I don't know about other members but for me the situation, articles, threads and news articles about Thaksin is impossible to follow anymore.

I noticed that SJ is an expert on news about T. but also that you are taking the whole situation about Mr. T. almost personal in your anger about T.

It seems to me that you, let me put it mildly, dislike the guy -and his family- very much, am I right or wrong ?

I am so curious to learn as of why you are sooooo determined about the T.-affair. There's almost no article in the press or you jump in.

Of course I have been following the whole T.-affair but I am a Farang and would never take it so far and personal as you do.

Why are you spending such an unbelievable amount of time on the 'T-affair' that, at least to me, it looks as a kind of obsession ?

Is it ?

With respect, of course !

LaoPo

It's not half as obsessive as Boon Mee was when Brokeback Mountain came out.

It's not half as obsessive as Boon Mee was when Brokeback Mountain came out.

It's not half as obsessive as Boon Mee was when Brokeback Mountain came out.

I think that you have just made an enemy for life!

It's not half as obsessive as Boon Mee was when Brokeback Mountain came out.

I think that you have just made an enemy for life!

Don't the actors on brokeback mountain like Boonie then?

Do a search for "brokeback" and tell me I'm wrong.

I did that search and all it did was bring me back here.

Now that I've finally stopped laughing with cdnvic's accurate quip...

I'll try answer LaoPo's question. You are right that I am staunchly against Thaksin.

The reason is most likely explained with a bit of historical perspective. I lived previously in Philippines under the Marcos regime and continue to remain connected to that country through relatives. During the time I lived in the Philippines, 1977-1979, the country was under extremely strict martial law (and very much different than what Thailand has today) and suffering a great deal. I actively supported Anti-Marcos elements, even though by doing so, I jeopardized both my life and my work career. I did so with the intent of helping, in my own small way, the Filipino people to throw off the shackles of that murdering tyrant. I had quickly grown very attached to the people of the country and I felt they deserved so much better. I did not agree with all the precepts of the Anti-Marcos elements I helped, but I agreed with enough of them.

Fast forward to my living in Thailand. When Thaksin came into power, I, like the rest of the country had high hopes. When Thaksin began copying some of the techniques and actions of Marcos (quite early on, IMHO), I began to make comparisons. With each successive news report, they seemed more and more alike and I began to feel the same repulsion for Thaksin that I had for Marcos. This then expanded to his extended family as they, also, mirrored the Marcos clan. When he was re-elected, I saw Thailand as falling into the same downward spiral that the Philippines went through.

Perhaps because I experienced tyranny on a daily basis previously, I was quick to identify those shared aspects in Thailand.

In the same compassion that I have for the Filipino people, I have a great deal of feelings for Thais. They, too, deserve far better than Thaksin. I desired that they not have to endure the tyranny that the Philippines did for practically a generation. The stronger I felt, the more I noticed that the foreigners I encountered here in Thailand were quite oblivious to the goings-on and seemingly unconcerned. I saw that indifference reflected on thaivisa.

The news forum then was not at all like it is today. Many, many items posted would have 3 or fewer posts and under a 150 views. I lost count of the number of items where I was the sole responder. It somehow seemed sad to me that there was apparently such a lack of interest in many of these areas I had concerns about. I felt that dissemination of information was important in getting people involved and began posting more frequently. As membership grew and grew, I became pleased that, today, many news threads now get well over 150 responses with thousands of views.

I welcome that, even if some of the responses reflect a perplexing apologetic tone for Thaksin’s actions. That is nothing new to me as there were lots of people that defended Marcos. History has proven to be the deciding factor and has shined through to the point where, nowadays, the term “Marcos” itself is a derogatory one. I’m confident that history will be equally accurate to Thaksin.

I hope this helped you to understand my motivations better, LaoPo. I always enjoy your posts and contributions. You are an insightful and caring person.

As a final sidenote:

My best direct retribution to Marcos was the very fortunate opportunity I had to literally piss on his grave while he was buried in Hawaii, USA, in 1990.

SJ, an excellent post/explanation, and one I heartily empathise with.

I also feel very strongly about Mr. T but I haven't had your diligence in propagating his evil deeds in the manner that you have done, so tirelessly.

I completely agree - the Thais deserve something better than Taksin and his cronies who have been pillaging and brainwashing them for far too long.

Lets hope this new lot will do something good for a change - although so far the signs are not very encouraging.

I didn't much care for Thaksin either, nor his corrupt and megalomaniac tendencies. And his extra-judicial killings and ineptness at handling the Southern situation were appalling.

But the voices of the other side have some good points as well.

