onelasttime

When all else fails; diversion.

'Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday denied that the authorities were playing up this alleged plot in an attempt to divert public attention from a scandal involving the Army's project to construct the Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin."

The only thing transparent about this are their motives. I am reminded of Monty Python..'It's a witch. it's a witch". I await with baited breath.

The Thai elites and traditionalists have never wanted an educated, literate population. Actually I am not surprised at all by this move. All past governments of all colours have purposely designed an education system whereby only the wealthy who can afford to send their children to international schools will be the leaders of tomorrow. This, together with this current inept lot in power will only show Thailand to be the dumbest country in ASEAN.

This country is becoming more and more a joke festering on the backside of S.E. Asia.

OK here I go on my favoured topic! With over 40 years teaching experience in Australia and 10 years in Bangkok international schools I have made some observations. Firstly, by and large the Thai education system is a joke; a joke inasmuch as I have seen little or no valuing of thinking and problem solving skills but an over reliance on facts; questioning is actively discouraged. The other observation I would make is the disproportionate amount of time spent on mastery of the Thai language. In this regard I am convinced that Thai is purposely constructed to disenfranchise all but the elite. I am also convinced that irrespective of the political persuasion, all governments have failed Thai children and by extension the nation. As far as reducing the time spent in formal teaching and learning..I don't think it will make one bit of difference to the student outcomes if times are reduced. I used to see little kinder kids wheeling huge cases full of books in to school, staying back after the day's end for extra work. I used to smile in the morning commute watching parents finishing off the homework in the skytrain as the child slept next to them.

So to all the TV posters saying that there should be more not less, more rigour not less, more testing not less, we educators have a saying...

'You can't make the pig fatter just by weighing it more often'

Think about it.

Seeing as how the UN just declared Thailand as the 2nd most dangerous country for road accidents in the world, is this any wonder? Actually, given that road deaths only 'count' if you die at the scene I would guess that Thailand is in fact number 1.

As for mini vans.... used one once..that was enough.

Napoleon said .... 'History is a set of lies agreed upon'.... he may have been on to something there.

Another quote I like but can't remember who said it is .... 'History is gossip..well told'.

But... I think I like this one best of all ......... ...

'History is an account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools' .

Ambrose Bierce

Hmmm, from reading some of the 'solutions' to the Thai education system, I see that a lot of our posters suffer from the same malaise as our dear general... 'Everybody thinks they are experts on education because they have all had a little bit of it.'

I'm not holding my breath that any meaningful change will happen in this lifetime.. or even the next.

The last thing a government of ANY persuasion or colour want is an educated population. Any casual study of both the education system and the Thai language will show that it is constructed in such a way to disenfranchise the rural poor. The second point I would make is I am sick to death of the world copying the Finnish example as if transporting their methods will cure all ills. Finland has quite a unique social structure and homogeneous population. Does anybody really believe that in Finland all children must pass with no failures? what a joke. Call me an old cynic but I don't see this education expo anything other than an expensive waste of time.

Hmmm, in a country where the education system fosters 'unthinking', to the vast bulk of the Thai population this wont mean a damn bit of difference; but to the thinking and educated just another hurdle. My worry is that if this crowd stay in power for too long, it would not take much for them to orchestrate a push against foreigners and their evil ways. It may however work against them though inasmuch as it may stir up some healthy resistance..... or...maybe that is what he wants????

Does anybody here have even half a brain to work out what this whole charade is about? A charade that has been boiling away for years. It is about what Thailand will look like after that which we cannot discuss comes to pass, About where the locus of power and control will rest. Other societies would possibly be able to navigate this issue however the strict stratification of Thai society is fueling the inevitable.

I get the feeling that whilst Thailand ponders its own navel and endlessly wrestles with internal options that the rest of the world and S.E. Asia in particular will pass it by. I'm not a Thaksin lover.. far from it but he let the genie out of the bottle and for all of Mr. P's huffing and puffing it will never go back in. Meanwhile everyone wonders about the political landscape post when that which is inevitable and is not discussed comes to pass.

The Junta government will remain in power. Opposition will grow more overt, the repression will grow more intense.

Eventually someone in uniform will lose the plot and kill a lot of people.

The old safety valve, being called in by a "higher authority", no longer exists.

That which binds the wildly disparate strands of this society together will have gone. It will get very messy (bloody).

I take absolutely no pleasure in predicting this, but sadly I am beginning to see it as inevitable.

On another thread I thought it a good idea that we expats get our documents and finances in order and be prepared to leave LOS for a 'vacation' together with those we care about for a while. Your last sentence says it all.

After WW2, S. Korea (as we know it now) and Thailand were similar in many ways. S. Korea chose to go down the path of industrialisation, infrastructure, technological advancement etc whilst Thailand chose to go down the path of sustainable farming. We now have the chickens coming home to roost. The average Somchai in the field has been led by the nose to increase production through fertilizers etc etc and is deeper in debt (to whom I wonder?) now than ever before. He is held hostage partly by his cultural past and also by the machinations of the power brokers irrespective of which colour they were and the current government is so far out of its depth that I can't see any good news on the horizon.

