Opinion: Thailand is at a crossroads because of unelected, unaccountable bodies

[huangnon]

21 hours ago, Kevin Taylor said:

Quite true I think. Its not just Thailand though, institutions have been captured worldwide 

Yep, just think about unelected unaccountable globalist bodies, like Bilderberg Group, Council on Foreign Relations, Trilateral Commission, WEF; UN; WHO; etc, etc.....

[pegman]

10 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

 

We've seen it before on these forums when discussing Thai politics - expatriates convinced , who are certain, that they know what is right for the Thai people and therefore the views/decisions of the electorate should be disregarded, and their solutions adopted; and therefore refuse to accept the settled views of the Thai electorate.

 

A strange phenomena in some ways, one that would be openly ridiculed in their home countries yet here they feel that they invest it with some validity; perhaps a 21st century Siamese equivalent of "the white man's burden"?

 

True. Anyone on this forum around May 2014 will well remember the majority of posters cheering on the coup. Couple years later when the scam embassy  income letters were no longer accepted by the junta opinions changed quick.

[billd766]

11 hours ago, MrMojoRisin said:

Slow on the uptake

IMO a troll, plus slow on the uptake.

[scorecard]

On 7/17/2023 at 9:35 AM, Toolong said:

Best little media opinion piece & nutshelling of the situation I've read so far. 

Somewhat naively idealistic in places but has, overall, an uncompromising tone that is refreshingly unequivocal. 

 

But as a foreigner based here who's long seen the dark goings-on here over the years but never himself - of course - been in a position to actually put his life or principles on the line in any way in support of those opposing those 'dark goings-on', I wonder grimly how many Thais will once again suffer death or injury or persecution in any likely fight-back against the ever-prevailing conservative fat-cats & big guns system. 

Nice points.

 

The last 2 lines ... seems to me if written in terms of the levels os done:

- IMHO the most damage done is 'the big guns system' I express this as the self glorification of the military, who belive they have a total and absolute right to direct the country and it's citizens and which which cannot be questioned.

- IMHO next in terms of damage done; The fat cats - the few families who own a very very large proportion of the wealth of Thailand and it grows bigger. Attempts to gain a better spread of the wealth remain unsuccessful and the gap continues at an  unconscionably very large gross level and with the fat cats showing no concern.

 

Yes deep change is needed and now. Bring on a party with desire to create a society with some level of  socialism - share the wealth, the vast majority have a good quality of life, society cares for & supports each other. Theres equality in education and it's free because education is the springboard to a society where all have a right to speak out and are capable of constructing and verbalizing solid valuable argument.  And all kids gain a good awareness of the outside world and the way it operates politically and economically. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO Thailand was far superior as a place to live compared to western countries till Thaksin stuffed it up.

The vast majority of Thais would disagree with you on that one. 

 

As an expat, the 10 years from 1996 to 2006 were the halcyon days imo.

 

Yeh, it got a bit worse under Thaksin in terms of visas and bar closing times, but the country modernised significantly under his tenure and you could still get a drink if you knew where to go. 

[scorecard]

18 hours ago, Thailand said:

Just waiting for the head of the armed forces to re-confirm "there will not be a coup" then we will know exactly what the future holds.

Nice point, however I didn't believe him when he said that.

 

Unfortunately, I wonder if he's the person who has the 'authority' to make such statement.

 

Seems to me (as aluded to by many others), there's another force at play who utltimately decides:

 

- Whether there will or won't be another coup.

 

- Which way the majority of the senators will vote, additional to their 'natural' soul food of 'the military is really the ruler of this country and we will keep it that way', along with 'glory to the military'.

 

Meanwhile everybody is expected to be good little soldiers and just say 'yes' or 'no' as expected, to show their respect. 

 

 

[Jeff the Chef]

I'm beginning to wonder if the powers that be I.E. the controllers of the Senate are thinking perhaps the game is up and they might need to concede some authority back to the people elected to the Parliament, or face some not so much violent disorder but public backlash against the Senate members, as seen on social media.

[Thailand]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

Nice point, however I didn't believe him when he said that.

 

Unfortunately, I wonder if he's the person who has the 'authority' to make such statement.

 

Seems to me (as aluded to by many others), there's another force at play who utltimately decides:

 

- Whether there will or won't be another coup.

 

- Which way the majority of the senators will vote, additional to their 'natural' soul food of 'the military is really the ruler of this country and we will keep it that way', along with 'glory to the military'.

 

Meanwhile everybody is expected to be good little soldiers and just say 'yes' or 'no' as expected, to show their respect. 

 

 

I definitely agree with other forces at play determining direction.

