Group warns US against simplistic view of Thai conflict

[webfact]

Group warns US against simplistic view of Thai conflict
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A network of medical volunteers has cautioned the US ambassador to Bangkok against a simplistic portrayal of Thailand's ongoing political conflict as an ideological clash between pro-democracy and anti-democracy groups.

In its letter to the ambassador, the Network of Medical Volunteers for National Reform in Thailand dismissed any suggestion that protesters and protest leaders are trying to change the country's democratic system into a non-democratic one.

"They are calling for a strengthening of the democratic system, which, among other things, seeks to give tougher safeguards against corruption and abuse of power by elected officials," the group said in the letter.

The letter mentions the name of US Congressman Michael Turner, who recently urged US President Barack Obama to voice support for the democratic process in Thailand, which he insinuated was being threatened.

"We wish to caution you against Congressman Turner's simplistic portrayal of the political conflict in Thailand," the letter said.

The network has pointed its finger at the Yingluck Shinawatra-led caretaker government, saying her administration's attempt to whitewash past corruption-related crimes through the pushing of the anti-Amnesty Bill, and efforts to systematically weaken the checks-and-balances system among the legislative, executive and judicial branches, have dismayed the public.

-- The Nation 2014-01-23

[moonao]

Actually, its the US that should be warning this medical group against having a simplistic view of the Thai conflict, give them a few vouchers for mental health treatment from their disaster relief funds.

[chrisrazz]

The way these people carry on like nobody outside knows what is going on amazes me. The Americans probably know what Suthep has for breakfast even before he does.

[clockman]

Remember we are logicaly thinking people! Thainess is something else. We will never understand.

[kikoman]

It is an Anti-Democratic movement, as the constitutions has a vehicle to "impeach" the PM for any illegal acts she may have committed, That is how a Democracy works,

The protesters have voiced opposition to a free and open election and have questioned the one-person, one vote principal of the current Thai democracy,

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, That what it is!

Cheers

Edited January 23, 2014 by kikoman

[firestar]

A letter from "a network of volunteers" makes the news but not Kasit, Abhisit's ex foreigner-minister, telling journalists and diplomats : " Foreign entities should just shut their comments" [sic] ?

The Nation is becoming more and more transparent by the day....

.

Edited January 23, 2014 by firestar

[firestar]

Remember we are logicaly thinking people! Thainess is something else. We will never understand.

On Stage 12th of Jan, Vera a protest leader had another explanation than "logic" why Farangs don't get it:

12:45 at Asoke protest stage, media personality Seri Wongmontha veers into anti-foreigner rant. "Do they think we're stupid?" (Cont'd)

"It's proven ppl w/ yellow skin are smarter than ppl w/ white skin... Thais who study abroad get better marks than their classmates."

Collapse [/b]

We are just too dumb to understand Thainess, maybe the network of medical volunteers can add that to their little letter.

Edited January 23, 2014 by firestar

[kalbo123]

I think Medical volunteers should help sick people or whatever medical they do.

Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met behulp van Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[pipkins]

It is an Anti-Democratic movement, as the constitutions has a vehicle to "impeach" the PM for any illegal acts she may have committed, That is how a Democracy works,

The protesters have voiced opposition to a free and open election and have questioned the one-person, one vote principal of the current Thai democracy,

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, That what it is!

Cheers

Peeep peep peeep peep, go the educated in chorus. Your reason must be drowned out and you must be kicked a bout a lot by No Nob Nok and his gang.

There is more in the US media about those medical guys laughing about vaginal surgery on Yingluck and mocking her age, periods and need for a sanitary towel servant/lover...

Laugh on guys. Then The ICRC has been after them for being so badly un-educated that they thought flying the Red Cross at fascist rallys was acceptable behaviour.

The fact they make this statement is bad enough. That a newspaper would print it anywhere other than the jokes pages is... well typical I supose

It's worse even than that though as they are re-hashing that airhead lawyers letter to obama and going after Congressman Turner. Whistle on, whistle on and am damn sure I look twice at dr here now before I let them see my kids.

Edited January 23, 2014 by pipkins

[Basil B]

The US will always take the side with what ever is in their beast interest...

[Thai at Heart]

And please could they provide how they intend to reform the system to strengthen it, before the baby gets thrown out with the bath water.

Simplistic would be having absolute blind faith in these reactionaries. "Trust us, we are educated Thais (an oxymoron to start), who love democracy, but don't like this type of democracy and believe that the way to increase democracy is to first reduce it( another oxymoron). Please trust us, because we love democracy so much that our country is the hub of coups, and we even have had debates about whether universal suffrage is a good idea.

