REDS SEE MOST FARANGS AS ANTI-THAKSIN
I was surprised to see an English editorial piece in the relatively new Northern Post/Red Alliance magazine this week. Given this is a Thai language magazine I doubt very many 'farangs' will read it, so with that in mind I am reproducing the entire column below. It's critical of both the Thailand-based English language media, and of "most farangs" for appearing to be PAD (yellow shirt) sympathizers.
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Much has been made about the pervasive influence the Thai agenized English language media has on the Farang political perceptions of Thai politics. Farangs will parrot their vitriol sounding exactly the same as what is normally used in the only newspapers they can read.
I liken them to musicians playing in an orchestra. They seem to be using the same music sheets, in other words, the English language media. One gets the sense that because of this media influence, most farangs have bought into the orchestrated Thaksin demonization campaign. They appear to be sympathizers of the PAD, are anti-Thaksin and see the pro-Democracy red Shorts as revolutionary rabble rousers void of legitimacy, instead of the only pro-Democracy force in Thailand.
Typically farangs have not attended political events of either pro-Democracy Red Shirts of the anti-Democracy PAD. So when they are told by the media that both groups are merely different sides of the same coin, they have no information to question that assertion. A key agenda of this media is to avoid the perception that there is a struggle for one-person-one-vote electoral Democracy happening in Thailand.
They need to hide what is happening in order to achieve their anti-electorial objectiveness. It suits there agenda to focus on trivialities about these two groups, as opposed to their substantive differences. Functionally, there is a huge difference. With the PAD protests, one saw military type encampments with professional military type perimeters piled high with tires and other fortification materials. None of that is visible at any Red Shirt events.
This huge observationally verifiable difference speaks volumes. The PAD was a military supported operation, evidenced by the military's inaction at the airport. Another huge difference was the comparative conduct of the two groups when they besieged Government House. Whereas the PAD trashed the place, including extensive thievery, the Red Shirts merely encamped outside the main grounds and never considered going beyond that. These two groups are made up of different type people - one characterized by coercive, authoritarian militia type organizers and operational tendencies, whereas the other can be organizationally described as a citizen's protest with no militia type elements.
That is also why PAD supporters can easily accept the more authoritarian appointive process, as opposed to a more democratic electoral one.
To influence farangs erroneously about the similarities of these groups is easy. In all likelihood farangs never attended anti-Democracy PAD or pro-Democracy Red Shirt events, and therefore have no alternative perspectives.
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Obviously this is just one side of the story but the perception being portrayed is an interesting one. I wonder about the reasons for having this article in English when everything else is in Thai? Very few non-Thais (apart from crazy magazine junkies like me) are likely to read it.
For the record this is a weekly magazine that started publishing just two months ago and sells for 30 baht. It's picked up a small number of adverts, and runs to 54 pages.
8 comments:
Very fascinating.
I would guess the author got his opinion from reading the letters to the editor at both English language dailies, which seem to be rabidly anti-Thaksin.
Honestly, I don't follow all the Thai-centered foreign web boards and such around the web, so I have absolutely no clue what foreigners opinions are except in my own little blogosphere.
If you were to ask my educated guess though, I'd say that many foreigners detested Thaksin when he was in power, most likely a result from reading The Nation and Bangkok Post, but after the coup and PAD shenanigans, many are more sympathetic to the Reds.
as far as I can tell from the many english language blogs most farangs are:
critical of the Nation and somewhat less so, the Bangkok Post, for their one-sided conservative/promilitary reporting
are against Thai military coups and manipulation of justice and recognise the brutality and fanaticism of the PAD
in favour of one person one vote democracy
most pro military dictatorship blogging seems to come from so-called educated Thais and some farangs that seem very rightwing and disaaprove of their own societies
the Reds that have these views should review the blogs to offset rubbish in the Thai english language newspapers
to follow up
I was very impressed with Thaksin while he was in power, he seemed a major improvement over previous inept and corrupt previous leaders
at that stage I didnt really comprehend the role of the military in Thailand but I know that any society where the military is allowed to be involved in business and not firmly under control of a civilian government is in bad shape
and my view now is that all atrocities committed in Thailand can be traced back to the privy council and the military... its foolish to trace them back to Thaksin or say Abhisit because effectively Prem and his mates and the serving military are behind everything bad that happens, if not they quickly move to get rid of their competition!
