Rural Thailand Simmers with Anti-gov’t Rage

**ItsRobsLife** · 09-02-2010, 07:58 PM

Pays for the petrol and a nice red hat, and free somtam... they seem like nice people to me.

**Rural Surin** · 09-02-2010, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife

Originally Posted by MeMock

^

Yep all the men disappear for the day to go to a meeting in town. Come home with a belly full of food, a take away pack for the family and 200 baht in an envelope.

When that is more than the central government is prepared to do for you and your family, who are you going to back?

I shouldn't dispute MM's witness and experience, but mind you, Ubon has a long history of being strong politically active, where such activities and events might not be a reflective model of what is happening throughout the rest of the broad Isaan region. Grain a salt....

**ItsRobsLife** · 09-02-2010, 08:14 PM

Yes I agree, there are some that will go just for the money and the food and will no doubt back whoever tells them in return, Realpolitik, but that shouldn't be used as an easy way to overlook the emergence of the aspirations of a whole new generation, that get their information and make their choices, not from the direction of their parents or from the village chief, but from the internet and related media.

**blackgang** · 09-02-2010, 08:39 PM

Bullshit, the average Thai would not know democracy if it bit him on the ass.
The haves pay and the poor take it and do as they are told and by acting off they think they are really showing the world that they are ready to control their own lives, and they are, in a pigs ass.
They have been raised to do as they are told and think what they are told and never to think by themselves as it makes waves.

Keep your head down and your ass up and I will take care of you, and they like it that way and act up when told, put their life on the line when told and everything goes along smooth.

**Loy Toy** · 09-02-2010, 08:39 PM

The absolute hatred that I have experienced recently towards Thaksin (and from people in Bangkok) and now this building of hatred towards the present government in Thailand's up-country can only mean one thing.

Best we supper and water up all our shelters as the shit is going to hit the fan real soon.

**gjbkk** · 09-02-2010, 08:48 PM

^
Especially when this sort of news comes in THAILAND’S attorney-general wants all of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s US$2.2 billion (S$3.1 billion) fortune to be seized by the court in its ruling this month, the office said in closing arguments Tuesday.

Chief of the attorney-general’s team, Mr Sekesan Bangsomboon, said the 121-page final document had been submitted to the Supreme Court ‘to explain why the assets should be seized and we have asked the court to seize all of it’. Thaksin is living in exile to escape a two-year jail term for graft handed to him in absentia in October 2008.

AFP/Straits Times

and compare to the article in PPT “Coup talk, security preparations”

After reading the article I am seriously wondering if this a genuine “security preparations” or is the military shifting it’s forces in preparation for a sneaky coup to secure the democrats stay in power.

**nevets** · 09-02-2010, 08:50 PM

Something has to be done for the real Thailand against the Bangkok hi so elite , these bastards make me sick.

**Butterfly** · 09-02-2010, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife

The real story here is about people becoming more politically and socially aware, realising that they have similar aspirations to others outside their immediate enviroment,

don't want to burst your bubble but how do you know this for sure ? can you read their mind ? do you really know what they want ? do you actually understand their true motivations ? is it greed ? what alternative do they envision ?

until you can answer those questions, you are projecting and you have no clue what the majority of those protesters really have in mind. I am not convinced they are "awaken", more like "blinded" by unrealistic dreams

**Tom Sawyer** · 09-02-2010, 09:26 PM

That's one of the first semi-mainstream reports (since the NYT and IHT Seth Myden report) on the real situation in Thailand's largely quiet dissidence I've seen in a while. Isn't Marwan the director of the FCCT? If so, was he one of those named in LM allegations (whole board was named as I recall seeing in the Bangkok P++d+t reports)

While it may be heartening that the tide is turning in the favour of the majority underdogs when we see stories like this - I kind of doubt it. The REAL test is to see a Marwan type of report to appear in Thai Rath or Daily News .

Until then - it's all "Go, Underdog, Go!"

But the big concern cannot be underestimated. The crony Thai-Chinese trilogy (Paid-family-into-the-bureaucracy, thai-and-thaichinese-military associations, and their supporters) are increasingly cornered and they will fight with all their might to retain their system. No one should ever, ever doubt that.

Threatening them with peril will result in another blood-bath just like the ones they sponsored before. Does anyone think that if they'd kill their own (relatives in Thammasat) that they wouldn't do the same again to the rural people - people they couldn't give a shit about?

**Scottish Gary** · 09-02-2010, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife

Indeed they do, the internet, sattalite TV and mobile communications have levellled the political playing field and the younger generations want a better slice of the pie, why should the young of Issan move away to work in sweat shop factories or go go bars just to make a living, why shouldn't they have hope and aspirations? The authorities cannot stop the signal and therefore cannot stop progress.

and revolting would be the solution to all that ?

If they dont revolt they are ignored and the situation continues. When people are pushed into a corner sometimes they have no other option.

**Belepheron** · 09-02-2010, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by DrB0b

^It's not the 1950's anymore, you know. Last week I even saw a Thai with shoes, he claimed he bought them himself - can you imagine the cheek of him expecting me to believe that! Things have changed since your guidebook was published. For example, Queen Victoria died.

Queen Victoria died? I didn't even know she'd been ill.

Still doesn't change the fact that the rural Thais are being used by those who want to regain their place at the feeding trough.

But those with their head up Thaksin's arse can't see that.

**Butterfly** · 09-02-2010, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by Scottish Gary

If they dont revolt they are ignored and the situation continues.

and if they revolt, they would be crushed and killed. Is that what you want ? Again who wins ?

