TELL IT AS IT IS
Staring into the eye of savagery
Pornpimol Kanchanalak
Special to The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Some anthropologists believe that there was a time when all human beings were savages. Then, as human history progresses, some reach the culturally elevated of "barbarians".

Barbarianism has three levels - lower, middle and upper. Only after having passing through all three levels are humans deemed to have crossed the threshold into civilisation.

The beating of a Buddhist monk by members of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), aka the red shirts, proved clearly that such ascension to civilisation can be reversed. The brutal beating of a Buddhist monk, who was not involved in any protest on either side, fits the definition of savagery. A savage is what a savage does.

The monk was from Kalasin and was visiting Bangkok to attend the funeral of a relative. After the cremation, he stopped by at the home of a relative in Nonthaburi before returning to his temple in the Northeast the same evening. The house was near the site of a confrontation between supporters of the UDD and their PDRC (People's Democratic Reform Council) counterparts, which occurred after the UDD drove through a police barricade. The monk tried to do the right thing, intervening to remind them all to return to their senses and calm down. That was when the red shirts jumped in. A large group began raining down blows on a defenceless monk who was shielded by nothing more than his robe and saffron bag. They snatched the bag and emptied its contents, before women joined the fray in a deliberate violation of the taboo against touching monks. The monk fell to the ground. But the livid assailants did not stop, continuing to kick and trample him where he lay. Someone intervened and tried to pull him up, begging the bloodthirsty red shirts to stop the beating. The monk finally got up and began calmly adjusting his robes, not a flicker of anger or fear showing on his face. A shopkeeper nearby who witnessed the incident ushered him into her shop, locked it and shooed away the attackers.

If you think this was merely an isolated incident with no special significance, you are wrong. Similar extremist violence has been employed by red-shirt supporters all over the place over the years. Ask the nurses and doctors at Chulalongkorn University Hospital and you will receive an earful of reports of intimidation, robbery, vulgarity and physical harm inflicted upon them by the red shirts during the months the UDD was camped out near the hospital. In Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and many other Northeast provinces, the red shirts' sense of empowerment is such that that they do not feel they have to obey any law or tolerate anything not to their liking. This gangster mentality has been encouraged by certain politicians for their own personal gain.

These demagogues have been indoctrinating the vulnerable masses through community radio while at the same time buying off local politicians or threatening to evict them from office or take away their stipends. Day and night, the community radio stations spew warped information about injustice, double standards, exploitation and the unsavoury conduct of the so-called ammart, or elites. Listeners mind's are nurtured on a spoon-fed diet of hatred. They become the victims and then agents of Thailand's dirty politics.

If you ask them why they believe everything they hear, they will have no answer, simply saying it "ain't false". Then they might turn angry at you. And after that? Well, you simply do not want to go there.

Lost in the propaganda is the fact that none of the red shirt leaders are poor. They have managed to gobble up massive sums of cash, our tax money, from under the table. They are the real elites, because the law cannot touch them. They are the upholders of the double standards, as they believe no set of rules could apply indiscriminately across the board. They are the exception to many rules - and in their own minds, deservingly so.

Hatred has been carefully cultivated in the minds of UDD followers for so long that it will be hard for Thailand to become whole again. The result of the growing hatred is evident in the type of savagery on full display with the beating of the monk.

Democracy is not possible without two conditions. First is the rule of law, which applies universally, not tribally nor arbitrarily. Second is the need for quality education that enables citizens to fully understand fully what the representatives who they elect to run the country are really doing. With proper education, people have a better chance of distinguishing between truth and the lies and rhetoric that are pumped out everywhere in this information age. It is the rule of law and education that have the power to tame the savage in us.

Alas, the brutal and unconscionable beating of an innocent monk, unarmed and apolitical, tells a tale of our own failure on the ladder to civilisation. But hey, we can take pride in being a front-runner, well ahead of the pack, in the reverse evolution process described by Charles Darwin. "At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savage races throughout the world."

How noble of the UDD to show us the alternative way.


-- The Nation 2014-03-26

Redshirts have regressed into barbarianism? That's what this article is saying, right?

I do think that everyone should be reminded of this bit though.

Lost in the propaganda is the fact that none of the red shirt leaders are poor. They have managed to gobble up massive sums of cash, our tax money, from under the table. They are the real elites, because the law cannot touch them. They are the upholders of the double standards, as they believe no set of rules could apply indiscriminately across the board. They are the exception to many rules - and in their own minds, deservingly so.

Right on the money.

Interesting concept, the Red Shirt leaders are the elite. Train their minions via propaganda and fear.

