Anti-govt forces have a new 'bogeyman' - the Western media

[Melpomene]

as irrational and emotionally immature his words may sound, they do represent the widespread attitude towards farungs many Thais seem to have, openly advocated by Suthep and his followers. It would be quite likely, once they get to power on the political vote-buying-military-coups-merry-go-round, that farung expats will get hard times ahead in Thailand.

Indeed, Suthep's PDRC, if they ever get what they want, will be very, very bad for expats currently living in Thailand.

[Melpomene]

Western media assumes the government institutions, et al, in Thailand are on a par to their Western counterparts, and thus the uprising rabble must be in the wrong?

Western media has a pro-democracy bias. I'm not sure that's a bad thing.

[Soutpeel]

as irrational and emotionally immature his words may sound, they do represent the widespread attitude towards farungs many Thais seem to have, openly advocated by Suthep and his followers. It would be quite likely, once they get to power on the political vote-buying-military-coups-merry-go-round, that farung expats will get hard times ahead in Thailand.

Actually a lot of what is written sounds like a typical TV rant you see everyday, can't see what the problem is he is entitled to his opinion and some of what he says is true, Thailand IS full of farang losers

,

[Soutpeel]

I'm guessing none of this gentleman's family went to a foreign school right? don't drive foreign cars? watch foreign TVs, let alone get foreign medical care? clothes, computers? and all that jazz?

nationalism is, actually, what destroys nations - we need a more inclusive world not exclusive. This "I am Thai" nationalistic arrogance does not help this country as much as "I am American" or "I am French" so what? our poo all smells the same

Ah the old colonial attitude of if it wasn't for us they would still swinging in the tree's line !

[bobmac10]

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"

Samuel Johnson. 1775

[soi41]

The "well educated" doctor spewing his xenophobic venom:

And one of his farangsponsored patients:

[thomash]

These so called educated anti-government protesters are sounding more and more like fascist everyday and these type of comments only reinforce that. These type of ploys may have worked back in the 1930's but in this day and age of the globalization and the internet it just turns people off big time! Thank Buddha that the Thai military is not siding with this movement that wants to bring Thailand back to the fascist dictatorship of the 30's and 40'! By the way I wonder if this so called educated person has ever actually read or studied the history of the 20th century concerning fascism because he sounds like a fascist from that time period!

[newcomer71]

I'm guessing none of this gentleman's family went to a foreign school right? don't drive foreign cars? watch foreign TVs, let alone get foreign medical care? clothes, computers? and all that jazz?

nationalism is, actually, what destroys nations - we need a more inclusive world not exclusive. This "I am Thai" nationalistic arrogance does not help this country as much as "I am American" or "I am French" so what? our poo all smells the same

Ah the old colonial attitude of if it wasn't for us they would still swinging in the tree's line !

The truth is always in the middle... Sure khun Pathonpong is on the ather edge...

And I don't see in binjalin post anything wrong, he only spoke about him and his family, nothing arrogant toward all Thais.

And binjalin made a good point: All ultra nationalism is dangerous, not only Thai ultranationalism.

[robblok]

as irrational and emotionally immature his words may sound, they do represent the widespread attitude towards farungs many Thais seem to have, openly advocated by Suthep and his followers. It would be quite likely, once they get to power on the political vote-buying-military-coups-merry-go-round, that farung expats will get hard times ahead in Thailand.

Actually a lot of what is written sounds like a typical TV rant you see everyday, can't see what the problem is he is entitled to his opinion and some of what he says is true, Thailand IS full of farang losers

,

Not only that i do feel that there are more then a few bias farang red reporters around. For me it still is a mystery how anyone with an education can support the shin clan and wants to hold back on reforms to get the checks and balances back.

I have yet to see a report from the foreign media how this all started because of the secret way they wanted to rush that amnesty bill through. Not causally mentioning it but telling how it was and how morally and financially corrupt this government is.

And I agree there are a lot of foreign losers in Thailand but that is a given.

[newcomer71]

as irrational and emotionally immature his words may sound, they do represent the widespread attitude towards farungs many Thais seem to have, openly advocated by Suthep and his followers. It would be quite likely, once they get to power on the political vote-buying-military-coups-merry-go-round, that farung expats will get hard times ahead in Thailand.