We are the good and smart of society and please don't point out our hypocritical stand points, or we may have to accuse you of bias"

Regards,

The omniscient pooyai.

[Stradavarius37]

The amount of idiocy displayed in this thread is staggering

[Thai at Heart]

Remember we are logicaly thinking people! Thainess is something else. We will never understand.

On Stage 12th of Jan, Vera a protest leader had another explanation than "logic" why Farangs don't get it:

12:45 at Asoke protest stage, media personality Seri Wongmontha veers into anti-foreigner rant. "Do they think we're stupid?" (Cont'd)

"It's proven ppl w/ yellow skin are smarter than ppl w/ white skin... Thais who study abroad get better marks than their classmates."

Collapse [/b]

We are just too dumb to understand Thainess, maybe the network of medical volunteers can add that to their little letter.

"Do they think we're stupid?"

Is that a rhetorical question?

[jaltsc]

"A network of medical volunteers has cautioned the US ambassador to Bangkok against a simplistic portrayal of Thailand's ongoing political conflict as an ideological clash between pro-democracy and anti-democracy groups."

Perhaps the simplistic portrayal is given by those who fail to understand that outside of Thailand, "experts" achieve their status through education, training and experience. They are not given their positions as a result of who their family is, or by paying for the aforementioned positions. Somehow, I would think that every western nation involved with Thailand has at least one expert (none of whom graduated from Kentucky State University) who can gather enough relevant information about the present political situation in order for the political leaders to make a decision which benefits that particular nation. After all, every nation thinks of itself as number one, and any of them would be willing to throw any foreign leader under the bus if it benefits them.

Edited January 23, 2014 by jaltsc

[Patje]

Group warns US against simplistic view of Thai conflict.....

Or else ???

A march over the seas to Washington by mr Suthep himself ???

[gemini81]

Simplistic view following simplistic behavior of a SE asian nation of simpletons. I'd like to see why they think the world should view Thai politics as rocket science.

[trogers]

"In 2003, a coalition led by the U.S. and U.K. invaded Iraq to depose Saddam, in which U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair accused him of possessing weapons of mass destruction and having ties to al-Qaeda. Saddam's Ba'ath party was disbanded and elections were held."

Ba'athist political party governed Iraq between 1968 and 2003, for many years under the leadership of Saddam Hussein."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddam_Hussein

Before Saddam was deposed, he was elected by a 100% vote - See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_presidential_referendum,_2002

Why did the US and UK see fit to change such a democratic system in Iraq? The excuses given were later found to be lies.

In its letter to the ambassador, the Network of Medical Volunteers for National Reform in Thailand dismissed any suggestion that protesters and protest leaders are trying to change the country's democratic system into a non-democratic one.

[Thai at Heart]

Simplistic view following simplistic behavior of a SE asian nation of simpletons. I'd like to see why they think the world should view Thai politics as rocket science.

By the time its finished, the global opinion of all the players in this mess will be that they are all corrupt, loopy, extremists and reactionaries.

The phrase "respected academic, respected statesman", is going to be followed with a collective giggle at a cocktail party. They want to be taken seriously while failing to act even like juveniles.

With the lack of cogent arguments and plans they absolutely deserve to be patronised.

[Scamper]

Yingluck was seen recently on CNN, in a clip so unclear, she had to be accompanied by captions. And yet those who read the captions needn't have bothered. She doesn't actually say anything. She may as well be speaking in Swahili. There was a belligerence in her tone, however, as if she is fed up to the teeth with people who can't understand that her administration is just doing its job. The problem - as always - regarding the American and international perception of the situation here - is that it can't possibly be condensed into the 30 second soundbite. The problem with Yingluck - is that she is still struggling to fill the 30 seconds.

Edited January 23, 2014 by Scamper

[jayboy]

I think the time has come to accept that when well educated Thais advise foreigners that they should not take a simplistic view this almost inevitably means the Thais concerned cannot bring themselves to face up to some simple truths (as seems to be the case with these medics).The fact is I have never seen any informed Western source (and certainly not the US State Department) suggest the current conflict is the result of class warfare.Clearly there are a host of quite complicated factors involved.At the same time there is obviously an element of class conflict, its weight and significance being a matter of legitimate discussion between reasonable people.No point in denying its existence altogether.

I have recently been reading about the causes of World War 1.Even at a distance of 100 years there is a huge amount of controversy among historians about this.Do we really believe that we can be confident to have simple ready made answers to the causes of the current Thai crisis?

