'Invisible Hand' Throttles Our Democracy; Thai Opinion

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

'Invisible hand' throttles our democracy

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

The "invisible hand", "special power", "irresistible force", all these words have been mentioned frequently lately by people, politicians and the mass media when discussing Thai politics, the upcoming general election and what may follow.

These expressions are used as a substitute for an alleged unspeakable and unconstitutional force in Thai politics, to make the otherwise incomplete stories about politics and its manipulation slightly more comprehensible.

Last week, Chart Thai Pattana party leader Chumpol Silpa-acha claimed his party was coerced to join the Democrat-led coalition government in 2008 through some "irresistible force". By the way, that crucial coalition-formation talk took place at the residence of then Army Chief General Anuphong Paochinda.

On Sunday, PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat party, claimed there was neither an "invisible hand" nor "special power" in Thai politics.

However, many Thais- including some long-term observers of Thai politics and society - will likely continue to talk about the existence of the invisible hand, or the special power, for as long as our politics work in their mysterious ways.

Earlier this month, veteran Reuters correspondent Andrew Marshall, a deputy Bureau Chief in Bangkok between 2000 to 2002, who moved to Singapore in 2008, resigned from his post as deputy editor to write about Thailand, the invisible hand and the latest batch of WikiLeaks.

Marshall justified his regretful resignation in order to write honestly on his blog about Thai politics without fear by stating:

"Because of Thailand's harsh lese majeste, defamation and computer crimes laws, which criminalise telling the truth about powerful figures, it was not possible for Reuters to guarantee the safety of its staff within Thailand if it ran the story."

As far as this writer is aware, Reuters' Bangkok Bureau is bracing for a visit from the Thai authorities as Marshall, who is not in Thailand, begins uploading his 40,000 to 50,000 words story today.

What Marshall has written aside, we can view "the invisible hand" as a puppet master, who pulls the string of Thai politics from behind.

The hand (he or she, there could be more than one invisible hand), operates in the shadow because it cannot bear the scrutiny, the transparency and accountability of a democratic society. It also apparently does not believe the majority of voters should be able to elect their own representatives and determine the future course of Thai society.

The flesh and blood puppets of the invisible hand can at time rebel and become a loose cannon, however. What Chumpol said last week might have been an aberration of a puppet and so he quickly enough, but belatedly, tried to play down what he had said earlier.

There are many puppets. Their job is to make unconstitutional and unpalatable things acceptable and be rewarded. These flesh and blood puppets do have their own ambitions and interests too, so their relationship with the puppet master, or the invisible hand, isn't actually that straightforward and smooth, and not always subservient.

The invisible hand remains invisible, however, pulling the strings from behind, manipulating things, and silencing critics through the use of laws as mentioned by Marshall or through propaganda.

Like a vampire fearing the scrutiny of sunlight, Thai politics can never be comprehensible or democratic without trying to make visible the invisible hand.

Who was the real mastermind of the military coup in September 2006? Was there an order to shoot to kill in April and May 2010? A year after, why has not a single person been arrested and charged in relation to the 91 deaths which occurred during the clashes between red shirts and soldiers in Bangkok? Will the invisible hand act after the July third election?

Yes, the invisible hand is still invisible, but increasingly, people are visibly talking about it.

[NanLaew]

As my 3 year-old says, it sounds like a job for Ben-10.

Children. The lot of 'em.

[maewrocks]

It is poetic (& very timely) justice that the forces that installed Abhisit & the Democrats to power are playing the most crucial role in their spectacular downfall. It's only the ThaksinVengeance.com red bashers that are refusing to admit the truth at this stage. Never elected, never respected.

[ianf]

It is poetic (& very timely) justice that the forces that installed Abhisit & the Democrats to power are playing the most crucial role in their spectacular downfall. It's only the ThaksinVengeance.com red bashers that are refusing to admit the truth at this stage. Never elected, never respected.

Wrong again. The invisible hand is the Global movement that people deny exist in world politics. There is no doubt that Thaksin, Amsterdam et al are connected to events in the Arab Spring, and Thailand is just another country standing in the way of world domination for some of the world's wealthier people. There was an interesting programme on TV the other night about how the banks manipulated and controlled economies but fell at the hands of politicians as their scams were revealed (sorry a short hand way of describing these events). One academic had been commissioned to write a favourable report on Iceland two months before its collapse, a month later his CV revealed that he had changed the title of the report to mean the opposite. Those who are writing reports for Freedom House about Thailand are also being paid large amounts to distort the facts. I suggest everyone should read the LandDestroyer reports before commenting here.

[jayboy]

It is poetic (& very timely) justice that the forces that installed Abhisit & the Democrats to power are playing the most crucial role in their spectacular downfall. It's only the ThaksinVengeance.com red bashers that are refusing to admit the truth at this stage. Never elected, never respected.