Actually a lot of what is written sounds like a typical TV rant you see everyday, can't see what the problem is he is entitled to his opinion and some of what he says is true, Thailand IS full of farang losers

Thanks God I am not a loser, I have a good job, my happy family, kids, and I respect all Thais.

I am not keen to respect opinions of who insults other people, out of any respect. And I would not be so easy to call people 'losers'.

Life is a wheel, today we are on the winning spot, tomorrow who knows...

Edited December 25, 2013 by newcomer71

[thomash]

I'm guessing none of this gentleman's family went to a foreign school right? don't drive foreign cars? watch foreign TVs, let alone get foreign medical care? clothes, computers? and all that jazz?

nationalism is, actually, what destroys nations - we need a more inclusive world not exclusive. This "I am Thai" nationalistic arrogance does not help this country as much as "I am American" or "I am French" so what? our poo all smells the same

Ah the old colonial attitude of if it wasn't for us they would still swinging in the tree's line !

I think you missed the point it is called globalization for better or worse but the real point is extreme nationalism can lead to fascism. Thailand was under a fascist dictatorship during the 30's and 40's which it seems some people within the anti-government movement such as this so called educated anti-government protester from Bangkok want to go back to.

[thomash]

as irrational and emotionally immature his words may sound, they do represent the widespread attitude towards farungs many Thais seem to have, openly advocated by Suthep and his followers. It would be quite likely, once they get to power on the political vote-buying-military-coups-merry-go-round, that farung expats will get hard times ahead in Thailand.

Actually a lot of what is written sounds like a typical TV rant you see everyday, can't see what the problem is he is entitled to his opinion and some of what he says is true, Thailand IS full of farang losers

Thanks God I am not a loser, I have a good job, my happy family, kids, and I respect all Thais.

I am not keen to respect opinions of who insults other people, out of any respect.

Maybe you believe Thailand is full of farang losers because your hanging out with the wrong crowd!

[newcomer71]

Actually a lot of what is written sounds like a typical TV rant you see everyday, can't see what the problem is he is entitled to his opinion and some of what he says is true, Thailand IS full of farang losers

Thanks God I am not a loser, I have a good job, my happy family, kids, and I respect all Thais.

I am not keen to respect opinions of who insults other people, out of any respect.

Maybe you believe Thailand is full of farang losers because your hanging out with the wrong crowd!

I think you quoted the wrong one. I wanted to say the opposite... You should have quoted Soutpeel.

[captspectre]

I have just 2 words for Pathonpong Charoenwut . . . and I'm sure you can guess what they are . . .

pathonpong, with a name like that i would be angry to! as a falang who was in thailand before you were born i can say i don't give a rats --- how stupid the thai's want to be, i am not and do not intend to be involved in their so called politics, he has not remembered the generals who ruled the country in the early sixties. do what you want raise all the hell you want to and inconvient all your country man with your silly whistles and blocking traffic and taking bribes, i'm here by choice to enjoy the civilized part of thailand and if and when i decide to leave i will, you see i have enough money and am free enough to go wherever in the world i want to! anytime i want to! i'm not stuck in some smelly city with nasty people. who look down on their own because they happen to be farmers.

[thomash]

Western media assumes the government institutions, et al, in Thailand are on a par to their Western counterparts, and thus the uprising rabble must be in the wrong?

No it's just because of the request by the government of Yingluck:

Nadaprapai Sucharitkul

"To the international community and citizens of the world, ...

This letter is in response to the request by the government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra for foreign governments to denounce the peaceful and lawful demonstration against her government by the Thai people and to portray the actual situation in Thailand at the moment.

Following the various controversial, dishonest and unlawful acts of the government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, the Thai people have united together to demand for righteousness and democratic practicality that such government had earlier promised. Let us now touch upon them in some details.

Discontentment of the Thai people

The various unlawful acts and corruption by the government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra have triggered the discontentment of the Thai people. Moreover, the Government used its overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives and influence in the Senate to move towards parliamentary dictatorship. The government also ignored the practive of good governance and had no respect for the rule of law.

