that position is generally reversed.Lots of exceptions of course on both sides.
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“If you want to tease “Nick,” call him by his full name: Nikolus Moritz Georg Karl Freiherr von Nostitz! Old German nobility…”
Srithanonchai, you merry prankster you and sockpuppet of whomever. If anyone was to tease Nick by calling him “Nikolus Moritz Georg Karl Freiherr von Nostitz” I think Nick would end up being the one
who was amused due to the terrible German accidents, though he may be quite impressed someone could be bothered to remember his full name.
He’s never made any attempt to hide his background. Why would he?
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Perhaps Nick is not a card carrying red and he was critical of the use of death squads during Thaksin’s War on Drugs but it’s pretty clear through his reports over the last few years where his sympathies lie and he can hardly be described as an impartial observer.
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Marteau,
While New Mandala accepts anonymous comments part of me sometimes wonders, especially after put-downs like yours, why we do.
Nick Nostitz works in public, reports on meaty political topics, publishes his findings and images widely, engages in open debate, is generous with his time and skills, takes journalism seriously, and does all that as a genuinely independent freelancer without hefty institutional backing. I don’t know what else you could want from him.
Is there any foreign journalist who has done a better job reporting on street-level Thai politics since the 2006 coup?
Best wishes to all,
Nich
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Greg #4
Thanks for making me explode with laughter when I came to the “merry prankster” and “sockpuppet” part. Only that my mouth was full of post-luch tea (Extra Strong from Marks & Spencer). You might imagine how my computer screen looked like after that outburst…
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#6 Nicholas, I have to agree with you.
I may not always agree with Nick Nostitz’s analyses of current events or his predictions about what will transpire in Thailand — we have had and will continue to have impassioned but respectful discussions on related matters — but I think it is fair to say he is utterly scrupulous in his attention to detail, his ability to seek out primary sources and his efforts to separate fact from rumour. Whatever partialities people may assume Nick has, he has developed sources from across the political spectrum in Thailand, including the military and police, and he will give voice to them all.
Through his discussions on NM, Nick has shown himself to be a fair and balanced observer of Thai politics.
One may not agree with what he says will happen, but his reporting of verifiable facts, as far as I can see, is not clouded by personal beliefs or agendas. He should be respected for that.
#3 Srithanonchai, was “Sri Thanonchai” not the merry prankster whose legend is manifest among numerous Southeast Asian cultures… BTW was the sock from M&S too?
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Greg #8
Socks from M&S? Are you kidding? No way! However, out of sheer necessity following my move up-country, I was indeed forced to buy a number of pairs at the local Tesco. Well, life is full of suffering…
P.S.: The big packs of tea at M&S are good value when considering the price per one tea bag.
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Indeed. I admit to smuggling into the country a 2kg bag of Yorskhire Tea teabags when I came back from the UK in April… It’ll be enough for a year or so. 10 pairs of socks for six quid in Tesco UK. Could start a business re-importing them to Thailand.
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Nick’s reporting and his perspective of Thailand politics and its people will be missed. His street level reporting of various events has been greatly appreciated.
I can remember many years ago, before he achieved his current fame, his postings on a Thailand forum about his life in a Bangkok slum and his insights into that life were very interesting. It was too bad that his attitude that only he knew anything about it and his intolerance of any other viewpoint and his disagreement with the owner about that intolerance caused to him withdraw. At least now, Nick has learned to moderate that fanaticism, though he does have a few moments at times.
What I have learned about Nick’s reporting is he tends to leave out certain pertinent aspects when they become a bit uncomfortable with his personal viewpoint. He always has a ready answer that to sidestep that when confronted, and I guess that is ok, but it needs to be kept in mind when reading his accounts.
I do hope you will still publish your book that you say will include what you have found out about the armed elements within the UDD protests in 2010. I have little doubt that it will be no-holds regardless of your findings. Your recent postings have made it clear that the armed element existed and you disagree with the reason for its deployment and actions.
