Wonder if the civilian government (Thaksin’s and others before it) knew about – let alone had budgetary control over – these billions of tax payers’ money stashed away by the generals? Somehow I think suspect Thai tax payers of Thailand are getting cheated (again…).
Now lets see if Jaruwan Maintaka will launch an investigation….now I’d like to see that! (afraid hell will freeze over before I get to see it though).
The Thai military (along with the police) is the most corrupt institution in the country, but there has never been a day of reckonng for the corrupt generals. Is there any evidence that the King has ever attempted to eliminate (or moderate) corruption in the military?
Some may say that HMK has had to tread carefully with these people, and this may true in the past (e.g. Pibil, Sarit, Thanom, etc) but today HMK is at the peak of his power and arguably is in the most secure position as he has ever been to stand up to & criticise the military of its corrupt elements. Similar question can be asked of Prem – who is not known for financial corruption. Will these sages of the nation risk their positions to truely combat one of the most hideous cancers in Thai society — the one that as much as anything else stands in the way of liberal progress in Thailand. Now that would be a true test of a couragous & moral leader.
Wow, the name Chamlong has been mentioned. He has been quiet since the 19 sep coup. Why? Because he opposed the non-elected premier Suchinda in 1992 and let others die for him on Rajdamnern Rd. But now, he is best friend of Surayuth and supports this non-elected prime minister just because he does not like a man called Thaksin Shinawatra. Where is your moral principle, K. Chamlong?
Short term capital controls might be a good idea, but the massive ignorance of economics in all the rhetoric flying around, especially from the, suddenly ultra-nationalist exporters, is laughable.
IMHO If the baht is going down because of adjustments in US-China trade and investment imbalances, there’s not much the head of the Frozen Shrimp Export Association can do about it.
One moment the government is worried about attracting investment, the next moment the head of the SEC is threatening foreign investors that if they pull out their money, they can’t come back. Moralising is quite beside the point. Without speculators there are no futures or option contracts for exporters to hedge against short term currency instabilities, and that is exactly the only kind that can be protected against.
Luckily, Pridiyathorn is solid gold, so rest assured, everything will go alright. For updates see my:
After suspicions of secret fund, Sonthi says supporters ‘needed money’
Coup d’etat spending not denied by coup leader
By Wassana Nanuam
Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin yesterday stopped short of denying that the military spent a billion baht of its secret fund to stage the coup d’etat on Sept 19. “We certainly needed money for our people’s food and other necessary expenses,” Gen Sonthi said when asked to explain the reported use of more than a billion baht on the coup.
None of the coup participants risked their lives for their own personal interests, he said, at a press conference to mark three months since the overthrow of the Thaksin Shinawatra government .
“We staged the coup to end all conflicts peacefully and bloodlessly,” added Gen Sonthi, who is also chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS).
Assistant army chief Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr, deputy secretary-general of the CNS, added the military’s secret fund served a security purpose.
“It’s not money diverted from stock transactions or any other form of budget corruption. Our fund was disbursed properly,” Gen Saprang said.
I don’t see any issue of dispersion here, only issues of logic. D’em old bones showed close DNA matches to current residents. This would indicate that there is a core genetic group with a long history in present day Thailand. This should come as no surprise to anyone. This in no way indicates that “Thais” or even Tai people were in the area long ago. It does indicate that some of the earlier people of the region assimilated or were absorbed into “Thai” culture and may even genetically represent a majority of the population.
Assimilation is still occurring. In my wife’s native village, any visitor would assume it is a Kham Muang village. But the eldest generation all grew up in families where the mother tongue was K’mu. The second eldest generation, my peer group, is dominated by Kham Muang men (who speak no K’mu apart from some juicy slang terms they are too embarrassed to translate for me) married to Karen women as a result of a large Karen village being established nearby. The youngest generation are assimilating towards a Thai identity where they tend to speak either Central Thai or Kham Muang amongst their peers. The K’mu identity is long gone and the Karen identity is also slowly slipping away. This shifting of ethnic identity towards the local elite has been shown in many other situations.
One must also look at other evidence. The linguistic evidence tends to show a Tai language homeland in present day southern China. Other historical sources tend to confirm several southward migrations of Tai people southwards and westwards. This does not mean that these were migrations into a population vacuum. Clearly there was a diffusion of Tai people into Southeast Asia as represented by language. It will be very interesting over the coming years to see the how the genetic map correlates with the lingustic map.