Darwins theory of evolution bypassed Siam.

that such ascension to civilisation can be reversed.

or just never attained

pack dog mentality, he must be a bullet proof monk or those dogs couldnt fight their way out of a wet paper bag, that is if you call beating on one individual fighting by a pack of heroic brain dead assailants

in the reverse evolution process described by Charles Darwin. "At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savage races throughout the world."

Let's hope sooner than later. Never liked the color red.

And the same mentality extends to the polling booth, where people are intimidated and forced to vote for Thaksin

Well for decades the poor everywhere in Thailand have had their human and economic rights trampled on by various political, social, and economic elites of various political stripes. Grassroots movements for economic, social, and environmental rights have been suppressed by violence and their leaders usually "disappeared." All this with very little useful condemnation or resistance from the educated middle-class and elites of Bangkok. Hence it's hardly surprising that these people who have had nothing but a diet of violence feed to them by Thai society react and lash out in the same manner against their perceived enemies.

And instead of some toff writer for The Nation calling them monkeys (de-evolved humans) maybe he/she [one never knows with these Thai names] should be leading a drive to protect their right to one-person one-vote!

Darwins theory of evolution bypassed Siam.

No! No! You got it all wrong. For years man has searched for evidence of Darwin’s theory up to date they have found no hard evidence. This is because the evidence is alive and well, and belongs to a certain group of people.

The words 'savage' and 'barbarians' are more fitting to the vikings and mongol warriors who in their own brutal ways had a plan to explore and expand their empires. These clowns are not smart enough to be called savages and barbarians. They are more like mindless lemmings or primordial apes (before speech evolved) with a false sense of empowerment with a leader more akin to a Colonel Kurtz.

The same people that call the attackers of this monk "galahs" which is more a description suited to a group of kids with water paint all over themselves while playing in the back yard. Of course this is to downplay the gravity of the crime committed and is the only sign of admission of guilt one would receive from there supporters. "Galahs" a bunch of scallywags that got a bit playful in their eyes. They are very very quick to back that up with the usual "But the monk brought it on himself" excuse. Then the accusations fly of him being a PDRC supporter, not a real monk, that he attacked the red shirts first…Stories that are more mystical and imaginative than J.R.Tolkiens could possible conjure and is more suited to children's nursery rhyme books than on a "grown ups" political forum.

When the OP states these "humans" as savages he does not mention the supporters that stand on the side lines that defend them. I think they are just as dangerous if not more dangerous. Without their support these savages would not be so emboldened and they would dissolve quicker than an aspirin in water.

The supporters in the "beat the war drum" supporting terrorism and clapping and cheering upon hearing the "good news" in Trat is a true window into the wretched souls of these people. These supporters. These fanatics that denounce the very thing they have become. One thing can be guaranteed after guaging the reactions of these "supporters" is that my children will be shielded from this hatred and blind fanatical devotion and celebration of death, evil and wanton destruction that the red shirts embrace like a new born infant to her mothers teat.

What is worse? The savage or the supporter and defender of savages. My children will be taught to avoid both.

Wow, talk about a fevered anti-Red Shirt diatribe...I am not sure of the specifics of this case, but the frenzied, zealous and inflamed rhetoric of this article clearly is over the top.....A classic case of "Me thinks he protests too much".

This article delves into historical events to contextualization them in support of its' basic intentions to diabolize and villify the UDD/RS's, so it is not off-topic to do likewise.

Even invoking one of the 2010 R'song protest actions, and ignoring the coupist provocations of negating their votes and another one of their selected Govts. As if these protesters were anarchic, acting out in a political vacuum, and totally unprovoked...Just bad, bad people basically.

In this instance, one-sidedly referencing when protesters sought to determine of there were snipers in that bastion of PAD-Dem, anti-protest location of Chulalongkorn Hospital. Everyone knows the hatred of the medical establishment had for Thaksin, and by extension, for those protesters..........That protest was a conflict between a coup-rooted administration and those opposed, and this hospital administration was an element of one side......same as currently. I am told Chulalongkorn University is the nerve center for the coup-mongers, providing comfort and material support to them using the Universities considerable resources. Even involving something called a 'war room'.

Jumping on some isolated events as in this article to demonize the Red Shirts while ignoring many excesses of the current coup-mongers and their extremist actions, is seen for what it is......This writer could just as easily have written such a heated and frenzied article about any number of coup-monger actions of late, but those are deep-sixed for the most part.For example, torturing a guy for several days, then tying a guy's hands and feet and throwing him over a bridge, or Popcorn guys firing at unarmed people....No savagery there? Those are but two examples among many.

