The rise of social media means that Filipino capital, which owns the traditional media, has lost a significant amount of control of public opinion and, now, as a consequence, of the elected Government. The result has been the election to public office of a traditional pre-capitalist patron whose cynicism towards, and weak understanding of the rule of law coincides with that of the public. The irony, though, is that the popular, highly punitive attitude to non-traditional drug-trading was originally shaped by the traditional drug industries, alcohol and tobacco, in a major lobbying effort to eliminate competition. Duterte has ridden into office on the back of the hard work of those big capitalist industries in shaping public opinion to serve their interests.
It could be any or all of those things. My supposition is that it is simply the most easily obtainable photo of the king. The baht notes are small and light and therefore easier to carry around than larger photos
What’s the significance of so many of these mourners holding baht notes with the Late Kings picture on it, high above their heads ? Is it a tribute to the many Royal projects ? Poverty alleviation ? His Majesty’s stability contribution to Thailand’s huge, rapid, economic development ?
Ironical ?
I have always hoped that Thailand will rise above and shed it’s past of the most coup-de-tats in the world, esp. in this 21st century. Yet, reality tells me that it is not going to happen, no matter how much we wish it would transpire.
This is one of the best “say it like it is” articles I’ve read on the true state of Thailand at this site, and that coming from a Thai, though based overseas. It gives one a glimpse of his sorrow and dismay at what has transpired in Thailand and the sad state of affairs it finds itself in today. This did not happen overnight, as it has been going on for decades. And in order for the status quo to continue in this age of mass and rapid communication (social media), the deep state will use any and all tools of repression at their disposal, as we have seen time and time again, eg:Article 44, since the illegitimate military junta took over in May, 2014.
It’s pathetic to see the old dinosaur, newly appointed temporary regent, Pa Prem, who is already 96 yrs old, living on borrowed time, still actively wheeling and dealing behind the scenes to control the outcome.
“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. These Thai military generals have almost always been corrupt men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority. They have always looked out for their own interests, and lined their pockets, as is well known by all Thais and done it with impunity, and blanket immunity from any and all future prosecution. No general has ever been jailed for illegitimately seizing power. The despotic power of the junta is always accompanied by corruption of morality. The “authority” it wields, does not exist for liberty in Thailand, therefore it is not authority but force.
Thailand’s history is riddled with the mess each military coup has made. Each time a coup has happened, they have appeared before the nation on TV, making excuses of why they were compelled to seize power and abolish the people’s constitution, and actively used the monarchy as cover for their illegitimate coups. This is why I believe the Thai military has been the key problem in Thailand.
Hundreds of Thais have fled overseas, and thousands have gone underground, since this latest coup and thousands were rounded up, threatened, coerced to sign documents, not allowed to travel overseas and even tried in secret military courts. So much damage has been done to the long term interests of Thailand, it has set the country back many decades and is reaping the consequences of what it’s corrupt leaders have sown.
Limitation is essential to authority. A government is legitimate only if it is effectively limited.The will of the Thai people cannot make just that which is unjust. Absolute power demoralizes. And it is evident to most keen observers, that the Thai people are demoralized of all that has transpired, with fears and anxieties of what the future holds for them and for Thailand. And with the CP waiting for the appropriate time to take the throne, it’s worst fears will be realized. His ruthless actions over the past decades has already given us a good glimpse of what we can expect of him. Sadly, I don’t see it improving or getting any better. It’s day of reckoning has arrived and it will take a mass people’s movement, a people’s revolution, to get back the power that these “crooks” have stolen from the Thai people.
I think, Mr Somchai has been paid by Mr.Taksin to write this article . Think about Russia? Who run behind everything but he isn’t a king. That’s why nobody talk or write sth against him. Ridiculous.
That is in theory ; in reality king Bhumibol was an absolute monarch, well above the dozen of Constitutions that were scrapped by military dictators acting on orders from the Royal Palace. BHumibol was Indeed an absolute monarch, and an absolute dictator
Indeed, would that also include your recent comments (which I find mostly true) ? Right or wrong, silence might be the best antidote to NM, if not the World. Even though I am no Scholar, I am not usually published here anyway. I do emphatically agree with your last statement, whatever other differences we may have had. Eliminating Chomsky (his original hiring by MIT a true Marx Brother’s stunt) will solve 25 % of this problem.