Maybe it is better that is done when you don’t live here anymore.
So, Nick, good luck and you will be missed.
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Marteau, head over to Thai Visa, if not already a regular, anti-red, pro establishment rants are actively encouraged, political correctness is enforced…
Nick has a done a great job of reporting in a difficult atmosphere where it is nice to actually see unmandated viewpoints.
I am opinionated and find ideologies constricting albeit convenient for shallow thinkers, but am willing to be proven wrong so enjoy reading differing perspectives, objectivity in the MSM worldwide sadly seems to be going the way of the dinosaurs.
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“Srithanonchai”, “Greg Lowe”:
“If you want to tease “Nick,” call him by his full name: Nikolus Moritz Georg Karl Freiherr von Nostitz! Old German nobility…”
… and i would have to say that my name is Nikolaus (!), not Nikolus…
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I very much enjoyed living vicariously through Nick’s posts here. I hope he continues to post!
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I can’t deny that I found Nick’s early input about the red shirts partisan but I’ve always appreciated his eye level view of things. And over the years I’ve been impressed by his increasingly professional journalistic stance.
He’s not an academic. He’s not an analyst. He’s not a PR man.
Nick is a GREAT photo reporter and it will be our loss should he actually relocate to Germany.
Alles Gute fuer Dich und die Familie,
Max
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Hi Nick, are you leaving Thailand? Who will be a witness – it seems like the war in Thailand just begun. We will miss you!
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An audience #16
“it seems like the war in Thailand just begun.”
Not yet. The real intense war in Thailand will occur after the death of the King. But before that happens, the Royalists need to be enlightened first. When the vast majority of the Thais know that the military is the real enemy to the democracy, then the war between the people and the army can then begin.
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It wouldn’t be Thai journalism if they had written your lenghty full name completely without any mistake but thank you for sharing some interesting details of your life, which you didn’t publicise before in English or German for the reason of privacy.
I wish you all the best for the future. Maybe you are on the frontline again just now at Thai Parliament, Khun Nikolaus ,
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I don’t know how Nick sustains himself financially, but if he is broke I suggest that we here at NM start a donation link to help him out as it is very useful to have someone working full time on the ground here covering all of this.
Actually Nick, I’d like to have a beer with you to probe more of your opinions. A discussion difficult to have online in the open.
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I count on Nick, his camera and his notebook being on Rajadamnoen and at Government House again this week and on New Mandala to bring us the results. His work on current events is unique in the English language.
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#13 Nick Nostititz
“… and i would have to say that my name is Nikolaus (!), not Nikolus…”
Thats your story you imperialistic expat stooge of the amart, oppressing your impoverished maid in your filthy clean swimming pool whilst cruising the highways on your un-proletarian Kawasaki GTO 125cc ‘little-people-crushing-NGO-loving’ destroyer of true democracy and social justice…
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Nick #13
Dachte es mir schon, dass da auf dem Weg vom Interview ins Blatt ein Buchstabe verschuett gegangen war…
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Thanks all
Yes, of course i have been at government house all day. Not much happened, fortunately.
We have already made in 2008 the decision to move to Germany, but were the waylaid by the Government House occupation, and all that what came after.
There are several reasons for making that decision. One reason was that it was increasingly difficult to make a living from my job. I have stayed on, because i have followed the political situation quite intensely since December 2005, and wanted to continue seeing how this develops. There was of course the hope that i might be able to push my career again – which happened more than i could imagine: a series of books (which i want to finish, of course), etc. But still – by far not enough money.
Another reason is also that having a son, i would like to give him the best possible education. That is almost impossible here in Thailand. I also have hardly any close family left anymore now since my father died 6 months ago, and i do not want to lose touch with my roots.
