Silencing the warmongers: Thai editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Silencing the warmongers
The Nation

The citizens of Thailand must stand as one and reject the power-hungry extremists and their thirst for civil war

BANGKOK: -- There is talk of possible civil war as a result of the ongoing stand-off between ruling politicians and the anti-government protesters. Some people believe it is imminent. The government's Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order on Tuesday called for restraint on both sides, saying the use of violence would worsen the situation and could lead to war.

The warnings come after a spate of violence in recent days left five people dead - four of them children - and more than 50 injured. Meanwhile leaders of the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have said the red-shirt group is ready to enter full "combat" mode against the government's enemies. At rallies in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday they suggested that the caretaker government set up an administration "in exile" in the North or Northeast. Also at the red-shirt gathering was Pheu Thai Party leader Charupong Ruangsuwan, who is the caretaker interior minister.

A separate meeting saw former communist insurgents gather under a banner featuring images of AK-47 assault rifles to announce their support for the red shirts in a "war against the elites". Red banners have mysteriously appeared in public locations in northern provinces, apparently meaning to signal the coming of "a new Lanna nation".

Twenty-one people have been killed and more than 700 injured since the anti-government protest led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee began in November. Most of the casualties have been protesters, but the four children killed at the weekend signalled a dark and terrible turn.

No one in his right mind wants to see civil war in Thailand, and few Thais want to see their country divid

ed. But it seems that power-hungry politicians and their supporters are different.

Fears of a civil war in 2010, when red-shirt supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra protested against the Democrat-led government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, proved to be unfounded. Those 10 weeks of rallies culminated in riots and arson attacks and the death of more than 90 protesters, soldiers, policemen, bystanders and journalists. Armed "men in black" fought security forces on Bangkok streets, but a full-scale civil war was averted - possibly to the dismay of some politicians, who had fuelled divisions with talk of class war between "elite" and "commoner".

This year has seen another attempt to draw the line between North and South. And in a repeat of 2010, indiscriminate violent attacks have been carried out in a bid to trigger wider fighting between rival groups.

But while hate campaigns have raged between the sides over the years, Thai society does not harbour the widespread deep-rooted division that would lead to large-scale war. Such an intense sense of religious, racial or geographical difference doesn't exist here.

The extremists may be able to engage in armed skirmishes and cowardly attacks, but starting a large-scale war is another matter. The power-hungry and militant will never achieve their goals as long as the rest of the country wants to see peace and unity and is revolted by the sight of compatriots killing each other.

It is the duty of the caretaker government and protest leaders to silence this talk of war. What the peace-loving and sensible people of Thailand must do is show the warmongers that they are not willing to fall into an abyss of violence.


-- The Nation 2014-02-27

[Thai at Heart]

Can they vote about it?

[tezzainoz]

I have heard many, many times that all Thai's should live by the rules

But what are the rules

I have read that Yingluck has till the 4th March to have an election or it is all over

Every time I talk to a Thai including my wife the rules change

so is there a rule that says an election must be called with in ? days ?

If so is this the 2nd of March ?

As this is only 3 days away is this possible ?

If it is not held by this day, is it all over, or an they hold some time in the future ?

If the 4th arrives and there is no election then is Yingluck still the caretaker prime minister ?

If the answer is no at what times does her Caretakership finish ?

If she refuses the step down and stays under the protection of the red shirts, what is the rule ?

can she refuse to step down ?

Can the red shirts demand to serceed from the south

[moonao]

Not one mention of Suthep the divider in this article, and indirectly putting all the blame of the red side and the government.

The extremely devisive anti-goverment protesters have been trying to create the conditions for chaos and a coup for the last x months. Its their best opportunity to get into power.

where have these journalists been living ? they are so transparent with their agenda?

[chainarong]

In a perfect world everything is equal , in Thailand nothing could be further from the truth, the continued escalation of the protests the collateral damage, all indicates that hate, the driving force in this political nightmare , will continue for quiet sometime, whether or not a civil war comes about remains to be seen, one would hope that CIC Gen Prayuth would have intervened before this happens.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Not one mention of Suthep the divider in this article, and indirectly putting all the blame of the red side and the government. The extremely devisive anti-goverment protesters have been trying to create the conditions for chaos and a coup for the last x months. Its their best opportunity to get into power. where have these journalists been living ? they are so transparent with their agenda?

You got this wrong, the divider is your square faced hero hiding in Dubai, soon to be joined by many other family members from the Shin clan.