Darwins theory of evolution bypassed Siam.

so glad to see that the Nation news paper is neutral! same old trash! both sides are to blame however who overthrew a democratically elected government? who started shooting in 2010? i still have the photo's and news paper articles on mjy computer. you who have eyes SEE! you who have ears Listen! and keep out of Thai polotics, it is deadly and does not concern you! if you don't like it leave or get in the middle and yell fire and see what happens.

both sides are to blame

Yep.

Well for decades the poor everywhere in Thailand have had their human and economic rights trampled on by various political, social, and economic elites of various political stripes. Grassroots movements for economic, social, and environmental rights have been suppressed by violence and their leaders usually "disappeared." All this with very little useful condemnation or resistance from the educated middle-class and elites of Bangkok. Hence it's hardly surprising that these people who have had nothing but a diet of violence feed to them by Thai society react and lash out in the same manner against their perceived enemies.

And instead of some toff writer for The Nation calling them monkeys (de-evolved humans) maybe he/she [one never knows with these Thai names] should be leading a drive to protect their right to one-person one-vote!

It's not a "diet of violence" that's been fed to them, it's a government that openly states it will defy the law. This is bound to make certain people of certain intellect think that they too are above the law.

Do you think any of the attackers was perhaps autistic and thus couldn't be held responsible for his behaviour? Oh, no, although you want to excuse these barbaric thugs, you don't think autism is a real disability, do you?

Darwins theory of evolution bypassed Siam.

No! No! You got it all wrong. For years man has searched for evidence of Darwin’s theory up to date they have found no hard evidence. This is because the evidence is alive and well, and belongs to a certain group of people.

I am interested to know what group of people you are referring to.

The same people that call the attackers of this monk "galahs" which is more a description suited to a group of kids with water paint all over themselves while playing in the back yard. Of course this is to downplay the gravity of the crime committed and is the only sign of admission of guilt one would receive from there supporters. "Galahs" a bunch of scallywags that got a bit playful in their eyes. They are very very quick to back that up with the usual "But the monk brought it on himself" excuse. Then the accusations fly of him being a PDRC supporter, not a real monk, that he attacked the red shirts first…Stories that are more mystical and imaginative than J.R.Tolkiens could possible conjure and is more suited to children's nursery rhyme books than on a "grown ups" political forum.

When the OP states these "humans" as savages he does not mention the supporters that stand on the side lines that defend them. I think they are just as dangerous if not more dangerous. Without their support these savages would not be so emboldened and they would dissolve quicker than an aspirin in water.

The supporters in the "beat the war drum" supporting terrorism and clapping and cheering upon hearing the "good news" in Trat is a true window into the wretched souls of these people. These supporters. These fanatics that denounce the very thing they have become. One thing can be guaranteed after guaging the reactions of these "supporters" is that my children will be shielded from this hatred and blind fanatical devotion and celebration of death, evil and wanton destruction that the red shirts embrace like a new born infant to her mothers teat.

What is worse? The savage or the supporter and defender of savages. My children will be taught to avoid both.

Excellent post,could only disagree with one point.These people do not have souls,they the devil incarnate.

Wow, talk about a fevered anti-Red Shirt diatribe...I am not sure of the specifics of this case, but the frenzied, zealous and inflamed rhetoric of this article clearly is over the top.....A classic case of "Me thinks he protests too much".

This article delves into historical events to contextualization them in support of its' basic intentions to diabolize and villify the UDD/RS's, so it is not off-topic to do likewise.

Even invoking one of the 2010 R'song protest actions, and ignoring the coupist provocations of negating their votes and another one of their selected Govts. As if these protesters were anarchic, acting out in a political vacuum, and totally unprovoked...Just bad, bad people basically.

In this instance, one-sidedly referencing when protesters sought to determine of there were snipers in that bastion of PAD-Dem, anti-protest location of Chulalongkorn Hospital. Everyone knows the hatred of the medical establishment had for Thaksin, and by extension, for those protesters..........That protest was a conflict between a coup-rooted administration and those opposed, and this hospital administration was an element of one side......same as currently. I am told Chulalongkorn University is the nerve center for the coup-mongers, providing comfort and material support to them using the Universities considerable resources. Even involving something called a 'war room'.

Jumping on some isolated events as in this article to demonize the Red Shirts while ignoring many excesses of the current coup-mongers and their extremist actions, is seen for what it is......This writer could just as easily have written such a heated and frenzied article about any number of coup-monger actions of late, but those are deep-sixed for the most part.For example, torturing a guy for several days, then tying a guy's hands and feet and throwing him over a bridge, or Popcorn guys firing at unarmed people....No savagery there? Those are but two examples among many.

