Thai editorial: A preposterous - AND DANGEROUS - notion

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
A preposterous - AND DANGEROUS - notion

THE DAMAGE WOULD BE IMMENSE IF AN ARMY LIEUTENANT GENERAL IS ALLOWED TO PUT THAI AND FOREIGN REPORTERS THROUGH "RE-EDUCATION"

BANGKOK: -- A plan by a senior Army general to round up 200 Thai and foreign journalists for a "re-education" session to encourage "more constructive, less offensive" questions strikes us as a crazy idea straight out of the TV cartoon show "Ren and Stimpy". Not exactly children's entertainment, the show features a dumb fat cat and a violently psychotic Chihuahua whose sarcastic catchphrase is "happy, happy, joy, joy".

Lt-General Suchart Pongput, commander of the Army Signals Department, has decided that the reporters ask Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha too many testing questions that undermine the junta's stated ambition of "restoring happiness to the Thai people".

He justifies his call for a "workshop for journalists" by saying reporters' questions had caused a rift between government agencies. "We just don't want such things to happen again," he said. He insisted he is acting on his own with this plan, without orders from the Army chief or anyone else.

It's quite a plan. If successful, perhaps he can copyright it and sell it to authoritarian regimes around the world.

Evidently Suchart has reached his lofty position without ever encountering the more liberal and politically sensitive characteristics that have evolved in modern armies elsewhere. Such virtues make the military more responsive to the needs of the populace it protects - and make most people appreciate it more. Instead Suchart is behaving like a scurrilous con artist trying to sell fake wristwatches to tourists.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch in Asia, has described his plan as a "tactic of intimidation" and "a new level of menace mixed with misunderstanding from the National Council for Peace and Order towards the national and international media in Thailand". This, he said, "is another sign of Thailand slipping further into military dictatorship".

We might call those understate

ments, given the preposterous nature of Suchart's proposal. We are at the door to the Twilight Zone with this notion.

Suggesting that Thailand is becoming more like North Korea might be unfair to the people of that country. At least they have an excuse for being ignorant as to how humankind is evolving because the exchange of information is so tightly controlled by the state. We have no such excuse for bowing to authoritarianism of this breadth.

Nor is Suchart's claim to be acting alone any consolation. He is a manifestation of the long-standing institution he is now publicly representing. And clearly his superiors share similar sentiments anyway. In a recent interview with the television network Al Jazeera, Prime Minister Prayut called for reform of the media. "I have to advise them. I have to tell them what they can and what they cannot do."

To be unable to accept the concept of a free press is to be out of touch with the real world, regardless of political circumstances. The military-led government continues to tarnish Thailand's reputation by detaining dissenters, breaking up peaceful rallies and barring seminars on rights and democracy. Summoning journalists, especially foreign ones, to "re-education camps" would be its most damning action so far.

The junta needs to shed its holier-than-thou attitude and instead rethink its media and public-relations strategy. It might seem the time has come for psychiatric evaluation, but failing that, the hiring of a communications specialist would not be out of order. A consultant who could help put matters in perspective for the military top brass and point out the absurdity of plans like Suchart's would be a fine way to start.

It's "a regretful and sad state of affairs," Robertson of HRW said, "that a country which five or 10 years ago we probably would have said was most free in Southeast Asia in terms of the news media has been dragged so far back."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/A-preposterous--AND-DANGEROUS--notion-30263162.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-26

[cloudhopper]

I read about this 2 days ago on Al Jazeera and that's where I imagine this author got all his information as well. Save your outrage until it's time for questions after the "workshop". If any are allowed.

[BritTim]

Under the plan, are journalists still supposed to compose their own questions? If not, surely it would be simpler just to hand out the questions to journalists at the start of each press conference. This would have the additional advantage that the answers could be provided at the same time, sparing journalists the effort of writing them down.

[TheAppletons]

"Suggesting that Thailand is becoming more like North Korea might be unfair to the people of that country. At least they have an excuse for being ignorant as to how humankind is evolving because the exchange of information is so tightly controlled by the state. We have no such excuse for bowing to authoritarianism of this breadth.

Nor is Suchart's claim to be acting alone any consolation. He is a manifestation of the long-standing institution he is now publicly representing. And clearly his superiors share similar sentiments anyway. In a recent interview with the television network Al Jazeera, Prime Minister Prayut called for reform of the media. "I have to advise them. I have to tell them what they can and what they cannot do."