And although I can see how tools can travel quicker than people, it is a bit hard to fathom how a language, apart from perhaps an emerging Creole or pidgin trade language, can travel faster than its speakers.
Patiwat – I agree it is a universal trend – from the rural poor to the cities, and also in the west.
It also explains why governments in western democracies usually only get removed when there is an economic downturn.
Who do you think started the sell off?
(Bangkokians or the foreign speculators).
The BOT governor must not own shares – Is she allowed to own shares?
I do concede that it does appear to have been a clumsy move that did not take into account how speculators can manipulate financial markets, however it is a bit simplistic to blame the junta.
While it’s still not clear what happened here, there’s some questions this raises, foremost in my mind being about hte competence of the “technocrats” supposedly restored to authority after they helped make the case against thaksin for having savaged the bureaucracy with his political/business interests.
Pridiyathorn was a leader of that group and he presided over what happened today. The fact that they had to pull back on the move suggests one of two things — that either they had this sly tactic to screw somebody for a moment, or that they very stupidly actually did not anticipate the effect it would have. I side with the latter explanation. Incredibly amateurish, undermining some of the criticism these people had for thaksin.
(That said, I’m not opposed to some capital controls — especially seeing the whiplash of 1997. Little countries are vulnerable to massive quick capital flows and the bank of Thailand has reason to try to modulate the inflows, especially as the rising currency has hurt exporters.)
Republican might be right in his sentiments but suggesting that very poor Nepal, in an effective civil war for years, is more advanced than Thailand is silly. I don’t like the coup, Thaksin or the king-focused polity, but saying Nepal is ahead is just stupid and undermines serious argument.
Thanks for the explanation, Paul. The Build->Operate->Transfer isn’t too diferent from the model used in Thailand and other countries. Actually, Thailand uses the Build->Transfer->Operate Under Concession model a bit more, for instance in mobile telephony.
Do the Lao authorities have rules on local management? In some countries, a foreign investor is required to use locals for a certain number or percentage of key management positions.
Although initially inconvenient for the investor, it usually makes sense in the long run from both the investor’s perspective as well as society’s.
Dear teacher, thanks for the report card, but I already have a new bike due to putting into practice my excellent results in sufficiency economy.
My parents did take exception to your comment that I liked romantic themes with no apparent familiarity with social realism, as they have already observed that I do not have blind faith in elected leaders.
Foreign investment in Laos is huge, it just that its run on the basis of a total captial loss, financed by governments and NGOs, rather than equity chasing a profit. Hence the expat community in Viengchan is dominated by government and NGO types rather than businessmen. As for “the Irish pubs, coffee shops, and fancy restaurants” they may not measure up to Bangkok, but they are booming compared to 10 years ago when I saw more buffalo in the streets of Vengchan than falangs. Such businesses service the newly rich Lao, as well the expat community.
The investment model is simple – foreign financed “projects” invest in infrastructure which then becomes property of the Lao state (or its representatives) when they end. From the foreign side a project has been a success if all the money is spent and accounted for, and from the Lao side success means the project has ended and no further accounting is required. I know many stories of authorities treating foreign business ventures exactly the same way as they treat “projects” – once capital has been invested a pretext is contrived to end the venture and the investor walks away emptyhanded. Of course some businesses are allowed to succeed, and they are the only ones you can see – businesses that have come and gone are invisible.
You are a pompous self-absorbed man Republican, just like your master Thaksin. Humility would do you, and Thaksin, a lot of good. One of the endearing merits of a constitutional monarchy is teaching humility to ministers with huge ego . . . those constant knee bending and bowing to the monarch would do that to ego-maniacs.
But somehow the lesson was lost to Thaksin and see what happened to him. It would be too bad if you too Republic forget how important humility is to a man. Maybe you should apprentice to Khun Chamlong . . he can teach you a lot old man.
Ah, Nganadit, you’re late for class. Your parents contacted me asking for your report card. Unfortunately it looks like no new bicycle for you this term.
NM SCHOOL REPORT CARD
STUDENT: р╕Ф. р╕К. Nganadit
WRITING: B. Tries hard. His expression becomes somewhat flowery when writing about the monarchy, at which point his style becomes confused and illogical.
READING: D+
Quite lazy. Refuses to read assigned texts. Asks other students to summarize books for him. Prefers magazines, fantasy, and TV, especially the 8pm news. But recently he has shown a promising interest in promoting anti-royalist literature in Thai translation: “…I’m all for having the book published in Thai and made available in Thailand….” Seems interested in working in publishing as he is continually asking his intellectual friends if they are being paid. However it will be hard for him to make himself employable if he doesn’t read assigned textbooks.
