Don't Let Thailand Be Torn Asunder

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Don't let the country be torn asunder

By Avudh Panananda

The Nation

In 1858, when Abraham Lincoln was accepting the Republican Party's senatorial nomination for Illinois, he said: "A house divided against itself cannot stand." He later became the president of the United States.

In his speech about a split house, Lincoln envisioned the US emerging stronger in lieu of a country divided over the issue of slavery.

Similarly, in recent weeks, Thailand has been caught in an inconclusive debate on lese majeste and what can be construed as offensive to the monarchy. Perhaps, parties concerned should pay heed to Lincoln's warning about not allowing a political malady to infest and destroy the country, which can and will be torn asunder if rival camps continue politicising the monarchy for partisan interests.

Two days after Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Promphan delivered a speech at the red-shirt rally marking the bloodshed on April 10 last year, the Army lodged a police complaint accusing him and other red-shirt leaders of offending the monarchy. Last week the First and Second Infantry Divisions of the Royal Guard organised mock exercises in Bangkok and Prachin Buri, which were billed as a show of force to rally behind the monarchy.

This week public prosecutors will be busy seeking a judicial review to revoke the bail of some nine red-shirt leaders in connection with violating the conditions of their temporary release pending trial on terrorism charges.

Next week, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will notify 18 red-shirt leaders of the lese majeste and sedition charges they face. The DSI is expected to oppose bail applications, which has led to speculation that Jatuporn might end up in the remand cell since he will be losing his parliamentary immunity when the House is dissolved in the first week of May.

The Army's intervention and initiation of legal proceedings against the red shirts for what it considers a serious attack on the monarchy is unprecedented. Now the DSI has gone one step further by adding a sedition charge on top of lese majeste.

Jatuporn and the red shirts, meanwhile, are rigorously denying being involved in any attempts to overthrow or offend the country's revered institution.

Justice will run its course and make a definitive ruling on whether to acquit or convict the red shirts.

Rightly or wrongly, the yellow shirts have portrayed themselves as royalists and have been attacking the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra camp for inciting anti-royalist sentiments. The 2005-2006 street protests by the yellow shirts were said to have paved the way for the coup. The power seizure took place in the face of a crisis triggered by Thaksin's autocratic regime, but it was overshadowed by the opposing sentiments of royalists and anti-royalists.

The red-shirt movement came into existence in 2008 in an effort to demand amnesty for the former premier. However, since the red shirts have been relying on fiery rhetoric touching on the royalty and the Privy Council in order to attract crowds, many in the security and law-enforcement agencies became suspicious about the movement's true intents.

Even though Thaksin briefly distanced himself from the red shirts following last year's riots, the movement has renewed its momentum after new leader, Thida Thawornseth, revamped it.

Since elections are due to take place in a few months, Thaksin has rekindled his connections with the movement as he expects the red shirts to go canvassing for the Pheu Thai Party.

In the past six months, the red-shirt movement has changed a great deal from what it was before last year's riots, but whether it turns out being a boon or bane for Thaksin's political fortune will depend entirely on the voters.

-- The Nation 2011-04-26

[givenall]

It is ironic that they compare what happened in US due to the selfishness and true patriotism,

Someone should remind the Author, this is Thailand and Money talks and bushtit walks

Edited April 26, 2011 by givenall

[elshaheen]

Thailand's so called house has already and always been torn asunder. So, don't qoute an american leader who would never Identify himself with this nation.

[Crushdepth]

The problems won't stop until either i) Thaksin gets what he wants (defactor dictatorship) or ii) Thaksin is removed from politics. I think both of these things will happen and in that order.

[Sateev]

It is ironic that they compare what happened in US due to the selfishness and true patriotism,

Someone should remind the Author, this is Thailand and Money talks and bushtit walks

'Bushtit' aside, the lesson is clear: President Lincoln ("Ling-kong") should have accepted the offer of elephants from King Mongkut to prosecute the War Between the States.

This makes about as much sense as the other posts on this thread, which is, admittedly, none.

I rest my face.

[animatic]

Thailand's so called house has already and always been torn asunder. So, don't qoute an american leader who would never Identify himself with this nation.

Not true.

Abraham Lincoln was given the gift of several Elephants by King Mongkut for use in the Civil War. Because the KIng admired the writings of Lincoln. Lincoln definitely knew more than most people of his day about Thailand, because he researched to understand this King who had given him an offer of such an unusual gift. I know this from a 1867 just post mortem contemporary Bio of Lincoln I have read.

February 3, 1862

Abraham Lincoln,

President of the United States of America.