There is no such phenomenon as clash of classes in Thailand. The continued demonstrtions do not stem only from the discontentment of the middle class in Bangkok alone but also from the nation wide demand for righteousness. The Puea Thai Party and the government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra boasted that they were infavour of the poor and used populist policies to win the elections of 2010. it is now clearly evident that such intention and policies are more apparent than real. Here are just a few examples.

1. The government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra has destroyed the rule of law by submitting an Amnesty Bill to white wash Pol. Lt. Co. Thaksin Shinawatra, former Prime Minister, from his corruption charges and his involvement in the violence during the years 2009-2010. Moreover, this Amnesty Bill which is now pending confirmation by the House of Representatives will also put a stop tofurther investigation in to Pol. Lt. Col Thaksin Shinawatra's involvement in extrajudicial killing and abuse of human rights in the three Souther Border Provinces as well as the killings during the "war on drugs". The Bill also aims to reimburse Pol.Lt.Col. Thaksin Shinawatra a sum of $1.5 billion which was seized when he was found guilty of corruption and other charges in 2010.

2. The Rice Mortgage Scheme which Pol.Lt.Col Thaksin Shinawatra explicitly and publicly claims to be his initiative had led the country to lose $13 billion. It also destroyed Thailand's competitiveness in the world rice market. Moreover, this scheme has many loopholes which enable public officials involved to embezzle some of the money.

3. The government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra has attempted ot circumvent budgetary practice by submitting a bill to enable it to secure a loan of $70 billion for infrastructure megaprojects. This bill is only 4 pages long and contains vague details of the projects. If approved, the country would be subject to 50 years of repayment.

4. The government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra had also implemented a number of populist policies. These include excise tax reduction for the first car, credit card for farmers, revolving fund for villages, and free electricity and water supply. These vote catching policies have caused irreparable damage to the country's fiscal situation as well as impregnating the "culture of beggars" amongst the people. Responsible politians and governments will never introduce such policies. Polulist policies produce votes for the government's party but rip the people of determination for self betterment and the value of work ethics.

Corruption:

The self exiled Pol.Lt.Col. Thaksin Shinawatra is still facing a number of corruption charges as well as malpractice charges in the Thai courts. Here are examples of corruption and human right violation charges against him.

-The conflict of interest case related to the $2.2 billion tax free sale of Shin Corp, his telecommunications company, to Temasek Holding, a Singaporean Company.

-Assisting his former wife to purchase land from a state agency at unrealistic price.

-Corruption in relation to the purchase/hiring of explosive detector and equipment for Suvannabhumi Airport from GE Invision Inc. causing a damage to the country of approximately $80 million.

-Abuse of authority in approving Exim Bank loan to Myanmar which resulted in benefit for Shin Corp.

-Unlawful change of telecommunication concession fees into exise tax which allegedly benefited Shin Corp while causing an equivalent loss of $230million to the country.

-Malsfeasante in granting loan of approximately $400 m from state owned Krung Thai Bank to a company owned by his cronies and son.

Malpractice:

-Abuse and violation of human rights on Muslim population in Sounthern Border Provinces which caused 108 deaths at Krue Sae Mosque, and 35 deaths at the Tak Bai incidents. Furthermore, during the first government of Pol.Lt.Col Thaksin Shinawatra, 18 human rights defenders were assasinated and one disappeared.

-Involvement in extrajudicial killings of over 2,700 individuals during the "war on drug" campaign between 2003-2005. Pol.Lt.Col Thaksin Shinawatara subsequently admitted that such campaign was a mistake. It was also found to be qualified as case of crime against humanity by independent investigative committee.

All of the above cases were investigated by a special taask force set up after the coup of 2006. The proceeding was nonetheless in accorrdance with the Thai criminal code and not special law.

It is well known that Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra is a proxy of Pol.Lt.Co. Thaksin Shinawatra. She has no political experience before assuming the office of Prime Minister. Similarly the Puea Thai Party is under a total control of Pol.Lt.Col Thaksin Shinawatra. Thus all significant appointments have been made by Pol.Lt.Col. Thaksin Shinawatra and not by Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra who is neither leader of the party nor member of its executive committee.

At present nepotism is spreading widely in the Thai society and has crept into the civil service and law enforcement agencies. The government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawata had shown its "true color" in contrast to its promised manifestos and this has brought the people to the street and join the current demonstrations.