All the chronic behaviour or thinking (or lack of thinking!) processes, and everything else we sadly observe from recent times, is not limited to our glorious leader and those at or near that level or similar background.

What saddens me the most, is I see much the same in people and institutions where one might hope there is something different, where those institutions and people might be the real hope for change.

I'm sorry to say, but I can't see things really changing, unless there is a significant and unexpected game changer, that moves everything from this spiraling stability point.

But if there were some hope, some possible game changer that we cant foresee, I think the glorious leaders ruling, such as in this thread, will make it even less likely that hope might surface.

Yes and the 'game changer' you talk about but which we can't will come. Just make sure your papers and finances are in order so you (and yours) can have a little vacation away from the LOS for a while.

I get the feeling that whilst Thailand ponders its own navel and endlessly wrestles with internal options that the rest of the world and S.E. Asia in particular will pass it by. I'm not a Thaksin lover.. far from it but he let the genie out of the bottle and for all of Mr. P's huffing and puffing it will never go back in. Meanwhile everyone wonders about the political landscape post when that which is inevitable and is not discussed comes to pass.

Call me an old cynic BUT... given that the rural poor are continually disenfranchised by the elite, could this be a ploy to enrage the red north in order to incite unrest and further entrench Prayut's power base. I mean, Suthep yes / Jutuporn no..it's not even mildly subtle.

This is quite scary ... that Somchai, already in debt can get deeper and deeper into that black hole. I heard of a young Bankokian girl whose credit card was maxed out. The bank gave her another one and when that was maxed out too, a different bank gave her a line of credit to pay off the others. <deleted> ! This is the mechanism by which those in powwer consolidate their wealth. Can someone explain why the Baht is still relatively strong?

The problem in Thailand is no one really knows actually what the electorate wants or who they really would vote for. Many of the prior elected politicians bought their votes and gave certain Districts loads of 'pork'' If a real vote were held- in which all vote buying and concessions were able to be stopped- we all might be surprised who will emerge. Thailand has followed the United States example of Materialistic Democracy and Capitalism. It is starting to implode in the United States and has imploded already in Thailand. Most Thais I know support the coup and the government in place. The Generals are trying to root out as much corruption as possible and doing a better job than any of the politicians that came before them, If an election were held today and General Prayut ran- he would win. He is a straight talker sometimes irritated by nonsense questions and not a politician. The Shin Clique attempted to stay in power through money politics, not because they loved their country, but because they loved themselves. They even sold one of the key telcoms they owned to a foreign country-Singapore- an indication that they could care less about Thailand. Do the Red Shirts have a just cause. They do and so do the rest of other Thais.However, there are ways to express these causes without violence. There are a lot of things that need reforming in Thailand and a need for long standing traditions to remain in place as well as preservation of Thai culture. I believe the General is a Thai patriot who could no longer sit by while his country was burning . It doesn't matter really what any of us think. It is up to the Thai people to chart their own destiny. We may live here, but we live as guests.

I remember listening to a Thai academic at a public forum where he said ..'Every time we give them (Issan / Red Shirts) the vote they continue to vote the wrong way" . I thought he was joking but he wasn't and the sad thing was what his statement revealed about him and his ilk; namely the repugnant concept that we (the elite) generously give to the masses a gift for which they ungratefully throw back in our face. How patronising and how true a reflection of how Thai society operates. This is the ugly reality of Thai society and politics. You see, the people I talk with hate Prayut, his coup his government. Reading your post one would think that Thaksin was the only corrupt politician and that before his time everything was good in the Land of Smiles; and there is the rub.. the idea that somehow Prayut can return Thailand to its natural state where the elite rule and the peons know their place.

Read my earlier post above and you will understand ... wheels within wheels within wheels.

To Jesimps....'The military rescued the country from something it helped plan and stood by and let happen. This because a certain event will happen in the not too distant future which we aren't allowed to talk about'.

Meethinks you may be spot on ... no way would the established elite allow the unthinkable to happen. The feudal system must be protected (rescued?) at all costs.

You little RIPPER.. huge congrats and ... in a perverse sort of way congrats to the judges who threw it out. Now lets see what the Navy does..if they had a collective IQ above room temperature they would apologise, shut up and just hope that their stupidity and petulant vindictiveness will just go away and not lose them more face ...DRONGOS

Ok, I know I am going to get flamed but here goes. I for one do not think that what has become known as a Western democracy is right for Thailand; at least at the moment. However, my reasoning is at odds with the current government's and their cronies. There is no doubt in my mind that the govt. is trying to return Thailand to a mythical ' Golden Age', based upon the idea that the elite possess the the right to govern. The reason Western democracy will not work in Thailand is because Thailand is still a feudal state. Sure it exhibits all the trappings of a developing country but the core beliefs and importantly operational functioning of Thai society is based upon allegiances to someone higher up the 'food chain'. These allegiances are are almost tribal in the way power is organised and distributed throughout Thai society.