For the poor, Thaksin's populistic policies offered a ray of hope. A hope which other politicians has failed to give. Out driving the other day, I saw a bumper sticking saying 'khit theung... thaksin' (I miss Thaksin). Lots of people feel this way. What is the new government doing to help them?

As for the visa rule changes during Thaksin which were (rightly) long debated and criticised here on TV, look at what just happened now, despite the fact that Thaksin was not involved.

Thaksin was many things, but blaming him personally for the changes in visa policy was incorrect, I think. As far as national chauvinism is concerned, he was a moderate - there are many other Thai politicians more negative to immigration and outside influences than him.

Thank you, Mobi.

I, too, have hope for the future... and remind myself to be patient. Unraveling the Thaksin era will take time and it's understandable that slip-ups will occur along the way. The long term is what is important and I hope that the current administration is afforded an ample amount of time with which to deal with it.

The Philippines after Marcos has floundered, dreadfully so at times. His regime lasted longer than Thaksin and the people are still suffering the very long-term damage.

The biggest positive that came from the eventual removal of Marcos was the belief within the Filipino people that they could effect change. That was evident in the rather quick removal of Estrada.

Whatever future lies in wait for Thailand, I hope that the Thai people realize that they, too, can effect change and that any subsequent misdeeds by any future politicians will be dealt with. If Thaksin is able to held up as an example, then hopefully a change in mindset from the "status quo" can be achieved. That alone would be very worthwhile.

I hope this helped you to understand my motivations better, LaoPo. I always enjoy your posts and contributions. You are an insightful and caring person.

As a final sidenote:

My best direct retribution to Marcos was the very fortunate opportunity I had to literally piss on his grave while he was buried in Hawaii, USA, in 1990.

Thank you SJ; yes it helped a lot and I can understand your motivations now better than before.

Thank you also for your compliment...

About your Hawaiian 'experience'...you must have felt relieved....

LaoPo

Now back to brokeback - i can't find a link, can someone please post it here as i'm curious. I'm guessing Boon Mee identified strongly with one of the characters, am i right?

I hope this helped you to understand my motivations better, LaoPo. I always enjoy your posts and contributions. You are an insightful and caring person.

As a final sidenote:

My best direct retribution to Marcos was the very fortunate opportunity I had to literally piss on his grave while he was buried in Hawaii, USA, in 1990.

Thank you SJ; yes it helped a lot and I can understand your motivations now better than before.

Thank you also for your compliment...

About your Hawaiian 'experience'...you must have felt relieved....

LaoPo

Thank you, LaoPo

and yes... it was quite a cathartic experience... what started out as a prank developed into a very moving experience afterwards.

... (and no, not that kind of "movement." It was a #1, not a #2).

I hope this helped you to understand my motivations better, LaoPo. I always enjoy your posts and contributions. You are an insightful and caring person.

As a final sidenote:

My best direct retribution to Marcos was the very fortunate opportunity I had to literally piss on his grave while he was buried in Hawaii, USA, in 1990.

Thank you SJ; yes it helped a lot and I can understand your motivations now better than before.

Thank you also for your compliment...

About your Hawaiian 'experience'...you must have felt relieved....

LaoPo

Thank you, LaoPo

and yes... it was quite a cathartic experience... what started out as a prank developed into a very moving experience afterwards.

... (and no, not that kind of "movement." It was a #1, not a #2).

Nevertheless...about T: you should watch your own personal health more than your 'battle' against this kind of greedy and corrupt people.

Your 'almost' addiction and obsession will eat itself into your brain and effect you on the long run.

We only live once...not twice.

LaoPo

Now back to brokeback - i can't find a link, can someone please post it here as i'm curious. I'm guessing Boon Mee identified strongly with one of the characters, am i right?

As far as I remember Boon Mee was critical of the film (and the premise behind it) because of the fact that the main characters had both married and let down two families. He seemed unable to understand that it was the usual behaviour in those days because there was no alternative. Gay Liberation and Stonewall were years away - indeed the film actually saw one of the characters beaten to death for being gay.

I hope this helped you to understand my motivations better, LaoPo. I always enjoy your posts and contributions. You are an insightful and caring person.

As a final sidenote:

My best direct retribution to Marcos was the very fortunate opportunity I had to literally piss on his grave while he was buried in Hawaii, USA, in 1990.

Thank you SJ; yes it helped a lot and I can understand your motivations now better than before.

Thank you also for your compliment...

About your Hawaiian 'experience'...you must have felt relieved....

LaoPo

Thank you, LaoPo

and yes... it was quite a cathartic experience... what started out as a prank developed into a very moving experience afterwards.

... (and no, not that kind of "movement." It was a #1, not a #2).