“Even those who operate under more risqué shades are getting on board. This Monday, red light districts switched the lights back on, with sex workers donning black underwear and maids’ outfits out of respect for their late monarch.”
“”RED LIGHT ” DISTRICTS” the correct one should be “BLACK LIGHT DISTRICTS” or NOIR THAILAND.
Divine kingship in Hinduism and Buddhism is not my subject, but I am familiar with the basic ideas…I’ve never heard of this ‘cone of light’ or the notion that merit (barami) from other realms is somehow channeled through a monarch.
In some Buddhist traditions one’s acquired merit is dedicated to all living creatures, but I am not sure that it is actually possible to directly transfer the meritorious effects of one individual’s actions to another. In Buddhism, when deities act on behalf of humans it is with their own divine powers. Humans may of course acquire similar powers in their own right on the path of sainthood, which in Japanese Buddhism is referred to as ‘jiriki’ self-power, as opposed to other-power ‘tariki’.
As for the ‘cone of light’ it is true that a very positive royal figurehead may spread beneficial effects throughout a kingdom, however this is believed to be through the radiating spokes of the crown itself, rather than the throne.
Edoardo are you sure anthropology questions itself more than other disciplines? Might this not be an over-generalization. While I agree that long periods in the field – I have been in the field more than 45 years and I am not an anthropologist by training – are invaluable I think you are not being exceptionally skilled in dismissing the argument of Chris Beale. As the anthropologist you keep telling us you are I am sure you are aware of emic discourses. I have never met a Thai sex worker who considers herself or himself or “their-self” to be a prostitute but the issue is much wider than simply what prevails in The Realm. Women’s Groups and sex workers themselves do not like using the term prostitute and I am quite surprise coming from the “hallowed halls of learning” you “persist” with using this term. But if you do are academics not “knowledge prostitutes”? However, I have a good one for you from the Philippines: a “Guest Relations Officer” aka “Sex Worker” aka “Prostitute” was sitting next to me on a flight from Manila to Cebu and noticed I was reading an article on consultants (now if ever there was a prostitute most of us consultants are) and she posed the question as follows: What is the difference between her job and my job? My reply was the more grey hairs I get the higher my daily fees are whereas the more she has to dye her hair the lower her daily fees are! To which she replied that I was wrong and people like her were constantly reinventing themselves……..cosmologies are not the “monopoly” of mourning Thais…and please watch out for the feminist anthropologist who kicks you in the balls as your remarks on the use of the term prostitute would probably be ample grounds.
Also make sure from Saturday you are suitably attired. There is the claim that the dress code – for you long black trousers and I assume patent leather shoes with black socks and a black long-sleeved shirt and preferably a black tie – will now be strictly enforced.
Yes, Herr Cohen. I’m not sure if the Sorbonne of the early 50s would actually count as “the West” for one such as yourself. Deleuze does come across as rather “French” as opposed to “western”.
One way or the other, I am sure from your point of view things have improved since then.
What the Budgie Nine did is very separate from what Najib has done and continues to do, Peter. It makes a mockery of intelligent debate when you excuse one pathetic behaviour on another’s. See the Budgie Nine for what they are based on what they did and why when exampoles of such behaviour are rampant within Australia. But let’s not make excuses for them.
What the Budgie Nine represent is the best of Australian Boganism — loud, arrogant, ignorant pissheads. You see them in Australia and their brand can be found abroad with their “white man superior” mentality, as if they have every right and entitlement to be as totally stupid and rude abroad as they are at home. So much for what their education has taught them, eh? Or their parents have instilled in them as they were growing up. The sad part is how typical their attitudes are and how widespread they can be readily found, with their filthy language skills, whenever they travel abroad. Not everybody, of course, but, sadly, more and more of this growing Bogan crowd of no-hopers.