Finally and most significant is the fact that the government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawaatra had destroyed the "true democratic value", which Thai people hold dear.

The Thai people value transparent and accountable government as well as politicians who respect the rule of law. On the other hand, the government keeps on insisting that it was elected through democratic process but it avoids mentioning that the election was full of fraud and vote rigging. Pol.Lt.Col. Thaksin Shinawatra used his enormous wealth to bribe local politicians, government officials, the press and academicians in so doing. Check and balance is absent in the House of Representatives while Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra seldom answered questions and rarely attended the sessions. Censure motions were regarded by the government as joke.

The principle of rule of law, check and balance and separation of power was further eroded when the Puea Thai members of the House of Representatives filed rebellion charge against the Constitution Court judges on its ruling on the draft constitutional amendment regarding the composition of the Senates. That was because the Court ruled that the move was unconstitutional.

Some Puea Thai members of Parliament committed fraud by proxy voting. Discrepancies were also found in the draft submitted to the Parliament and which was used for deliberation. So, how could the Thai people place their faith and trust on the government that used every possible means to abuse the executive and legislative power given to it for vested interest rathere than national interest.

John Locke once stated in the Two Treatises on Government "that "....when people are made miserable, and find themselves exposed to the ill usage of arbitrary power…..will be ready upon any occasion to ease themselves of a burden that sits heavy upon them". And ".....if a long train of abuses, prevarications and artifices, all tending the same way, make the design visible to the people, and they cannot but feel what they lie under, and see wither they are going, it is not to be wondered that they should then roused themselves, and endeavour to put the rule into such hands which may secure to them the ends for which government was first erected and without which, ancient names and specious forms are so far from being better, that they are much worse than the state of nature of pure anarchy; the inconveniences being all as great and as near, but the remedy farther off and more difficult.

It therefore goes without saying that the Thai people hold legitimate and lawful rights to protect their country from corrupt and unlawful government and to remove it from power. Such government had caused irreparable damages to their beloved country and the Thai people cannot allow it to hold on to power so as to further abuse the nation.

On behalf of the Thai people, we ask for your understanding of the true situation in Thailand and to support the patriotic and selfless Thai people in exercising their rights to protect their country from the tyrannical government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra who is a puppet of her brother Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra.

All Thai Citizens"

All Thai Citizens? All 65 million plus, really? I actually know a few Thais in the room I am in right now who would not be included in that number. Even if everything you say is true you are not speaking for all Thai citizens that is pretty arrogant to state that you are to say the least., And actually democracy in Thailand has been hijacked from the very beginning over 80 years ago it did not start with Shinawatra. And even though you make it sound like that all Thailand needs to do is get rid of his influence and everything will be fine then Thailand will have reform and there will not be anymore corruption in Thailand is a joke. But then who will be next after you get rid of Shinawatra influence? Anyone who dares to speak out against "All Thai citizens"? Maybe you need to read up on the history of 1930 Germany as like most Thais you probably do not know much about this time period but this so called anti-government movement is starting to sound more and more like 1930 Germany everyday!

[BangkokHank]

I'm guessing none of this gentleman's family went to a foreign school right? don't drive foreign cars? watch foreign TVs, let alone get foreign medical care? clothes, computers? and all that jazz?

nationalism is, actually, what destroys nations - we need a more inclusive world not exclusive. This "I am Thai" nationalistic arrogance does not help this country as much as "I am American" or "I am French" so what? our poo all smells the same

Add to that the fact that his own ancestors came to Thailand from China! Do current immigrants like myself have any less right to be here (or anywhere else) than immigrants from a few generations ago?

[Nibbles48]

While the TVF "red-shirt farangs" remain anonymous, I recall those identified and deported in 2010. Relatively speaking, he most certainly is really smart.

He also happens to be engaged in an occupation for which I have a lot of respect.

Red shirt farangs? Anonymous? What are you talking about buddy?

And which respect you can have on someone put some similar rant on the net?

Please note that he hates all "farangs", no distinctions, so you are included...

Merry Xmas...

Please note your assumption is not supported by the given facts.

Anonymous; it means we have no idea who is posting here, though some do with a bias to a corrupt regime and a willingness to accept Thaksinist propaganda combined with a simplistic 1 man-1 vote policy which over-rides all other facets of democracy.

