Thaksin A Dictator Worse Than Marcos

[george]

Academics: PM a dictator worse than Marcos

BANGKOK: -- Academics yesterday labelled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra a dictator of a mould even worse than that of late Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos.

Speaking at a seminar entitled: ``Vision of New Leaders and the Future of Southeast Asia'' held by Thammasat University's Southeast Asian Studies programme, Assoc Prof Sida Sornsri and Prajak Kongkirati said that the premier's repressive policies were beyond even the capabilities of the notorious Marcos.

``In the Marcos dictatorship, academics and scholars, as part of civil society, still had the opportunity to express their opinions and outrage about the way the country was being run. But Thai academics are now living in a world of fear,'' Mr Sida.

Mr Prajak said the Thaksin government has treated academics as a nuisance and never before had so many people who were simply stating opinions, or defending those of others, been so intimidated.

Marcos' 13 controversial years in power saw the Philippines marred by widespread corruption and political mismanagement by himself and his cronies.

Marcos, said Mr Sida, exploited the country's constitution and thrived on finding loopholes in the legislation to help his friends and family get rich. He managed to keep the civil rights movement at bay but at least respected university scholars and academics.

The Marcos dictatorship ended and democracy was restored in 1986 when the people prevailed and chose Corazon Aquino as their new leader.

``We might be entering an era not so different to that of the Philippines and it will be interesting to see how we will get out of this mess,'' said Mr Sida.

Meanwhile, Professor Rangsan Thanapornpan, of Thammasat University's Faculty of Economics, predicted a landslide victory for Thai Rak Thai in the upcoming election.

However, he warned Mr Thaksin that to maintain his popularity he must keep all factions happy and ensure corruption is more discreet.

``Thai Rak Thai is a colossal party with many factions. There are no bonds within the party. Everyone in Thai Rak Thai is there for a reason and that reason is to win parliamentary seats,'' he said.

--Bangkok Post 2005-01-15

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/15Jan2005_news06.php

[sua yai]

What? Is discreet corruption better than "open" corruption? I can't see any difference.

I always thought that the aim of any parlimentary party and their representatives was to win seats.

[Ijustwannateach]

It may turn out as bad as Marcos or worse *eventually*, but it's a bit shrill for these guys to make this comparison at this time- Marcos brutally repressed his own people and was responsible for all kinds of abuse, including Pinochet-style "disappearances." Thaksin's had a much lighter hand than that, so far, even considering the drug war and the southern abuses. If it was academic respect they were looking for, they should've been less hyperbolic.

"Steven"

[chico]

Academics: PM a dictator worse than Marcos

BANGKOK: -- Academics yesterday labelled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra a dictator of a mould even worse than that of late Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos.

Speaking at a seminar entitled: ``Vision of New Leaders and the Future of Southeast Asia'' held by Thammasat University's Southeast Asian Studies programme, Assoc Prof Sida Sornsri and Prajak Kongkirati said that the premier's repressive policies were beyond even the capabilities of the notorious Marcos.

``In the Marcos dictatorship, academics and scholars, as part of civil society, still had the opportunity to express their opinions and outrage about the way the country was being run. But Thai academics are now living in a world of fear,'' Mr Sida.

Mr Prajak said the Thaksin government has treated academics as a nuisance and never before had so many people who were simply stating opinions, or defending those of others, been so intimidated.

Marcos' 13 controversial years in power saw the Philippines marred by widespread corruption and political mismanagement by himself and his cronies.

Marcos, said Mr Sida, exploited the country's constitution and thrived on finding loopholes in the legislation to help his friends and family get rich. He managed to keep the civil rights movement at bay but at least respected university scholars and academics.

The Marcos dictatorship ended and democracy was restored in 1986 when the people prevailed and chose Corazon Aquino as their new leader.

``We might be entering an era not so different to that of the Philippines and it will be interesting to see how we will get out of this mess,'' said Mr Sida.

Meanwhile, Professor Rangsan Thanapornpan, of Thammasat University's Faculty of Economics, predicted a landslide victory for Thai Rak Thai in the upcoming election.

However, he warned Mr Thaksin that to maintain his popularity he must keep all factions happy and ensure corruption is more discreet.

``Thai Rak Thai is a colossal party with many factions. There are no bonds within the party. Everyone in Thai Rak Thai is there for a reason and that reason is to win parliamentary seats,'' he said.

--Bangkok Post 2005-01-15

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/15Jan2005_news06.php

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe the two prof's wanted to be MP and cannot get in?

