Dear Michael,
the issue of taxation and formalization is a really central one. It has, however, nothing to do with the junta’s actions. The first and only serious attempt to bring the grey economy into a formalized system of taxation and social protection in Thailand was started in 2003, under the formula of De Soto’s “transforming assets into capital.” Vendors, motorcycle taxi drivers, and some of the van operators were register, given formal permission and offered to social security in exchange for taxation and limiting of the civil servants’ demands for money. That project had a lot of a short-comings (see my upcoming book for details) but it worked in making part of the economy more readable and less corrupt (partially). Doing so had nothing to do with kicking vendors out of the streets or with evicting them, it requires a proper registration and control over police officers. That process stopped after the 2006 coup, in which many affiliated with the junta were involved. Prayuth’s actions have none of the aspects which suggest the ban as part of a formalization of grey economy. No alternative markets are being offered, no registration procedure has been devised, and no attack to police interference and racketeering of street economies have been implemented. If you read the BMA’s orders and notices are about pedestrians and cleanliness, not taxation. I would be happy to have that discussion about taxation mechanisms and agree with with that VAT is the worst possible way of implementing taxes but, once again, this government does not have an interest in raising taxes or extending social services.
As for the issue of nomadism and order, I think whether in SEA, contemporary US, Europe, or China authoritarianism since the 19th century is obsessed with people who move and seem uncontrollable. My own country, Italy, basically watching people sinking into the Mediterranean is one of the many contemporary examples. Unfortunately, insanity is not a regional disease.
The question not yet clarified for me here is that whether food prices will increase? whether this will increase inflation? Thailand has always had low inflation, is it partly a result of the informal economy? Furthermore, many rural and other marginal populations provide Bangkok markets and some food stalls, the demise of such will affect many, many households and communities, along with motorcycle taxi drivers and other local workers in accessing cheap food. All this is so consistent with Prayuth’s policies of supporting the rich/middle classes and not the lower classes.
OK Michael, I defer to your experience. I led myself away from my not clearly expressed initial point which was that the article was about people who did not have a voice in it. I just think the article would have been better if it had included that aspect.
I am, by the way, a huge fan of Claudio Sopranzetti. I have met him and purchased his books.
I think your analysis isn’t very good, despite trying to sound like a edgy PhD student. The reason why Muslim leaders in non-Muslims areas are not mentioned often, because there are quite common, even post-1998. Here are some examples.
If you drill down the data for the other kabupaten in Kalimantan Barat, you will see non-Muslim areas electing Muslim leaders. Its common enough that its hardily mentioned. Its like this across much of Kalimantan.
Its the same in North Sumatra, if you look at election results at Kabupaten level. Why? because they are won on a simple plurality of the votes, rather than requiring a majority for the second round.
In situations like this in the long run religion isn’t important. Why? Minority candidates have a good chance of winning.
First the Muslim candidates aren’t going to go all Sharia, because they will lose in the next election. So they down play Islam. The Christians parties seeing that do the same. In Kalimantan, the same when the situation is reversed
When you don’t have run offs, and the race is 3-4 way as they usually are in Indonesia, Candidates don’t use the religion card when the minority makes up 15-40% of the vote because what happens is minority candidates can rally the minority vote and win. In a 3-4 way race, religious polarization is dangerous, because minorities will vote along identity and what results is a block voting. Meaning people vote based on religious identity for protection. This is what happens with Ahok, and even with Jokowi.
If Jakarta didn’t have run offs, over time it would encourage more minorities to run. People are far less likely to use the religion card in the long run. And after changing Muslim / Non-Muslim mayor / bupati the 5-6 time, religion becomes irrelevant as in Kalimantan. Elections would be less polarizing at the provincial level if plurality is used as in the case at Tingkat II. Of course there are problems with plurality, you can elect a Duterte.
