webfact Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 OPINION REGIONAL PESPECTIVE THAI CRISIS: Media and Shakespearean tragedy at play By Kavi Chongkittavorn The Nation FOR THE PAST SEVEN WEEKS, Thailand's politics is looking more and more like a Shakespearan tragedy being played out on the streets of Bangkok. Local and foreign media have been mesmerised by the danger of our tug of wars, cancerous political symptoms and the deep divisions in Thai society that used to be known as the poster child of democracy. Several well-known international peace mediators are competing fiercely to come in, thinking their expertise can end the current impasse. Of late, the global community, including the United Nations, has been worried about the repeated calls to arms by all the protagonists. Like the characters in a Shakespearean tragedy, they are capable of doing good and bad at the same time. The personalities cited by the protesters are intrinsically of a mixed nature. But every minute is a matter of life and death, especially following the emergence of an unknown military group during the April 10 clashes. CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE Apart from the reporters caught in the crossfire, unfortunate passers-by, including foreigners, were also injured or killed. Committed and veteran protesters of all stripes know the dangers of open spaces with high-rise buildings, and know their way around. A series of grenade attacks a few days ago at Sala Daeng was also symbolic - the rural and new urban poor at the gate of the business district. As far as the Thai media is concerned, they have yet to ask these questions: What has caused these tragedies and how could they be prevented? It is not wrong to say that the current political crisis has long been the work of continued incitement by political leaders and media reports. For the past decade, intensely since 2006, campaigns to incite groups with colour identification was the norm. Small doses of propaganda and misinformation every day and continuously have led to the long-term impacts we are witnessing today. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's biggest blunder was media censorship at this crucial juncture as it did not help. His absolute non-use of forces, except in self-defence, and no targeted killings (jab tai) should have been give more credit even though they were perceived as weakness by the public and urban dwellers. These two measures have reduced the casualties which could have been higher. Indeed, they are not familiar with the strategy of not using force, which is the hallmark of this administration. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnontaey are clueless about the Thai media dynamic. Obviously Abhisit's strong commitment to a free press was ignored. Every time both personalities appeared on TV, more damage was done to the government. One-sided government information flow, they presumed, would increase the public understanding. In the present situation, nobody has a monopoly over truth. Each coloured group has its own media networks to propagate key messages. Access to information for all sides is indispensable; after all, Thailand was the first Asean country to guarantee freedom of information in 1997. The shutdown of more than 10 satellite, cable television and radio stations and 36 websites were ill-advised as it duplicated similar mistakes previous governments had made. Knee-jerk reactions on the part of the government, as it turned out, backfired badly. The Thai officials have never learned from past mistakes that media censorship would not work in the age of globalisation and a digitally-connected world. What the government should have done immediately was to quickly charge those media outlets, editors or hosts with incitement under the criminal code. Their TV and radio remarks have called for war against other people rather than their own - classic hate speech. Story continues: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/...a-30127927.html -- The Nation 2010-04-26 [newsfooter][/newsfooter] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redsunset Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Very true. Abhisit's strength is his ability to communicate and instill confidence, especially when others communicate so poorly. During the heights of the crisis, we needed to hear more, not less. Not hearing enough spun rumors out of control. Yes, Abhisit's administration favors non-violence and diplomacy over force. Yet when the situation dictates, one must use force and use it decisively. Trying to use diplomacy with a wild and savage opponent - the red shirt leaders, is futile and leads to - at best - stalemates. This is where we are today. Abhisit still has the opportunity to get us out of this untenable situation, but he needs to execute and disperse the protesters now. More wishful thinking just will not do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
givenall Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 It is admirable that he wants a peaceful end to this. But the RED are getting more and bolder with their action. Small numbers continue to make life miserable for the rest population and they continually break the law. If not for the government who can enforce the law, I am sure if he does not do something soon, you can see many isolated violent against RED all over Bangkok. The local are frustrated ad whenever they have opportunity they will act on their own causing harm to RED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzieman05 Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 It seems there has been a few of us on TV that have said a soft handed approach can be both good and bad In the beginning a quick kick up the bum would had shown the red shirts that the law will not allow this, those that will follow will have a fact in history that shows this will not be allowed under the law Now lets look at what history shows Mob rule in the streets is allowed the army and police are afraid to act Any leader can do and say what ever he wants as long as mob rule is in control Women and children can be used by cowards to scare authorities Now it is to late Solve the red shirt problem tomorrow but the rules have been set The above is allowed and to deny the next mob the same will only create DOUBLE STANDARDS The reds where allowed to do it Win or loose the PM has created a country that will live in terror and chaos for the next decade We have already lost low and order in Thailand Slightly off topic This morning while talking to the wife How can any Thai put their children in danger by having them in the fireing line How answer (Here is Thai face for you) They can not be Thai children, they are from Cambodia, so Thai not worry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animatic Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Very true. Abhisit's strength is his ability to communicate and instill confidence, especially when others communicate so poorly. During the heights of the crisis, we needed to hear more, not less. Not hearing enough spun rumors out of control. Yes, Abhisit's administration favors non-violence and diplomacy over force. Yet when the situation dictates, one must use force and use it decisively. Trying to use diplomacy with a wild and savage opponent - the red shirt leaders, is futile and leads to - at best - stalemates. This is where we are today. Abhisit still has the opportunity to get us out of this untenable situation, but he needs to execute and disperse the protesters now. More wishful thinking just will not do. Sad but true. When faced with an opponent that doesn't listen and doesn't see anything but a total win for themselves as a compromise, it is hard to imagine talk will do much. So to see Abhisit continually try for dialog is heartening, but heartening at best. If the reds want to talk let them do it, in a fair open forum for ALL parties and drop the hyperbole, and revolutionary war like actions. The time is well and truly passed for this street action to achieve it's alleged goals. If these are the actual goals, they are better achieved by real negotiations. If the unstated/or subterfuge