Nevertheless...about T: you should watch your own personal health more than your 'battle' against this kind of greedy and corrupt people.

Your 'almost' addiction and obsession will eat itself into your brain and effect you on the long run.

We only live once...not twice.

LaoPo

You're correct in that assessment... fortunately there's a good many other things on thaivisa to comment on and I do try to diversify.

Most active in Thailand News clippings

( 3741 posts / 47% of this member's active posts )

It's not all about Thaksin...

Now that I've finally stopped laughing with cdnvic's accurate quip...

I'll try answer LaoPo's question. You are right that I am staunchly against Thaksin.

The reason is most likely explained with a bit of historical perspective. I lived previously in Philippines under the Marcos regime and continue to remain connected to that country through relatives. During the time I lived in the Philippines, 1977-1979, the country was under extremely strict martial law (and very much different than what Thailand has today) and suffering a great deal. I actively supported Anti-Marcos elements, even though by doing so, I jeopardized both my life and my work career. I did so with the intent of helping, in my own small way, the Filipino people to throw off the shackles of that murdering tyrant. I had quickly grown very attached to the people of the country and I felt they deserved so much better. I did not agree with all the precepts of the Anti-Marcos elements I helped, but I agreed with enough of them.

Fast forward to my living in Thailand. When Thaksin came into power, I, like the rest of the country had high hopes. When Thaksin began copying some of the techniques and actions of Marcos (quite early on, IMHO), I began to make comparisons. With each successive news report, they seemed more and more alike and I began to feel the same repulsion for Thaksin that I had for Marcos. This then expanded to his extended family as they, also, mirrored the Marcos clan. When he was re-elected, I saw Thailand as falling into the same downward spiral that the Philippines went through.

Perhaps because I experienced tyranny on a daily basis previously, I was quick to identify those shared aspects in Thailand.

In the same compassion that I have for the Filipino people, I have a great deal of feelings for Thais. They, too, deserve far better than Thaksin. I desired that they not have to endure the tyranny that the Philippines did for practically a generation. The stronger I felt, the more I noticed that the foreigners I encountered here in Thailand were quite oblivious to the goings-on and seemingly unconcerned. I saw that indifference reflected on thaivisa.

The news forum then was not at all like it is today. Many, many items posted would have 3 or fewer posts and under a 150 views. I lost count of the number of items where I was the sole responder. It somehow seemed sad to me that there was apparently such a lack of interest in many of these areas I had concerns about. I felt that dissemination of information was important in getting people involved and began posting more frequently. As membership grew and grew, I became pleased that, today, many news threads now get well over 150 responses with thousands of views.

I welcome that, even if some of the responses reflect a perplexing apologetic tone for Thaksin’s actions. That is nothing new to me as there were lots of people that defended Marcos. History has proven to be the deciding factor and has shined through to the point where, nowadays, the term “Marcos” itself is a derogatory one. I’m confident that history will be equally accurate to Thaksin.

I hope this helped you to understand my motivations better, LaoPo. I always enjoy your posts and contributions. You are an insightful and caring person.

As a final sidenote:

My best direct retribution to Marcos was the very fortunate opportunity I had to literally piss on his grave while he was buried in Hawaii, USA, in 1990.

Hi SRJ and Laopo Big to you both.

I'm not here to jest (for a change) but rather just to say two things.

Firstly, I am, personally, more of the nature as described by LP is a later response to your post here Srj, in that I made the concsious decision to not be too up to date, in order that I don't go mad with frustration/anger etc, re: politics... I could elaborate but I won't (*everyone sighs with relief*) here and now.

Lastly, and the reason for me posting here at all, is to say, to you SRJ, your response was possibly one of the most interesting, insightful, eloquent and touching posts I've ever seen on this forum.

This I truly mean. :D

With regards and an even more increasing respect to Laopo and to you good sir,

Kayo.

Lastly, and the reason for me posting here at all, is to say, to you SRJ, your response was possibly one of the most interesting, insightful, eloquent and touching posts I've ever seen on this forum.

This I truly mean. :D

With regards and an even more increasing respect to Laopo and to you good sir,

Kayo.

yellow card issued for over-sentimentality....

just kidding, of course....

seriously, thank you very much for your comments, Kayo...

it was srj's "obsessive" postings about thaksin and the comments that those postings elucidated that slowly changed my mind about thaksin.

i was something of a thaksin fan for a while , his populist policies won me over , and considering the yaa baa problem that existed at the time i thought that his death squad solution was a necessary evil taking all things into account, but power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely and he couldnt hide his arrogance forever.

i am glad to see the back of him but i think it will be a very long time before the political and social systems develop enough to allow the thai public to elect the government that they truly need and deserve.

i