Thread: Thailand : The Generals’ Democracy

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The Generals’ Democracy

Slowly but surely it’s getting uncomfortable again in Thailand. When the army’s shadowy Internal Security Operations Command ISOC has to explain villagers the nature of democracy it is as plain as the nose in your face that politicians do not really set a good example explaining what democracy is all about.

Good luck to us all if the righteous rightists see themselves predestined to “Create a Better Understanding of Democracy,” as Thailand Outlook TOC titled, the English-language web network of the yellow rightists’ core leader Sondhi Limthongkul. Born as the Communist Suppression Operations Command CSOC, ISOC has a colorful history.

ISOC gets a whopping one billion baht budget for the “political reorientation” of largely red areas. An official explainer to justify ISOC’s political role: “The budget is to be used to create a better understanding of democracy as well as to promote careers in line with the sufficiency economy philosophy,” TOC quotes ISOC spokesman Colonel Thanathip Sawangsaen.

Read Wikipedia’s backgrounder on ISOC. It gives you a taste of the democracy the generals may aim for. While me wonders, how do they spend that billion baht to convert the ignorant red masses.

Maybe they call for supernatural help again. And I’m quoting from Wikipedia: “To protect people in the south of Thailand from insurgency-related violence, the ISOC produced Jatukam Ramathep amulets for distribution to the Buddhist minority.”

“The renowned animist amulets were believed by some to have magical powers to protect there holders from violence and large sums are paid for them. The plan was developed by Colonel Manas Khongpan, deputy director of the ISOC in Yala province.”

We all know how the - scam? - ended. Read the Wall Street Journal’s take on it.

But then again, there’s democracy and democracy. Indonesia’s Sukarno at least was so honest to call it guided democracy.

absolutelybangkok.com

How many amulets will a billion baht buy?

Can a farang get one if he promises to lie down, belly up, and kiss the ass of anyone the big guy installs?

Does the amulet protect against common sense?

lots

probably

obviously

neat liink on the wikipedia page about ISOC

Asiatour.com / Thailand / the country and its people / history / Bangkok / constitutional monarchy

ISOC gets a whopping one billion baht budget for the “political reorientation” of largely red areas. An official explainer to justify ISOC’s political role:

It was not long ago General Anupong Paochinda stated that the army was not involved in politics and it makes you think what happened to all the billions that were spent during the Surayud interregnum?

if tackey Thaksin had a similar plan every news paper in Thailand would be screaming bloody murder

[quote=Texpat;1002335]How many amulets will a billion baht buy?

/quote]

Tricky question, but I guess it would buy a hell of a mountain of used sanitary knapkins, which as everyone knows will stop a bullet. Could be mighty useful in the kind of democracy the military have in mind.

[at]gjbkk i agree... but that doen't help anything.. what will happen?

Originally Posted by Hardy99

[at]gjbkk i agree... but that doen't help anything.. what will happen?

Sorry but its beyond me, all I can do is to comment

From the Nation

Deputy Premier Suthep said the special Bt1-billion budget for Internal Security Operations Command projects would be used to dilute anti-government protests.

Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs, said that since the country was facing a serious political divide, the funds would be spent to boost loyalty to the monarch among the people and pre-empt lese majeste cases that could destabilise the country.

Isoc would also use the project funds to tackle economic problems in line with His Majesty the King's principle of sufficiency economy, which was the best way to cope with the country's recession, he added