CNN, BBC Fully Deserve Criticism Over Thai Protest Coverage

[wester]

The yellow hysteria and obsession with this betrays weakness.

A government and supporters confident of themselves and their position should not need to whine and scrape like this before the international community.

[BNZ]

What I am saying however that the really impressive Westerners, the ones with long experience of the Kingdom achieved at a high level will tell one, albeit discretely, that there is much in the red cause with which they sympathise.

A rather dubious presumption, I'd say. I've been here over 30 years and most of the longterm international residents I know have no sy,pathy whatosver for the UDD, seeing it for what it is, the tool of one self-exiled megalomaniac.

I agree with Shawn Crispin, who wrote back in March:

What strikes many long-time observers of the country's politics is the UDD's apparent collective amnesia of Thaksin's own anti-democratic record, marked by his efforts to bypass parliamentary processes, undermine checking and balancing institutions and pressure the free press, and the benefits he reaped through close relations with the bureaucratic elite, including the privileged state-granted telecom concessions he leveraged into a multi-billion dollar personal fortune.

While the UDD clamors for Abhisit to dissolve parliament and hold new elections it has failed to give voice to the fact that a controversial Peua Thai politician, Chalerm Yoobamrung, would most likely run as the party's prime ministerial candidate. His son, Duangchalerm, was accused of murdering an off-duty police officer in 2001 and many say Chalerm epitomizes the double standards that favor the powerful over the poor. Duangchalerm was acquitted due to insufficient evidence in 2004 and is now a father-propelled, rising political star.

I was talking about high achieving Westerners,well off, perceptive and highly intelligent - typically Ivy League or Oxbridge graduates with detailed knowledge of Thai culture and history.There are plenty of long term westerners who to put it kindly don't meet these criteria.

Anyway let's hypothetically assume we are talking about the same people.I think most would certainly agree with your assessment of Thaksin's record.I think however while not denying his continuing influence his greater significance would be seen more as a catalyst.There would also be agreement with your view of UDD leadership, shoddy and rather frightening.

And yet...(this is the common theme I have noticed) this group would have a sneaking (discrete, because their Thai friends would think differently) sympathy with red aspirations.They know the nature of amart society, its selfishness, corruption and greed.They deal with it every day unlike the retired wastrels and sexpats who think of themselves as long term residents.They know the denouement is not too far away.They would love the Thai elite, with whom they have much in common by virtue of social class and education, to reform itself.But they fear the worst and despite the poison of Thaksin and the mediocre UDD leadership, they know the Red Cause holds the moral high ground.

"..the Red Cause holds the moral high ground."

Here is a photographic proof of Red Shirt moral high ground.

[yoshiwara]

The yellow hysteria and obsession with this betrays weakness.

A government and supporters confident of themselves and their position should not need to whine and scrape like this before the international community.

A nothing contribution.

That some journalists were led by the nose by red fakery you probably would rather leave as it is for future activation.