Thaksin's Supporters Hold Rite To Relieve Him Of Bad Lucks

[Plus]

Where did "voodoo" originate from? Where did religion originate form? Where did prostitution originate from?

"unclean" renders it imperivous to "magic'

Any serious Buddhist/Brahmanic ritual involves a lot of purification rites both for the place and for performers.

[sriracha john]

Bad karma

On Tuesday, red-shirted supporters of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra organised a gathering in the northern province of Chiang Mai. But their objective was not to express their political views. The event was designed to achieve redemption because of the bad karma that Thaksin might have accumulated in his past life.

The event was the lead story in a few local newspapers such as Matichon and Thai Post. Matichon said: "Thaksin was a ruler in his past life. The ritual was meant to redeem Thaksin from his bad deeds in that life when he committed sins by robbing, stealing Buddha images, and killing Burmese."

The gathering, at a temple in the centre of Chiang Mai, was led by Chaiyasit Shinawatra, who is a cousin of Thaksin.

More than 300 people wore red shirts to the event, joining nine monks who performed a ritual that featured offerings of chicken, a pig's head, rice, liquor and vegetables. A photograph of Thaksin was displayed in a prominent position as a reminder the ceremony was meant for him.

The Lanna-style ritual was based on the belief that around 100 years ago Thaksin was a ruler who went to fight the Burmese, killing many enemies and bringing plunder back home. The deed is now considered sinful and his supporters believe the fact that Thaksin is now on the run and in exile is because of these deeds in his past life.

Despite this, Bangkokian would like to argue that Thaksin is in fact paying the price for deeds committed in his present life - such as tax evasion and political conflict of interest.

A spirit medium, a lady in her 50s dressed in white, attempted to contact Thaksin and discover something about his past life.

While she was performing her ritual, one red-shirted supporter shouted out, "When will Thaksin come back?"

The lady, who then claimed to be speaking on behalf of the late ruler who used to be Thaksin, said, "He will return, but now he is ordered not to."

Chaiyasit said that after his redemption, Thaksin was likely to come back to Thailand. But he didn't know when.

Thai Post also put the gathering as its lead story, but the paper highlighted the part of the ceremony in which Thaksin's supporters wrote down the names of his opponents and burnt the papers to bring misfortune upon them.

According to Thai Post, among the names burnt were Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, President of the Privy Council; Tanin Kraivixien, a member of the Privy Council; Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva; Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban; and People's Alliance for Democracy leaders Chamlong Srimuang and Sondhi Limthongkul.

- The Nation (Bangkokian) / 2009-02-19

[sriracha john]

... General Chaisit told reporters that he believed Thaksin, in his past life, was a warrior and he had killed many of his enemies and plundered their treasures.

So, not much difference from his present life.

Bangkok Post concurs...

[Artisi]

Everybody take a step back and remind yourself - This IS Thailand.

Edited February 19, 2009 by Artisi

[daoyai]

voodoo (Vodun) came from Africa with the slaves, one of many African "religions" transplanted and further evolved in the Americas. I think when the term is is used here it conveys contempt for the "others" equally goofy practices.

[hammered]

... General Chaisit told reporters that he believed Thaksin, in his past life, was a warrior and he had killed many of his enemies and plundered their treasures.

So, not much difference from his present life.

Bangkok Post concurs...

That is nice. butif Exim repaid for his previosu plunder of Burma what other heinous cactib\vities did he get up to in a previous life to make his karma so bad.

My northern wife is having a good laugh at all this lanna symbolism gonads. Some of the red loons up there yearn for lanna rebirth. Guess they aint the leading lights of Giles red socialist league either. Still it serves to create more fissures.

[brahmburgers]

Thaksins Emerald Buddha incident, the Erawan shrine conspiracy theory is all predicated on the idea that Thaksin is trying to replace the monarchy.

if only Thaksin had been involved in the Erawan shrine episode... it would have saved Thailand a lot of trouble...

may I add; if only the top Thai jurists had done their job correctly, 7 or so years ago, and found Thaksin guilty of blatantly hiding his wealth (non-disclosure) - then it would have saved Thailand years of wrenching pain and divisiveness.

[sabaijai]

Divine help for Thaksin

By: Veera Prateepchaikul

BKK Post

Published: 18/02/2009 at 11:02 AM

Red-shirt loyalists of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Chiang Mai have turned to the Divinity in their latest effort to help bring their dear leader home safe and sound.

