Thai Parliament Quarrel Escalates In Hitler Salute

[george]

Thai parliament quarrel escalates in Hitler salute

http://youtu.be/8kFnQ9uvsw4

By Saksith Saiyasombut

After last month’s public misbehavior of a Thai MP involving peeking on a pornographic image on his phone (we reported), another crass misdemeanor played out for everybody to see in the Thai parliament. This time, a heated debate escalated in one MP giving the Hitler salute and screaming “Heil Hitler” at the top of his lungs on the House floor.

On May 2, in yet another preliminary parliament session debating the allocation of a 99-strong committee to draft amendments to the constitution, the opposition are objecting the role of the House speaker in this process, as they accuse him to have the power to pre-select 22 non-MP committee candidates (such as academics and NGOs) before the parliament decides on them.

Late into the night after 14 grueling hours, House speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont was about to wrap up the session, only to be interrupted by MP Boonyod Sukthinthai of the opposition Democrat Party:

ผู้สื่อข่าวรายงานว่า อย่างไรก็ตามก่อนที่จะมีการลงมตินั้นเกิดความวุ่นวายเล็กน้อย เมื่อนายบุญยอด สุขถิ่นไทย ส.ส.บัญชีรายชื่อ พรรคประชาธิปัตย์ได้ยกมือประท้วงว่านายสมศักดิ์ พยายามรวบรัด แต่นายสมศักดิ์ก็ไม่อนุญาตพร้อมตัดบทให้สมาชิกได้ลงมติ ทำให้นายบุญยอดตะโกนเสียงดังก้องห้องประชุมว่าจะขอประท้วงจนกว่าประธานจะได้ยิน พร้อมกับตะโกนว่า“ประธานเผด็จการ ไฮ ฮิตเลอร์” ซึ่งนายสมศักดิ์ยังตัดบทเช่นเดิมว่าตนไม่ได้ยินพร้อมสั่งให้ลงคะแนน

Reports say that before parliament was about to decide [on a proposal], a little bit of chaos ensued when MP Boonyod Sukthinthai of the Democrat Party raised his hand to protest House speaker Somsak’s hasty attempts to end [the session], but the latter refused to listen and proceeded to the voting, leading to Mr Boonyod yelling loudly that he will protest until the speaker will listen to him,

as he then shouted “Heil Hitler, Mr Speaker of the dictatorship! Heil Hitler!”

– to which Mr Somsak still refuses to listen and requests the parliament to cast in their votes.

“

สภาลงมติ337ต่อ50 ผ่านมาตรา291/6

“, Krungthep Turakij, May 2, 2012

As you can see clearly in the video above the shouting match started with the clearly annoyed Boonyod remarking that another five minutes to listen to his complaint won’t hurt him already, since the session has been going on all day, only to be ignored by the speaker, leading into a tantrum thrown by the Democrat MP which ended in that infamous scene.

This arbitrary and erratic display of Godwin’s law evidently shows the still volatile political climate that is being maintained, if not even increased by the parliamentary infighting over amendments to the constitution, to which the opposition fears potential abuse of power by the government (and most of all a carte blanche for Thaksin). Nevertheless, it shows an unacceptable behavior by our elected representatives, who think that any rough measures for this political discourse is legitimate.

Saksith Saiyasombut is a Thai blogger and journalist currently based in Hamburg, Germany. He can be followed on Twitter @Saksith and on Facebook here.

By Saksith Saiyasombut

-- Asiacorrespondent.com 2012-05-03

[Thai at Heart]

Godwin or Darwin, we need some higher caliber people in the house.

[yummypizza]

Now we know,they know who he was, not nice!!!

[NomadJoe]

I thought Thai's didn't know who Hitler was.

[kiniyow]

Unbelievable

[freedom4life]

Hitler salute? Who is claiming this? Even my Thai wife said that he is motioning to speak or wishes to keep speaking, because they shut-off his mic.; trying to incite something here?...

[Basch]

Hitler salute? Who is claiming this? Even my Thai wife said that he is motioning to speak or wishes to keep speaking, because they shut-off his mic.; trying to incite something here?...

Watch the clip at 3:07, as stated in the article he gives a "Hitler salute and [is] screaming “Heil Hitler” at the top of his lungs on the House floor."

[tragickingdom]

Opposition MP's are used to getting things done I suppose. Now the army doesn't listen to them anymore they fall from one low into another.

[dude007]

^{what a despicable disgrace... Nothing justifies such act!}

[NanLaew]

What a tosser!

[hookedondhamma]

Unbelievable

Not really. Tit my friend, this is fashion

[Basil B]

For many of us this is unacceptable and very bad thing to do...

But if the speaker is not acting impartially then this will only cause conflict which will spill out of the debating chamber resulting in more rioters and possibly another coup.

Unfortunately I think many of us come from countries where our own politician are not much better.

[straedearts]

It was done as sarcasm... The leader didnt understand......... The man was quoting as sarcasm HE WAS NOT PROMOTING HITLER..

Even though it is a BAD gig to do this he was not in the promotion role.......... He is Blue/ democrat party and was not promoting the man with a funny moustash!!..

He was saying YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT JUST LIKE HITLER... he was not impressed with what was happening......HE supports the Blue!

Please dont flame the guy for doing this..ask your girlfriend!!