Quote: “It all goes to show that in Malaysia there is the rule of law – but most of the time there’s the law that lets BN rule.” This is true – but it is decades-old true. Remember that like so many others, Malaysia is a Janus-faced state. So is Australia, in more respects than Australians like to think is possible of their country. The rule of law has been fragile since independnece, became more fragile in the aftermath of the 1969 mloody race riots, deteriorated further under Mahathir Mohamad, who created a two-sided judicial system, one of which protected UMNO and BN cretins and their business cronies and nepotists whilst the other dealt with small fry. That gives you the basis for why Najib Razak (and others) have been able to get away with blue murder, both literally and a figure of speech. Under Najib, the rule of law and the law to rule have become even more opaque by Najib’s hand, aided and abetted by Gani Patail and now his appointed successor Mohamad Apandi, who’s a bigger rogue than Patail. Needless to say you can extend the rule of law/law to rule dialectic to the police and security forces, all of whom live in Umno’s deep pockets and ride freely on its gravy train. All, too, are above the law, free to become big-time capitalists by hook and crook. Against this background the 1MDB scandal is basically run-of-the-mill every day occurrence in Malaysia. It is because Malaysians, generally speaking, are too afraid to speak up, experts at burying their heads in sand. As long as Malaysians can continue to accumulate whatever little (or as much) wealth and think of their stomachs, do they really care about the dialectic? Evidence shows they don’t. And if they don’t, what do Najib, UMNO/BN and others of that ilk have to worry about? Malaysian judges live in UMNO’s pockets. Najib wields a big stick but as long as he divides and rules Malaysia through agama Islam and budaya Melayu (the primacy of Malay “culture”), he’s home sweet home. Checkmate, every time.
Rather than asking scholars to “keep it simple”, might it not just be more efficient to ask for input from those who are “simple” already?
Also, I suspect that neoliberalism, liberal interventionalism and all sorts of really ugly destructive, indeed murderous, ideas have had their gestation in academe, so I would suggest that calling on academics to get more involved might not be the best way to improve the world.
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Online politics in the Philippines
The rise of social media means that Filipino capital, which owns the traditional media, has lost a significant amount of control of public opinion and, now, as a consequence, of the elected Government. The result has been the election to public office of a traditional pre-capitalist patron whose cynicism towards, and weak understanding of the rule of law coincides with that of the public. The irony, though, is that the popular, highly punitive attitude to non-traditional drug-trading was originally shaped by the traditional drug industries, alcohol and tobacco, in a major lobbying effort to eliminate competition. Duterte has ridden into office on the back of the hard work of those big capitalist industries in shaping public opinion to serve their interests.
Succession snapshot: back in black
This comment’s theme is appearing with remarkable persistency at several news sites. One might almost think that it is an orchestrated campaign.
Thailand’s supreme reign
It could be any or all of those things. My supposition is that it is simply the most easily obtainable photo of the king. The baht notes are small and light and therefore easier to carry around than larger photos
Thailand’s supreme reign
What’s the significance of so many of these mourners holding baht notes with the Late Kings picture on it, high above their heads ? Is it a tribute to the many Royal projects ? Poverty alleviation ? His Majesty’s stability contribution to Thailand’s huge, rapid, economic development ?
Ironical ?
Online politics in the Philippines
Duterte was a big-time thug in Davao with mental challenges that required psychiatric attention. Nothing has changed, except he has moved north.
Online politics in the Philippines
It is the “outs” against the “ins”….yellowtards are “outs”; dutertards are “ins”…
Wonder, if they do not pull each other’s hair !
Thailand’s supreme reign
I have always hoped that Thailand will rise above and shed it’s past of the most coup-de-tats in the world, esp. in this 21st century. Yet, reality tells me that it is not going to happen, no matter how much we wish it would transpire.
This is one of the best “say it like it is” articles I’ve read on the true state of Thailand at this site, and that coming from a Thai, though based overseas. It gives one a glimpse of his sorrow and dismay at what has transpired in Thailand and the sad state of affairs it finds itself in today. This did not happen overnight, as it has been going on for decades. And in order for the status quo to continue in this age of mass and rapid communication (social media), the deep state will use any and all tools of repression at their disposal, as we have seen time and time again, eg:Article 44, since the illegitimate military junta took over in May, 2014.
It’s pathetic to see the old dinosaur, newly appointed temporary regent, Pa Prem, who is already 96 yrs old, living on borrowed time, still actively wheeling and dealing behind the scenes to control the outcome.
“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. These Thai military generals have almost always been corrupt men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority. They have always looked out for their own interests, and lined their pockets, as is well known by all Thais and done it with impunity, and blanket immunity from any and all future prosecution. No general has ever been jailed for illegitimately seizing power. The despotic power of the junta is always accompanied by corruption of morality. The “authority” it wields, does not exist for liberty in Thailand, therefore it is not authority but force.