HISTORY: C+
Very interested in the early medieval period, especially tales of white knights. Needs to concentrate more on modern history, in particular the era of revolution and modernity.
POLITICS: C
After a slow start he has made some progress but is still very confused, especially about democracy. Has a curious fascination for autocratic regimes. Recently his assignment work has improved somewhat: “…royal clique all not setting a very good example for the lower officials”; “…there are a number of things holding back progress in Thailand, and I concede the monachy has to share in some of the blame….”; “… I would be reluctant to have the institution removed until …”, and especially “…HMK should abdicate immediately now…” However, he failed the module on critiquing royalist propaganda.
ECONOMICS: C+
Strangely attracted by the insufficiency theory of economics promoted by the widely ridiculed Jitlada school. Shows confusion about the difference between royal wealth and national wealth. Recently handed in a better assignment: “It is disgusting that people are in poverty while there are so many super rich including […] HMK/Royals”; “…I probably would prefer if the king was taxed…” However he is particularly weak on capitalist economics.
GEOGRAPHY: D
Failed his test on knowledge of Europe and the US. Knowledge of Thailand appears to extend only as far as Bangkok, particularly the Ratanakosin island area.
ART: B
Very inventive. Likes to make things up. Prefers using bright colours, especially yellow. Quite skillful in imitating the style of ancient court artists.
CREATIVE WRITING: D
Tends to copy his friends. Needs to develop his own style. Much of his work is very repetitive. Likes romantic themes; no apparent familiarity with social realism.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOUR: B
Has an excitable nature and often gets led astray by other boys, especially the school bully. A bright boy, he likes to ask questions, but doesn’t seem willing to listen to reason. His concentration span is very limited; he needs to develop a one-track mind. Seems a bit intimidated by the poorer boys in the class, especially sons of taxi drivers.
GPA: 2.3
Status: PASS
OVERALL COMMENTS: Young Nganadit has had a slow start but I believe he has some potential if he applies himself. But it will be difficult for him to improve unless he overcomes his reading disability. His main problem is that he seems to treat his education as a hobby.
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Sonthi’s secret billion
Wonder if the civilian government (Thaksin’s and others before it) knew about – let alone had budgetary control over – these billions of tax payers’ money stashed away by the generals? Somehow I think suspect Thai tax payers of Thailand are getting cheated (again…).
Now lets see if Jaruwan Maintaka will launch an investigation….now I’d like to see that! (afraid hell will freeze over before I get to see it though).
The Thai military (along with the police) is the most corrupt institution in the country, but there has never been a day of reckonng for the corrupt generals. Is there any evidence that the King has ever attempted to eliminate (or moderate) corruption in the military?
Some may say that HMK has had to tread carefully with these people, and this may true in the past (e.g. Pibil, Sarit, Thanom, etc) but today HMK is at the peak of his power and arguably is in the most secure position as he has ever been to stand up to & criticise the military of its corrupt elements. Similar question can be asked of Prem – who is not known for financial corruption. Will these sages of the nation risk their positions to truely combat one of the most hideous cancers in Thai society — the one that as much as anything else stands in the way of liberal progress in Thailand. Now that would be a true test of a couragous & moral leader.
Sufficiency economy?
For a useful overview and analysis see:
http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8459519
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
Wow, the name Chamlong has been mentioned. He has been quiet since the 19 sep coup. Why? Because he opposed the non-elected premier Suchinda in 1992 and let others die for him on Rajdamnern Rd. But now, he is best friend of Surayuth and supports this non-elected prime minister just because he does not like a man called Thaksin Shinawatra. Where is your moral principle, K. Chamlong?
Sonthi’s secret billion
Many people hungry on Earth, in Thailand too I suppose…
Sufficiency economy?
Short term capital controls might be a good idea, but the massive ignorance of economics in all the rhetoric flying around, especially from the, suddenly ultra-nationalist exporters, is laughable.
IMHO If the baht is going down because of adjustments in US-China trade and investment imbalances, there’s not much the head of the Frozen Shrimp Export Association can do about it.
One moment the government is worried about attracting investment, the next moment the head of the SEC is threatening foreign investors that if they pull out their money, they can’t come back. Moralising is quite beside the point. Without speculators there are no futures or option contracts for exporters to hedge against short term currency instabilities, and that is exactly the only kind that can be protected against.