And it doesn't surprise or dismay me at all that some Thais may disapprove, not so much of TVF, but when they appear at red shirt rallies and protests.

Do you have some numbers of foreigners involved in Red Shirt protests?

Do you think the hatred against foreigners is because of that?

Nobody has any numbers, they can't even agree on how many people are at protests let alone categorize them into individual stats.

But yes.... there were many farang at the 2010 protests. I saw many in pictures and all you have to do is look at youtube which is full of videos of those pretests taken by farang.

But with all that aside.

I think the foreign media are playing a potentially dangerous game.

Not that THEY will ever be affected by it, and their reporters seem to be getting preferential treatment at the protests to try to keep them free to report. But when they use that opportunity to freely report, they walk away and edit to fit in line with a biased or inaccurate narrative based of their own preferences or that of the entities they report for.

The backlash won't be felt by them, the backlash will be felt by the expat community.

There has always been anti-farang sentiment by a large portion of Thais, however, it has largely been suppressed by almost everyone in the name of 'politeness' and their largely natural non-confrontational attitude. However. thanks to the western style of reporting and I will add 'commentary from western politicians with their support for the YL government'. This is causing these formerly suppressed feeling to start bubbling to the surface.

Eventually it will erupt and when it does, could open up a potentially unpleasant can of worms for us who have to live here with these people.

Red shirted farangs on public discussion boards do not help the situation either, it does get read by Thais and they do get shared around social media sites.. and is seen as a 'confirmation' that we are a bad element in their country.

Just goes to show how a 'few bad apples' can spoil the whole bunch.

[englishoak]

What some hater says on farcebook is supposed to be news ??

Well educated would mean in most societies a grasp of the basics of freedom of speech etc and a simple understanding it dosnt actually exist here in Thailand...obviously theres a huge gap in what some consider well educated and this poor xenophobic chaps idea. maybe someone should explain to him gently that the worlds media dosnt have the same draconian restriction or limitations as his small little world does and can say whatever it pleases, when it pleases about whomever it pleases..... tough luck if he dosnt like it because its going to happen in Thailand too one way or another tomorrow or 20 years from now so he had better get used to it.

Vet he may be, well educated he is clearly not.

[Carrerakiss]

The good news is that just like everyone else, the OP has only a single vote...........for the moment.

[newcomer71]

Guys but can you realize that for each "red shirt farang" there is at least another "yellow shirt farang" around?

It's called freedom of speech.

The reason why I asked numbers (and I'm anyway aware no one has any idea of that) it's because it's possible that some foreigner joined protests in 2010 (sure not in the violent clashes).

I also anyway witnessed with my eyes to some foreigner joining protests on Sunday. So: as I asked before: is thai public opinion influenced by the fact that some foreigner joined protests in 2010?

I think not.

Westerner media playing games? I think they express their opinions. Freely and maybe biased toward democracy as westerners think it should be. Guess what? That democracy never existed in Thailand and will never exist with mass manipulators as Thsksin and Suthep are...

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[smutcakes]

as irrational and emotionally immature his words may sound, they do represent the widespread attitude towards farungs many Thais seem to have, openly advocated by Suthep and his followers. It would be quite likely, once they get to power on the political vote-buying-military-coups-merry-go-round, that farung expats will get hard times ahead in Thailand.

Actually a lot of what is written sounds like a typical TV rant you see everyday, can't see what the problem is he is entitled to his opinion and some of what he says is true, Thailand IS full of farang losers

,

Not only that i do feel that there are more then a few bias farang red reporters around. For me it still is a mystery how anyone with an education can support the shin clan and wants to hold back on reforms to get the checks and balances back.

I have yet to see a report from the foreign media how this all started because of the secret way they wanted to rush that amnesty bill through. Not causally mentioning it but telling how it was and how morally and financially corrupt this government is.

And I agree there are a lot of foreign losers in Thailand but that is a given.

I dont think many people do necessary 'support' the Shin clan, but there seems to be nothing being put on the table as an alternative. Vague references to elected council with no names or who is electing, timelines, dates, assurances etc. I think people actually believe they don't even have a plan. If they are well planned and prepared and nothing underhand is going on, why don't they start practicing what they are preaching and show a bit of transparency and enlighten everyone on their vision. Remember that they in addition being headed up by a lifetime politician who was deputy PM a few years ago. Corruption, vote buying is nothing new, yet he has never tried to do anything about it before, why now is he suddenly going to change? He has been involved in many dodgy dealings himself in the past.