What a load of efluent from the honey-wagon.

Give it a rest.

It is a fact that isolated communities and Countries evolve at a much slower rate than others,

sometimes hardly at all - but they become more colourful and self important?

Darwins theory of evolution bypassed Siam.

The same people that call the attackers of this monk "galahs" which is more a description suited to a group of kids with water paint all over themselves while playing in the back yard. Of course this is to downplay the gravity of the crime committed and is the only sign of admission of guilt one would receive from there supporters. "Galahs" a bunch of scallywags that got a bit playful in their eyes. They are very very quick to back that up with the usual "But the monk brought it on himself" excuse. Then the accusations fly of him being a PDRC supporter, not a real monk, that he attacked the red shirts first…Stories that are more mystical and imaginative than J.R.Tolkiens could possible conjure and is more suited to children's nursery rhyme books than on a "grown ups" political forum.

When the OP states these "humans" as savages he does not mention the supporters that stand on the side lines that defend them. I think they are just as dangerous if not more dangerous. Without their support these savages would not be so emboldened and they would dissolve quicker than an aspirin in water.

The supporters in the "beat the war drum" supporting terrorism and clapping and cheering upon hearing the "good news" in Trat is a true window into the wretched souls of these people. These supporters. These fanatics that denounce the very thing they have become. One thing can be guaranteed after guaging the reactions of these "supporters" is that my children will be shielded from this hatred and blind fanatical devotion and celebration of death, evil and wanton destruction that the red shirts embrace like a new born infant to her mothers teat.

What is worse? The savage or the supporter and defender of savages. My children will be taught to avoid both.

Excellent post,could only disagree with one point.These people do not have souls,they the devil incarnate.

They have souls, but they have been twisted by their leaders.

Good souls originally, but now souls sold to the devil, some never even knowing the sale was made.

As bad as their actions, it is hard not to also feel sorry for them in their horribly manipulated states of being.

It appears to me from the OP that we haven't reverted to savages in the true primal sense. It appears that we recognize colour coding and that red indicates the savage side.

Whereas I hold nothing but revulsion for the people involved in the monk incident, I am having difficulty remembering such a one sided article as this with reference to today's politics.

Incredible.......!

Darwins theory of evolution bypassed Siam.

so glad to see that the Nation news paper is neutral! same old trash! both sides are to blame however who overthrew a democratically elected government? who started shooting in 2010? i still have the photo's and news paper articles on mjy computer. you who have eyes SEE! you who have ears Listen! and keep out of Thai polotics, it is deadly and does not concern you! if you don't like it leave or get in the middle and yell fire and see what happens.

I think I must have put my "thick" head on when I got up this morning,because I don't understand your response.Can you help me out please and use words with one syllable in any fururer reoponses.P.S. I am mentally challenged,or pre PC days a bit thick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In China Red is seen as the color of riches, power and the good life...

in the reverse evolution process described by Charles Darwin. "At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savage races throughout the world."

Let's hope sooner than later. Never liked the color red.

shame he wasn't a shaolin monk on holiday, going for a bit of cultural diversity.

Wow, talk about a fevered anti-Red Shirt diatribe...I am not sure of the specifics of this case, but the frenzied, zealous and inflamed rhetoric of this article clearly is over the top.....A classic case of "Me thinks he protests too much".

This article delves into historical events to contextualization them in support of its' basic intentions to diabolize and villify the UDD/RS's, so it is not off-topic to do likewise.

Even invoking one of the 2010 R'song protest actions, and ignoring the coupist provocations of negating their votes and another one of their selected Govts. As if these protesters were anarchic, acting out in a political vacuum, and totally unprovoked...Just bad, bad people basically.

In this instance, one-sidedly referencing when protesters sought to determine of there were snipers in that bastion of PAD-Dem, anti-protest location of Chulalongkorn Hospital. Everyone knows the hatred of the medical establishment had for Thaksin, and by extension, for those protesters..........That protest was a conflict between a coup-rooted administration and those opposed, and this hospital administration was an element of one side......same as currently. I am told Chulalongkorn University is the nerve center for the coup-mongers, providing comfort and material support to them using the Universities considerable resources. Even involving something called a 'war room'.

Jumping on some isolated events as in this article to demonize the Red Shirts while ignoring many excesses of the current coup-mongers and their extremist actions, is seen for what it is......This writer could just as easily have written such a heated and frenzied article about any number of coup-monger actions of late, but those are deep-sixed for the most part.For example, torturing a guy for several days, then tying a guy's hands and feet and throwing him over a bridge, or Popcorn guys firing at unarmed people....No savagery there? Those are but two examples among many.