[Publicus]

The editorial fails on many points, but its greatest failure is its central claim that the divisions in Thai society don't run deeply or profoundly among the population themselves, that only some activists hold radically opposite beliefs, purposes, goals.

The divisions among the Thai people themselves are extensive and profound.

The old elites and the Bangkok new middle class will never accept being governed by the colony provinces, principally in the northern arc from Myanmar, Laos, to Cambodia. The historically dismissed masses there continue to be dismissed, but now militantly.

The historically dispossessed and excluded countryside masses are now demanding participation and inclusion, - recognition - and they aren't going away regardless of the Nation's dismissive drivel.

The Nation chooses to write primarily to the native English presence in Thailand so it needs to get up to speed and stop with the blue smoke and mirrors. For one thing, it needs to discuss openly how the existing 2007 coup constitution is driving divisions deeper among the population as a whole..

[JCauto]

Well, I've read a lot of dumb editorials over this crisis, but this one takes the cake. Basically, they're saying "stop talking about civil war, because Thai people would never become involved in one because Thai society is not divided, therefore it would never happen." Well, if it would never happen, who cares if people talk about it? If Thai society is not divided, then what the hell has been going on over the last 8 years? Plus, the author manages to track down some obscure groups whom I had never heard of to support his case about violent extremists, but fails to mention the somewhat higher profile fellow who was talking about popcorn the other day.

As biased and nonsensical a bunch of <deleted> as I've read over the last couple months, and there's a hell of a lot of competition for that.

[SanSaiExPat]

Why should PM Yingluck step down? She is the democratically elected Prime Minister of Thailand. She is only in a caretaker status because the Democrats boycotted the last election and prevented (blockaded) and intimidated voters from going to the polls. Why did the Democrats boycott the last election because they knew they would be defeated in an open and fair election. And now you are in a hurry to remove PM Yingluck and the current government? What will you replace it with? A government run by Suthep?

I have heard many, many times that all Thai's should live by the rules

But what are the rules

I have read that Yingluck has till the 4th March to have an election or it is all over

Every time I talk to a Thai including my wife the rules change

so is there a rule that says an election must be called with in ? days ?

If so is this the 2nd of March ?

As this is only 3 days away is this possible ?

If it is not held by this day, is it all over, or an they hold some time in the future ?

If the 4th arrives and there is no election then is Yingluck still the caretaker prime minister ?

If the answer is no at what times does her Caretakership finish ?

If she refuses the step down and stays under the protection of the red shirts, what is the rule ?

can she refuse to step down ?

Can the red shirts demand to serceed from the south

[ppmacready]

Not one mention of Suthep the divider in this article, and indirectly putting all the blame of the red side and the government. The extremely devisive anti-goverment protesters have been trying to create the conditions for chaos and a coup for the last x months. Its their best opportunity to get into power. where have these journalists been living ? they are so transparent with their agenda?

You got this wrong, the divider is your square faced hero hiding in Dubai, soon to be joined by many other family members from the Shin clan.

“When the old refuses to die, and the new is struggling to be born, monsters appear.”

Until you change the education system here, its going to be ground hog day for a very long time to come.

The yellow shirts have got what they wished for.

An uneducated people to control.

They just didn't bank on it being a red shirt controlling them.

[SanSaiExPat]

The editorial fails on many points, but its greatest failure is its central claim that the divisions in Thai society don't run deeply or profoundly among the population themselves, that only some activists hold radically opposite beliefs, purposes, goals.

The divisions among the Thai people themselves are extensive and profound.

The old elites and the Bangkok new middle class will never accept being governed by the colony provinces, principally in the northern arc from Myanmar, Laos, to Cambodia. The historically dismissed masses there continue to be dismissed, but now militantly.

The historically dispossessed and excluded countryside masses are now demanding participation and inclusion, - recognition - and they aren't going away regardless of the Nation's dismissive drivel.

The Nation chooses to write primarily to the native English presence in Thailand so it needs to get up to speed and stop with the blue smoke and mirrors. For one thing, it needs to discuss openly how the existing 2007 coup constitution is driving divisions deeper among the population as a whole..

I agree with you that the Nation and the other main stream media need to have an open dialogue of the issues you raise. However, the Nation will never have an honest and open discussion of these issues any more than the New York Times would back a Republican administration in the USA.

[ikke]

Not one mention of Suthep the divider in this article, and indirectly putting all the blame of the red side and the government. The extremely devisive anti-goverment protesters have been trying to create the conditions for chaos and a coup for the last x months. Its their best opportunity to get into power. where have these journalists been living ? they are so transparent with their agenda?