Luckily, Pridiyathorn is solid gold, so rest assured, everything will go alright. For updates see my:
http://readbangkokpost.com/business/
Sonthi’s secret billion
From todays Bangkok Post:
After suspicions of secret fund, Sonthi says supporters ‘needed money’
Coup d’etat spending not denied by coup leader
By Wassana Nanuam
Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin yesterday stopped short of denying that the military spent a billion baht of its secret fund to stage the coup d’etat on Sept 19. “We certainly needed money for our people’s food and other necessary expenses,” Gen Sonthi said when asked to explain the reported use of more than a billion baht on the coup.
None of the coup participants risked their lives for their own personal interests, he said, at a press conference to mark three months since the overthrow of the Thaksin Shinawatra government .
“We staged the coup to end all conflicts peacefully and bloodlessly,” added Gen Sonthi, who is also chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS).
Assistant army chief Gen Saprang Kalayanamitr, deputy secretary-general of the CNS, added the military’s secret fund served a security purpose.
“It’s not money diverted from stock transactions or any other form of budget corruption. Our fund was disbursed properly,” Gen Saprang said.
Nationalism and genetics: Thai obsession with race
I don’t see any issue of dispersion here, only issues of logic. D’em old bones showed close DNA matches to current residents. This would indicate that there is a core genetic group with a long history in present day Thailand. This should come as no surprise to anyone. This in no way indicates that “Thais” or even Tai people were in the area long ago. It does indicate that some of the earlier people of the region assimilated or were absorbed into “Thai” culture and may even genetically represent a majority of the population.
Assimilation is still occurring. In my wife’s native village, any visitor would assume it is a Kham Muang village. But the eldest generation all grew up in families where the mother tongue was K’mu. The second eldest generation, my peer group, is dominated by Kham Muang men (who speak no K’mu apart from some juicy slang terms they are too embarrassed to translate for me) married to Karen women as a result of a large Karen village being established nearby. The youngest generation are assimilating towards a Thai identity where they tend to speak either Central Thai or Kham Muang amongst their peers. The K’mu identity is long gone and the Karen identity is also slowly slipping away. This shifting of ethnic identity towards the local elite has been shown in many other situations.
One must also look at other evidence. The linguistic evidence tends to show a Tai language homeland in present day southern China. Other historical sources tend to confirm several southward migrations of Tai people southwards and westwards. This does not mean that these were migrations into a population vacuum. Clearly there was a diffusion of Tai people into Southeast Asia as represented by language. It will be very interesting over the coming years to see the how the genetic map correlates with the lingustic map.
And although I can see how tools can travel quicker than people, it is a bit hard to fathom how a language, apart from perhaps an emerging Creole or pidgin trade language, can travel faster than its speakers.
Sonthi’s secret billion
Thank you for using 1-2-coup service.
Would you like fries with that?
(last time I head it was 500 million, guess the price increase according to baht appreciation?)
Sufficiency economy?
Patiwat – I agree it is a universal trend – from the rural poor to the cities, and also in the west.
It also explains why governments in western democracies usually only get removed when there is an economic downturn.
Who do you think started the sell off?
(Bangkokians or the foreign speculators).
The BOT governor must not own shares – Is she allowed to own shares?
I do concede that it does appear to have been a clumsy move that did not take into account how speculators can manipulate financial markets, however it is a bit simplistic to blame the junta.
Sufficiency economy?
While it’s still not clear what happened here, there’s some questions this raises, foremost in my mind being about hte competence of the “technocrats” supposedly restored to authority after they helped make the case against thaksin for having savaged the bureaucracy with his political/business interests.
Pridiyathorn was a leader of that group and he presided over what happened today. The fact that they had to pull back on the move suggests one of two things — that either they had this sly tactic to screw somebody for a moment, or that they very stupidly actually did not anticipate the effect it would have. I side with the latter explanation. Incredibly amateurish, undermining some of the criticism these people had for thaksin.
(That said, I’m not opposed to some capital controls — especially seeing the whiplash of 1997. Little countries are vulnerable to massive quick capital flows and the bank of Thailand has reason to try to modulate the inflows, especially as the rising currency has hurt exporters.)
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
Republican might be right in his sentiments but suggesting that very poor Nepal, in an effective civil war for years, is more advanced than Thailand is silly. I don’t like the coup, Thaksin or the king-focused polity, but saying Nepal is ahead is just stupid and undermines serious argument.
