Special On Al Jazeera About Bangkok At The Moment

[Ulysses G.]

I just finished watching this program on Al Jazeera about Bangkok and it reflected badly on the current government.

First of all, their spokesman was neither personable nor very articulate in English while the redshirt spokesman was both.

The redshirt came off like a kindly, laid back Thai (who was lying his head off about the government being the ones who screwed up the peace talks) while the government fellow yelled and screamed and acted like a Japanese commandant of a POW camp in an old World War 2 movie.

The redshirt made some good points (while lying his head off about the peace deal) and the government guy was constantly angry and difficult to understand. They both were arguing about the legitimacy of the Abhisit Vejjajiva government, but most of their points would be lost on anyone who does not live here and has read a lot about the situation. On top of that, the interviewer seemed to favor the redshirts.

In my opinion the redshirts have some legitimate grievances, but they have blown all credibility by rejecting a generous peace deal after shutting down Bangkok for 2 months.

Abhisit is the best leader we could have at this time and has gone out of his way to avoid violence as much as it is possible in such a situation.

This program made it very obvious how much PR can help a political group when they are not necessarily in the right and harm the other side. If Abhisit had represented himself, he would have won the debate, but the fellow that tried it came off very badly. The government is not doing well when it comes to the International media and they need to change that somehow.

[samuibeachcomber]

No one's got any idea why its all going downhill,so the govt.spokesman was an apt candidate.I believe the redshirts dont trust the govt. when they say elections will be held later this year and having spent what seems like 3 months demonstrating they dont want anything less than that the govt. resigns now,anything else would mean the leaders would lose face with their supporters.Seems like "do or die effort now"

[Rinrada]

He only has to say that one little word but is he BIG enough to utter it..........STOP.

[longway]

I was chatting to a friend who lives in Lampang about politics for the first time, if she is anything to go by, its pretty evident that a lot of people in that area are heavily influenced by propaganda disseminated by the red shirts. She was telling me about how the government was dictatorial and had killed lots of people (ordered by the 'big boss' of the army), and the election offer was a ploy just to buy time, PAD = democrat etc. She could not see how the red leadership had done anything wrong in the last 2 months either.

The only slightly mollifying fact was, if you can call it that, was she seemed resigned to the idea that the reds would lose. Why? As the army has guns and the red shirts don't have anything.

She is quite a sweet girl, but really feels strongly about this issue, the government has its work cut out, and I don't think people will or even want to listen. The government is simply the root of all evil. They want an election and they want one now.

Edited May 17, 2010 by longway

[maccaroni man]

He only has to say that one little word but is he BIG enough to utter it..........STOP.

who is he? mr. t?

[Spee]

"In my opinion ..."

Couldn't agree more with your assessment.

As for Al-Jazerra .... people in glass houses .....

[Arjay]

I was chatting to a friend who lives in Lampang about politics for the first time, if she is anything to go by, its pretty evident that a lot of people in that area are heavily influenced by propaganda disseminated by the red shirts. She was telling me about how the government was dictatorial and had killed lots of people (ordered by the 'big boss' of the army), and the election offer was a ploy just to buy time, PAD = democrat etc. She could not see how the red leadership had done anything wrong in the last 2 months either.

The only slightly mollifying fact was, if you can call it that, was she seemed resigned to the idea that the reds would lose. Why? As the army has guns and the red shirts don't have anything.

She is quite a sweet girl, but really feels strongly about this issue, the government has its work cut out, and I don't think people will or even want to listen. The government is simply the root of all evil. They want an election and they want one now.

Democracy is about compromise. You cant make everybody happy. Go home red shirts and prepare for next election. Stop the anarchy!

[Samuian]

The one who kicked this lose, is said to have spend vast amounts of money for PR -

since day one - after Sept.2006 he simply shifted the campaigns target!

Yes, there are people "out there", brainwashed enough to believe that he is

"the good man of a good cause" and all others are evil!

[longway]

I was chatting to a friend who lives in Lampang about politics for the first time, if she is anything to go by, its pretty evident that a lot of people in that area are heavily influenced by propaganda disseminated by the red shirts. She was telling me about how the government was dictatorial and had killed lots of people (ordered by the 'big boss' of the army), and the election offer was a ploy just to buy time, PAD = democrat etc. She could not see how the red leadership had done anything wrong in the last 2 months either.

The only slightly mollifying fact was, if you can call it that, was she seemed resigned to the idea that the reds would lose. Why? As the army has guns and the red shirts don't have anything.

She is quite a sweet girl, but really feels strongly about this issue, the government has its work cut out, and I don't think people will or even want to listen. The government is simply the root of all evil. They want an election and they want one now.

Democracy is about compromise. You cant make everybody happy. Go home red shirts and prepare for next election. Stop the anarchy!

Its sad. I live in the rajaprasong area (out of the country currently) and met the red shirts everyday, they are fine people, and most of them believe in what they are doing. I admire them in many ways, I admire Abhisit too and think its a crying shame that Abhisit has been demonised by a crook like Thaksin. They will never trust or accept him now, and he is one of the best politicians that Thailand has got.

[neverdie]

Hopefully it will end up on the internet, I would like to see the program.

[OccamsRazor]

Hopefully it will end up on the internet, I would like to see the program.

I also watched it. The red spokesman was calm, relaxed, excellent English and articulate. The government spokesman (believe he was in DC) was none of these and was stammering/stuttering and looked nearly in a panic. It was so embarrassing watching him I had to keep switching channels whenever he came up and started his tirade. Seems the government could have picked someone a bit more "sound".

Also, I found the interviewer a bit annoying as he regularly would interrupt and interject comments/questions. He also didn't seem to be politically astute as he didn't seem to know the difference between presidential election process and parliamentary ones.