Wrong again. The invisible hand is the Global movement that people deny exist in world politics. There is no doubt that Thaksin, Amsterdam et al are connected to events in the Arab Spring, and Thailand is just another country standing in the way of world domination for some of the world's wealthier people. There was an interesting programme on TV the other night about how the banks manipulated and controlled economies but fell at the hands of politicians as their scams were revealed (sorry a short hand way of describing these events). One academic had been commissioned to write a favourable report on Iceland two months before its collapse, a month later his CV revealed that he had changed the title of the report to mean the opposite. Those who are writing reports for Freedom House about Thailand are also being paid large amounts to distort the facts. I suggest everyone should read the LandDestroyer reports before commenting here.

You forgot to mention that the world is in fact being controlled by a race of giant lizards.

[whybother]

It is poetic (& very timely) justice that the forces that installed Abhisit & the Democrats to power are playing the most crucial role in their spectacular downfall. It's only the ThaksinVengeance.com red bashers that are refusing to admit the truth at this stage. Never elected, never respected.

Wrong again. The invisible hand is the Global movement that people deny exist in world politics. There is no doubt that Thaksin, Amsterdam et al are connected to events in the Arab Spring, and Thailand is just another country standing in the way of world domination for some of the world's wealthier people. There was an interesting programme on TV the other night about how the banks manipulated and controlled economies but fell at the hands of politicians as their scams were revealed (sorry a short hand way of describing these events). One academic had been commissioned to write a favourable report on Iceland two months before its collapse, a month later his CV revealed that he had changed the title of the report to mean the opposite. Those who are writing reports for Freedom House about Thailand are also being paid large amounts to distort the facts. I suggest everyone should read the LandDestroyer reports before commenting here.

You forgot to mention that the world is in fact being controlled by a race of giant lizards.

I thought it was white mice.

[marinediscoking]

Let the voters decide. Let the chips fall where they may.

[RogueExpat]

Let the voters decide. Let the chips fall where they may.

It has allready been "decided" long before voting day.

Election is just one big pantomine to appease the masses, oh and international observers.

[virtualtraveller]

There are lots of hands at work here, the one in Dubai isn't even bothering to be invisible, the others are about to be exposed.

[rubl]

You forgot to mention that the world is in fact being controlled by a race of giant lizards.

Propaganda, in reality those lizards were only seven inches high rather than seven foot

"Happening at any other time this would have been considered unusual, but happening at this moment it was spectacularly unusual and they all, including Bill, gaped as a seven-inch high lizard climbed out of the open skull and jumped to the floor in which it made a sizable dent upon landing. It had four tiny arms, a long tail, a head like a baby alligator and was bright green. It looked exactly like a Chinger except that it was seven inches tall instead of seven feet."

Bill, the Galactic Hero, Harry Harison

Edited June 15, 2011 by rubl

[Insight]

Reading the article over on the other side, I feel it would of been much more astute of Pryuth reminded people of the real arson attacks conducted by the red shirts all over Bangkok and North Thailand, rather than cite suspected attacks on the usual target. While doing the latter may have a greater short term effect (or will it?) it will only serve to undermine whatever democratic process there is here in the long term.

Edited June 15, 2011 by Insight

[Crushdepth]

Substitute "Thaksin" for "invisible hand" and the article is quite credible.

[Ricardo]

You forgot to mention that the world is in fact being controlled by a race of giant lizards.

Propaganda, in reality those lizards were only seven inches high rather than seven foot

"Happening at any other time this would have been considered unusual, but happening at this moment it was spectacularly unusual and they all, including Bill, gaped as a seven-inch high lizard climbed out of the open skull and jumped to the floor in which it made a sizable dent upon landing. It had four tiny arms, a long tail, a head like a baby alligator and was bright green. It looked exactly like a Chinger except that it was seven inches tall instead of seven feet."

Bill, the Galactic Hero, Harry Harison

So green is the new red or yellow, then.

[Mosha]

David Icke says the lizards are 12' tall. It must be true if David Icke says it.

Edited June 15, 2011 by Mosha

[RedNIvar]

About time the Thaksinphobics came out of the woodwork and link Thaksin into this article.

[ginjag]

It is poetic (& very timely) justice that the forces that installed Abhisit & the Democrats to power are playing the most crucial role in their spectacular downfall. It's only the ThaksinVengeance.com red bashers that are refusing to admit the truth at this stage. Never elected, never respected.

So like the handful of the Thaksin lovers on the thread-DO YOU firmly believe that This family run business SHOW is the lesser of the 2 evils ?? leaving aside the way Abhisit was elected by the M.P.s. repeat again do you really think that What happened when Thaksin was in power the bad abuse is mild enough to have him back. get real

[gregb]

Mr. Pravit has got this completely wrong.