Anything wrong with winning a landslide elction? he cannot make that many "bad" thinks if he wins by a landslide!

And until now, Thailand is financially by far better of now, than some tears ago.

[Axel]

Some countries need a guiding hand more than others.

During Marcos' reign the Philippines have been economically sound, a safe place to live. Imelda was a bit too much.

But look where the Ph. are standing today.

Thailand is absolutely not a grown democratic country. But Thaksin, as little as I like him, is moving something. Thailand has the big advantage, at least presently,

to be a constitutional monarchy as well, which is a great help to keep the 'elected' leaders under some form of control.

[penzman]

It could be that these academics are feeling the heat and are responding to Tax-in's earlier announcement this week that there would be a big cleanup of "influential figures" after the elections. They may feel that they're in the line of sight.

Tax-in's defenition of "influential figures" was not really clear.

He did say: ""If they are not suppressed, they'll always create problems. We've to wipe them out."

See the earlier topic about the cleanup here.

[chuchok]

My wife likes him.I've tried to give her a more balanced view of his dealings etc and all she says back is "I don't care, at least he is making a better effort to stop drugs and clean up corruption than we have had before"

She is also the type that will not pay a bribe to a cop.She would rather go to the station and pay the "real" traffic fine than to line somebodies pocket. She's also pretty quick on the phone to the anti-corruption line if she thinks she is being shaken down.

[bokhumnoi]

And i bet he's got more pairs of y-fronts than Emelda had shoes!

[chingy_]

i think Academics is over board this time, its not that bad

[yuyi]

Some countries need a guiding hand more than others.

During Marcos' reign the Philippines have been economically sound, a safe place to live.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, but this is BS. At that time I visited the philippines. My hosts had been in constant fear that I would get kidnapped or robbed. They paid a far relative, who was a police agent, to be a bodyguard. As soon as a police man noticed a white face in the car, they stopped the car, asked the driver out, and demanded a huge tip. When I took my video camera to record it, there was panic in the eyes of my hosts. At broad daylight they did tear off even the smallest gold necklace from the girls inside public transportations, such as a bus.

Marcos & Imelda bribed the people by distributing rice, paid with their own money. Thaksin is more clever, he uses tax money to pay for his bribes. Sure a 30 baht bill for a day in the hospital, including all, sounds nice, but the hospitals cannot live with 30 baht, and it created a lower class of medical treatment, and many hospitals are let alone with the costs of this 30 baht treatment.

Sure, Thaksin has done good things for Thailand, more than other governments before. But open your eyes, almost all of the good things he did did benefit most of all his companies, and as a side effect also Thailand. There is not much he did which was good for Thailand alone, and not also good for his fortune.

Corruption is not less than before, it is just better organized.

After Marcos & Imelda, I went again to the Philippines, and this time I could rent a motorbike to tour around, alone. There was still crime, of course, but this fear was not there anymore.

And do not generalize the moslem trouble there. As in Thailand, it is a regional problem, not really affecting the main country.

I start to see similar fear here now, especially in the Pattaya area, with a crime rate skyrocketing. Bullets fly around at midnight, drugs get sold in police owned bars, attacks by motorbike driving scumbags are getting "normal".

I know that it was not safe in the Philippines under Marcos, not at all, and I hope that Thailand will not make the same development, despite the trend around Pattaya. Such an effect of a "guiding hand" is not needed.

Edited January 17, 2005 by yuyi

[yuyi]

i think Academics is over board this time, its not that bad

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

May be not for you, but it is a fact that Thaksin is silencing the press, with quite much success so far. He does not allow any critical voice. Even monks should not speak about politics, unless they support him.

``In the Marcos dictatorship, academics and scholars, as part of civil society, still had the opportunity to express their opinions and outrage about the way the country was being run. But Thai academics are now living in a world of fear,'' Mr Sida.

Mr Prajak said the Thaksin government has treated academics as a nuisance and never before had so many people who were simply stating opinions, or defending those of others, been so intimidated.

Very clearly this is not overboard, but just reflects what's happening. These people are scared now when they express an opinion which does not support Thaksin.

We are coming from modern countries. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press is something normal for us. Here it is still something the people need to fight for. When I read the article, I see these profs fighting for freedom of speech and freedom of the press (and not for an MP post ...) I think it's worth supporting!

[Rinrada]

My wife likes him.I've tried to give her a more balanced view of his dealings etc and all she says back is "I don't care, at least he is making a better effort to stop drugs and clean up corruption than we have had before"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep same same...

Khun W.has registered with the Embassy over here and is determined to vote for the dear leader.