I and i suspect many others have no love for the Shinawatras, but nothing is being proposed as an alternative other than hearing about 'elected people councils' and vague utterances about people being to uneducated to vote. I think if they want more support they have to clearly outline what their plan is, and give assurances as to returning to a vote in a given time. Still i am not sure people will believe them considering who is their figure head.

[Soutpeel]

as irrational and emotionally immature his words may sound, they do represent the widespread attitude towards farungs many Thais seem to have, openly advocated by Suthep and his followers. It would be quite likely, once they get to power on the political vote-buying-military-coups-merry-go-round, that farung expats will get hard times ahead in Thailand.

Actually a lot of what is written sounds like a typical TV rant you see everyday, can't see what the problem is he is entitled to his opinion and some of what he says is true, Thailand IS full of farang losers

Thanks God I am not a loser, I have a good job, my happy family, kids, and I respect all Thais.

I am not keen to respect opinions of who insults other people, out of any respect.

Maybe you believe Thailand is full of farang losers because your hanging out with the wrong crowd!

Actually other than my farang work collegues I hang out with maybe 1 other farang, all are in good jobs on good money, so if they do fall into the category of being loosers then so be it, I will stick with hanging out in the wrong crowd then

Strange how TV posters slag each other off everyday, but the minute one if natives does it the farangs all start getting outraged

Fact is Thailand contains more foreign loser's, dross and hangers one on than any other place I have lived and worked over the last 25 years, this is my personal observation.

[robblok]

as irrational and emotionally immature his words may sound, they do represent the widespread attitude towards farungs many Thais seem to have, openly advocated by Suthep and his followers. It would be quite likely, once they get to power on the political vote-buying-military-coups-merry-go-round, that farung expats will get hard times ahead in Thailand.

Actually a lot of what is written sounds like a typical TV rant you see everyday, can't see what the problem is he is entitled to his opinion and some of what he says is true, Thailand IS full of farang losers

,

Not only that i do feel that there are more then a few bias farang red reporters around. For me it still is a mystery how anyone with an education can support the shin clan and wants to hold back on reforms to get the checks and balances back.

I have yet to see a report from the foreign media how this all started because of the secret way they wanted to rush that amnesty bill through. Not causally mentioning it but telling how it was and how morally and financially corrupt this government is.

And I agree there are a lot of foreign losers in Thailand but that is a given.

I dont think many people do necessary 'support' the Shin clan, but there seems to be nothing being put on the table as an alternative. Vague references to elected council with no names or who is electing, timelines, dates, assurances etc. I think people actually believe they don't even have a plan. If they are well planned and prepared and nothing underhand is going on, why don't they start practicing what they are preaching and show a bit of transparency and enlighten everyone on their vision. Remember that they in addition being headed up by a lifetime politician who was deputy PM a few years ago. Corruption, vote buying is nothing new, yet he has never tried to do anything about it before, why now is he suddenly going to change? He has been involved in many dodgy dealings himself in the past.

I and i suspect many others have no love for the Shinawatras, but nothing is being proposed as an alternative other than hearing about 'elected people councils' and vague utterances about people being to uneducated to vote. I think if they want more support they have to clearly outline what their plan is, and give assurances as to returning to a vote in a given time. Still i am not sure people will believe them considering who is their figure head.

I agree that Suthep is not being clear either but all YL her actions are just as unclear and just aimed at ignoring the problem.

She even ignored the plan of the business sector, that is a plan that was reasonable if she and Suthep would go for that plan some progress would be made.

But be honest here, its not in YL her best interest to have the powers of the next government reigned in and made transparent. It is in the best interest of Suthep. Why because I believe that YL will still win. So I understand that she is reluctant and i think most will agree she has the most to loose as it will make it harder to steal from the government coffers or bend the law for her brother.

Because in the end that is what anti corruption laws will do, so it is normal to mistrust the one with the most to loose.

Anyone thinking that Suthep will come to power is dreaming as he won't win against the rural votes.. it might be close but that is it.