A Lanna-style religious ritual was staged Tuesday at Wat (temple) U-mong in Muang district of Chiang Mai, Thaksin’s hometown, by his supporters, the so-called Rak Chiang Mai 51.

Two pig heads, three cooked chickens, rice, lao khao liquor, fruits and sweets were placed on a table for worshipping in front of a half-metre high Buddha statue with a statement written on its base which read “Chao Moon Muang and Chao Sin demand power to be returned to Chao Chai (prince) Sika. Let forgive one another.”

continued here.

[Samuian]

Sondhi's use of "voodoo" was ingenious - countering complicated and powerful magic by simply rendering the place unclean. That's one out of the box, assymmetric solution.

One poster earlier implied that all "voodoo" comes from Haiti and was surprised that it spread as far as Thailand. That's just as naive as Thais thinking that they had the first skytrain in Asia.

Other posters stress un-Buddhist nature of the ritual - well, we didn't live in Buddha's times, I'm pretty sure rituals like this were integral part of daily life then. Maybe they are comparing Buddhism to Christianity which stripped its faith of all "magic", but it doesn't mean that it has never been there, especially in Jewish tradition. Maybe it wasn't valued as much as "pure" teachings of either Christ or Buddha, but I doubt they were rejected altogether either. Eastern Othodox still has some mystic sects, afaik. Those slavs didn't care much about Pope and his witchhunts. And in Buddhist countries "animism" is very very common. But, of course, what do they know about Buddhism comparing to our enlightened Western gurus.

I'm not speaking about anyone in particular, just a trend to lecture Thais on their religion.

Animism accompanied by a large and colorful pantheon of gods, demy gods and deities, fairies and demons was the "worlds religion" LONG before Achenaton, who "introduced" Monotheism through "RA" - the Sungod, the "One and ALL", at least into this part of the world, which found it's way all the way into the "3 book religions" - Judaism, Christanity and Islam.....

Hinduism and Buddhism have never dealt with harsh measures as Christianitie's Insanities regarding the Inquisition, the crusades...!

That is why Animism, the Occult, black Magic and Superstition are still very much found in daily life in Asia and almost completely disappeared in the so called "civilized world" !

[h90]

At least admit that both sides here have rather surreal methods to extend their political battle into the realm of the spirit world.

many of the anti thaksin posters on Thai visa, particularily the ones with tens of thousands of posts are actually demons summoned by Sonti lithumgul to do various anti thaksin propoganda jobs and activities via the internet.

Throw menstruation blood at them!

[h90]

The names which were put into the alms-bowl include Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda, PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban, as well as core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy Sondhi Limtongkul.

they are doomed, now

My wife has serious doubts that this is buddhist

As a practicing Buddhist (Mahayana) for 42 years, I have to say there are several types of pseudo-Buddhisms in Thailand. This type, described by the bizarre rituals in the OP, is no more true buddhism than the Rocky and Bullwinkle show. Trained monkeys can sit on a wall and look like they're calm and meditating (while waiting for food hand-outs) but they're still monkeys.

Thai people in general are drenched in superstitious hocus pocus. Most of it is relatively harmless, but there are times when real harm is done - to people, animals, nature. Not much you and me at T.Visa can do about it. We certainly can't change the animistic rituals of the natives. Guess we'll just sit back out of the way and hope no one, no animals get harmed. At least the Thai shamans are not much in to human and/or animal sacrifices (not that I know of, anyway).

yes I know beside endless hours of endless discussions with my wife (and I was long before interested in such topics), I have once a month the neighbors praying buddhist to Ganesh (or at least he looks likte Ganesh) with "buddhist" monks shouting something.......

[h90]

Sondhi's use of "voodoo" was ingenious - countering complicated and powerful magic by simply rendering the place unclean. That's one out of the box, assymmetric solution.

One poster earlier implied that all "voodoo" comes from Haiti and was surprised that it spread as far as Thailand. That's just as naive as Thais thinking that they had the first skytrain in Asia.

Other posters stress un-Buddhist nature of the ritual - well, we didn't live in Buddha's times, I'm pretty sure rituals like this were integral part of daily life then. Maybe they are comparing Buddhism to Christianity which stripped its faith of all "magic", but it doesn't mean that it has never been there, especially in Jewish tradition. Maybe it wasn't valued as much as "pure" teachings of either Christ or Buddha, but I doubt they were rejected altogether either. Eastern Othodox still has some mystic sects, afaik. Those slavs didn't care much about Pope and his witchhunts. And in Buddhist countries "animism" is very very common. But, of course, what do they know about Buddhism comparing to our enlightened Western gurus.