Sufficiency economy?
It’s not just foreign speculators, Nganadirek – Bangkokians care about their own pocket books much more than they care about democracy.
Book Zone – Lao popular culture
Thanks for the explanation, Paul. The Build->Operate->Transfer isn’t too diferent from the model used in Thailand and other countries. Actually, Thailand uses the Build->Transfer->Operate Under Concession model a bit more, for instance in mobile telephony.
Do the Lao authorities have rules on local management? In some countries, a foreign investor is required to use locals for a certain number or percentage of key management positions.
Although initially inconvenient for the investor, it usually makes sense in the long run from both the investor’s perspective as well as society’s.
Sufficiency economy?
Don’t be too concerned, Andrew, as the rural poor are not known as big investors in the SET.
It seems foreign speculators care much more about their money than they do about democracy.
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
Dear teacher, thanks for the report card, but I already have a new bike due to putting into practice my excellent results in sufficiency economy.
My parents did take exception to your comment that I liked romantic themes with no apparent familiarity with social realism, as they have already observed that I do not have blind faith in elected leaders.
Book Zone – Lao popular culture
Foreign investment in Laos is huge, it just that its run on the basis of a total captial loss, financed by governments and NGOs, rather than equity chasing a profit. Hence the expat community in Viengchan is dominated by government and NGO types rather than businessmen. As for “the Irish pubs, coffee shops, and fancy restaurants” they may not measure up to Bangkok, but they are booming compared to 10 years ago when I saw more buffalo in the streets of Vengchan than falangs. Such businesses service the newly rich Lao, as well the expat community.
The investment model is simple – foreign financed “projects” invest in infrastructure which then becomes property of the Lao state (or its representatives) when they end. From the foreign side a project has been a success if all the money is spent and accounted for, and from the Lao side success means the project has ended and no further accounting is required. I know many stories of authorities treating foreign business ventures exactly the same way as they treat “projects” – once capital has been invested a pretext is contrived to end the venture and the investor walks away emptyhanded. Of course some businesses are allowed to succeed, and they are the only ones you can see – businesses that have come and gone are invisible.
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
Humility cuts both ways. Current event in the SET hints that the royalists may learn a thing or two about humility sooner rather than later.
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
Thailand’s political development lags behind even that of Nepal. 55555! Laughing stock of the world.
[http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/index.php]
р╕гр╕▓р╕вр╕Зр╕▓р╕Щ: р╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╣Ар╕Щр╕Ыр╕▓р╕ер╕Ьр╣Ир╕▓р╕Щр╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Щр╕╣р╕Нр╕Йр╕Ър╕▒р╕Ър╕Кр╕▒р╣Ир╕зр╕Др╕гр╕▓р╕з р╣Ар╕Ыр╕ер╕╡р╣Ир╕вр╕Щр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕бр╕╕р╕Вр╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣Мр╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕кр╕▓р╕бр╕▒р╕Нр╕Кр╕Щ! – р╣Вр╕Юр╕кр╕Чр╣М 19/12/2549
р╣Ар╕Ыр╕ер╕╡р╣Ир╕вр╕Щр╕Ър╕гр╕гр╕вр╕▓р╕Бр╕▓р╕ир╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕Бр╕Хр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╕Бр╕▒р╕Щр╣Ар╕нр╕Зр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕кр╕бр╕▒р╕Кр╕Кр╕▓р╕п р╣Гр╕Щр╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Зр╣Др╕Чр╕в р╣Др╕Ыр╕Хр╕┤р╕Фр╕Хр╕▓р╕бр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Зр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╣Ар╕Щр╕Ыр╕▓р╕ер╕кр╕╕р╕Фр╕гр╣Йр╕нр╕Щр╣Бр╕гр╕З р╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕бр╕Щр╕╣р╕Нр╕Йр╕Ър╕▒р╕Ър╕Кр╕▒р╣Ир╕зр╕Др╕гр╕▓р╕зр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕гр╣Ир╕▓р╕Зр╣Вр╕Фр╕вр╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╕Ър╕▓р╕ер╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Бр╕Ър╕Пр╕ер╕▒р╕Чр╕Шр╕┤р╣Ар╕лр╕бр╕▓р╕бр╕╡р╕Ьр╕ер╕Ър╕▒р╕Зр╕Др╕▒р╕Ър╣Гр╕Кр╣Й р╕Чр╕│р╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕бр╕╕р╕Вр╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╣Ар╕Щр╕Ыр╕▓р╕ер╣Ар╕Ыр╕ер╕╡р╣Ир╕вр╕Щр╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣Мр╕бр╕▓р╣Ар╕Ыр╣Зр╕Щр╕кр╕▓р╕бр╕▒р╕Нр╕Кр╕Щ р╕Щр╕▒р╕Бр╕зр╕┤р╣Ар╕Др╕гр╕▓р╕░р╕лр╣Мр╕Кр╕╡р╣Йр╕кр╕Цр╕▓р╕Ър╕▒р╕Щр╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣Мр╕вр╕▓р╕Бр╕Чр╕╡р╣Ир╕Ир╕░р╕Бр╕ер╕▒р╕Ър╕Др╕╖р╕Щр╕кр╕Цр╕▓р╕Щр╕ар╕▓р╕Юр╣Ар╕Фр╕┤р╕б
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
You are a pompous self-absorbed man Republican, just like your master Thaksin. Humility would do you, and Thaksin, a lot of good. One of the endearing merits of a constitutional monarchy is teaching humility to ministers with huge ego . . . those constant knee bending and bowing to the monarch would do that to ego-maniacs.