I have to look now into the future of my family. I have survived on the bare minimum for years now, working with shoddy equipment, i do not see a way to make enough money in order to afford the lifestyle for my family and me i would like us to have. I am not broke, thanks to a small inheritance, but if i do not move to Germany and start over i will be broke in latest three years. And the last thing i want is getting old here in Thailand, and being broke and poor.
Especially the past two years i have worked on the edge of a burnout. All this was/is great and exiting, but i am quite tired. As intense these past couple of years have been – the pressures have been tremendous as well. Being a foreigner, in the middle of these enormously complex Thai politics and working all this alone and by myself is incredibly stressful.
I started writing my stories here on New Mandala in summer 2008, after Michael Nelson pushed me for many months to do so, because i was disappointed with how the media reported on events i have photographed on the streets, and thought that this here is at least an outlet where i can present an alternative viewpoint, on an obscure website. I had no idea then though where this will lead to, and how much this will put me into the center of things in the years to come…
It has been, and still is, a great and unbelievable experience i would not want to have missed.
But – I dream of a quite life, opening a small restaurant with my wife, going with the family to the mountains when i am free, go snow skying again in winter – that sort of stuff.
I hope we can manage to leave in a year or so.
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Nick ,
Take care and good luck in your new life.
You will be painfully missed here in the land of shameful journalism .
I admire and respect you .
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#Maratjp 19
“I don’t know how Nick sustains himself financially, but if he is broke I suggest that we here at NM start a donation link to help him out as it is very useful to have someone working full time on the ground here covering all of this.”
It is not just about financial issue. From his interview, he said he would like to have his son grow up in better environment than the place they are living now. I understand him – I will not have my son grow up in Thailand either.
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#Nick Nostitz 23
Ooops! Sorry, Nick! I didn’t see your comment.
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Nick you will be sorely missed as an excellent reporter on the scene here. In 2008, a friend (Thai) saw that I was distressed about what was going on and said”here, read this, this is what is really going on”. He had me read a story, I think it was yours about the siege of Police HQ on Bangkok Pundit, I began looking every day, and found lots of good links, one was here to New Mandala a few days later. I, for one really appreciate the way you go out to get the true story, and sometimes at the risk of life like a “war correspondent”. Your writing style is a true picture in words, I can “see” what you are writing about in the same way I can see what people of the caliber of Robert Heinlein write. This is getting too long, and I dislike long posts, so keep up with what you do best, wherever you are.
Ron Torrence
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Many thanks Nick! You embody what true reporting is all about.
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Thanks, Nick! You have built a formidable reputation as an independent contributor to the recent history of SE Asia. I hope you now get the opportunity to write it all up in relative comfort, and to teach an exciting course in SE Asian history to bright and eager students at home….. and in Thailand as well.
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“R. N. England”:
Teaching a course…
Well, my formal education isn’t really much to speak of. I have a “Fachabitur”, which in Germany is something like a minor college degree, and i managed to reach the worst result of the whole school back then. I don’t even know where the certificate is, or if i still have it, as i haven’t looked at it since the day i got it.
I believe that my wife, who is a cook, has more marketable skills than i have. I am just a vessel filled with tons of quite useless knowledge.
“Orinoco Woof Woof Blanco”:
“whilst cruising the highways on your un-proletarian Kawasaki GTO 125cc ”
Which just needed a major engine overhaul. And when it rains, it pours…my camera gave up a few days ago, and i needed to buy a new one…
…by the way, how can i convince the wife that we should hire a maid and get a swimming pool? Any ideas?
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Good luck, Nick! Don’t forget to tell us when you open your restaurant. I may be a little bit far away from Germany but if I have a chance to go to visit Germany I will drop by to have German-Thai food.
I feel sorry for Thailand that we(Thai state) don’t want quality immigrants. We should welcome people who are qualified to move to our country and give (a citizenship)them treat them as our own people. we still need lots of quality people to develop our (Thailand)country. I am ,pretty lucky, living in the country that welcome to immigrants and have the right as local people.
