In support of Satish Sehgal

[webfact]

In support of Satish Sehgal
Cod Satrusayang
Special to The Nation


Satish Sehgal

BANGKOK: -- For a man who has stood by Thailand, investing heavily in the nation for the better part of three decades, deportation seems like the short end of the stick. And it is. It can be argued that Satish Sehgal was in violation of the law.

It will be pointed out by this government that by being on stage, Sehgal has effectively forced their hand. They will attempt to shift the blame and avoid accusations because that is what cowards do. And let's get this straight, this deportation is a real act of desperation and cowardice.

I should start by saying that, for the most part, I disagree with Sehgal's politics. I disagree with subverting democracy. I disagree with him and others getting up on stages at Rajprasong, when only four years ago, he was criticising those stages. I am not a fan of Thaksin Shinawatra's proxy administration, but I am not about to ask for the overthrow of a democratically elected government and its replacement with an appointed one. I have studied too much history and read too many books not to see that such action leads you down a dark path.

But I will defend Sehgal's right to voice his opinions and even be on stage. While his actions were undoubtedly illegal, so were the actions of many others who got up on stages. This stretches from your everyday dog walker to luminaries such as Dr Somkiat Onwimol and Piyasvasti Amranand. Where are the arrest warrants for them?

Why are we singling out Sehgal?

The answer is, because it is easy and that is what bullies do. Bullies pick on the weakest people in the playground. They don't go for the jocks, they don't go for rugby team. By contrast, Sehgal is an easy target. He doesn't look like us, he has a different shade of skin. He speaks Thai with a funny accent. He doesn't have a Thai-sounding last name. He is not from here. But ask yourself this question: Is Thailand really one homogenous entity of colours, last names, accents and religions?

The fact that he has been singled out by the government is symptomatic of an underlying problem that has been at the root of this conflict: a failure to celebrate differences. Believe it or not, there is an underlying racial overtone to the various conflicts in Thailand. In some cases the differences are being deliberately accentuated by the greedy and powerful, in others they are the result of a historical lack of awareness and of education. But in order to maximise the differences to achieve an aim, there has to be a programme of dehumanisation. This is how racism, sexism, classism and all the other negative "isms" work. We say that "they" are different, not the same as us, and by extension that they should not have the same rights that we do.

The differences are twisted and pushed to meet our ends, so we get "uneducated red buffaloes", or "bloodthirsty Muslim separatists", or "primitive hilltribe people not worthy of citizenship". This is neither new nor unique to Thailand. It is as old as prostitution, but without the side benefits that both parties get from that vice.

So, back to Sehgal. Why is he being singled out? Because it is easy and because it creates the illusion that the government tried to do something about the protests. But instead of deporting a long-time leader of the community, maybe the government should focus on the real roots of this and many other problems in Thai society. Maybe it's high time to recognise that this country is not one homogenous entity that can be governed as such. Maybe it's time we started celebrating and understanding our differences instead of trying to knock one another down because of them. Maybe it's time the playground bully grew up.

Cod Satrusayang is a writer and a researcher based in Bangkok.


-- The Nation 2014-03-07

[Thai at Heart]

"Why are we singling out Sehgal?"

Because he was the only foreigner who got on stage?

[chooka]

"Why are we singling out Sehgal?"

Because he was the only foreigner who got on stage?

And foreigners were warned not to take part but he decided to bare his naked butt at this warning and now he has to face the consequences.

[ManofReason]

"It can be argued that Satish Sehgal was in violation of the law."

Enough said.

Guests musts accept their hosts rules, customs and laws.

[rkidlad]

"It can be argued that Satish Sehgal was in violation of the law."

Enough said.

Guests musts accept their hosts rules, customs and laws.

But be warned: rules, customs and laws can be changed/selfishly tailored/made up as they go along. And for a certain price, can be ignored altogether.

[djhotsox]

symptomatic of an underlying problem that has been at the root of this conflict: a failure to celebrate differences. Believe it or not, there is an underlying racial overtone to the various conflicts in Thailand. In some cases the differences are being deliberately accentuated by the greedy and powerful, in others they are the result of a historical lack of awareness and of education.

and

It can be argued that Satish Sehgal was in violation of the law.

This has been covered so many times,nothing new here.....move along people......nothing to see here.....

[OMGImInPattaya]

He placed his bet on the loosing anti-democracy horse and now has to take the consequences.

[binjalin]

he was warned? and then still continued? even a few days ago??? enough said

[simon43]

He is still meddling in politics - made an appearance at the Lumpini Park protest site yesterday.

[Pikeybkk]

don't let the door hit you on your way out.....

[badgerbailey]

Cod Satrusayang is an idiot

[ShannonT]

Australia deports aliens who protest, spit or curse. Why shouldn't Thailand?

I see everyone complaining that laws aren't followed in Thailand but then they complain that someone who broke the law should not be prosecuted according to the law. So what is it, follow the law or not? Or only selective following of the law?

[ManofReason]

Australia deports aliens who protest, spit or curse. Why shouldn't Thailand?

I see everyone complaining that laws aren't followed in Thailand but then they complain that someone who broke the law should not be prosecuted according to the law. So what is it, follow the law or not? Or only selective following of the law?

I'm not sure you'll fit in here.

Too much common sense in your post.

[bangkokheat]

i for one feel sorry for this guy, hes been here nearlly all his life, just as the chinese that came here, then governments make new laws to push you into a corner where they have better control over you, they dont ask the people, these hiso <deleted> who think their highly priced education puts them above everyone makes my blood boil, while suthep is running around busting all the laws of the land and still being able to stop at a noodle shop without fear, and all the rest of the pollies raping and pilaging the country run free because they can,,,yeh sure deport the poor bastard you "law abiding" freaks

[geriatrickid]

I expect that he will leave and told to submit an application to return. After some time enjoying himself in soothing India, he will be able to return to Thailand and to oversee his restaurant and Indian focused tour agency. I'm sure he'll do just fine back in India and use it as an opportunity to connect with the people he is trying to sell his wedding "holidays" to.