To be unable to accept the concept of a free press is to be out of touch with the real world, regardless of political circumstances. The military-led government continues to tarnish Thailand's reputation by detaining dissenters, breaking up peaceful rallies and barring seminars on rights and democracy. Summoning journalists, especially foreign ones, to "re-education camps" would be its most damning action so far."

Pretty much says it all, doesn't it?

Edited June 25, 2015 by TheAppletons

[arthurboy]

And if reporters refused, what then?

Forcible arrest, detention and re-education?

The mind does indeed boggle at the good general's so-called thinking.

[apetley]

"What did you have for breakfast this morning?"

"What's you favourite shampoo?"

"Did you sleep well last night with all that thunder?"

".....please........continue sir"

[bluebluewater]

Just another idiot Thai guy/politician/general . . .

Shove a microphone in front of them and they will rattle off the first thing that comes to mind just to sound authoritative. They will have NO idea what they are talking about NOR what they just said.

I kinda think I would like for them to do just as this guy has suggested. It's crap like that that will bring down this circus and maybe, just maybe, let Thailand have a chance to be what it can and outta be.

Hope springs eternal.

[arfurcrown]

It's all been done before.can you recall that repugnant Samak and his comments regarding peoples sex lives, another politician who held up a ping pong bat with a cross on it to say go away with your questions reporter person ?

Nothing new under the sun.

[oneday]

"...A plan by a senior Army general to round up 200 Thai and foreign journalists for a "re-education" session to encourage "more constructive, less offensive" questions strikes us as a crazy idea straight out of the TV cartoon show..."

Of course it isn't crazy. It's completely inline with everything else that has happened. "Attitude adjustment", "re-education"...what's the difference?

[Tatsujin]

It's just more of the usual Thai attitude of "do not question ANYTHING I tell you, cos I am higher up the social ladder than you, always 100% right and I know better than you" ... no different to many other previous "politicians" over the years here.

[davehowden]

"He insisted he is acting on his own with this plan, without orders from the Army chief or anyone else."

So, acting as a private individual, why is it so bloody newsworthy??

Jeez I wish these fools would just "shut the f..k up", and what goes for a newspaper would find some "news" to report.

[aussieinthailand]

Ahhh the apologist's are conspicuously absent, were are ya guy's? hellooooooo!!!!

The OP is quite a well written peace regarding a subject touched upon on a daily/weekly occasion here and the responses are basically the same, criticized for a lack of vision, transparency, justification and a repression of freedom of speech, yet these guy's don't seem to get the message, all the while the PM publicly saying he has to teach the reporters what they can do and what they can't do while claiming he has never censored the media.

The tactic has been the same for a VERY VERY long time,,, control information, control the people, just these guy's are either not very good at it, or they haven't yet decided just how to impose it without looking like a repressive power to the rest of the world? and how to impose it without a domestic backlash?

[bamnutsak]

"He insisted he is acting on his own with this plan, without orders from the Army chief or anyone else."

So, acting as a private individual, why is it so bloody newsworthy??

Jeez I wish these fools would just "shut the f..k up", and what goes for a newspaper would find some "news" to report.

The OP is an Editorial. It represents the views/opinions of the editorial staff and/or the publisher.

Amazingly, opinions are still allowed here. Check back in a few months.

It is not meant to be a "news" piece (who, what, when, where, why).

Now off to Room 101 with you.

[rijit]

Shame i'm on my phone, not on my laptop i'm desperate to post that little man falling over laughing.

All.this mobile apps got is :D:D:D or:blink::blink: or :p:p

Oh i've got it now ,,, the app producer been on a junta coarse, DO NOT TAKE THE PISS out of poor little army officers its just oh so to much and it's just not fair!!!

rijit

Edited June 26, 2015 by rijit

[huangnon]

Amazing how backwards they are prepared to go to protect the vested interests of so few.

[Seastallion]

Ren and Stimpy. The writer chose an apt analogy on so many levels.

[razer]

PM Pryut needs to show the world that Thailand is on the path of corruption reform and infrastructure development. Things like this undermined his image outside and inside the Thai borders.

Edited June 26, 2015 by razer

[rijit]

Amazing how backwards they are prepared to go to protect the vested interests of so few.

Nah, i genuinely think that some abso ?&?6jt!!! who's done nothing but played soldiers all his life probably from behind a desk. Thinks they can be nice ,smile ,and for the 'greater good ' try and ask the nasty writers to stop asking questions?!!. Sounds just like a frigging Bilco script.

rijit

Edited June 26, 2015 by rijit

[rametindallas]

Ahhh the apologist's are conspicuously absent, were are ya guy's? hellooooooo!!!!