But somehow the lesson was lost to Thaksin and see what happened to him. It would be too bad if you too Republic forget how important humility is to a man. Maybe you should apprentice to Khun Chamlong . . he can teach you a lot old man.
Who is Okas Tepalakul?
Ah, Nganadit, you’re late for class. Your parents contacted me asking for your report card. Unfortunately it looks like no new bicycle for you this term.
NM SCHOOL REPORT CARD
STUDENT: р╕Ф. р╕К. Nganadit
WRITING: B. Tries hard. His expression becomes somewhat flowery when writing about the monarchy, at which point his style becomes confused and illogical.
READING: D+
Quite lazy. Refuses to read assigned texts. Asks other students to summarize books for him. Prefers magazines, fantasy, and TV, especially the 8pm news. But recently he has shown a promising interest in promoting anti-royalist literature in Thai translation: “…I’m all for having the book published in Thai and made available in Thailand….” Seems interested in working in publishing as he is continually asking his intellectual friends if they are being paid. However it will be hard for him to make himself employable if he doesn’t read assigned textbooks.
HISTORY: C+
Very interested in the early medieval period, especially tales of white knights. Needs to concentrate more on modern history, in particular the era of revolution and modernity.
POLITICS: C
After a slow start he has made some progress but is still very confused, especially about democracy. Has a curious fascination for autocratic regimes. Recently his assignment work has improved somewhat: “…royal clique all not setting a very good example for the lower officials”; “…there are a number of things holding back progress in Thailand, and I concede the monachy has to share in some of the blame….”; “… I would be reluctant to have the institution removed until …”, and especially “…HMK should abdicate immediately now…” However, he failed the module on critiquing royalist propaganda.
ECONOMICS: C+
Strangely attracted by the insufficiency theory of economics promoted by the widely ridiculed Jitlada school. Shows confusion about the difference between royal wealth and national wealth. Recently handed in a better assignment: “It is disgusting that people are in poverty while there are so many super rich including […] HMK/Royals”; “…I probably would prefer if the king was taxed…” However he is particularly weak on capitalist economics.
GEOGRAPHY: D
Failed his test on knowledge of Europe and the US. Knowledge of Thailand appears to extend only as far as Bangkok, particularly the Ratanakosin island area.
ART: B
Very inventive. Likes to make things up. Prefers using bright colours, especially yellow. Quite skillful in imitating the style of ancient court artists.
CREATIVE WRITING: D
Tends to copy his friends. Needs to develop his own style. Much of his work is very repetitive. Likes romantic themes; no apparent familiarity with social realism.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOUR: B
Has an excitable nature and often gets led astray by other boys, especially the school bully. A bright boy, he likes to ask questions, but doesn’t seem willing to listen to reason. His concentration span is very limited; he needs to develop a one-track mind. Seems a bit intimidated by the poorer boys in the class, especially sons of taxi drivers.
GPA: 2.3
Status: PASS
OVERALL COMMENTS: Young Nganadit has had a slow start but I believe he has some potential if he applies himself. But it will be difficult for him to improve unless he overcomes his reading disability. His main problem is that he seems to treat his education as a hobby.
Teacher’s Signature:
Republican
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