You got this wrong, the divider is your square faced hero hiding in Dubai, soon to be joined by many other family members from the Shin clan.

I think you got it wrong ! and NO, Taksin is not my hero, I don't like him and never will, but if you still believe that Suthep is not the divider and responsible for the situation at this moment , than you must be a blind follower, who is just against Taksin and willing to get the Shin's out at any price, and that price is getting very high.

[Confuscious]

Not one mention of Suthep the divider in this article, and indirectly putting all the blame of the red side and the government. The extremely devisive anti-goverment protesters have been trying to create the conditions for chaos and a coup for the last x months. Its their best opportunity to get into power. where have these journalists been living ? they are so transparent with their agenda?

You got this wrong, the divider is your square faced hero hiding in Dubai, soon to be joined by many other family members from the Shin clan.

101 % agree with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Except, ................

Thaksin ("the square faced hero hiding in Dubai") will return to AN INDEPENDANT ISSAAN and live together with the Shin clan in peace.

All the ISSAAN people will live in prosperity thanks to the wealth of the Shin clan.

Meanwhile, Suthep and the dumb hi-so people in Bangkok can watch how their capital is slowly but sure sinking to the bottom of the sea.

..................

[Publicus]

The editorial fails on many points, but its greatest failure is its central claim that the divisions in Thai society don't run deeply or profoundly among the population themselves, that only some activists hold radically opposite beliefs, purposes, goals.

The divisions among the Thai people themselves are extensive and profound.

The old elites and the Bangkok new middle class will never accept being governed by the colony provinces, principally in the northern arc from Myanmar, Laos, to Cambodia. The historically dismissed masses there continue to be dismissed, but now militantly.

The historically dispossessed and excluded countryside masses are now demanding participation and inclusion, - recognition - and they aren't going away regardless of the Nation's dismissive drivel.

The Nation chooses to write primarily to the native English presence in Thailand so it needs to get up to speed and stop with the blue smoke and mirrors. For one thing, it needs to discuss openly how the existing 2007 coup constitution is driving divisions deeper among the population as a whole..

I agree with you that the Nation and the other main stream media need to have an open dialogue of the issues you raise. However, the Nation will never have an honest and open discussion of these issues any more than the New York Times would back a Republican administration in the USA.

No more than Rush Limbaugh would endorse a Democrat for president, agreed.

The NYT however reflects and respects its broad and diverse global audience while here the Nation insults a large part of its homey audience by appealing only and exclusively to its amen corner readers or subscribers. The Nation offends the sensibilities of many farang on a daily basis and over a long period of time, consistently, persistently. The Nation really does need to get up to speed in respect of journalism and also the inherently democratic nature of fahlang culture.

Thaksin while PM consistently and ridiculously spoke to the world as if the world were from Isaan, but the Nation speaks to fahlang in Thailand as if all fahlang here were of the Bangkok middle class. In short, in the present chaos the Nation has ditched analysis to become a propaganda sheet, which is what makes it most offensive.

Edited February 27, 2014 by Publicus

[kingalfred]

After the deaths of children everyone should have gone home and then negotiate but not in Thailand.Why?Because not enough neutrals speak up

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[soalbundy]

Not one mention of Suthep the divider in this article, and indirectly putting all the blame of the red side and the government. The extremely devisive anti-goverment protesters have been trying to create the conditions for chaos and a coup for the last x months. Its their best opportunity to get into power. where have these journalists been living ? they are so transparent with their agenda?

You got this wrong, the divider is your square faced hero hiding in Dubai, soon to be joined by many other family members from the Shin clan.

101 % agree with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Except, ................

Thaksin ("the square faced hero hiding in Dubai") will return to AN INDEPENDANT ISSAAN and live together with the Shin clan in peace.

All the ISSAAN people will live in prosperity thanks to the wealth of the Shin clan.

Meanwhile, Suthep and the dumb hi-so people in Bangkok can watch how their capital is slowly but sure sinking to the bottom of the sea.

..................

Can't happen,wont happen.....where i live in Isaan nobody gives a flying fart what happens in Bangkok,they just want their rice money. What happens after that,they don't care. Government has never looked after their interests What ever colour,you could put an Eskimo in charge and they wouldn't bat an eyelid.