The country needs a strong leader and he is her choice and without specu.recon whether WE want him or not ....he will win

Her dad is an old buddy and family friend of ex PM Chuan whom she has known for years but although she admits that he is an honest and "really nice guy" she feels he cannot and is /was not strong enough to control the coruption that rules the country...........HER country.

Her particular venom is directed towards 3 individuals in particular whom it seems all Thais know run the show.........No not saying by name but if you use your imagination......W,S,andS. is about right and should not take too much for history buffs to guess

[francois]

hi'

may be, we have to hope that he won't leave the country in financial ruins

when he'll go to swiss to retire safely ...

francois

[Rinrada]

hi'

may be, we have to hope that he won't leave the country in financial ruins

when he'll go to swiss to retire safely ...

francois

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Chiang Mai

[Dove]

He is nothing but an opportunist who takes advantage of the Thai egos. The majority of the Thais are simpletons who fall for the 1 share for you and 1,000,000 share for me scheme.

[aaaaaa]

hahahaha!

freedom of speech and press?

I guess you guys from "developed" and "modern" countries are so brainwashed by your "free" press that you sincerely believe everything what they feed you with and first of all that it is "free" !

this is an age of INFORMATION technology - IT. why does Information stays in the first place in this term and why it needs technology - ever wondered?

information is one of the biggest commodities nowdays. and press or anykind of media - is a huge, if not the biggest business nowdays, be it "modern" and "developed" or "3rd" wolrd. all the main news agencies and even newspapers long ago siezed to be simply transpernat and objective MEDIAS (that is why they are still generalised as - media), and are nowdays just a business companies. they do trade - information; they have their rules and ways of this business, yes. BUT - they sell what lets do good business, which includes following particular governments or whatever "directives"....

the only source of more or less objective and "free" information and speech are nowdays perhaps those blogs on-line, although may be not as accurate unless first -hand or eye-witnessed, and not always objective (but then no any news reports are - every article has an author). that is why I think this blogs phenomena has started - it wasn't so all the time since internet started to be more or less used by lot of public.

so, what I'm trying to say - everything is very relative in this modern world. and very complex and inter-dependent. on Thai iTV chanell they show interwies with a killer who answers in smallest details reporter's Qs about his "profession". yeah - freedom of speech and press! but what benefit it does to public? I think it does rather negative result: some youths might learn from such "revelations". and also many other things - like asking public opinions about this and that. yeah, the idea is great - to make people have an illusion that their opinion matters and can influence some results in social etc. issues. but actually there are many other side-effects of such shows of "freedom of speech" ....

anyway....

yeah, lets have free speech.

please don't curse me for expressing my thinking about "freedom of speech" ! after all I merely exercised my little right of free speech!

[aaaaaa]

He is nothing but an opportunist who takes advantage of the Thai egos.  The majority of the Thais are simpletons who fall for the 1 share for you and 1,000,000 share for me scheme.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

not fair, and perhaps even a bit offensive remark about Thais ! I think it is not fair to speak about them like that. personally I don't agree with this - they ain't simpletons !

and then - all polititians play on national egos of their countrymen. who doesn't?

but at least some don't bring such games on bigger scale, like outside their own countries and don't interfer in the other nations affairs as other do under some funny pretexts of "liberation" or "war on terror" ....

again - everything is relative - who does what and how much, and who does more or less then others...

[marquess]

The sooner Toxin goes the better for everyone!

[siamesekitty]

Corruption is not less than before, it is just better organized.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This I agree...

[Rinrada]

Wont happen.

In fact I would say that there is a better chance of George W Bush taking out Iraqi Citizenship and buying a bit of land and opening a Texan theme pub in faluja.

[aaaaaa]

I don't know any facts about dictatorship in Thailand so far.

but today after watching how police used tear gas on people throwing stones during Bush's inaguration procession - my wife (she is local, Thai) told me: "here in Thailand such things dono't happen. when King goes somehwere, even on farms, people offer him wai as show of respect - nobody throw stones at him. and even at Thaksin nobody through stones - although he goes everywhere in simple shirt without boolet proof vest and without bodygurds as this Bush." [bTW - I witnessed that myself - once in Emporium last year I saw him attending some function. I couldn't imagine that head of state would come to such a place while practilcally almost no security was there; most of shoppers, both Thai and farangs, didn't even notice what is there going on on the stage in the hall. perhaps foreigners won't imagine either that Thailand's Prime minister is speaking there. because in their own countries if it is PM or President - normal public won't even be allowed close by]