I would very much agree with both David and Fonzi. I don't understand the nature of the editorial since much of the western media have been highly critical of the anti-democratic PAD movement. They were also critical of Thaksin's human rights abuses when he was in power.
I feel that much of the Thai media tries to pigeonhole farang sympathies into the same way that most Thai people think about politics - you're either on one side or the other. Personally, I have never been impressed by any Thai polticians, but this steady movement away from real democracy (well, up to a point) to a kind of stage-managed autocracy is dangerous for Thailand because it is damaging for the economy.
Thai governments post-Thaksin don't appear to have the ability to manage economic progress and encourage inward investment in the same way as, for example, Vietnam and Russia.
From David H..........
NEVER MIND THIS BS. This is the story from Phuket. Can they be serious. This me thinks will be the straw that does break the Ferangs back in Thailand………………….Good bye golden goose!
PHUKET: — A fact-finding effort is underway in Phuket to compile information about local businesses in which Thai people are hired by foreigners as their nominees – a practice considered suspicious and possibly illegal.
Provincial governor Wichai Phrai-sa-ngob, who ordered the investigation, said he was not discriminating against foreign investors, but guarding against illegal nomination which exploited loopholes in Thai laws for personal gain.
Under the business nomination law, foreigners can hold no more than 49-per-cent ownership of any business they jointly invest in with Thais. An ongoing practice is that foreigners later gain control over Thais illegally, and enjoy a lower tax burden than when holding a minority ownership.
To scrutinise foreign businesses, the local revenue office is checking on their tax payments, while the treasury office is scrutinising ownership of condominium space. Immigration police are checking visa and residence status.
Local authorities and the Interior Ministry will look into all information and decide on what to do if the fact-finding reveals illegal business nomination activities, said the governor.
There are now 19,653 joint Thai-foreign businesses in Phuket, which have invested around Bt62 million.
Patong Municipality mayor Chairat Sukbhal dismissed reports most hotels on the island resort were owned by foreigners, saying most were operated as joint ventures, or under management staffed by foreign executives.
The provincial business and trade office said a regulation requiring joint Thai-foreign businesses to produce bank accounts with a high minimum amount of money deposited had been revoked, because it could not effectively serve as proof of substantial business funding.
“In most cases, the money was withdrawn immediately from bank accounts once they were offered to Thai authorities as proof,” office head Weerachai Tantiwatthanawallop said.
The provincial land office said legal action would be taken against any businesses found to have been operated illegally with a majority of foreign ownership, because Thai land laws imposed strict sanctions on foreigners owning land plots in Thailand.
Now, that's strange, the vast majority of farangs living in Thailand I know are "red" ...
And I can easily say the same about blogs and forums in English or in French !
It goes even to the point where "anti-Thaksin" (i.e. non-idolizing the "Great Beloved Leader") comments are simply never published !
Angelo Michel
most of the blogs I frequent have their share of Thaksin haters and military/privy council lovers which is fine because we can have strong discussions
but worse still... most claim to espouse democracy but keep hedging their statements with weasely words disapproving Thaksin for his (illogical and unproven) "human rights abuses and corruption"... these are the ones that seem to be scared of arousing the PAD or Prem and his mates against them
Why is it so hard to recognize that everyone, the military, Democrats, Thaksin, PAD, and UDD are all insanely corrupt and simply using whoever is foolish enough to be enlisted in their selfish causes?
PTP wants elections because they have a well established political machine controlling the highly populated N. NE. That's it. Has nothing to do with democracy anymore than the coup, PAD or the Democrats. Its all so obvious that it pains me to see people even debating it - at least - on such an elementary level, blissfully ignoring reality. Like in that Red magazine article, was that written before or after the Songkran riots? Pretending it never happened?
I thought Thaksin was the cat's pajamas too before I actually started studying geopolitics and saw what he was involved in. I suggest you all at least thumb through "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" the next time you're in a book store. Might even give you a real reason to criticize the Democrats too.
-Tony
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