[JCauto]

I suppose the editorial would have been more cogent, and just as relevant, if they had simply substituted this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfl6Lu3xQW0

[MaxLee]

Meanwhile leaders of the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have said the red-shirt group is ready to enter full "combat" mode against the government's enemies

They are the bunch of mercenary groups who are getting PAID to stage violence in their name of REDEMOCRACY

[Scamper]

The presence of extremism on the side of the red shirts should alarm all. Posing by rifles, calling for combat, and calling for the North to be separated from the other parts of the country is not coming from the PDRC. It is coming from the UDD and their sympathizers. Make no mistake, the UDD poses a great threat to society. They call for the elimination of the checks and balances in the democratic system. They call for the eradication of the independent agencies. They call for the neutering of the courts. Make no mistake, the UDD are out to establish a framework that would make not only Thaksin inevitable, but a permanent fixture. The UDD's plan to block the NACC from functioning today - if carried out - would pose the greatest threat to the judicial process to date, essentially blocking the constitutional process. The army have a duty to defend the constitution and the constitutional process. The writer of this article is correct in that the Thai public have no interest in civil war, but that extremists do. Everyone hopes - as this writer clearly does - that the Thai public will resist the calls of extremists. The people who are committing crimes against humanity are not interested in the democratic system, nor in the welfare of the Thai people. The communist extremists cited in this article that are aligning themselves with the UDD are interested in a society where fear rules, not citizens. The Thai public must condemn the tactics of terror. The Thai people must protect their right to free, peaceful expression without the threat of terror.

Edited February 27, 2014 by Scamper

[tezzainoz]

Why should PM Yingluck step down? She is the democratically elected Prime Minister of Thailand. She is only in a caretaker status because the Democrats boycotted the last election and prevented (blockaded) and intimidated voters from going to the polls. Why did the Democrats boycott the last election because they knew they would be defeated in an open and fair election. And now you are in a hurry to remove PM Yingluck and the current government? What will you replace it with? A government run by Suthep?

I have heard many, many times that all Thai's should live by the rules

But what are the rules

I have read that Yingluck has till the 4th March to have an election or it is all over

Every time I talk to a Thai including my wife the rules change

so is there a rule that says an election must be called with in ? days ?

If so is this the 2nd of March ?

As this is only 3 days away is this possible ?

If it is not held by this day, is it all over, or an they hold some time in the future ?

If the 4th arrives and there is no election then is Yingluck still the caretaker prime minister ?

If the answer is no at what times does her Caretakership finish ?

If she refuses the step down and stays under the protection of the red shirts, what is the rule ?

can she refuse to step down ?

Can the red shirts demand to serceed from the south

Okay I see you have an opinion

but same as me you have no idea what the rules are

so like me the best you can do is make them up to satisfy your opinion

[KimoMax]

Anyone who still thinks the man in Dubai does not have a unsatible lust for greed and power should think again.

His sights are on Thailand. He will stop at nothing to fulfill his megalomanic, narcissist ego and then some.

All at the expense of the Thai People and Country.

Edited February 27, 2014 by KimoMax

[JCauto]

Anyone who still thinks the man in Dubai dos not have a unsatible lust for greed and power should think again.

His sights are on Thailand. He will stop at nothing to fulfill his megalomanic, narcissist ego.

What if I told you...that you could think Thaksin is a greedy power-monger but that you still think the protest and PDRC are completely misguided and that you should compete and win at the ballot box in order to defeat him?

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Not one mention of Suthep the divider in this article, and indirectly putting all the blame of the red side and the government. The extremely devisive anti-goverment protesters have been trying to create the conditions for chaos and a coup for the last x months. Its their best opportunity to get into power. where have these journalists been living ? they are so transparent with their agenda?

You got this wrong, the divider is your square faced hero hiding in Dubai, soon to be joined by many other family members from the Shin clan.

“When the old refuses to die, and the new is struggling to be born, monsters appear.”

Until you change the education system here, its going to be ground hog day for a very long time to come.

The yellow shirts have got what they wished for.

An uneducated people to control.

They just didn't bank on it being a red shirt controlling them.

PTP populist government policies have been directed towards raising the standard of living for the poor and low income class; that includes more accessible and better education. Hardly a program intended to maintain an uneducated people. By contrast the Democrat government policies have been directed towards preserving the wealth and power of the upper income and royalists classes, and supressing anyone who opposes their dictatorial rule, by force if necessary. More investment needs to be put into the uneducated, low and poor income classes, not less. More investment needs to go towards improving the transportation and water control infrastructure to improve distribution of goods and services. Thailand above all must maintain the country as stable, democratic, and peaceful society for all who work and live there so as to strengthen its economy for domestic growth and continue to attract foreign investments. I see nothing coming from the Suthep camp that provides any specifics other than punishing "corruption" after being placed into a dictorial-style control of the government, further details to follow later.