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Nicholas and Andrew,
Would it be too far fetched to create some sort of fellowship/internet reader-based funded reporting position through NM? There’s so little quality reporting in the MSM because few have the funding to do so.
Enough money for a man like Nick to be able to support his family long term and be on the ground.
Eighty people having a mere 1k Thai baht deducted each month wouldn’t be terribly difficult would it?
Just a thought…
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Nick (#23)
I dream of a quite life, opening a small restaurant with my wife
I don’t mean to be discouraging but, from my experience and others I know, opening a small restaurant (with or without wife) is not a recipe for any kind of quiet life. At least not for the first ten years or so.
Good luck though with it all
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Nich #6. I think you are being a bit over sensitive. I agree with your comments on the quality and uniqueness of Nick’s photojournalism but I simply stated the obvious in saying that it is clear where his sympathies lie. Do you dispute that?
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> “It was too bad that his attitude that only he knew anything about it and his intolerance of any other viewpoint and his disagreement with the owner about that intolerance caused to him withdraw. At least now, Nick has learned to moderate that fanaticism, though he does have a few moments at times.”
Tell me about it … :rolleyes:
I also think Nicholas Farrelly’s response to post #5 was over the top.
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Mr Damage #12. Setting aside your impenetrable third para that would not be at all out of place in “Pseuds Corner” your own rant seems to qualify more as an antidisestablishmentarianism one than my own comment that stated an undisputed fact. Meanwhile, the government that the red shirts helped to put in power seems to be pulling out all the stops to appear more pro-establishment than the Democrats and their fiendish amartiya and military allies.
It is now hard to say whether Pheua Thai or the Democrats and their feudalistic allies are more committed to the systematic suppression of freedom of expression ostensibly in support of the establishment but, more importantly, in their own personal interests. Suddenly the evil amartiya who were previously demonised in demagogic phone-ins have become close friends. The establishment has been traditionally terrified of the prospect of an articulate peasantry that will be harder to manipulate but so, it seems, is Pheua Thai which only offers gimmicks in place of desperately needed educational reform.
The establishment has always turned a blind eye to the corruption of politicians and other government officials in return for their support of the status quo, even though corruption gnaws away at Thailand’s competitiveness, holds back progress and denies ordinary Thais the opportunities for development their deserve. Corruption flourished under the Thaksin regime and got even worse under Abhisit, Newin and the military. Unfortunately there are no signs that the Pheua Thai government will be regarded as any less corrupt than the previous Thaksin or Abhisit regimes.
Essentially we are dealing with a bi-polar situation involving two extreme right wing parties that are both staunchly pro-establishment, although one of them occasionally throws a few populist crumbs to its supporters to keep them keen.
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“Marteau”:
“…of Nick’s photojournalism…”
Thank you, but i am writing as well.
As to the accusations of being “impartial” – i have always made the same offer to my accusers:
If i have been misrepresenting facts, been not objective in my observations, or have been selective in my presentation of facts leading to a lopsided representation – then point out where i have done so, and i will correct it. If you can prove that i made a mistake anywhere – i will correct it. If you have important information that i do not have, give it to me, and i will use it.
I am not perfect, but i have been diligent in verifying and corroborating information, and i speak with all sides (as you can see in my upcoming article which i have just sent to Nich and Andrew). So, can you prove that i have been anything less than factual and objective and where i have done so?
As to sympathies – i have always been open with my sympathies, and why i have those. But i do not let my sympathies interfere with factual and objective reporting – because that is what counts. It is simply impossible not to develop sympathies and antipathies when one works such a subject matter that closely – and without being close to such a topic one will never get the level of information necessary to write anything other than a superficial and entirely superfluous little thingy not worth paying much attention to.
You have different opinions – fine. Than try to do what i have done these past years, gather facts, be on the street no matter what – to observe things first hand, build your network of informants on all sides, and then present your findings. Lets see then how my work and your work compares then.
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