I'm not speaking about anyone in particular, just a trend to lecture Thais on their religion.

Animism accompanied by a large and colorful pantheon of gods, demy gods and deities, fairies and demons was the "worlds religion" LONG before Achenaton, who "introduced" Monotheism through "RA" - the Sungod, the "One and ALL", at least into this part of the world, which found it's way all the way into the "3 book religions" - Judaism, Christanity and Islam.....

Hinduism and Buddhism have never dealt with harsh measures as Christianitie's Insanities regarding the Inquisition, the crusades...!

That is why Animism, the Occult, black Magic and Superstition are still very much found in daily life in Asia and almost completely disappeared in the so called "civilized world" !

well coming from Austria, there is still a lot of Superstition, they call it catholic. Some men run around with funny clothes, somewhere between womens cloths and sleeping clothes. While women if allowed dress themself like penguins. Usually they make every Sunday morning some major Hokus Pokus after which men are allowed to drink big amounts of alcohol without the wife complaining.....

[grandpops]

News channels (outside of ASTV - which is why it has probably been missed ) are reporting large protests against our current, temporary, acting, caretaker PM Abhisit.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090224/ap_on_...hailand_protest

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090224/ap_on_...hailand_protest

Does it need a new thread?

[sriracha john]

News channels (outside of ASTV - which is why it has probably been missed ) are reporting large protests against our current, temporary, acting, caretaker PM Abhisit.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090224/ap_on_...hailand_protest

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090224/ap_on_...hailand_protest

Does it need a new thread?

Are you aware of how Thaivisa works?

Start a new thread on a new topic if you like. Anyone, even you, can do that.

That's the proper thing to do rather than bumping a totally unrelated thread.

Edited February 25, 2009 by sriracha john

[grandpops]

News channels (outside of ASTV - which is why it has probably been missed ) are reporting large protests against our current, temporary, acting, caretaker PM Abhisit.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090224/ap_on_...hailand_protest

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090224/ap_on_...hailand_protest

Does it need a new thread?

Are you aware of how Thaivisa works?

Start a new thread on a new topic if you like. Anyone, even you, can do that.

That's the proper thing to do rather than bumping a totally unrelated thread.

You obviously don't because I cannot post new topics in here. Check your facts first.

Maybe just once, you can think before you post! or run crying to a mod.

Why not be helpful and post it for me!

Thanks in advance of your balanced posting of new threads.

[sriracha john]

News channels (outside of ASTV - which is why it has probably been missed ) are reporting large protests against our current, temporary, acting, caretaker PM Abhisit.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090224/ap_on_...hailand_protest

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090224/ap_on_...hailand_protest

Does it need a new thread?

Are you aware of how Thaivisa works?

Start a new thread on a new topic if you like. Anyone, even you, can do that.

That's the proper thing to do rather than bumping a totally unrelated thread.

You obviously don't because I cannot post new topics in here. Check your facts first.

Maybe just once, you can think before you post! or run crying to a mod.

Why not be helpful and post it for me!

Thanks in advance of your balanced posting of new threads.

*sigh* Perhaps it's because it's been posted so many numerous times previously that I didn't think I needed specify it yet again, particularly for someone who is certainly not new to the forum.

but alas, I will post it yet again in an effort to be of assistance... even for someone who asks for help in such a belligerent and foul manner.

Start your thread in General and request, via PM to a mod, for them to transfer the thread to the News Clippings Forum.

You're welcome.

Edited February 25, 2009 by sriracha john

[ozzieovaseas]

Divine help for Thaksin

By: Veera Prateepchaikul

BKK Post

Published: 18/02/2009 at 11:02 AM

Red-shirt loyalists of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Chiang Mai have turned to the Divinity in their latest effort to help bring their dear leader home safe and sound.

A Lanna-style religious ritual was staged Tuesday at Wat (temple) U-mong in Muang district of Chiang Mai, Thaksin's hometown, by his supporters, the so-called Rak Chiang Mai 51.

Two pig heads, three cooked chickens, rice, lao khao liquor, fruits and sweets were placed on a table for worshipping in front of a half-metre high Buddha statue with a statement written on its base which read "Chao Moon Muang and Chao Sin demand power to be returned to Chao Chai (prince) Sika. Let forgive one another."

continued here.

Maybe the redshirts should try christianity while the're at it...it worked a treat for a chap by the name of LAZARUS