[hotrod4098]

Anyone who still thinks the man in Dubai does not have a unsatible lust for greed and power should think again.

His sights are on Thailand. He will stop at nothing to fulfill his megalomanic, narcissist ego and then some.

All at the expense of the Thai People and Country.

taksin is bored outside of thailand,,also as i have said before...thais do not want to die outside of thailand...

he is shit scared of that,,,so yes,,he will carry this on as long as possible..

[Lancelot]

A separate meeting saw former communist insurgents gather under a banner featuring images of AK-47 assault rifles to announce their support for the red shirts in a "war against the elites". Red banners have mysteriously appeared in public locations in northern provinces, apparently meaning to signal the coming of "a new Lanna nation".

Ex PM Thaksin has been called many things but communist?

Strange bedfellows...

Ah, we live in interesting times

[heybruce]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Not one mention of Suthep the divider in this article, and indirectly putting all the blame of the red side and the government. The extremely devisive anti-goverment protesters have been trying to create the conditions for chaos and a coup for the last x months. Its their best opportunity to get into power. where have these journalists been living ? they are so transparent with their agenda?

You got this wrong, the divider is your square faced hero hiding in Dubai, soon to be joined by many other family members from the Shin clan.

“When the old refuses to die, and the new is struggling to be born, monsters appear.”

Until you change the education system here, its going to be ground hog day for a very long time to come.

The yellow shirts have got what they wished for.

An uneducated people to control.

They just didn't bank on it being a red shirt controlling them.

PTP populist government policies have been directed towards raising the standard of living for the poor and low income class; that includes more accessible and better education. Hardly a program intended to maintain an uneducated people. By contrast the Democrat government policies have been directed towards preserving the wealth and power of the upper income and royalists classes, and supressing anyone who opposes their dictatorial rule, by force if necessary. More investment needs to be put into the uneducated, low and poor income classes, not less. More investment needs to go towards improving the transportation and water control infrastructure to improve distribution of goods and services. Thailand above all must maintain the country as stable, democratic, and peaceful society for all who work and live there so as to strengthen its economy for domestic growth and continue to attract foreign investments. I see nothing coming from the Suthep camp that provides any specifics other than punishing "corruption" after being placed into a dictorial-style control of the government, further details to follow later.

"PTP populist government policies have been directed towards raising the standard of living for the poor and low income class; that includes more accessible and better education."

Those PTP monsters!

"More investment needs to be put into the uneducated, low and poor income classes, not less."

Hey, Bangkok, home to the elites, has already had its share of government investment shrink from 90% when Thaksin took office (http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21595453-both-sides-stand-must-back-down-or-risk-their-countrys-disintegration-way-out) to 72% in 2012 (http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2012/05/10/thailand-public-finance-management-review-report). How much more can you expect the elites so suffer?

[barrybankruad]

Reading all these comments gives me a strange sense of deja vue. Macarthyism and the hysterical cries of 'Reds Under the Beds' comes to mind.

[BanTamo]

Yup, Beavis + Square-Head are in this for keeps and the Isaan people know that intuitively. Whether they like him or not, they really do hate their perennial oppressors. This is going down as surely as Hong Kong was to be handed over to Peking once Thatcher signed the Joint Sino-British Declaration (in 1984).

And I, too, hope I don't die outside of Thailand.

[larsjohnsson]

Not one mention of Suthep the divider in this article, and indirectly putting all the blame of the red side and the government.The extremely devisive anti-goverment protesters have been trying to create the conditions for chaos and a coup for the last x months. Its their best opportunity to get into power. where have these journalists been living ? they are so transparent with their agenda?

Very true

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Not one mention of Suthep the divider in this article, and indirectly putting all the blame of the red side and the government. The extremely devisive anti-goverment protesters have been trying to create the conditions for chaos and a coup for the last x months. Its their best opportunity to get into power. where have these journalists been living ? they are so transparent with their agenda?

You got this wrong, the divider is your square faced hero hiding in Dubai, soon to be joined by many other family members from the Shin clan.

101 % agree with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Except, ................

Thaksin ("the square faced hero hiding in Dubai") will return to AN INDEPENDANT ISSAAN and live together with the Shin clan in peace.

All the ISSAAN people will live in prosperity thanks to the wealth of the Shin clan.

Meanwhile, Suthep and the dumb hi-so people in Bangkok can watch how their capital is slowly but sure sinking to the bottom of the sea.

..................

Thaksin doesn't got the balls to return and an idependent issan is just a dream.