To the world: Please don't become part of Thailand's internal affairs problem

[Ianatlarge]

That is ridiculous. It is not a "Thai problem", but a problem experienced by people. A military coup, against a democratically elected government, with the same pseudo justification given as it always is, for national security, or something similar.

[chainarong]

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Well written article and I totally agree. Let the Thai people handle their internal affairs. The US and the EU should solve their own problems instead of trying to dictate internal matters of this country. I can't speak for the EU, but as an American citizen I know we have major problems here that should be taken care of.

That's fine ,I think the short answer is security for the region, including Thailand , some others north of Burma might take an advantage of the situation, that does not mean military intervention.

[Fookhaht]

“Don’t criticize what you don’t understand, son. You never walked in that man’s shoes.”

Elvis Presley

Whoa! Pulling out the heavy 20th century philosophers now, are we?

[Stradavarius37]

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That is rediculous. It is not a "Thai problem", but a problem experienced by people. A military coup, against a democratically elected government, with the same pseudo justification given as it always is, for national security, or something similar.

Once again, there was no democratically elected government, only a caretaker government that had no ability to do anything.

[Ianatlarge]

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That is rediculous. It is not a "Thai problem", but a problem experienced by people. A military coup, against a democratically elected government, with the same pseudo justification given as it always is, for national security, or something similar.

Once again, there was no democratically elected government, only a caretaker government that had no ability to do anything.

The original Red Shirt government was elected, it clearly has the support of the majority of the population, far more so that than the Yellows, who have yet to win an election, and far greater support than an unelected military, which has a long history of anti-democratic action. As for the "caretaker" government, that is what it is, due to the fact that the Yellows abandoned the election process, a process they knew they could not win.

[Mr Yim]

Just maybe the world is concerned that Thailand maybe heading the same way as Vietnam or Cambodia, but cannot see it.

[kamahele]

The writer is apparently unaware that the whole world does know the problems affecting Thailand. Maybe it is the writer who is unaware.

[englishoak]

Naa.............. the world isnt wrong Thailand is...deal with it

[AnotherOneAmerican]

There are so many things nobody is allowed to talk about in Thailand, that the Thai people are the last to know any facts or true information about their own country.

Most foreigners and foreign journalists understand far better than those Thai nationals who are drip fed propaganda and misinformation by their own government and military.

[Tokay]

Just maybe the world is concerned that Thailand maybe heading the same way as Vietnam or Cambodia, but cannot see it.

Considering Thailand is now controlled by a junta, I'd say more like Burma.

[eeworldwide]

The sentiments expressed by the author are well and good, but unfortunately flawed. The author rightly states in paragraph three of his tirade that

" It is true that Thailand is not an isolated island; we are part and parcel of the world community of nations. As such, the community has a legitimate reason to express its apprehensions over events in Thailand."

The glaring issue is that Thailand has utterly and embarrassingly failed to play ball with the international community in terms of human rights and freedoms etc, and therefore WILL be subject to criticism, because these are really the only issues that the international community has the right to comment on. It is by NOT commenting on the internal affairs that the international community is actually showing respect for Thailand's own devices and ineptitude at running any semblance of a balanced and working government. You cannot be a part of the international community and expect that community to stand back when these freedoms are breached or ignored. It is this country's responsibility to take real action on the internal issues - but this seems to be something that Thailand is incapable of.

There is very little to be proud of here. Sure - nice beaches, smiling faces and tasty foodstuffs count for nothing, and it is my sincere hope that Thailand's economy crashes, the tourist industry collapses, because it may only be by hitting complete rock bottom that this country will finally start to look up into the light. It will take a catastrophe to bring this country down onto humble knees. Whilst it may not happen right now - it will happen one day.

In the meantime, please do not discount the huge investments that the international community brings on many levels to this country. If indeed, Thailand WAS boycotted, perhaps you might actually start to listen to suggestions made by foreigners here and abroad alike.

But then again, Im pretty sure my post will be ignored, flamed or poo-pooed, as though I know nothing. I know what I know, see what I see, and most of it stinks, from the ground up.

Sure - there are lovely aspects about this country, but most of those are GOD-GIVEN and natural. Very few of the systems implemented by Thailand as a nation actually work. This country is at the BOTTOM of the league of education tables - and that alone is enough to suggest that you have your priorities all wrong.

And just in case you didn't realise - all the personal wealth you amass cannot actually be take into the afterlife.

[cms22]

Unbelievable. The writer has watched far too many Suthep speeches.

[ppmacready]

While some of the news I heard did paint a very one sided picture this article reads like a teenagers rant.

"No one understands me, you don't get it, I hate you all, leave me alone"

Sounds like all my X Thai girlfriends could do this guys job!

[fab4]

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That is rediculous. It is not a "Thai problem", but a problem experienced by people. A military coup, against a democratically elected government, with the same pseudo justification given as it always is, for national security, or something similar.