[jpeg]

Western media assumes the government institutions, et al, in Thailand are on a par to their Western counterparts, and thus the uprising rabble must be in the wrong?

Western media has a pro-democracy bias. I'm not sure that's a bad thing.

If you truly believe that this country has anything like a 'democracy' as you know it in the West, you are seriously deluded. A ballot paper, bought or otherwise does not give a government the right to run roughshod over it's own country's Constitution, ignore it's country's Court decisions, all the while grabbing as much of it's country's tax payers' money and plotting to fill it's coffers with borrowed money with no transparency as to where this money is going. As another poster pointed out, try to imagine this happening in your country. You would still call it a Democracy? Pffft.

I understand this man's frustration. Many of you believe you're still living in Ohio/Basingstoke.

[paddyjenkins]

These words don't surprise me, I know how the ignorant and warped think and this is how. And yes, its how quite a few Thais think, especially males. It is a pity though that Thai people are so inward looking and in truth outwardly hateful and arrogant, so poorly educated and suffering friom what often seems like intellectual disability, to put it politely. There are many reasons I come to Thailand, but what Thai men and quite a few women think about "falangs" isn't one of them, I couldn't care less what they think. I only care about the opinions of well balanced and intelligent people. I have lived in a number of Asian countries and visited most of them. Thailand stands out in so many ways as backward, if not always in its stage of material development (which is mostly a function of luck and foreign capital inflows), but in terms of attitude, hostility and ignorance. Its amazing how open and enlightened Malaysians seem in comparison, for example. As for Thai politics, red shirts, yellow shorts, black shirts, I also couldn't care less, its all just a spectacle to watch.

What would Thailand have without foreign technology , foreign medicine, foreign companies? Kao man gai, not much else. Nothing, basically, a people toiling in the fields, hunting and gathering like people thousands of years ago and dieing of diseases that Western medicine learned cures for centuries ago.

For a people that have in truth achieved so little they have quite an attitude. And as for "falangs" here running from their problems back home, what nonsense. They are here because they can be here, because they have the funds and open mindedness to travel for long periods. The unemployed and poor can't afford to do those things...isn't that obvious?

As for unfriending, sorry, there is a bit of confusuon here on behalf of the author, I for one had not friended in the first place. There are few Thai men I can bare, few I would ever friend. Thai women, having not been brought up to be quite as hateful and nasty, are easier to get along with by comparison, although also prone to tantrums and bouts of psychopathic behaviour. Thailand, in its collective inability to govern itself in a way the world would think of as intelligent and fair is making a very uncomfortable bed for itself to lie in.

But be cllear, Thais themselves are making the bed they are to lie in, not "falangs".

Edited December 25, 2013 by paddyjenkins

[Melpomene]

as irrational and emotionally immature his words may sound, they do represent the widespread attitude towards farungs many Thais seem to have, openly advocated by Suthep and his followers. It would be quite likely, once they get to power on the political vote-buying-military-coups-merry-go-round, that farung expats will get hard times ahead in Thailand.

Actually a lot of what is written sounds like a typical TV rant you see everyday, can't see what the problem is he is entitled to his opinion and some of what he says is true, Thailand IS full of farang losers

,

Not only that i do feel that there are more then a few bias farang red reporters around. For me it still is a mystery how anyone with an education can support the shin clan and wants to hold back on reforms to get the checks and balances back.

I have yet to see a report from the foreign media how this all started because of the secret way they wanted to rush that amnesty bill through. Not causally mentioning it but telling how it was and how morally and financially corrupt this government is.

And I agree there are a lot of foreign losers in Thailand but that is a given.

It's quite possible to disagree with the facist agenda of Suthep AND want to see Thaksin brought to justice for all the wrong he has brought upon Thailand. It's blinkered attitudes such as yours where you are either with us or against us that is the bigget mystery of all.

[Yunla]

And if you cast away the moneymaking opportunities offered to you, you shall one day be left with nothing but your eyes to cry with.

I'll go get my crayons ^^

[englishoak]

Nobody has any numbers, they can't even agree on how many people are at protests let alone categorize them into individual stats.

But yes.... there were many farang at the 2010 protests. I saw many in pictures and all you have to do is look at youtube which is full of videos of those pretests taken by farang.