When someone has to go to the bathroom to relieve their bowels, it is not a pretty thing. It is something that needs to be done for sure, but it is not something that any of us enjoy seeing, and it isn't something we would particularly brag about to our friends. Worse, if someone has to put toilets out in the open, you get a whole bunch of newspaper editorial writers complaining about the sight and smell. Sadly, fecal matter is an inescapable part of life, and the fact that it is unpleasant does not mean you can remove it.

The invisible hand is a very necessary part of the Thai political scene right now. Without it, the tyranny Thaksin stands for and the evil he espouses will be allowed to thrive. Nobody like the reality of the invisible hand, but it would be a death sentence for the country to do away with it at this stage. Yes, just like your last trip to the john, the invisible hand stinks. It is also a life giving process that clears the body of toxins and allows it to thrive. The best way to get rid of the invisible hand is to let it do its job and clear this country of the poison Thaksin has deposited.

Once that is done, the invisible hand will disappear and Thailand might once again be free to try and reestablish the fledgling democracy Thaksin destroyed.

[redsquare]

The invisible hand is a very necessary part of the Thai political scene right now.

And has been for several decades. The invisible hand has been active for a long time, this isn't a recent development. If you think it is then do some background reading.

[ianf]

It is poetic (& very timely) justice that the forces that installed Abhisit & the Democrats to power are playing the most crucial role in their spectacular downfall. It's only the ThaksinVengeance.com red bashers that are refusing to admit the truth at this stage. Never elected, never respected.

Wrong again. The invisible hand is the Global movement that people deny exist in world politics. There is no doubt that Thaksin, Amsterdam et al are connected to events in the Arab Spring, and Thailand is just another country standing in the way of world domination for some of the world's wealthier people. There was an interesting programme on TV the other night about how the banks manipulated and controlled economies but fell at the hands of politicians as their scams were revealed (sorry a short hand way of describing these events). One academic had been commissioned to write a favourable report on Iceland two months before its collapse, a month later his CV revealed that he had changed the title of the report to mean the opposite. Those who are writing reports for Freedom House about Thailand are also being paid large amounts to distort the facts. I suggest everyone should read the LandDestroyer reports before commenting here.

You forgot to mention that the world is in fact being controlled by a race of giant lizards.

There are strong indications that the events we are witnessing go beyond merely trying to get Thaksin back into power. One of the red shirt leaders himself admitted that funding came from overseas, not just Thaksin, Seh Daeng (unwisely) blew the gaff about 300 men in black (before someone silenced him), Robert Amsterdam's website reveals so much about his black propaganda that bears no comparison to events on the ground. I guess if you repeat a lie long enough then people will believe you. And when those people are the farmers of Isaan or the tuk tuk drivers of Chiang Mai, then through careful manipulation and indoctrination you can use them as your cannon fodder. Take the piss if you like, but come back to me in three years (say) and admit you had your head buried in the sand like so many others. Even one of the national english language papers runs scared of the truth.

[notime]

Once that is done, the invisible hand will disappear and Thailand might once again be free to try and reestablish the fledgling democracy Thaksin destroyed.

Maybe yes maybe no. Where is the social contract to guarantee that happen? Any "invisible hand" could justify it's actions by claiming they're just for the moment. There will always be some accuse .. Thaksin, economic crisis, global warming, war with a neighbor .. or whatever. I think the only "invisible hand" should be the will of the people of the country, people well informed by free and independent media and protected by the functioning system of justice. Nothing else has the legitimacy in the 21st century and beyond. The problem with Thailand is that it still IS a very very feudal country.

[random]

Reading the article over on the other side, I feel it would of been much more astute of Pryuth reminded people of the real arson attacks conducted by the red shirts all over Bangkok and North Thailand, rather than cite suspected attacks on the usual target. While doing the latter may have a greater short term effect (or will it?) it will only serve to undermine whatever democratic process there is here in the long term.

Well as nobody has been convicted for these and while his own army are under suspicion then I guess he felt it best to keep his own counsel on it.

[soundman]

Please use politician's correct names or you will find your post removed from view.

[Emptyset]

The invisible hand is a very necessary part of the Thai political scene right now. Without it, the tyranny Thaksin stands for and the evil he espouses will be allowed to thrive. Nobody like the reality of the invisible hand, but it would be a death sentence for the country to do away with it at this stage. Yes, just like your last trip to the john, the invisible hand stinks. It is also a life giving process that clears the body of toxins and allows it to thrive. The best way to get rid of the invisible hand is to let it do its job and clear this country of the poison Thaksin has deposited.

Once that is done, the invisible hand will disappear and Thailand might once again be free to try and reestablish the fledgling democracy Thaksin destroyed.