Once again, there was no democratically elected government, only a caretaker government that had no ability to do anything.

Who were caretaking the country in preparation for an election - an election which has now been taken away from the Thai electorate. Perhaps you ought to think about that before presuming to criticise "democractically elected governments".

[CharlesHH]

This article is so correct and so well written that I thot it impossible for even the most vile, thick-headed, arrogant, clueless-and-proud-of-it, chest thumping know it all American-type could find any thing negative to say about it.

HOWEVER, comments prove otherwise.

[daveAustin]

Westerner and democratic countries have every right to express their opinion and choose to give voices to who wants democracy vs. military dictatorship, especially in case of US, as they contribute with financial helps to their allies.

I vividly hope that US and UN will go on wit their voices and apply sanctions to Thailand until democracy will be restored. Dictatorship is never a solution, except for those radical extremists cheering for it.

But that's the point, there never was any democracy. You clearly cannot see it and neither can these blethering Western nations. They really should hold their tongue until they know what the shot is.

[seajae]

strangely enough all these western powers have ignored what thaksin and the ptp have been doing here while so called news organizations have glorified thaksin as a martyr. Make us all wonder if they have their fingers in the thai pie just as the ptp and associates do. As long as thaksin has sway over everything that happens here this sh*t will continue, he was the one that organized the reds into a bunch of radical thugs to do his bidding and caused all the sh*t that has been happening. We need all these so called "shirts", red and yellow removed, we need people to govern the country for all people not just their personal bank accounts as they do now, we need policies that work for everyone not just those you want to vote for you and we need to have freedom to campaign all over the country without reds or yellows using violence to stop it. At least the general gave everyone a chance to sort it out but thaksin refused to relinquish his power, something the western countries seem to ignore again.

[Imunatee Watchalotaporn]

That is ridiculous. It is not a "Thai problem", but a problem experienced by people. A military coup, against a democratically elected government, with the same pseudo justification given as it always is, for national security, or something similar.

You seem a little confused by all of this, so let me try and help you understand what’s really going on. As a Thai person, I have a unique insight into the situation that you simply do not. You can’t appreciate our country’s current events just by reading those academic, peer-reviewed books of yours, because they rely far too much on facts and corroboration, and miss out on the nuances that define our culture and kingdom. Also, it has been well documented that the foreign press has been unduly influenced by dark forces, and I have it on good authority that most of the books and articles that attack our position were paid for by Thaksin Shinawatra. Please set aside all those lies by the Economist and the Yale University Press. Those organizations have no credibility compared to the absolutely true rumors I heard from my friend on Facebook who heard it from someone who works in a insider position of such high authority I can’t even tell you what it is.

[outsider]

I stopped reading the when I came to 'Laura Croft'. What a dimwit. Don't think your article is worth reading if you can't even get that correct!

[Will2011]

The author of this article only scratched the surface. To pursue his own logic, it would include cutting of all financial and humanitarian supports as well as international trades. That way, he'd understand quickly his own warning.

[soalbundy]

“Don’t criticize what you don’t understand, son. You never walked in that man’s shoes.”

Elvis Presley

Really ? I didn't know he could even read.

[Will2011]

Dear Imunatee Watchalotaporn,

I don't blame you, as you were educated in such a way that you have no critical thinking and political opinion forged on your own.

Similar situations happen to pedophilia victims. Some children are taught since they were born that pedpphilia is good and normal. As a result, they genuinely think in such terms and apply what they learn to their next generation.

That is ridiculous. It is not a "Thai problem", but a problem experienced by people. A military coup, against a democratically elected government, with the same pseudo justification given as it always is, for national security, or something similar.

You seem a little confused by all of this, so let me try and help you understand what’s really going on. As a Thai person, I have a unique insight into the situation that you simply do not. You can’t appreciate our country’s current events just by reading those academic, peer-reviewed books of yours, because they rely far too much on facts and corroboration, and miss out on the nuances that define our culture and kingdom. Also, it has been well documented that the foreign press has been unduly influenced by dark forces, and I have it on good authority that most of the books and articles that attack our position were paid for by Thaksin Shinawatra. Please set aside all those lies by the Economist and the Yale University Press. Those organizations have no credibility compared to the absolutely true rumors I heard from my friend on Facebook who heard it from someone who works in a insider position of such high authority I can’t even tell you what it is.

[pooket]

The Nation? You've got to be kidding me! The Nation is notorious for being a one-sided cesspool of propaganda. They're so bad, there's actually a website called "Not the Nation" where they write parodies of things and events in Maithailand. It's pretty funny.

Anyway, the fact that this website is aligned with The Nation gives me one more reason to avoid it like the plague it is. You sicken me Thaivisa.com

[Ianatlarge]

Perhaps if the Kingdom embraced the concept of free speech, which would allow a full discussion of the entire situation in the country, when things change, then things would take a turn for the better.