To His Majesty Somdetch Phra Paramendr Maha Mongut,

King of Siam,

&c., &c.

Great and Good Friend: I have received Your Majesty's two letters of the date of February 14th., 1861.

I have also received in good condition the royal gifts which accompanied those letters,---namely, a sword of costly materials and exquisite workmanship; a photographic likeness of Your Majesty and of Your Majesty's beloved daughter; and also two elephants' tusks of length and magnitude such as indicate that they could have belonged only to an animal which was a native of Siam.

Your Majesty's letters show an understanding that our laws forbid the President from receiving these rich presents as personal treasures. They are therefore accepted in accordance with Your Majesty's desire as tokens of your good will and friendship for the American People. Congress being now in session at this capital, I have had great pleasure in making known to them this manifestation of Your Majesty's munificence and kind consideration.

Under their directions the gifts will be placed among the archives of the Government, where they will remain perpetually as tokens of mutual esteem and pacific dispositions more honorable to both nations than any trophies of conquest could be.

I appreciate most highly Your Majesty's tender of good offices in forwarding to this Government a stock from which a supply of elephants might be raised on our own soil. This Government would not hesitate to avail itself of so generous an offer if the object were one which could be made practically useful in the present condition of the United States.

Our political jurisdiction, however, does not reach a latitude so low as to favor the multiplication of the elephant, and steam on land, as well as on water, has been our best and most efficient agent of transportation in internal commerce.

I shall have occasion at no distant day to transmit to Your Majesty some token of indication of the high sense which this Government entertains of Your Majesty's friendship.

Meantime, wishing for Your Majesty a long and happy life, and for the generous and emulous People of Siam the highest possible prosperity, I commend both to the blessing of Almighty God.

Your Good Friend, ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Washington, February 3, 1862.

By the President:

WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

Annotation

Edited April 26, 2011 by animatic

[yoshiwara]

Another 'rent an article' of the 'why-oh-why-oh-why?' variety. It is even out of date posing the split between reds and yellows. Code for treating the reds and leading jockey Thaksin as an equal player by the way. The yellows are not in this election. They are boycotting it in case the author does not know. Well he probably does, but hey!.....

[ianbaggie]

One word sums up the split in Thailand, One word has promoted the unrest, splits of brother against brother and neighbour against neighbour and Thai aginst thai. One word has stood for selfishness, greed, aggresiveness, stupidity, wrong doing, murder, manipulation, theft, persecution, corruption and has promoted the split with the monarchy which is now being discussed and most of all a desperate struggle to regain power justly taken from him for his lies and deceipt - that word - THAKSIN!! Be afraid - be very afraid people of Thailand - this man only represents his own interests and has already shown that he is willing to murder innocents and burn bangkok to do it!!

[elshaheen]

The fact is. What you see happening in the Middle East from last several months until now, will eventually come to Thailand. One side lead by Taksin or one of his puppets.

[stepenwolf1958]

So, witch hunting season is open(again).

Torquemada rides again.

Department of Saint Inquisitors will be busy.(again and again)

[stepenwolf1958]

How many of you here, think this is a part of scenario to make Thailand fall apart?

Or, how many of you think this is just about greedy of Thai politicians?

[whybother]

The fact is. What you see happening in the Middle East from last several months until now, will eventually come to Thailand. One side lead by Taksin or one of his puppets.

The difference being is that the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa have been against leaders who have been in power for 20-30 years (or longer).

[thailife69]

reminds me so much of the USA, in fact a mirror image, Lincoln was right, problem is it did not get better, it only got worse.

the ignorance of the moral high ground! but then the world is used to it! apathetic to it! except for the people that continue to remind us by attacking it.

In some ways you could blame them for financially supporting a corrupt system here for so long.

Please tell me where the humanity is in that? Where is the moral high ground this righteous nation preaches from?

It's standing on a DOLLAR sign that is getting weaker and weaker by the day because bullshit, the selfishness and true patriotism.

Everything in S.E. Asia the US has made a mess of. Philippines, Indonesian, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

50 years after the fact when it feels it's time to tell the truth, we learn it slaughtered 2 million Laoations for no apparent reason.

It is ironic that they compare what happened in US due to the selfishness and true patriotism,

Someone should remind the Author, this is Thailand and Money talks and bushtit walks

[ianbaggie]

How many of you here, think this is a part of scenario to make Thailand fall apart?

Or, how many of you think this is just about greedy of Thai politicians?

Neither option "Steppy" we think its the vindictive actions of the fugitive murderer who wants to return for another dip in the till!!