Nattawut speaks out on photo showing him in 'feudal' manner

[webfact]

Nattawut Speaks Out On Photo Showing Him In 'Feudal' Manner



BANGKOK: -- Deputy Minister of Commerce and prominent Redshirt leader Nattawut Saikuea hits back at critics who accuse him of treating his subordinates like feudal slaves after a photo of 2 officials kneeling down next to him in a meeting room surfaced in social network.

The photo is said to originate from Mr. Sirichok "Wallpaper" Sopa, an MP of the opposition Democrat Party, who posted it on his Facebook account, with a caption that reads "Ammart?"

Ammart means feudalistic rulers, and is a phrase adopted by the Redshirts to attack whom they saw as the oppressive upper class elite. Another variation of the term is Ammartayatippatai or Ammartocracy.

Mr. Sirichok, nicknamed "Wallpaper" by the media for his regular appearance behind Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajeeva in numerous press conferences, seemed to suggest that Mr. Nattawut renegades on his Redshirts agenda.The photo was widely shared by anti-government critics.

Later, Mr. Nattawut wrote on his Facebook that the photo was taken yesterday at the Ministry of Commerce while he waited for the Minister of Commerce to attend a meeting. He said the 2 officials briefly went on their knees to tell him about the meeting procedure. Mr. Nattawut added that the encounter was longer than a minute.

Full story: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM01qYzJOVEUyTmc9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-07-03

[NongKhaiKid]

Is this not a common aspect of Thai culture with subordinates showing deference, sometime excessively, to senior people.

i have deliberately avoided using the word " superior ' because I detest it and how it's used in respect of people, I am superior to no one and no one is superior to me.

[Thait Spot]

Four legs good.

2 legs better!

[SlideRiceFC]

If "Ammart?" is all the caption said it could be a snide joke. If he is insinuating that this is how Nattawut often receives or insists his subordinates act then I could see the need for something more to be said. But other than that I just see two people who don't seem to have seats made available to them being polite by avoiding "talking down" to a senior so as much as I have distaste for the man I don't see the need for him to explain anything.

Edited July 3, 2013 by SlideRiceFC

[OzMick]

At least they are not under the table.

[Thai at Heart]

Very common actions in Thailand.

[moe666]

No matter the reason why one way or the other it is a good photo op., for the opposition

[bigbamboo]

"While you're down there, girls........"

[Tatsujin]

At least they are not under the table.

That was in the video which can be seen on YouTube later today . . . featuring a katoey, a rich monk, a scary ghost and a big fat funny gay guy . . . oh, and the jealous, psychotic mistress . . . think that covers it all . . .

[OzMick]

What's with his shirt? Did they run out of horizontal stripes?

[NongKhaiKid]

At least they are not under the table.

That was in the video which can be seen on YouTube later today . . . featuring a katoey, a rich monk, a scary ghost and a big fat funny gay guy . . . oh, and the jealous, psychotic mistress . . . think that covers it all . . .

What about the corrupt politician, civil servant and BIB ?

[mrtoad]

At least they are not under the table.

That was in the video which can be seen on YouTube later today . . . featuring a katoey, a rich monk, a scary ghost and a big fat funny gay guy . . . oh, and the jealous, psychotic mistress . . . think that covers it all . . .

You missed the dwarf

[huangnon]

"Feudalistic" is still the best way to describe politics and its players in Thailand, unfortunately.

[americaninbangkok]

Resistance is feudal.

[OzMick]

So, where are these photos of his big house?

Edited July 3, 2013 by OzMick

[Docno]

I wouldn't make too much out of a photo like this taken during a meeting. Just a couple weeks back, I was giving training and I had to go to the back of the room to have a quiet chat with an observing consultant, 20 years my junior, sitting behind a desk. I could have either got her to stand up, bent over her, or squatted next to her... I did the latter because it was easiest for me, put us at eye-level, and was the least disruptive to others in the room. I'm sure if someone had taken a photo of me at that point, they could have put the same sort of spin on it, but it would have been way off the mark.

[OzMick]

I wouldn't make too much out of a photo like this taken during a meeting. Just a couple weeks back, I was giving training and I had to go to the back of the room to have a quiet chat with an observing consultant, 20 years my junior, sitting behind a desk. I could have either got her to stand up, bent over her, or squatted next to her... I did the latter because it was easiest for me, put us at eye-level, and was the least disruptive to others in the room. I'm sure if someone had taken a photo of me at that point, they could have put the same sort of spin on it, but it would have been way off the mark.

So you are a "leg man"?

[Nickymaster]

Was he wearing his Hermes belt again?

[drdoom6996]

Ammart will soon be a term only associated with the PTP party and the Red shirts.

[Ricardo]

Can't Khun Nattawut have his detractors flogged, or beheaded, or something ?

[gl555]

I love how these red idiots keep harping about Abhisit 'running away from military service' while ignoring how their cowardly boss runs away from justice. What a bunch of hypocrites.

[jbrain]

What else would you expect in a country where in the schools is taught to crawl over the floor when one higher in rank happens to be in the same room.

[Always18]

"While you're down there, girls........"

...............beat me to it!

[americaninbangkok]

Was he wearing his Hermes belt again?

No... one of the monks had borrowed it.

[SOTIRIOS]

....I guess the suggestion is.....hypocrisy......

[SICHONSTEVE]

Is this not a common aspect of Thai culture with subordinates showing deference, sometime excessively, to senior people.

i have deliberately avoided using the word " superior ' because I detest it and how it's used in respect of people, I am superior to no one and no one is superior to me.

I beg to differ on this superiority thing.

I think I am superior to the Yorkshire ripper and Gareth Bale is superior to me as long as he keeps on knocking the goals in for 'the mighty Spurs'!!!

[blazes]

Four legs good.

2 legs better!

Thank you, Mr Orwell, for that contribution. All Thais are equal, but some are more equal than others....

[Thait Spot]

I wouldn't make too much out of a photo like this taken during a meeting. Just a couple weeks back, I was giving training and I had to go to the back of the room to have a quiet chat with an observing consultant, 20 years my junior, sitting behind a desk. I could have either got her to stand up, bent over her, or squatted next to her... I did the latter because it was easiest for me, put us at eye-level, and was the least disruptive to others in the room. I'm sure if someone had taken a photo of me at that point, they could have put the same sort of spin on it, but it would have been way off the mark.

Squatters' rights mate.

Don't try that after a som tum.

[klauskunkel]

Nattawut to Yingluck: "...and this is exactly why we have to increase our furniture budget! I just happen to know an excellent supplier of office chairs, who is very easy to deal with..."

[iancnx]

Poor old boy, if only he had Bill Clinton's good looks and dazzling personality.