[Eric Loh]

2 hours ago, Jeff the Chef said:

I'm beginning to wonder if the powers that be I.E. the controllers of the Senate are thinking perhaps the game is up and they might need to concede some authority back to the people elected to the Parliament, or face some not so much violent disorder but public backlash against the Senate members, as seen on social media.

The higher power is also concern that spilled over violent disorder may result in re-setting the constitutional political landscape of Thailand. They may be blamed for being the invisible hand tipping the scale. I am sure there are pressure on the senates to step back but how much. 

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, Jeff the Chef said:

I'm beginning to wonder if the powers that be I.E. the controllers of the Senate are thinking perhaps the game is up and they might need to concede some authority back to the people elected to the Parliament, or face some not so much violent disorder but public backlash against the Senate members, as seen on social media.

"... the controllers of the Senate are thinking perhaps the game is up and they might need to concede some authority back to the people elected to the Parliament, ..."

 

Why do you say that? Please share.

[zzaa09]

44 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

The higher power is also concern that spilled over violent disorder may result in re-setting the constitutional political landscape of Thailand. They may be blamed for being the invisible hand tipping the scale. I am sure there are pressure on the senates to step back but how much. 

Stepping back just enough so as they might be scheming their next move.

Sleight-of-hand.......nothing up their sleeves. 

[Eric Loh]

My personal opinion is that the military has become too powerful in the last 2 decades for many reasons that can't be discussed. They are responsible for the skewed constitution and appointment of unelected and unaccountable agencies that do the bidding for them. The military is like a defacto government abetted by the elites and neo conservatives. There are some recent attempts to rein them in and reduce their political clout. I hope the next governments can muster support to bring the military under the control of the elected civilian government. 

[zzaa09]

5 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

My personal opinion is that the military has become too powerful in the last 2 decades for many reasons that can't be discussed. They are responsible for the skewed constitution and appointment of unelected and unaccountable agencies that do the bidding for them. The military is like a defacto government abetted by the elites and neo conservatives. There are some recent attempts to rein them in and reduce their political clout. I hope the next governments can muster support to bring the military under the control of the elected civilian government. 

Quite concise.

Yet, the militarism paradigm extends much much farther than a couple decades. 

One might consider this measured entity to be ageless - the patronage relationships are rock solid.

[Jeff the Chef]

19 minutes ago, scorecard said:

"... the controllers of the Senate are thinking perhaps the game is up and they might need to concede some authority back to the people elected to the Parliament, ..."

 

Why do you say that? Please share.

Just my opinion, going from some of the news stories on here and from social media. If Senators are looking at bringing defamation action on anonymous posts that they don't like, especially where their family and friends are being targeted. Also some commercial bodies and trade organizations are starting to worry about any trouble which could reduce the economy, both domestic and from tourism.

[Artisi]

On 7/17/2023 at 6:21 PM, tomacht8 said:

You drill holes in thick boards that don't exist. The entire coalition has voted in favor of Pita as the new PM, representing a clear 2/3 majority in Parliament. It can't be that difficult to understand.

Understanding is very difficult for some people.... 

[jacko45k]

On 7/18/2023 at 7:34 AM, KhunLA said:

Agree with all that, except that part.  Thaksin gave them, almost free, true universal healthcare, literally saving millions of people's lives who couldn't afford healthcare prior.

Yes and it is still around. Likely saved wifey's mother's life when she got blood poisoning, and wifey herself got treated after an animal bite for 30 baht!

[tomacht8]

16 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

My personal opinion is that the military has become too powerful in the last 2 decades for many reasons that can't be discussed. They are responsible for the skewed constitution and appointment of unelected and unaccountable agencies that do the bidding for them. The military is like a defacto government abetted by the elites and neo conservatives. There are some recent attempts to rein them in and reduce their political clout. I hope the next governments can muster support to bring the military under the control of the elected civilian government. 

That's obvious. Especially when you consider how many coups Thailand had. In previous coups, the military went back to their barracks. But that hasn't happened since the last coup in 2014. Meanwhile, 9 years with Prayut and still no end in sight, despite a clear election victory of the pro-democracy parties.

 

[billd766]

On 7/18/2023 at 9:32 AM, pegman said:

True. Anyone on this forum around May 2014 will well remember the majority of posters cheering on the coup. Couple years later when the scam embassy  income letters were no longer accepted by the junta opinions changed quick.

Yes I cheered them on in 2014 and, yes it took a couple of years to change my mind, BUT the embassy letters had nothing to do with my change of mind.

 

I believed what was pumped out in 2014 but after reading different links and websites, that was what changed my mind.