[AngryParent]

Hitler salute? Who is claiming this? Even my Thai wife said that he is motioning to speak or wishes to keep speaking, because they shut-off his mic.; trying to incite something here?...

Did you hear him shout at 3:08 heil hitler a number of times (watch the video link with the story)?

[BKKBrit]

Hitler salute? Who is claiming this? Even my Thai wife said that he is motioning to speak or wishes to keep speaking, because they shut-off his mic.; trying to incite something here?...

Why don't you watch the whole video before putting digit to keyboard......

[moskito]

as he then shouted “Heil Hitler, Mr Speaker of the dictatorship! Heil Hitler!”

PLEASE keep it correct, he shouted 3 times Heil Hitler, but NOT of the dictatorship.... may be thats what he thought, but it was NOT what he said, and thats the difference between good reporting and forming an opinion -. SORRY

When this post here survice until tomorrow afternoon I will not shout the same btw. ... he was angry about censoring what he wanted to say

[MEL1]

Obviously another 'ear infection' being demonstrated.

-mel.

[JusticeFT96]

From what I see he was not being given a chance to get his view across so he was being sarcastic in suggesting that the house speaker was a dictator.

[JusticeFT96]

And moving on from nearly 70 years ago are we now not in the least bit offended by something like this? I know I am not maybe if he was sporting a skin head, boots and nazi clothing I would be offended but something like this no not in the slightest.

If people want to be scared, offended or anything else by the simple raise of an arm then I really pitty how you would live your life. If you are mocking the dead from the world wars thats different.

[DiamondKing]

Hitler salute? Who is claiming this? Even my Thai wife said that he is motioning to speak or wishes to keep speaking, because they shut-off his mic.; trying to incite something here?...

Something wrong with you hearing or eyesight ???? clearly he make a nazi salute while screaming hiel hitler no incite here pretty clear he is a Nazi lol

[katana]

Hadn't heard of him before, but Bunyot Sukthinthai's Wikipedia entry describes him as a former newsreader and radio presenter (disk jockey?). A graduate of Chula with a Bachelor's and Masters degree in Communication Arts who also spent some time studying in Australia. He's currently an MP for the Democratic party.

http://th.wikipedia....uo;ทย

Also came across this clip of him from 2 years ago being expelled from Parliament under similar circumstances, although this time without the Heil Hitler:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-56GhvNGFcQ

Possibly suffering from short man syndrome.

[tukkytuktuk]

"Heil Thaksin" was what he should have said. The vicious dictator is smoothing his way back to Thailand using his clone and making deals with Thai power set.

[edwardandtubs]

We used to do the same thing to our teachers when we were 8 years old.

[pedro01]

Low class all the way...

[sprq]

Hitler salute? Who is claiming this? Even my Thai wife said that he is motioning to speak or wishes to keep speaking, because they shut-off his mic.; trying to incite something here?...

Something wrong with you hearing or eyesight ???? clearly he make a nazi salute while screaming hiel hitler no incite here pretty clear he is a Nazi lol

No, what is clear if you have half a brain is that he is an anti-Nazi. He is criticising what he sees as the dictatorial behaviour -- or Nazi-like behaviour -- of the speaker. It is mockery. Got it now?

[gtm2k]

I thought Thai's didn't know who Hitler was.

My personal experience - most thai's dont know history beyond the borders of burma !

[Boss]

Sorry, but it takes more than a nice suit and a tie to make a gentleman. Banana Republic - Welcome to the hub of nihilism

[gbswales]

Surely all he is doing is comparing the speakers behaviour to that of a dictatorship. He is not "glorifying" or "praising" Hitler, just making a protest a protest about the speaker!

The ability of newspapers and journalists to make something out of nothing never ceases to amaze me. Thailand is a country that wasnt really actively involved in WW2, at least not the German part of it. I doubt it has any significant Jewish population to offend and in any event the accusation was aimed at an individual so clearly no one but that individual could take offence. He could just as easily have done a Russian or Burmese salute to make the same point and no one would be saying anything!!

Journalists - please focus on the political issues that actually affect people and stop bothering with the antics of a few flamboyant politicians - it seems the world is obsessed with the personal and public behaviour of people rather than on whether they do a good job or not. We have the same problem in UK with hysterical people screaming everytime a footballer or pop star does something in his/her private life which has no direct connection with their job! it is the same when a politician has an affair or engages in some kinky sexual activity - if it is not illegal what concern should it be to anyone how they enjoy themselves.

[tingtongfarang]

Hitler salute? Who is claiming this? Even my Thai wife said that he is motioning to speak or wishes to keep speaking, because they shut-off his mic.; trying to incite something here?...

Something wrong with you hearing or eyesight ???? clearly he make a nazi salute while screaming hiel hitler no incite here pretty clear he is a Nazi lol

No, what is clear if you have half a brain is that he is an anti-Nazi. He is criticising what he sees as the dictatorial behaviour -- or Nazi-like behaviour -- of the speaker. It is mockery. Got it now?

Thats the way i seen it also but it might have been better to shout heil thaksin to go along with the gesture.

[TAWP]

It should be noted that Saksith (writer of the article) is pro-Red (but not overly nor rabid) and as such has a motivation for not painting the situation completely fair/in context - I can only take that is the reason so many readers here misunderstands the action from the nutty/disappointed MP as being anything pro-nazi. It is clearly the opposite.