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Former FM Surin: "Democracy in Thailand has different definition


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Posted

UNITING FOR THE FUTURE
"Democracy in Thailand has different definition,": former FM

Nuntida Puangthong
The Nation

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File photo : Surin

BANGKOK: -- Former Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said Monday that the governmentsponsored forum; "Uniting for The Future" to find solutions for reconciliation in Thailand reflected the fact that democracy in this country was differently defined.

The most important thing is how to build trust and open the discussions for participation by everyone in the country, he said.

Currently, the opposition could not work effectively in the parliament, independent organisations are not truly independent and the mass media cannot access information freely, he noted.

The problem is not a conflict between the government and the opposition as it is in many other countries but also comes from outsiders who have fuelled misunderstanding and mistrust, he said.

Surin attended as an audience member the forum where former British prime minister Tony Blair and Finland's former leader Martti Ahtisaari were key speakers.

Many other Democrats such as former Senator Kraisak Choonhavan also attended.

Outside the meeting room, a group of some 20 Thai patriots staged a brief protest in front of Plaza Athenee hotel to protest the invitation of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to the forum.

The group understood that the money for Blair's expenses came from their tax money and said it was a major waste of funds to hire foreign speakers to talk about internal conflict. As long as the government listens to the Thai people, it's useless to have foreigners speak about Thailand, they said.

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-- The Nation 2013-09-02

Posted

It just gets better and better . . . Democracy is not Democracy in Thailand cos they say it means something different . . . so what the hell is it?

And why oh why do those pesky foreigners get the blame for everything? Can no one here take responsibility for anything? Mai pen lai needs to be thrown out the window.

  • Like 1
Posted

Missing the point here.

Re-inventing the wheel is necessary to make all of the mistakes everyone else in the democratic world has already made to get the real experience of democracy.

Given 200 years or so, they will work it out on their own and that generation will reap the rewards!

Shame those protestors will not.

Posted

"Democracy is a good and beautiful thing, but it's not the ultimate goal"

Thaksin

Thaksin's view on democracy was made pretty clear by this statement he made. I am pretty sure he felt it would

interfere with his looting of the country, so it has no place here. Also am pretty sure his clones are

following the same program.....

  • Like 2
Posted

"Currently, the opposition could not work effectively in the parliament, independent organisations are not truly independent and the mass media cannot access information freely, he noted.

The problem is not a conflict between the government and the opposition as it is in many other countries but also comes from outsiders who have fuelled misunderstanding and mistrust, he said."

There you are. The old tired thai elite and it's someone else's fault.

The trouble is the opposition doesn't work effectively in parliament or elsewhere.

Independent organisations are run by the Dem's placemen and women. Note the the Human rights group "gathering evidence from the rubber farmers in the south as/because of the drunkards shootings at 3 in the morning.

The mass media cannot disseminate information freely.

Whilst Surin Pitsuwan dissembles his party are doing their best down in the south to stir up anti government support and for sure they won't comment on this meeting.

They can't as they boycotted it.

Posted

Whilst Surin Pitsuwan dissembles his party are doing their best down in the south to stir up anti government support and for sure they won't comment on this meeting.

Stirring up anti government support, gosh, I wonder how they thought of that? Well, at least he isn't offering 500 Baht per day, or telling the crowds to bring gasoline and burn government buildings.

Posted

Actually Khun Surin is right.

For example in Thailand we have the Democratic Party and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship neither of which follow democratic principles any ancient Greek would recognise.

Posted

Tony is there for 2 things, 1: to advise how to be corrupt and stay off the radar 2: a night out down nana plaza

Maybe he just had lunch with Yingluck?

Posted

What many miss here thai democracy is very young, It was only established in what 1939 or there abouts. In the time line they are like 10 year olds wanting, wanting but unable to figure out how to get. It will take many years before they can grow up. The US is whatt about 250 years old and still acts like a kid now and again. The Europeans and English have had a few more years at the game and are a bit more mature in there dealings

  • Like 1
Posted

Tony is there for 2 things, 1: to advise how to be corrupt and stay off the radar 2: a night out down nana plaza

No chance of Nana, Tony will get a guided tour of the Thailand cultural centers and all they have to offer, along Ratchadapisek Avenue, providing, of course, he left the Cherie at home.

  • Like 1
Posted

The problem is not a conflict between the government and the opposition as it is in many other countries but also comes from outsiders who have fuelled misunderstanding and mistrust, he said.

What complete and utter piffle. Which outsiders are these? Does chiangmai count as outside because it is ban nork?

Posted

The problem is not a conflict between the government and the opposition as it is in many other countries but also comes from outsiders who have fuelled misunderstanding and mistrust, he said.

What complete and utter piffle. Which outsiders are these? Does chiangmai count as outside because it is ban nork?

Be fair though, this guy actually makes our Tone look almost sensible and credible. And, that's hard to do.

Another embarrasing politician spouting nonsense.

  • Like 1
Posted

The problem is not a conflict between the government and the opposition as it is in many other countries but also comes from outsiders who have fuelled misunderstanding and mistrust, he said.

What complete and utter piffle. Which outsiders are these? Does chiangmai count as outside because it is ban nork?

Be fair though, this guy actually makes our Tone look almost sensible and credible. And, that's hard to do.

Another embarrasing politician spouting nonsense.

Well Tony Blair is Tony Blair. This bloke is potentially the next bright spark in the democrats.

Falang no understand Thai democlacy. Teyelan no same same, falang make beeg ploblem.

I mean honestly. Outsiders have caused problems in Thai democracy? Maybe he's pissed of that the Greeks invented it at all. They may as well stop calling it democracy in Thailand full stop if idiots like this are responsible for protecting or implementing it.

It's not Thai democracy has a different meaning in Thailand it's that Thais are apparently so dumb they can't understand democracy.

  • Like 2
Posted

The Thai politicians understand democracy very well. They use the facets of it they want and utterly corrupt them. Cast your ballots and may the majority win because we have paid them! This is the bastardized democracy Thais understand. It has been learnt over the years by their close neighbors the Cambodians and Thaksin has been there brushing up his skills over the last few years.

Yes Thai democracy has a different meaning in Thailand - that meaning is corruption and despotism.

I cry for this country.

Posted

Now I understand why our head teacher's always saying: " Democrazy." With Tony Blair indeed a "Democrazier."-coffee1.gif

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