goal of 'getting Thaksin the paymaster what he wants', is the REAL goal, then there is nothing the government can do, but clear them out, because they must be there solely to cause enough chaos and destruction to bring down the government. It is up to the Reds to decide which are their REAL goals. But it's up to the government to end this stalemate that so harms the WHOLE country daily and for years to come. If a forceful eviction is the only way, because the zealotry has gone beyond control, then there seems no other choice. Letting a minority mob dictate the governments actions, is in no way or any sense representative democracy in action. This is not protest anymore but pressure via implied terror on the whole nation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chonburiram Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Comparing a troop of strolling players with a Shakespearean tragedy is a little farfetched Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LumpsInMyOatmeal Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Comparing a troop of strolling players with a Shakespearean tragedy is a little farfetched Not to mention stating that Thai society was once a poster child of democracy. Wouldn't the exact opposite be much closer to the truth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsamui Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Well - it was written by a Thai and that's evidently what he believes! It is the best country in the world, after all. r Comparing a troop of strolling players with a Shakespearean tragedy is a little farfetched Not to mention stating that Thai society was once a poster child of democracy. Wouldn't the exact opposite be much closer to the truth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsamui Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 (what's a "poster child" anyway??) Well - it was written by a Thai and that's evidently what he believes!It is the best country in the world, after all. r Comparing a troop of strolling players with a Shakespearean tragedy is a little farfetched Not to mention stating that Thai society was once a poster child of democracy. Wouldn't the exact opposite be much closer to the truth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davejonesbkk Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 shakespearean tragedy LOL, more like a comedy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGareth2 Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Some similarities to the fall of The Roman Republic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chantorn Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 (edited) Very true. Abhisit's strength is his ability to communicate and instill confidence, especially when others communicate so poorly. During the heights of the crisis, we needed to hear more, not less. Not hearing enough spun rumors out of control. Yes, Abhisit's administration favors non-violence and diplomacy over force. Yet when the situation dictates, one must use force and use it decisively. Trying to use diplomacy with a wild and savage opponent - the red shirt leaders, is futile and leads to - at best - stalemates. This is where we are today. Abhisit still has the opportunity to get us out of this untenable situation, but he needs to execute and disperse the protesters now. More wishful thinking just will not do. Another real strength is that he is so handsome. May girls & gays love him just for that & that alone. Edited April 26, 2010 by chantorn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 shakespearean tragedy LOL, more like a comedy No way. Comedies don't have so many dead and injured people ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
321niti123 Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 which Shakespearean tragedy is the author talking about? I don't recall anything like this from Shakespeare (but then again- i hate english class). The only one i remember is capulet montague from R&J that could compare with the situation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckamuck Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 FOR THE PAST SEVEN WEEKS, Thailand's politics is looking more and more like a Shakespearan tragedy being played out on the streets of Bangkok. Local and foreign media have been mesmerised by the danger of our tug of wars, cancerous political symptoms and the deep divisions in Thai society that used to be known as the poster child of democracy. :D :D Guess which country this writer got his education from - lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiksilva Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 (edited) I don't get the negativity here on TV. Despite minor flaws, the authors made important demands that had to be said. Its critical that the media be responsible with their reporting and not add fuel to the flames. The irony that this was written in the Nation however is not lost on me... Edited April 26, 2010 by quiksilva Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lannarebirth Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 FOR THE PAST SEVEN WEEKS, Thailand's politics is looking more and more like a Shakespearan tragedy being played out on the streets of Bangkok. Local and foreign media have been mesmerised by the danger of our tug of wars, cancerous political symptoms and the deep divisions in Thai society that used to be known as the poster child of democracy. Guess which country this writer got his education from - lol I am somewhat relieved to see that he spelt colored with a "u". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SantiSuk Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 First decent-ish piece of journalism I've seen on the conflict. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagwan Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Midsummer's Nightmare? Much Ado about Nothing - if 73 billion can be called nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagwan Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Midsummer's Nightmare? Much Ado about Nothing - if 73 billion can be called nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagwan Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Midsummer's Nightmare? Much Ado about Nothing - if 73 billion can be called nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animatic Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 THE NATION: Thaksin: "this is my country ... I am now Montenegrin." Well looks like that Kuhn T. doesn't really care what he says or if he stabs his country in the back, or right between the eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLeech Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 At least the author got one thing 100% right, even if not everyone here seems to agree: "In the present situation, nobody has a monopoly over truth." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erobando Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 West Side Story. I think Shakespere rote that 1. But we won't know if this is a comedy or tregedy until it ends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshiwara Posted April 26, 2010 Share Posted April 26, 2010 Very true. Abhisit's strength is his ability to communicate and instill confidence, especially when others communicate so poorly. During the heights of the crisis, we needed to hear more, not less. Not hearing enough spun rumors out of control. Yes, Abhisit's administration favors non-violence and diplomacy over force. Yet when the situation dictates, one must use force and use it decisively. Trying to use diplomacy with a wild and savage opponent - the red shirt leaders, is futile and leads to - at best - stalemates. This is where we are today. Abhisit still has the opportunity to get us out of this untenable situation, but he needs to execute and disperse the protesters now. More wishful thinking just will not do. Another real strength is that he is so handsome. May girls & gays love him just for that & that alone. Maybe you are a Caliban clone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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