There's no empirical/historical evidence to suggest the hand will 'disappear'. Your hypothesis seems to be based merely on blind trust. Yep, that's how they justified the Thammasat massacre isn't it? "If we hadn't taught those students a lesson, the evil that communism stands for would've had free reign in our universities, threatening what it means to be Thai..." When in fact, the fleeing students gave the insurgency a new impetus. Blowing the communist threat out of all proportion was a bad idea in many ways since it became a self-fulfilling prophecy (the threat really did eventually become significant but only after state crackdowns on moderate leftists and even propagandizing for communism at times - putting out false publications promoting Marxism to justify more US funding and in order to make citizens fearful and supportive of the state). You can see this in a similar way. Of course, we'll never know for sure. But I'd bet that Thaksin would be gone from the scene now in a 'natural' way if it weren't for the 2006 coup and the continuing interventions...

In any case, you need to let citizens work out these things for themselves in order for democracy to progress. Berlusconi is as bad (or maybe even worse, not really on an individual moral level, but in terms of the damage he's done to the state) than Thaksin, do Italians call for a coup and a 'third hand' to intervene?

[thaihome]

As far as this writer is aware, Reuters' Bangkok Bureau is bracing for a visit from the Thai authorities as Marshall, who is not in Thailand, begins uploading his 40,000 to 50,000 words story today.

Does not appear Marshall meet his deadline, unless he waiting for prime time in the US and Europe to upload this story.

TH

[Emptyset]

As far as this writer is aware, Reuters' Bangkok Bureau is bracing for a visit from the Thai authorities as Marshall, who is not in Thailand, begins uploading his 40,000 to 50,000 words story today.

Does not appear Marshall meet his deadline, unless he waiting for prime time in the US and Europe to upload this story.

TH

Yep, he's still not finished. Should be before the end of the week though.

[MILT]

Mr. Pravit has got this completely wrong.

When someone has to go to the bathroom to relieve their bowels, it is not a pretty thing. It is something that needs to be done for sure, but it is not something that any of us enjoy seeing, and it isn't something we would particularly brag about to our friends. Worse, if someone has to put toilets out in the open, you get a whole bunch of newspaper editorial writers complaining about the sight and smell. Sadly, fecal matter is an inescapable part of life, and the fact that it is unpleasant does not mean you can remove it.

The invisible hand is a very necessary part of the Thai political scene right now. Without it, the tyranny Thaksin stands for and the evil he espouses will be allowed to thrive. Nobody like the reality of the invisible hand, but it would be a death sentence for the country to do away with it at this stage. Yes, just like your last trip to the john, the invisible hand stinks. It is also a life giving process that clears the body of toxins and allows it to thrive. The best way to get rid of the invisible hand is to let it do its job and clear this country of the poison Thaksin has deposited.

Once that is done, the invisible hand will disappear and Thailand might once again be free to try and reestablish the fledgling democracy Thaksin destroyed.

[animatic]

It is poetic (& very timely) justice that the forces that installed Abhisit & the Democrats to power are playing the most crucial role in their spectacular downfall. It's only the ThaksinVengeance.com red bashers that are refusing to admit the truth at this stage. Never elected, never respected.

Wrong again. The invisible hand is the Global movement that people deny exist in world politics. There is no doubt that Thaksin, Amsterdam et al are connected to events in the Arab Spring, and Thailand is just another country standing in the way of world domination for some of the world's wealthier people. There was an interesting programme on TV the other night about how the banks manipulated and controlled economies but fell at the hands of politicians as their scams were revealed (sorry a short hand way of describing these events). One academic had been commissioned to write a favourable report on Iceland two months before its collapse, a month later his CV revealed that he had changed the title of the report to mean the opposite. Those who are writing reports for Freedom House about Thailand are also being paid large amounts to distort the facts. I suggest everyone should read the LandDestroyer reports before commenting here.

You forgot to mention that the world is in fact being controlled by a race of giant lizards.

Ah...

that would be the incoming EU Monitor Lizards then?

[ianf]

I think there are serious issues here that affect people's lives. People have been killed and maimed and all you can do is ..... I give up!

[gregb]

Berlusconi is as bad (or maybe even worse, not really on an individual moral level, but in terms of the damage he's done to the state) than Thaksin

Berlusconi is not a demagogue. He is not a good person, but Thaksin operates at a level well beyond his minor antics. Thaksin would be more comparable to a man like Hitler. And yes, the world would be a much better place if good people had rallied to remove him, democracy being irrelevant to that question, as it is in this one. Allowing Thaksin to continue is not something that can be tolerated by people of good moral character.

[Robroy]

You forgot to mention that the world is in fact being controlled by a race of giant lizards.

For the sake of accuracy:

Giant lizards from the planet Draco, who have merged their DNA into that of the Bush family.

(I'd hate to think that TV readers were not getting the Whole Truth.)