What's your opinion on WATERBOARDING by the US and the CIA holding cells here in Thailand? Just curious.

The same people that call the attackers of this monk "galahs" which is more a description suited to a group of kids with water paint all over themselves while playing in the back yard. Of course this is to downplay the gravity of the crime committed and is the only sign of admission of guilt one would receive from there supporters. "Galahs" a bunch of scallywags that got a bit playful in their eyes. They are very very quick to back that up with the usual "But the monk brought it on himself" excuse. Then the accusations fly of him being a PDRC supporter, not a real monk, that he attacked the red shirts first…Stories that are more mystical and imaginative than J.R.Tolkiens could possible conjure and is more suited to children's nursery rhyme books than on a "grown ups" political forum.

When the OP states these "humans" as savages he does not mention the supporters that stand on the side lines that defend them. I think they are just as dangerous if not more dangerous. Without their support these savages would not be so emboldened and they would dissolve quicker than an aspirin in water.

The supporters in the "beat the war drum" supporting terrorism and clapping and cheering upon hearing the "good news" in Trat is a true window into the wretched souls of these people. These supporters. These fanatics that denounce the very thing they have become. One thing can be guaranteed after guaging the reactions of these "supporters" is that my children will be shielded from this hatred and blind fanatical devotion and celebration of death, evil and wanton destruction that the red shirts embrace like a new born infant to her mothers teat.

What is worse? The savage or the supporter and defender of savages. My children will be taught to avoid both.

Excellent post,could only disagree with one point.These people do not have souls,they the devil incarnate.

They have souls, but they have been twisted by their leaders.

Good souls originally, but now souls sold to the devil, some never even knowing the sale was made.

As bad as their actions, it is hard not to also feel sorry for them in their horribly manipulated states of being.

I suppose you could apply that logic to the Germans.

Bravo Nation

Good to see some venom. However for you red types ... remember The PDRC beating to death a cab driver is not savagery ..... The PDRC torching a bus and burning a looter alive is not, I repeat not savagery. Suthep ordering the army to shoot to kill (2010) and putting down 90 reds (a lot more unconfirmed) IS NOT SAVAGERY!

And The Nation will not publish slander that says it is. That is all

It appears to me from the OP that we haven't reverted to savages in the true primal sense. It appears that we recognize colour coding and that red indicates the savage side.

Whereas I hold nothing but revulsion for the people involved in the monk incident, I am having difficulty remembering such a one sided article as this with reference to today's politics.

Incredible.......!

It does seem to be biased, but how else could the writer have written it? How could she have phrased it otherwise? Is there a redshirt side to the story? Do you honestly think so in this case?

How about, not articles, but Yinluck's speeches? They are full of bias, but also have outright lies.

The same people that call the attackers of this monk "galahs" which is more a description suited to a group of kids with water paint all over themselves while playing in the back yard. Of course this is to downplay the gravity of the crime committed and is the only sign of admission of guilt one would receive from there supporters. "Galahs" a bunch of scallywags that got a bit playful in their eyes. They are very very quick to back that up with the usual "But the monk brought it on himself" excuse. Then the accusations fly of him being a PDRC supporter, not a real monk, that he attacked the red shirts first…Stories that are more mystical and imaginative than J.R.Tolkiens could possible conjure and is more suited to children's nursery rhyme books than on a "grown ups" political forum.

When the OP states these "humans" as savages he does not mention the supporters that stand on the side lines that defend them. I think they are just as dangerous if not more dangerous. Without their support these savages would not be so emboldened and they would dissolve quicker than an aspirin in water.

The supporters in the "beat the war drum" supporting terrorism and clapping and cheering upon hearing the "good news" in Trat is a true window into the wretched souls of these people. These supporters. These fanatics that denounce the very thing they have become. One thing can be guaranteed after guaging the reactions of these "supporters" is that my children will be shielded from this hatred and blind fanatical devotion and celebration of death, evil and wanton destruction that the red shirts embrace like a new born infant to her mothers teat.

What is worse? The savage or the supporter and defender of savages. My children will be taught to avoid both.

Excellent post,could only disagree with one point.These people do not have souls,they the devil incarnate.

They have souls, but they have been twisted by their leaders.

Good souls originally, but now souls sold to the devil, some never even knowing the sale was made.

As bad as their actions, it is hard not to also feel sorry for them in their horribly manipulated states of being.

I suppose you could apply that logic to the Germans.

It's not at all about logic... it's about their lack of logic and unquestioning devotion and obsequious servitude to their masters.