The OP is quite a well written peace regarding a subject touched upon on a daily/weekly occasion here and the responses are basically the same, criticized for a lack of vision, transparency, justification and a repression of freedom of speech, yet these guy's don't seem to get the message, all the while the PM publicly saying he has to teach the reporters what they can do and what they can't do while claiming he has never censored the media.

The tactic has been the same for a VERY VERY long time,,, control information, control the people, just these guy's are either not very good at it, or they haven't yet decided just how to impose it without looking like a repressive power to the rest of the world? and how to impose it without a domestic backlash?

What's to apologize for? He is a typical Pu Yai moron who thinks his feces smell like perfume and don't dare burst his bubble. This is a non-news story unless/until he is given permission to do what he suggests. All of this stems from General Suchart thinking the reporters are mai hai kiat (not showing respect) by not being krieng jai (krieng jai = not putting someone in an awkward or uncomfortable position) enough to his hero, the PM. He is also a kiss-ass, sucking up to PM Prayut as he wants to 'protect' Prayut from potentially embarrassing questions. This is what is wrong with this country; everyone afraid of authority and the authorities want to keep it that way. This general is trying to intimidate without any authority hoping to make 'brownie' points with the PM. I think the PM is thicker skinned than that (though not much) and this will never happen. Can you imagine how the world press would report these 're-education' sessions? PM Prayut may be a lot of things but he is not that stupid. To even report what this general, who has no power to do what he suggests, says is inflammatory in itself. Why isn't General Suchart's position in the government or power to act mentioned; the OP only refers to him as a senior Army general? I imagine if a newspaper in the US interviewed a number of senior officers in the US, they would come across similar fascist types.

.

[davehowden]

"He insisted he is acting on his own with this plan, without orders from the Army chief or anyone else."

So, acting as a private individual, why is it so bloody newsworthy??

Jeez I wish these fools would just "shut the f..k up", and what goes for a newspaper would find some "news" to report.

The OP is an Editorial. It represents the views/opinions of the editorial staff and/or the publisher.

Amazingly, opinions are still allowed here. Check back in a few months.

It is not meant to be a "news" piece (who, what, when, where, why).

Now off to Room 101 with you.

Your right of course, but for me it was an Editorial which contained who,what, when, where and when, and which to me was "News".

Why offer Oxygen to such stupidity and thereby give it life by writing about it, ignore it and it may well go away, hopefully with its promoter.

[soalbundy]

This is easily solved, go to the press conferences and ask no questions, very embarrassing.

[bamnutsak]

"He insisted he is acting on his own with this plan, without orders from the Army chief or anyone else."

So, acting as a private individual, why is it so bloody newsworthy??

Jeez I wish these fools would just "shut the f..k up", and what goes for a newspaper would find some "news" to report.

The OP is an Editorial. It represents the views/opinions of the editorial staff and/or the publisher.

Amazingly, opinions are still allowed here. Check back in a few months.

It is not meant to be a "news" piece (who, what, when, where, why).

Now off to Room 101 with you.

Your right of course, but for me it was an Editorial which contained who,what, when, where and when, and which to me was "News".

Why offer Oxygen to such stupidity and thereby give it life by writing about it, ignore it and it may well go away, hopefully with its promoter.

The giveaways were "EDITORIAL" and words like "preposterous", "dangerous" and "notion".

You should write a letter to the editor. I am certain they will value your insightful comments.

[Srikcir]

Suchart's statements just reinforce that there's "We the Thai People" and there's "We the Military."

Thailand is a nation with two sovereignties and it will always be the one that holds armed might that will subjugate the other.

Thailand governance has never been about experimenting with democracy but about how much freedom a feudal society will allow its subjects.

"Reconcliation" is just another way of saying "Surrender."

[bamnutsak]

Suchart's statements just reinforce that there's "We the Thai People" and there's "We the Military."

Thailand is a nation with two sovereignties and it will always be the one that holds armed might that will subjugate the other.

Thailand governance has never been about experimenting with democracy but about how much freedom a feudal society will allow its subjects.

"Reconcliation" is just another way of saying "Surrender."

Sufficiency Democracy.

[Thaddeus]

Ren and Stimpy. The writer chose an apt analogy on so many levels.

Quite, blithering idiots abound.

[phoenixdoglover]

Ahhh the apologist's are conspicuously absent, were are ya guy's? hellooooooo!!!!