But with all that aside.

I think the foreign media are playing a potentially dangerous game.

Not that THEY will ever be affected by it, and their reporters seem to be getting preferential treatment at the protests to try to keep them free to report. But when they use that opportunity to freely report, they walk away and edit to fit in line with a biased or inaccurate narrative based of their own preferences or that of the entities they report for.

The backlash won't be felt by them, the backlash will be felt by the expat community.

There has always been anti-farang sentiment by a large portion of Thais, however, it has largely been suppressed by almost everyone in the name of 'politeness' and their largely natural non-confrontational attitude. However. thanks to the western style of reporting and I will add 'commentary from western politicians with their support for the YL government'. This is causing these formerly suppressed feeling to start bubbling to the surface.

Eventually it will erupt and when it does, could open up a potentially unpleasant can of worms for us who have to live here with these people.

Red shirted farangs on public discussion boards do not help the situation either, it does get read by Thais and they do get shared around social media sites.. and is seen as a 'confirmation' that we are a bad element in their country.

Just goes to show how a 'few bad apples' can spoil the whole bunch.

Jealousy is the root of a lot of the bad sentiment and the deep down knowledge that the system they actually live under will never afford them the opportunities or freedoms enjoyed by other stable nations. and its all self inflicted.

At the end of the day Thailand is what it is because the Thais have let it happen. There are none to blame but themselves and the truth hurts.

The foreign media are just doing what they do... reporting, nothing special about Thailand. Its just that Thailand dosnt like it when the spotlight is shone in their direction because its so transparently messed up its all too embarrassing.

Farangs have as much right to an opinion as anyone, this constant whining by people that others have a different opinion so they must be bad is just another example of how backward thinking it is in this country sometimes. Its also pretty scary how quickly some who moved here have devolved into the same mindset as we see at the moment with Sutheps mad ramblings.

Im all for change but none of this is makes me think its going to get better and as usual when all goes to crap the fingers are pointed at others being the problem... typical cop out when the problems are all home grown.

if theres a backlash and it gets bad most expats including other asians will simply leave the place to its own devices and Thailand will lose out in all they bring with them, expats will find another place to go to just like they always have.

Edited December 25, 2013 by englishoak

[jat1012]

'On behalf of the Thai people, we ask for your understanding of the true situation in Thailand and to support the patriotic and selfless Thai people in exercising their rights to protect their country from the tyrannical government of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra who is a puppet of her brother Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra.

All Thai Citizens'

The uneducated/poor Thai people are not stupid. There should be an election on Feb 2nd 2014. Most of them know they have been duped, but they will not vote for the Dems.The populace need an alternative to PTP and Suthep/Dems, where is it? If someone offers them an alternative party with a proper set of objectives, reduce corruption, uphold the rule of law (regardless of who you are, Red Bull beware), upgrade existing infrastructure (no high speed rail dream), replace rice mortgage scheme with a sensible alternative (direct subsidies to farmers) and reduce rice stockpiles (perhaps right off some as animal feed, donate some more to starving nations etc.), then , perhaps the endless cycle will be broken and Thailand can move forward. No amount of ranting and demonstration will do this. The Thai people will choose whom they want, give them an alternative to RED/YELLOW. If not then PTP will be returned by MAJORITY vote of 'All Thai citizens'. So PDRC stick your arguments and demonstrating up your fundamental orifice and PROVIDE an alternative for the majority to vote for OR live with your short sighted noisy wasteful actions.

[Melpomene]

If you truly believe that this country has anything like a 'democracy' as you know it in the West, you are seriously deluded. A ballot paper, bought or otherwise does not give a government the right to run roughshod over it's own country's Constitution, ignore it's country's Court decisions, all the while grabbing as much of it's country's tax payers' money and plotting to fill it's coffers with borrowed money with no transparency as to where this money is going. As another poster pointed out, try to imagine this happening in your country. You would still call it a Democracy? Pffft.

I understand this man's frustration. Many of you believe you're still living in Ohio/Basingstoke.

Democracy doesn't work in Thailand as a few old/new elites never allow it to.

The way to better quality politicians is to entrench democracy and the rule of law - not to abandon it altogether.

Edited December 25, 2013 by Melpomene