[soundman]

Please do not turn this into another political topic, or I will close it. Plenty of on-going political topics in News Clippings where you are welcome to pose your views/arguments.

.................................

I believe the topic is about positive and negative PR image.

[Rinrada]

I was chatting to a friend who lives in Lampang about politics for the first time, if she is anything to go by, its pretty evident that a lot of people in that area are heavily influenced by propaganda disseminated by the red shirts. She was telling me about how the government was dictatorial and had killed lots of people (ordered by the 'big boss' of the army), and the election offer was a ploy just to buy time, PAD = democrat etc. She could not see how the red leadership had done anything wrong in the last 2 months either.

The only slightly mollifying fact was, if you can call it that, was she seemed resigned to the idea that the reds would lose. Why? As the army has guns and the red shirts don't have anything.

She is quite a sweet girl, but really feels strongly about this issue, the government has its work cut out, and I don't think people will or even want to listen. The government is simply the root of all evil. They want an election and they want one now.

Democracy is about compromise. You cant make everybody happy. Go home red shirts and prepare for next election. Stop the anarchy!

Its sad. I live in the rajaprasong area (out of the country currently) and met the red shirts everyday, they are fine people, and most of them believe in what they are doing. I admire them in many ways, I admire Abhisit too and think its a crying shame that Abhisit has been demonised by a crook like Thaksin. They will never trust or accept him now, and he is one of the best politicians that Thailand has got.

and would he ever be accepted when exiled back in ........Newcastle........

[donsuyi]

Army and Police should protect their people rather than an ambitious ruler. It is a big shame from the point of view of other country army if armed soldiers fight against unarmed civilian. This kind of army has no honor, they should bring lipstick instead of gun

[huma79]

You can view it here:

I agree, the government spokesperson really didn't come across well at all..

[gunnyd]

Nice Link.

Quite an eye opening interview. Agreed that the "Pro Government" commentator was poorly chosen. He came off angry and was very hard to understand. It would have helped to have open captions.

[maccaroni man]

Nice Link.

Quite an eye opening interview. Agreed that the "Pro Government" commentator was poorly chosen. He came off angry and was very hard to understand. It would have helped to have open captions.

i watched the same program 2x yesterday onece alone and the other with my tw she asked how the reds got someone who spoke such good english, she does not like the reds at all, i felt sad for the govt because their man in dc was not good at speaking but in the end as i told my wife the good news is the program is for english speakers and we dont have any say at the end of the day

[Ulysses G.]

Al Jazeera had another program last night with an English expert on South East Asia. He was a lot more balanced and did a good job of pointing out facts and putting some blame on both sides instead of demonizing Abhisit.

[billaaa777]

I watched the video on YouTube, thanks for putting up the link. The following is my take on the show.

The Red Shirt leader was obviously more articulate and under control than the Government spokesman’s. But, if you listened carefully the Government spokesman’s made some excellent points that the Red Shirt leader did not have an answer for.

The first was when the Red Shirt leader stated they would have accepted the “Road Map to Peace” if the government leader had only turned himself in and was prosecuted.

The Government spokesman’s then replied that the Red Shirt leaders should do the same and he is more than correct. They have clearly broken more than one law.

Thai people do have the right to protest, but NOT if it harms the rights of others.

I do not think anybody can insinuate the Red Shirts have not forced people to move, shut down business, disrupted transportation in a city of 12 million people, caused schools and hospitals to close, attacked and killed army personnel, etc.

Next, if a person attempts to rob a bank and a security guard shoots and kills an unarmed bystander is the bank robber not responsible?

In other words, if the Red Shirts had not set up a war zone in the middle of Bangkok would there have been a need for the army to attempt to move them and in the process kill people? Of course not, and for the Red Shirts to imply it is all the governments fault is a complete fabrication on their part.

Second, the Red Shirt leader stated the only way for them to negotiate was for the army to cease fire and to return to the barracks. But, when asked if the protestors would also go home also, he did not have an answer.

I really do not know how that could be considered negotiating in a fair and faithful manner; if only one side gets its wishes and the other side must continually submit to their wishes and demands.

[Samuian]

If he who is shopping with his daugther in Paris right now,

while people lose their lives for his quest, get's it finally his way,

the people haven't seen anything yet!

Beware what is going to come, it seems unavoidable, he will get ithis way,

one way or the other, right now he is pretty close, cause no

one seems to have the guts or the support t step forward!

[DarwinK]

Based on the various English interviews I've seen, I'd have to agree that the government is generally doing a very poor job of making its case. It doesn't help that many of the media interviewing them (CNN, BBC) are using this opportunity to grandstand--trying to make themselves into tough-talk hard-as-nails journalists while apparently not having a grasp (or at least caring about) the complexities of the current situation. Crappy journalism so obviously self-interested it's sickening.

On a separate note, one English word that I think could be put to rest now is "protestor". I believe "protestor" is generally understood to mean "one who speaks strongly against something." Surely the red shirts are way beyond merely speaking strongly. Illegally occupying large portions of a city, depriving residents and businesses of their personal property, setting fires, inciting violence, use of brainwashing techniques if not out and out acts of terrorism--these actions are hardly captured in the English word "protestor." Anyone have a better word suggestion?

Can only hope that the government does a better job of making its case in Thai.

[bangkokjohn]

Every international media I have seen has been hightly critical of the way Abhisit has handled this. Maybe there is some truth to it?

[Ijustwannateach]

This thread is not about Bangkok but about current politics, so it is closed. Please be aware of the current policy (pinned) regarding political posts in the Bangkok subforum. Opening of political threads may shortly lead to warnings and penalties.