Thailand’s history is riddled with the mess each military coup has made. Each time a coup has happened, they have appeared before the nation on TV, making excuses of why they were compelled to seize power and abolish the people’s constitution, and actively used the monarchy as cover for their illegitimate coups. This is why I believe the Thai military has been the key problem in Thailand.
Hundreds of Thais have fled overseas, and thousands have gone underground, since this latest coup and thousands were rounded up, threatened, coerced to sign documents, not allowed to travel overseas and even tried in secret military courts. So much damage has been done to the long term interests of Thailand, it has set the country back many decades and is reaping the consequences of what it’s corrupt leaders have sown.
Limitation is essential to authority. A government is legitimate only if it is effectively limited.The will of the Thai people cannot make just that which is unjust. Absolute power demoralizes. And it is evident to most keen observers, that the Thai people are demoralized of all that has transpired, with fears and anxieties of what the future holds for them and for Thailand. And with the CP waiting for the appropriate time to take the throne, it’s worst fears will be realized. His ruthless actions over the past decades has already given us a good glimpse of what we can expect of him. Sadly, I don’t see it improving or getting any better. It’s day of reckoning has arrived and it will take a mass people’s movement, a people’s revolution, to get back the power that these “crooks” have stolen from the Thai people.
Thailand’s supreme reign
I think, Mr Somchai has been paid by Mr.Taksin to write this article . Think about Russia? Who run behind everything but he isn’t a king. That’s why nobody talk or write sth against him. Ridiculous.
Thailand’s supreme reign
That is in theory ; in reality king Bhumibol was an absolute monarch, well above the dozen of Constitutions that were scrapped by military dictators acting on orders from the Royal Palace. BHumibol was Indeed an absolute monarch, and an absolute dictator
Succession snapshot: back in black
Why black? That would be normal in the West, but thought the traditional colour of mourning in that part of the world used to be white.
Professor, speak up and make a difference
Indeed, would that also include your recent comments (which I find mostly true) ? Right or wrong, silence might be the best antidote to NM, if not the World. Even though I am no Scholar, I am not usually published here anyway. I do emphatically agree with your last statement, whatever other differences we may have had. Eliminating Chomsky (his original hiring by MIT a true Marx Brother’s stunt) will solve 25 % of this problem.
Succession snapshot: back in black
“Even those who operate under more risqué shades are getting on board. This Monday, red light districts switched the lights back on, with sex workers donning black underwear and maids’ outfits out of respect for their late monarch.”
“”RED LIGHT ” DISTRICTS” the correct one should be “BLACK LIGHT DISTRICTS” or NOIR THAILAND.
The return of the divine king
Divine kingship in Hinduism and Buddhism is not my subject, but I am familiar with the basic ideas…I’ve never heard of this ‘cone of light’ or the notion that merit (barami) from other realms is somehow channeled through a monarch.
In some Buddhist traditions one’s acquired merit is dedicated to all living creatures, but I am not sure that it is actually possible to directly transfer the meritorious effects of one individual’s actions to another. In Buddhism, when deities act on behalf of humans it is with their own divine powers. Humans may of course acquire similar powers in their own right on the path of sainthood, which in Japanese Buddhism is referred to as ‘jiriki’ self-power, as opposed to other-power ‘tariki’.
As for the ‘cone of light’ it is true that a very positive royal figurehead may spread beneficial effects throughout a kingdom, however this is believed to be through the radiating spokes of the crown itself, rather than the throne.