So, until such time as these feudal power bases are completely abolished...Thailand is not ready for a Western style democracy. Unfortunately the model currently being proposed will only disenfranchise millions of Thais.

What you're describing is exactly the same as the West BEFORE democracy was bitterly and bloodily fought for and won. The citizens subjects of this country have been forever denied their opportunity to work towards democracy and the overwhelming majority have been kept so ignorant and cowed it's unlikely they will ever have one. Don't be so patronising.

Nothing to do with being patronising. In the west BEFORE democracy we had a largely feudal system and..IT DID NOT CHANGE UNTIL THAT POWER BASE WAS ABOLISHED.. re-read my comment. When the feudal system here is finally abolished then democracy may have a chance. It has taken the West hundreds of years in the making and we still have not perfected it BUT.. it may be the best choice.

Back then (in the West) it was easier in some respects because thinking were more local, there was no globalisation to interfere with things. What we do have now though is better education and communication. I live in hope.

So in the space of 2-3 months since his friends were deported back to Turkey, he and his colleagues locates a source for explosives, source materials and the know how/knowledge and begins assembling "complicated special devices", and recce and plan target locations and finally initiates one at the Erawan shrine? and he's only doing this as his motive is personal ? he's not really an International Terrorist? That level of planning isn't done by someone pissed off, that's done by people in the know.

I have to agree, in another post I said that the more I think I understand Thai politics the more I realise I know <deleted>, its all wheels within wheels within wheels. If he is the guy and he sourced things locally..people would talk..it is the Thai way. I am trying to stay open minded but when Mr. Plod knows nothing and suddenly it all comes together in perfect synchronicity.... call me an old cycnic but now the narrative we are expected to believe is a personal motive.

Guardian Australia is reporting that 'Prawut Thavornsiri said the suspect looks like the one we are looking for." He also said the suspect was a foreigner BUT REFUSED TO SAY IF HE WAS TURKISH AS REPORTED IN THAI MEDIA.

Being Turkish would tick a lot of 'good' boxes for the Thai authorities. I am keeping an open mind..but given the track record of the BIB and their propensity to find 'exactly' what is needed in so many of their investigations... I wait with baited breath.

And for all those posters ranting about phones and social media. It has very little to do with technology.

And everything to do with a culture in which the next level up in the hierarchy can mistreat those subordinate to them by right whilst the subordinates must blindly obey their seniors and accept whatever abuse, sexual, psychological, physical, that comes their way.

Spot on my friend! It is this feudal thinking which is the real sickness in Thai society AND..other S.E. Asian nations as well. When I watch the Thai soapy where the dark skinned maid crawls on all fours at the feet of the white skinned mother from hell ..it makes me want to puke.

Ok, I know I am going to get flamed but here goes. I for one do not think that what has become known as a Western democracy is right for Thailand; at least at the moment. However, my reasoning is at odds with the current government's and their cronies. There is no doubt in my mind that the govt. is trying to return Thailand to a mythical ' Golden Age', based upon the idea that the elite possess the the right to govern. The reason Western democracy will not work in Thailand is because Thailand is still a feudal state. Sure it exhibits all the trappings of a developing country but the core beliefs and importantly operational functioning of Thai society is based upon allegiances to someone higher up the 'food chain'. These allegiances are are almost tribal in the way power is organised and distributed throughout Thai society.

So, until such time as these feudal power bases are completely abolished...Thailand is not ready for a Western style democracy. Unfortunately the model currently being proposed will only disenfranchise millions of Thais.

Ergo it is the elite that is the problem.

I agree that the bulk of the problem lies at the feet of the amart after all, that is how a feudal system works, however these allegiances I talk about are so deeply entrenched in Thai culture. Take for example the village head..not the elite as we would probably define it..however...want things done ? gifts are made, power is consolidated. It is precisely this social structure which undermines the legislature and judiciary and without transparency and accountability at this level all other trappings of democracy are just that. But I do take your point.

Ok, I know I am going to get flamed but here goes. I for one do not think that what has become known as a Western democracy is right for Thailand; at least at the moment. However, my reasoning is at odds with the current government's and their cronies. There is no doubt in my mind that the govt. is trying to return Thailand to a mythical ' Golden Age', based upon the idea that the elite possess the the right to govern. The reason Western democracy will not work in Thailand is because Thailand is still a feudal state. Sure it exhibits all the trappings of a developing country but the core beliefs and importantly operational functioning of Thai society is based upon allegiances to someone higher up the 'food chain'. These allegiances are are almost tribal in the way power is organised and distributed throughout Thai society.

So, until such time as these feudal power bases are completely abolished...Thailand is not ready for a Western style democracy. Unfortunately the model currently being proposed will only disenfranchise millions of Thais.

'Prayut called on the media not to cover remarks made by these politicians, saying they had failed to solve the country's problems but insulted his military-led regime, which he said was not fair'.

Before he became PM, everybody knew his name and who he was. I wonder ..where else in the world would the masses know the name of their top general...not many I think. My point is the army has always been a default player in Thai politics and he always knew /believed he had a political part to play in this wonderful circus we call Thai politics.