**ItsRobsLife** · 09-02-2010, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife

The real story here is about people becoming more politically and socially aware, realising that they have similar aspirations to others outside their immediate enviroment,

don't want to burst your bubble but how do you know this for sure ? can you read their mind ? do you really know what they want ? do you actually understand their true motivations ? is it greed ? what alternative do they envision ?

until you can answer those questions, you are projecting and you have no clue what the majority of those protesters really have in mind. I am not convinced they are "awaken", more like "blinded" by unrealistic dreams

It's not me that has their head in a bubble or is projecting (!?!, have to laugh at that) firstly did you read the OP article and secondly do you realise the effect that the internet and associated media is having on the aspirations and opinions of those that have previously had no realisation or outlet?

If you had then I think you would not made such a rash reply, although as a conservative and a member that takes arguing for the sake of it as Ant I would expect nothing less. You keep asking 'what alternatives?' 'what's the alternative?' is that really a question you expect me to address? Do you think that the status quo is the ideal for them, because you think that bloodshed should be avoided? In whose interest is that?

I see it more as a statement of your own unwillingness to accept that the world is changing once more and that there are viable alternatives for the next generation. This shift is not sudden as you well know, but it is coming to a point of conflict, it's irreversable.

**Tom Sawyer** · 09-02-2010, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

and if they revolt, they would be crushed and killed. Is that what you want ? Again who wins ?

You seem to have forgotten egalite, and those who fought and died defending it in our own countries.

Now you,? Well - who needs to fight when you can just take it up the +ss instead, non? What a class act. You're sort of a fair-weathered wise-guy I'll bet. The rest of us would stand up and take a punch in the face and laugh back - but you? You'd bend over...

**Smug Farang Bore** · 09-02-2010, 09:51 PM

**Butterfly** · 09-02-2010, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife

It's not me that has their head in a bubble, firstly did you read the OP article and secondly do you realise the effect that the internet and associated media is having on the aspirations and opinions of those that have previously had no realisation or outlet?

right, because every fucking peasant read blogs and surf the internet after a hard day work in the fields. Boy, you are delusional

Internet == freedom ? more like an obsession for the simple minded, and an unhealthy addiction for many

**gjbkk** · 09-02-2010, 09:55 PM

The Democrats are now talking of possible “Emergency Decree” but amusingly I have asked some Thai people I know to look at some of the posts here.

**Butterfly** · 09-02-2010, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

You seem to have forgotten egalite, and those who fought and died defending it in our own countries.

oh that's funny. What happened 300 years ago is impossible to compare for a very simple reason, the firepower ratio to the population. The technology advancement in weaponry is strong enough to crush any revolution. If it was France now, they wouldn't stand a chance for a Bastille Day, above all with Sarko at the top who wouldn't hesitate to shoot anyone who dare to oppose him. Revolutions remain very rare, even these days.

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Now you,? Well - who needs to fight when you can just take it up the +ss instead, non? What a class act. You're sort of a fair-weathered wise-guy I'll bet. The rest of us would stand up and take a punch in the face and laugh back - but you? You'd bend over...

easy for you to say, encouraging those young kids to fight a revolution they can't win in the comfort of your room

now who is being a coward ?

**Butterfly** · 09-02-2010, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife

He is capable of a good argument, but unwilling to see anyone elses point of view.

au contraire, I understand perfectly your point of view, and what kind of errors and bias it entails. I just don't build castle in the sky

**Butterfly** · 09-02-2010, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

hen will they realize that this is not about them and democracy, moreover a power struggle amongst the rich and powerful and at the end of the day their lives will not be improved either way.

Sad really and to see these people being manipulated into possibly losing their lives over something that has nothing to do with them.

and the sad thing is that Thailand had a promising beginning of a developing democracy between 1996 and 2001, even top ranked by most international organization. Instead, they chose the rich guy with the false promises, who first mission was to destroy the developing progress to pursue his own agenda. The Thai sold out, and this is what we have now. Likewise, the poor sold out. Difficult to blame them though.

**ItsRobsLife** · 09-02-2010, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

The ironic fact about all of this is that Thailand's majority rural poor will end up no better off even if they achieve their goal and to remove the existing government.

In the short term perhaps they will only see one despot replaced by another, but the goal here is democracy, it's been tried and it was rather stillborn, but it needs to be pushed forward. We all know that 'Western Democracy' is imperfect, but we have a relativley good life through the advances that have been gained through it. Through democracy, change can come about, it may take generations to reach an equitable society in Thailand where education and well being are accepted as the norm, but without the events of today, that future will never be realised.

**Butterfly** · 09-02-2010, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Now they realize 'anyone' can be rich - with the right circumstances

ah, and how is that related to democracy ? maybe a slip ?

thanks for proving my point

**Loy Toy** · 09-02-2010, 10:26 PM

^^^^ Yep the rural poor now have a voice and have the old guard in Bangkok pretty much concerned.

But I can't help to think that these people are being used as pawns by others who don't give a fvck about them when push comes to shove.

Lambs too the slaughter comes to mind and I hope my concerns are wrong.

**ItsRobsLife** · 09-02-2010, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife

Why is your default argument always an insult?

is that you talking or your alternate self ?

Jealous because I have more to my personality than just your single dimension?

You put up some interesting points and make for a good debate, but in the face of overwhelming opposition to the staus quo in Thailand, your reality is fast becoming history.

**Tom Sawyer** · 09-02-2010, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

^^^^ Yep the rural poor now have a voice and have the old guard in Bangkok pretty much concerned.

But I can't help to think that these people are being used as pawns by others who don't give a fvck about them when push comes to shove.

Lambs too the slaughter comes to mind and I hope my concerns are wrong.

Yes - like I said - probably. But wouldn't vanquishing those who would keeep you enslaved by being allied with an exiled leader who is greedy be better than living as a slave?

You can get Exiled Caesar Number Two later..

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