[simon43]

...yeh sure deport the poor bastard you "law abiding" freaks

There is an important difference betrween the law-breaker Suthep and the law-breaker Sehgal

Suthep is Thai, Sehgal is not Thai

Clear??

[mrtoad]

Australia deports aliens who protest, spit or curse.

In days gone by that would have been a pre requisite for entry.

[dominique355]

So he broke the law. What law? A law that prohibits people who do not have a Thai passport to voice a (political) opinion? What exactly did Satish Sehgal do wrong? Nobody really knows because the law itself is unclear.

Are we who post here also violating this law by voicing a political opinion? Can we all be deported immediately?

Satish Sehgal has been carefully choosen by Chalerm to maximize the effect of INTIMIDATING the opposition. In this effort he joins the murderers of Trat and Rajaprasong who try to intimidate all and any opposition to voice their opinion.

The murderers of Trat and Rajaprasong kill people, Chalrem destroys lifes.

[Thai at Heart]

So he broke the law. What law? A law that prohibits people who do not have a Thai passport to voice a (political) opinion? What exactly did Satish Sehgal do wrong? Nobody really knows because the law itself is unclear.

Are we who post here also violating this law by voicing a political opinion? Can we all be deported immediately?

Satish Sehgal has been carefully choosen by Chalerm to maximize the effect of INTIMIDATING the opposition. In this effort he joins the murderers of Trat and Rajaprasong who try to intimidate all and any opposition to voice their opinion.

The murderers of Trat and Rajaprasong kill people, Chalrem destroys lifes.

<deleted>? There was basically one non Thai who got in stage and this was him.

No one chose him, he chose to get involved. A man of such principle should take his punishment like a man of principle. You think 99.9% of thailand relates to this guy? Hardly

cough,splutter.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[stargas]

Let's see how his appeal goes.

[Spalpeen]

He didn't "invest heavily in the nation" (unless the writer means 'The Nation'). He was penniless when he got here and made his millions out of Thailand. And then he turned on the democratically elected government of Thailand. I'll bet he was more interested in the minimum wage than democracy.

[nowork114]

"It can be argued that Satish Sehgal was in violation of the law."

Enough said.

Guests musts accept their hosts rules, customs and laws.

How about Chalerm Son? Red bul guy? Muu Ham? Violating law here doesn't mean anything as long as you have money and connections

[Thai at Heart]

"It can be argued that Satish Sehgal was in violation of the law."

Enough said.

Guests musts accept their hosts rules, customs and laws.

How about Chalerm Son? Red bul guy? Muu Ham? Violating law here doesn't mean anything as long as you have money and connections

And THAI....

[gabruce]

symptomatic of an underlying problem that has been at the root of this conflict: a failure to celebrate differences. Believe it or not, there is an underlying racial overtone to the various conflicts in Thailand. In some cases the differences are being deliberately accentuated by the greedy and powerful, in others they are the result of a historical lack of awareness and of education.

and

It can be argued that Satish Sehgal was in violation of the law.

This has been covered so many times,nothing new here.....move along people......nothing to see here.....

I just wish the "nothing new here ... move along people ... nothing see here" comments would move along.

[Fat Haggis]

and another who just can't stay on topic, it's not about Chalems son, it's about a man who should have known better!!

I'm willing to bet that 75-90% of Thais have probably never even heard of him either

[dru2]

"It can be argued that Satish Sehgal was in violation of the law."

Enough said.

Guests musts accept their hosts rules, customs and laws.

How about Chalerm Son? Red bul guy? Muu Ham? Violating law here doesn't mean anything as long as you have money and connections

And THAI....

AND not Indian. There is an unpleasant element of anti-South Asian racism running deeply through Thai society ("If you see a snake and an Indian kill the Khaek first") that Chalerm is seeking to exploit here.

I have no proof, but I strongly suspect that the same ugly racist streak runs in more than a few of the posters on this thread: "Lets see if he's got the nuts to pull this crap in the streets of Pakistan".

[ManofReason]

Australia deports aliens who protest, spit or curse.

In days gone by that would have been a pre requisite for entry.

Our "unique" ancestry cannot be denied.

[Fat Haggis]

"It can be argued that Satish Sehgal was in violation of the law."

Enough said.

Guests musts accept their hosts rules, customs and laws.

How about Chalerm Son? Red bul guy? Muu Ham? Violating law here doesn't mean anything as long as you have money and connections

And THAI....

AND not Indian. There is an unpleasant element of anti-South Asian racism running deeply through Thai society ("If you see a snake and an Indian kill the Khaek first") that Chalerm is seeking to exploit here.

I have no proof, but I strongly suspect that the same ugly racist streak runs in more than a few of the posters on this thread: "Lets see if he's got the nuts to pull this crap in the streets of Pakistan".

Nothing racist at all in that statement except he's Indian not Pakistani, I think you may find that the poster was refering to protesting or he may well have been pointing out that he's an ALIEN and protesting against another Government authority if he were to be in Pakistan and repeating what he did in Thailand.

So you're right, you have no proof, perhaps an apology for making an assumption would be more in line than calling someone a racist

[rkidlad]

and another who just can't stay on topic, it's not about Chalems son, it's about a man who should have known better!!

I'm willing to bet that 75-90% of Thais have probably never even heard of him either

Who? Chalerm's son?

[Fat Haggis]

Probably both!!