[MrWorldwide]

Dear Imunatee Watchalotaporn,

I don't blame you, as you were educated in such a way that you have no critical thinking and political opinion forged on your own.

Similar situations happen to pedophilia victims. Some children are taught since they were born that pedpphilia is good and normal. As a result, they genuinely think in such terms and apply what they learn to their next generation.

That is ridiculous. It is not a "Thai problem", but a problem experienced by people. A military coup, against a democratically elected government, with the same pseudo justification given as it always is, for national security, or something similar.

You seem a little confused by all of this, so let me try and help you understand what’s really going on. As a Thai person, I have a unique insight into the situation that you simply do not. You can’t appreciate our country’s current events just by reading those academic, peer-reviewed books of yours, because they rely far too much on facts and corroboration, and miss out on the nuances that define our culture and kingdom. Also, it has been well documented that the foreign press has been unduly influenced by dark forces, and I have it on good authority that most of the books and articles that attack our position were paid for by Thaksin Shinawatra. Please set aside all those lies by the Economist and the Yale University Press. Those organizations have no credibility compared to the absolutely true rumors I heard from my friend on Facebook who heard it from someone who works in a insider position of such high authority I can’t even tell you what it is.

I suspect that I've managed to arrive in the middle of a little tomfoolery here, but at first glance you are being wound up by someone who is clearly enjoying themselves immensely. How many Thai people - regardless of their level of education - would post something so clearly tongue-in-cheek ?

[tx22cb]

That is ridiculous. It is not a "Thai problem", but a problem experienced by people. A military coup, against a democratically elected government, with the same pseudo justification given as it always is, for national security, or something similar.

You seem a little confused by all of this, so let me try and help you understand what’s really going on. As a Thai person, I have a unique insight into the situation that you simply do not. You can’t appreciate our country’s current events just by reading those academic, peer-reviewed books of yours, because they rely far too much on facts and corroboration, and miss out on the nuances that define our culture and kingdom. Also, it has been well documented that the foreign press has been unduly influenced by dark forces, and I have it on good authority that most of the books and articles that attack our position were paid for by Thaksin Shinawatra. Please set aside all those lies by the Economist and the Yale University Press. Those organizations have no credibility compared to the absolutely true rumors I heard from my friend on Facebook who heard it from someone who works in a insider position of such high authority I can’t even tell you what it is.

Ha Ha - good parody. Like your surname. Not sure I get your first name though, unless you play golf.

[Scamper]

After such an extended period where the international community seemed to take only a passive interest in the affairs of Thailand, it seems rather disingenuous that suddenly they are. What the country has been through in the last seven months has been enormous and quite without precedent, and covers a whole range of issues, reveals a whole range of political factions, and the complicated history behind them - none of which has been covered adequately, or even attempted to be covered adequately, by the international media as a whole. Some reporters, though, did take a very keen interest, and to some came considerable insight. Perhaps not unexpectedly, though, some reporters also became known as almost blind advocates to the Pheu Thai perspective. And so the polarization experienced domestically found reflection internationally. The biggest disadvantage that befell the international coverage is that the immensely complex nature of Thai politics could not be fit into a 30 second-sound bite, and truly - 30 second-soundbites will never do it justice, and will never lend understanding to it. Consequently, corners were cut, things were simplified, and consciously tailored for domestic consumption. As a result of that, the Thai political situation became simply a question of those who wanted " democracy " ( Pheu Thai ) and those who " didn't " ( PDRC ). Abhisit, the Democratic party, and the PDRC were painted uniformly with the same brush. The " rural North " was pitted against the " elite South ". This is the picture that most in the West have, and most seemed to have enthusiastically embraced it. The advantage, of course, is that it's really simple to grasp. The heroes and villains are already identified. Everything is black and white. The disadvantage is - it's all wrong. The international media took no interest in detailing the abuses of the Yingluck administration and took no interest in Thaksin's outlandish and transparently visible hold on it - something which has no parallel whatsoever in the free world. All of that has been either understated or completely ignored, because it simply takes too much time to explain, it muddies the waters, and their audiences are busy and have other things to do. And even with the heightened coverage now, there is a no guarantee that any greater effort will be made. In this day and age - where media is more accessible worldwide than ever before - it is a bitter pill to swallow.

[belg]

big farang brother no work for thai

thai no need

no thai, no understand

thai big brother good work => no TV

[stoli]

Just as you have expressed your opinions, the world is expressing theirs. It is very unfair for you to tell the world to not comment, and just listen to you. This is why we have such a problem now. No one wants to listen to the other side. It is time for dialogue between both sides, listening, and understanding. Then find a solution.

[Bluespunk]

The same democratic elections without democracy take place in the USA. That is how a tyrant like Obama came to power.

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Nope