The return of the divine king
Edoardo are you sure anthropology questions itself more than other disciplines? Might this not be an over-generalization. While I agree that long periods in the field – I have been in the field more than 45 years and I am not an anthropologist by training – are invaluable I think you are not being exceptionally skilled in dismissing the argument of Chris Beale. As the anthropologist you keep telling us you are I am sure you are aware of emic discourses. I have never met a Thai sex worker who considers herself or himself or “their-self” to be a prostitute but the issue is much wider than simply what prevails in The Realm. Women’s Groups and sex workers themselves do not like using the term prostitute and I am quite surprise coming from the “hallowed halls of learning” you “persist” with using this term. But if you do are academics not “knowledge prostitutes”? However, I have a good one for you from the Philippines: a “Guest Relations Officer” aka “Sex Worker” aka “Prostitute” was sitting next to me on a flight from Manila to Cebu and noticed I was reading an article on consultants (now if ever there was a prostitute most of us consultants are) and she posed the question as follows: What is the difference between her job and my job? My reply was the more grey hairs I get the higher my daily fees are whereas the more she has to dye her hair the lower her daily fees are! To which she replied that I was wrong and people like her were constantly reinventing themselves……..cosmologies are not the “monopoly” of mourning Thais…and please watch out for the feminist anthropologist who kicks you in the balls as your remarks on the use of the term prostitute would probably be ample grounds.
Also make sure from Saturday you are suitably attired. There is the claim that the dress code – for you long black trousers and I assume patent leather shoes with black socks and a black long-sleeved shirt and preferably a black tie – will now be strictly enforced.
Thailand’s black hole: a Deleuzian take
Yes, Herr Cohen. I’m not sure if the Sorbonne of the early 50s would actually count as “the West” for one such as yourself. Deleuze does come across as rather “French” as opposed to “western”.
One way or the other, I am sure from your point of view things have improved since then.
Of flags on bums and castrated courts
What the Budgie Nine did is very separate from what Najib has done and continues to do, Peter. It makes a mockery of intelligent debate when you excuse one pathetic behaviour on another’s. See the Budgie Nine for what they are based on what they did and why when exampoles of such behaviour are rampant within Australia. But let’s not make excuses for them.
Of flags on bums and castrated courts
What the Budgie Nine represent is the best of Australian Boganism — loud, arrogant, ignorant pissheads. You see them in Australia and their brand can be found abroad with their “white man superior” mentality, as if they have every right and entitlement to be as totally stupid and rude abroad as they are at home. So much for what their education has taught them, eh? Or their parents have instilled in them as they were growing up. The sad part is how typical their attitudes are and how widespread they can be readily found, with their filthy language skills, whenever they travel abroad. Not everybody, of course, but, sadly, more and more of this growing Bogan crowd of no-hopers.
The law of rule in Malaysia
Quote: “It all goes to show that in Malaysia there is the rule of law – but most of the time there’s the law that lets BN rule.” This is true – but it is decades-old true. Remember that like so many others, Malaysia is a Janus-faced state. So is Australia, in more respects than Australians like to think is possible of their country. The rule of law has been fragile since independnece, became more fragile in the aftermath of the 1969 mloody race riots, deteriorated further under Mahathir Mohamad, who created a two-sided judicial system, one of which protected UMNO and BN cretins and their business cronies and nepotists whilst the other dealt with small fry. That gives you the basis for why Najib Razak (and others) have been able to get away with blue murder, both literally and a figure of speech. Under Najib, the rule of law and the law to rule have become even more opaque by Najib’s hand, aided and abetted by Gani Patail and now his appointed successor Mohamad Apandi, who’s a bigger rogue than Patail. Needless to say you can extend the rule of law/law to rule dialectic to the police and security forces, all of whom live in Umno’s deep pockets and ride freely on its gravy train. All, too, are above the law, free to become big-time capitalists by hook and crook. Against this background the 1MDB scandal is basically run-of-the-mill every day occurrence in Malaysia. It is because Malaysians, generally speaking, are too afraid to speak up, experts at burying their heads in sand. As long as Malaysians can continue to accumulate whatever little (or as much) wealth and think of their stomachs, do they really care about the dialectic? Evidence shows they don’t. And if they don’t, what do Najib, UMNO/BN and others of that ilk have to worry about? Malaysian judges live in UMNO’s pockets. Najib wields a big stick but as long as he divides and rules Malaysia through agama Islam and budaya Melayu (the primacy of Malay “culture”), he’s home sweet home. Checkmate, every time.
Succession snapshot: back in black
Possibly a little thing called lese majeste, khun apirak?
Professor, speak up and make a difference
Rather than asking scholars to “keep it simple”, might it not just be more efficient to ask for input from those who are “simple” already?
Also, I suspect that neoliberalism, liberal interventionalism and all sorts of really ugly destructive, indeed murderous, ideas have had their gestation in academe, so I would suggest that calling on academics to get more involved might not be the best way to improve the world.