[virtualtraveller]

It is an Anti-Democratic movement, as the constitutions has a vehicle to "impeach" the PM for any illegal acts she may have committed, That is how a Democracy works,

The protesters have voiced opposition to a free and open election and have questioned the one-person, one vote principal of the current Thai democracy,

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, That what it is!

Cheers

You have a very simplistic view about Thailand democracy. The US are probably on top of their intelligence brief and well know what sort of democracy the Shinawatras favour - the present one where impeachment is all but impossible. Same went for Thaksin. Turner is just one of those silly Congressmen who get paid by lobbyists to complain about something halfway across the world that he has know idea about.

[Mackie]

Of course it's simplistic. All American foreign policy makers care is their own interest. Whatever benefits them. I believe Americans play both sides that way the price goes down. Whoever sells themselves cheaper will be supported by the USA. Anyway Thaksin has been paying quite a lot of lobby groups to promote his agenda.

Amsterdam & Perrof

Baker Botts L.L.P.

Barbour Griffith & Rogers

Edelman

Kobre & Kim L.L.P.

All of them were lobbying for Shins. If you want to get good coverage, you've got to pay for it. No one cares about the truth. Money talks.

[Valentine]

The statement was pretty reasonable & I wonder why the red supporters jumped all over it so quickly. Afraid of the truth perhaps. The fact there is a group that wants to change the system to be more free & fair is quite noble but certainly not for those with something to hide such as vast sums of money sequestered away through corruption. The 1997 constitution was supposedly the best one yet but every loophole was exploited instead of sticking to the true spirit of that constitution.

Edited January 23, 2014 by Valentine

[Fryslan boppe]

"...as an ideological clash between pro-democracy and anti-democracy groups.

Actually it has become that simple, using their own words. Unelectables are so frustrated by their electoral futility that instead of reforming themselves to be competitive in an election, they would prefer to "throw the bath water out with the baby" So, in essence, what is happening, they are attempting to nullify democracy. Unable to compete successfully for votes, they now want to dilute Thai democracy in order to prevent the electorate from choosing a government that goes against their will.

The end result as exactly as simplistic as they are trying to refute.

[Thai at Heart]

I think the time has come to accept that when well educated Thais advise foreigners that they should not take a simplistic view this almost inevitably means the Thais concerned cannot bring themselves to face up to some simple truths (as seems to be the case with these medics).The fact is I have never seen any informed Western source (and certainly not the US State Department) suggest the current conflict is the result of class warfare.Clearly there are a host of quite complicated factors involved.At the same time there is obviously an element of class conflict, its weight and significance being a matter of legitimate discussion between reasonable people.No point in denying its existence altogether.

I have recently been reading about the causes of World War 1.Even at a distance of 100 years there is a huge amount of controversy among historians about this.Do we really believe that we can be confident to have simple ready made answers to the causes of the current Thai crisis?

They would have us believe it is all about corruption. Led by Suthep, who only a couple of months ago was in parliamwnt and made not a peep about corruption.

There is a very long story behind these events but isn't the version that the protestors have been told.

[pipkins]

Yingluck was seen recently on CNN, in a clip so unclear, she had to be accompanied by captions. And yet those who read the captions needn't have bothered. She doesn't actually say anything. She may as well be speaking in Swahili. There was a belligerence in her tone, however, as if she is fed up to the teeth with people who can't understand that her administration is just doing its job. The problem - as always - regarding the American and international perception of the situation here - is that it can't possibly be condensed into the 30 second soundbite. The problem with Yingluck - is that she is still struggling to fill the 30 seconds.

that really did bring something to the debate didn't it. Well done.

Dispicable that you should critisise her language, ... unless of course you post a youtube clip within 5 minutes of you reading out your last sentence in thai!!! I asume you have got past tow rai? at the bar or eig nung? We'll call BS on you and await the clip.

The critisism of these medics is agianst what they said and what they think. It is outdated elitiest, sexist tosh and the more they talk with Americans, the more likely Americans are going to see through them. Espescially when Congressman turner googles them and finds the hideous comments from the stage last week.

As it is a re-hash it also shows signs of the media getting desparate for news that backs up their cause of undermining the Government.

So, look forward to the clip of your great Thai masterclass

[ChrisY1]

The way these people carry on like nobody outside knows what is going on amazes me. The Americans probably know what Suthep has for breakfast even before he does.

And who he talks to on his cellphone!

[rogerdee123]

Richard Nixon was elected too before being forced out

[Orac]

Why medical 'volunteers' as opposed to medical workers or professionals?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[rogerdee123]

then there was Ferdinand Marcos ... elected by majority and thrown out by people power ...

I agree with the premise that elected governments that break the law have themselves thrown away their legitimacy ...