[KhunLA]

On 7/18/2023 at 9:32 AM, pegman said:

True. Anyone on this forum around May 2014 will well remember the majority of posters cheering on the coup. Couple years later when the scam embassy  income letters were no longer accepted by the junta opinions changed quick.

And yet, I don't know anyone, Thai or expat that thought the coup of elected officials was a good idea.

[KanchanaburiGuy]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

And yet, I don't know anyone, Thai or expat that thought the coup of elected officials was a good idea.

That may be true. But the other side of it is.........

 

How many think Yingluck staying in charge would have been a good idea?

 

As far as I can see from 2014........

 

Having a coup....... bad!

NOT having a coup........ bad!

 

Sure, there's something to be said for those who have been elected. We're supposed to respect that.

 

But when those who have been elected are provably criminal and corrupt......... what is there to respect? 

 

MUST a country allow a criminal to run roughshod over the country......... tapping into and sapping its resources......... just because they managed to get elected? 

 

Personally, I think the evidence from 2014 is indisputable........

 

There ~WERE NO~ "good choices!"

[mark131v]

1 hour ago, KanchanaburiGuy said:

That may be true. But the other side of it is.........

 

How many think Yingluck staying in charge would have been a good idea?

 

As far as I can see from 2014........

 

Having a coup....... bad!

NOT having a coup........ bad!

 

Sure, there's something to be said for those who have been elected. We're supposed to respect that.

 

But when those who have been elected are provably criminal and corrupt......... what is there to respect? 

 

MUST a country allow a criminal to run roughshod over the country......... tapping into and sapping its resources......... just because they managed to get elected? 

 

Personally, I think the evidence from 2014 is indisputable........

 

There ~WERE NO~ "good choices!"

Having a coup is ALWAYS a bad idea especially in a country as backward as Thailand is

 

The military should absolutely never be allowed into politics their previous actions tell you all you need to know. I knew it then and I know it now....

[tomacht8]

On 7/18/2023 at 9:32 AM, pegman said:

True. Anyone on this forum around May 2014 will well remember the majority of posters cheering on the coup. Couple years later when the scam embassy  income letters were no longer accepted by the junta opinions changed quick.

You are right. There was a strong will to stop the apparent rice scheme corruption and nepotism. That was also Prayut's official opening statement. However, the strong argument to end the bloody street war with many deaths weighed heavily. In his first year, Prayut did a good job of tidying up. Just think of the corrupt police general who made billions from his illegal oil deals. The turning point was the corruption scandal surrounding the Hua Hin statues. Then pro-democratic anti-corruption activists were taken off the trains and locked up. From there it went all down and back with Prayut. Just think of Prawit's watches, the Partymember with drug dealer history, the nonsensical army procurements, the education camps for dissidents, the coupmakers go free constitution, the escape to Australia of the police general who exposed human trafficking in the south and much more. So after 9 years under Prayut it is normal, that people changed there minds.

Edited July 19, 2023 by tomacht8

[Lucky Bones]

On 7/17/2023 at 12:31 PM, bkk6060 said:

Although sad, nothing will basically change for normal day life whatever happens. 

As with prior Coups, the next day here people are back to work going about their business.   The same will happen in this situation.

Totally agreed.

These, or similar "events" have been happening in Thailand since whenever.

The only thing that has changed is how they are reported.

You are so correct. People will (now) comment on social media & then sleep and go to work in the morning.

Sure, some will take to the streets as they always have.

Apathy, or probably despair,  is the only vibe I am picking up so far.

The Thai population deserves so much better.????????

[scorecard]

On 7/18/2023 at 1:53 PM, Jeff the Chef said:

I'm beginning to wonder if the powers that be I.E. the controllers of the Senate are thinking perhaps the game is up and they might need to concede some authority back to the people elected to the Parliament, or face some not so much violent disorder but public backlash against the Senate members, as seen on social media.

Nice thoughts, however I don't agree at all.

 

The way this are right now is what the military and it's glorious leaders want.

 

The military has been 'in charge', 'the rulers' for hundreds of years and they see that they are the rightful leaders today and they will ensure it stays that way.

 

Prayut is just a continuation of that history and he and his military cronies / military lawyers saw some cracks developing so they changed the constitution to ensure the senate was appointed an those appointed were mostly serious senior military who are examples of the glorious military who must be seriously respected and obeyed.

 

I would hope this all changes very soon so that my gran children grow up in a political system which respects democratic principles and the military does as it's told by the citizens of the country.

 

But as othere have written I have great concern that it's not going to change without blood shed.

 

I hope not.