The OP is quite a well written peace regarding a subject touched upon on a daily/weekly occasion here and the responses are basically the same, criticized for a lack of vision, transparency, justification and a repression of freedom of speech, yet these guy's don't seem to get the message, all the while the PM publicly saying he has to teach the reporters what they can do and what they can't do while claiming he has never censored the media.

The tactic has been the same for a VERY VERY long time,,, control information, control the people, just these guy's are either not very good at it, or they haven't yet decided just how to impose it without looking like a repressive power to the rest of the world? and how to impose it without a domestic backlash?

What's to apologize for? He is a typical Pu Yai moron who thinks his feces smell like perfume and don't dare burst his bubble. This is a non-news story unless/until he is given permission to do what he suggests. All of this stems from General Suchart thinking the reporters are mai hai kiat (not showing respect) by not being krieng jai (krieng jai = not putting someone in an awkward or uncomfortable position) enough to his hero, the PM. He is also a kiss-ass, sucking up to PM Prayut as he wants to 'protect' Prayut from potentially embarrassing questions. This is what is wrong with this country; everyone afraid of authority and the authorities want to keep it that way. This general is trying to intimidate without any authority hoping to make 'brownie' points with the PM. I think the PM is thicker skinned than that (though not much) and this will never happen. Can you imagine how the world press would report these 're-education' sessions? PM Prayut may be a lot of things but he is not that stupid. To even report what this general, who has no power to do what he suggests, says is inflammatory in itself. Why isn't General Suchart's position in the government or power to act mentioned; the OP only refers to him as a senior Army general? I imagine if a newspaper in the US interviewed a number of senior officers in the US, they would come across similar fascist types.

.

Why isn't General Suchart's position in the government or power to act mentioned...

2nd Paragraph of the article.

I imagine if a newspaper in the US interviewed a number of senior officers in the US, they would come across similar fascist types.

You can imagine a lot of things; irrespective of reality. Your comparison is ridiculous. The question is not whether some Army guys have a bad opinion of journalists; the question is whether a General is planning a workshop for journalists to tell them how to do their jobs.

[rijit]

This is easily solved, go to the press conferences and ask no questions, very embarrassing.

Yeah or they could all walk in with gags on or better still paper bags over their heads !!!

Edited June 26, 2015 by rijit

[phuketandsee]

Hey, give some credit to The Nation for publishing this piece. I wonder how long they will get away with it.

[geriatrickid]

Hilarious. Please keep it up Generals.

[WitawatWatawit]

Ahhh the apologist's are conspicuously absent, were are ya guy's? hellooooooo!!!!

The OP is quite a well written peace regarding a subject touched upon on a daily/weekly occasion here and the responses are basically the same, criticized for a lack of vision, transparency, justification and a repression of freedom of speech, yet these guy's don't seem to get the message, all the while the PM publicly saying he has to teach the reporters what they can do and what they can't do while claiming he has never censored the media.

The tactic has been the same for a VERY VERY long time,,, control information, control the people, just these guy's are either not very good at it, or they haven't yet decided just how to impose it without looking like a repressive power to the rest of the world? and how to impose it without a domestic backlash?

What's to apologize for? He is a typical Pu Yai moron who thinks his feces smell like perfume and don't dare burst his bubble. This is a non-news story unless/until he is given permission to do what he suggests. All of this stems from General Suchart thinking the reporters are mai hai kiat (not showing respect) by not being krieng jai (krieng jai = not putting someone in an awkward or uncomfortable position) enough to his hero, the PM. He is also a kiss-ass, sucking up to PM Prayut as he wants to 'protect' Prayut from potentially embarrassing questions. This is what is wrong with this country; everyone afraid of authority and the authorities want to keep it that way. This general is trying to intimidate without any authority hoping to make 'brownie' points with the PM. I think the PM is thicker skinned than that (though not much) and this will never happen. Can you imagine how the world press would report these 're-education' sessions? PM Prayut may be a lot of things but he is not that stupid. To even report what this general, who has no power to do what he suggests, says is inflammatory in itself. Why isn't General Suchart's position in the government or power to act mentioned; the OP only refers to him as a senior Army general? I imagine if a newspaper in the US interviewed a number of senior officers in the US, they would come across similar fascist types.

.

This pretty much sums it up. Another little big man buffoon in a banana republic army - he'll be forgotten in a few minutes, but his pompousness won't be.

So, which jingle-jangle general will provide us with some more comic relief today? With 800 loved and adored puu yais to choose from, we shouldn't have to wait too long.