Thread: ‘in Thailand, The Law Of The Jungle Prevails‘

So says Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the governor of Bangkok, in a rather revealing interview with SPIEGEL.

‘IN THAILAND, THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE PREVAILS‘ --> Pattaya Daily News : pattaya daily update news

"Law of the Jungle" Damn! That's one of the answers I got wrong when I took the written exam for my Thai Driver's License!

I'm not here to overtly Thai-bash, I just need to say a few things regarding my own personal perspective and feelings.

Law of the jungle? No shit Sherlock! no money or connections you are fucked.

I have had a long relationship with this country, invested sweat, blood and tears...literally. I feel at home here, I recently went back to England for a year and let me just say this, whatever happens, my time there as a resident is done. Whether my future remains in Thailand is unsure.

I don't want to fall into the whinging pomm stereo-type but it's hard not to. There is just too much now happening, attitudes towards foreigners are defianately changing. It really is noticeable now some of the disdain shown towards us. One thing that repeatedly scares me is the lack of protection we as visitors receive from the police etc. The laws are there but who will implement them? I feel any Thai could walk up to me and seriously injure me or even worse and there seems to be no recourse.

We have a political situation now that seems to be only getting worse, where will it end? I'm not a political commentator but it seems to me there is still a lot more to come.

So where now for me? Like I said before, The UK is not an option so maybe Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam or even Japan! I have even been looking at jobs in Spain, Italy and Greece... How I would fare, God only knows. I don't want to give up yet on Thailand, there is till plenty of love inside but really, it is every man for himself, isn't it?

Worried and Concerned.

DSD.

^ my thoughts entirley

only this morning I was speaking to the wife and then a friend about a switch; I get paid well here but the place is starting to do my head in

I found his answers extremly honest and enjoyed reading Sukhumbhands thoughts

Originally Posted by CliffD

"There was a consensus that political leaders may quarrel among themselves, but they may not take their quarrel to the extent that it would have any impact on the monarchy or to the extent that it would aggravate these fractions in society. " So let me get this straight. The deal was the politicians could argue amongst themselves over the carve up of the loot, as long as they kept the majority ignorant of the details as it might upset them. SPIEGEL: But Thaksin suddenly did not play to the rules of the old political elites. - He upset the gravy train? Sukhumbhand: What happened during the Thaksin period was that he didn't play according to that rule anymore. In fact, he tried to impose his own rules. That might have been for good reasons, I don't doubt that. But there was a rule that there are certain things that you don't do. might have been for good reasons, I don't doubt that. - so no-one had thought of being a poilitician for "good reasons" before? "there are certain things that you don't do." - Give them hope? Allow them to believe they are part of the process? - Please specify. It might partially be due to his personality and partially due to the extent of his three election victories. The consensus in our society broke down and there is no mechanism to put it back in place right now. - whose consensus? What consensus? (sing together please.....the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate .....He made them high and lowly and ordered their estate..) This is also because the king is no longer as active as he was before. - I think I'll stop there.

You have to remember that the guy getting interviewed is the kings cousin.

Originally Posted by deathstardan

There is just too much now happening, attitudes towards foreigners are defianately changing. It really is noticeable now some of the disdain shown towards us.

I've noticed it to over the years, starting in 97 when the Baht crash was blamed on foreigners. Then came Thaksin with TRT and since then everybody's been trying to out do each other with nationalism. Now it's reaching fever point and will get worse.

The interview was very good and amazingly open.

Originally Posted by deathstardan

I'm not here to overtly Thai-bash, I just need to say a few things regarding my own personal perspective and feelings.

Law of the jungle? No shit Sherlock! no money or connections you are fucked.

I have had a long relationship with this country, invested sweat, blood and tears...literally. I feel at home here, I recently went back to England for a year and let me just say this, whatever happens, my time there as a resident is done. Whether my future remains in Thailand is unsure.

I don't want to fall into the whinging pomm stereo-type but it's hard not to. There is just too much now happening, attitudes towards foreigners are defianately changing. It really is noticeable now some of the disdain shown towards us. One thing that repeatedly scares me is the lack of protection we as visitors receive from the police etc. The laws are there but who will implement them? I feel any Thai could walk up to me and seriously injure me or even worse and there seems to be no recourse.

We have a political situation now that seems to be only getting worse, where will it end? I'm not a political commentator but it seems to me there is still a lot more to come.

So where now for me? Like I said before, The UK is not an option so maybe Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam or even Japan! I have even been looking at jobs in Spain, Italy and Greece... How I would fare, God only knows. I don't want to give up yet on Thailand, there is till plenty of love inside but really, it is every man for himself, isn't it?

Worried and Concerned.

DSD.

I don't share your concerns too much. Nationalism has always been rampant here, as its force-fed from an early age. It is similarly exploited by the thieves who run the country to dress themselves in the flag whilst they scoff from the trough of public funds.
You just notice it more as you get more proficient in the language and spend more time here. Nationalism is the only thing that unites the still-feudalistic Thais anyway.
The Thai police have always been useless. Even the Thai PM can't trust them to guard him against attack.
Kudos to Khun Sukhumbhand Paribatra though, for a very forthright and interesting interview.

SPIEGEL: Earlier, Thailand was considered the epitome of a Buddhist tropical paradise.

^ Not sure I agree with 'Buddhist tropical paradise' It definitely was something but come on, get real. What a screwed up mess Thailand has always been in so many ways.

Very interesting interview indeed, I feel it's far more honest than anything we've heard from the Democrats recently, of course he knows his limits and carefully omits anything too specific for his own good.

I really like that guy, Bangkok is very lucky to have him. His boss was also great, two civil servants of good composition. I agree mostly with what he says, he is right on. Of course, our Red friends will question him on his good faith

The army fucked up when they were in power, they should have killed the whole Thaksin network and be done with it.

Sukhumbhand: They weren't forceful enough. Ironically, first the coup leaders broke the most important law of the land, the constitution, and then they didn't dare to break the little laws. If the generals had smashed Thaksin's network right at the beginning, and if they would have confiscated his properties straightaway, we wouldn't be confronted with the chaos that we have today.

SPIEGEL: Why did the generals mess it up?

Sukhumbhand: Stupid, they are stupid. Thaksin's popularity was on the way down, anyway.

SPIEGEL: Thaksin's passport was only recently revoked. What would his supporters do if he were extradited to Bangkok to stand trial for corruption and inciting the uprising?

Sukhumbhand: They would go completely berserk.

SPIEGEL: Wouldn't new elections be the best solution for restoring peace?

Sukhumbhand: No. The outcome would be the same as before. We will be confronted with equally large blocs opposing each other. I think it will be better if the government stays in power to the end of this term. Then the voters should decide, but not on the streets. But no one has any magical solutions right now.

he certainly sounds like a reasonable man, I love this bit

SPIEGEL: Why did the generals mess it up?

Sukhumbhand: Stupid, they are stupid. Thaksin's popularity was on the way down, anyway.

IMO, the coup happened too late, they should have done it earlier

apparently funding problems delayed the whole plan by a full 6 months,

Originally Posted by Butterfly

I really like that guy, Bangkok is very lucky to have him. His boss was also great, two civil servants of good composition.

well he has the reputaion of being the bugger of bangkok

When I met him, my staff said they didn't like the guy I don't know why? I have asked