As for Prabowo-Anies. Its still too early to tell. PKS could lose West Java in 2018, and it could go over to Nasdem/secular parties (Ridwan Kamil). Reason is for the last five years, West Java isn’t improving as fast as Jakarta or East/Central Java, Unemployment hasn’t recovered to even close to pre-Reformasi levels. Manufacturing jobs / Investment is being gobbled up East and Central Java. Now West Java is the largest supplier of TKI, 30-40% above levels in East and Central Java. Per capita income has slipped, in 2011 it was ranked the 14th richest province. In 2015 it slipped to 22nd. Most likely by the time the election comes around it would have slipped below Central Java.
Some years ago I was told (by someone claiming to be close to a palace insider), that when the old boy died, the son would quickly fly away – probably to Europe, for fear of his life.
Might be partly true, in that it’s not hard to imagine a situation in which he needs to acclimatise to his new power slowly, and think how best to exercise it. Plus all of the whats and hows of achieving his objectives – which I no longer believe might be useful to Thailand except insofar as they move the country further or more quickly towards an upheaval.
Who knows? Maybe he will understand that the way he appears to be going is unsustainable in the 21st Century, even in a feudal society. No harm in hoping…
I can understand the ennui, Same ole same ole… I know how you feel, But a part of counter-indoctrination (deprogramming if you will), is to constantly repeat the truth where the programming was achieved by constantly repeating the lie.
Even the same ole same ole can have a usefulness, though to take up your cudgel, I doubt that was Pavin’s intention. Even so…… many things can be achieved without an awareness of how they’re achieved being necessary.
In general my organization Burma Task Force opposes the term “communal violence” to describe the anti-Muslim pograms that target the Rohingya in Burma. In the media this becomes a vague term that unhelpfully obscures the one sided nature of the violence. However, even as an academic frame as it is here, “communal violence” is misleading, as it tends to de-contextualize the violence, de-emphasizing the key involvement of state actors and harshly restrictive state policies that go back many decades.
This de-contextualizing shift in focus can have an unfortunate impact on international policies responding to destructive ideology and practice in Burma.
I have looked at Mr Cheesman’s long version article and clearly he knows his subject and feels for the victims of violence. He admits that the “communal violence” is one-sided. He also recognizes that the 2016-7 violence in Maungdaw is not communal in nature but state generated. However, even before this, violence clearly arises out of anti-Muslim rights restrictions imposed by the military and the state. The links between Ma Ba Tha and the military, and the role of profit in property confiscations, are other factors that might be considered.
To summarize, regarding “communal violence”–it still seems to me at least that this interpretative frame is imposed on the tragic situation and does not arise from it.
I hope that the writer will accept that some of his colleagues view these terms as problematic, and consider other views and perspectives, and even include them in his ongoing explorations.
What’s wrong with having more Singapore style hawker centres in Bangkok. IMHO, there are way too few. In Bangkok, it’s far too often ONLY a two-choice menu : either air-con, or street food (hugely delicious both almost invariably are). But I’ve seen far too few Singapore-style non-air conditioned hawker centres built on the ground floor of Thai housing estates, or even buildings a bit more upmarket. Would be glad to know of some more.
THE MAJOR contradiction in ALL of the above, is that Thailand’s new King chooses to – or has to – live much of his time in Germany, one of the world’s strongest, most law-abiding democracies.
There’s nothing particularly ground-breaking in Pavin’s piece here. As soon as I saw the title I knew exactly what would follow. Unfortunately Pavin offers no new insights, no new thinking, and there’s nothing of note in his work that helps take the discussion forward beyond the long-established and fairly obvious “Thai monarchy bad” take. It’s pretty clear that they isn’t much difference between Bhumipol and Vajiralongkorn. We’re just witnessing a continuity project.
What keeps this degenerative family in “power” is the real meat and potatoes here. Figure that out – rather than continually repeating ad infinitum “monarchy bad” – and maybe, just maybe, some proper political change might be possible.
‘It depends on region. Ambon, NTT, Kalimantan have elected Muslim officials in non-Muslim majority areas.’
Ambon elected a Muslim Governor once, because the demography had been altered by transmigration and free settlement from Java and Sulawesi. The result was a war in which they forcibly changed the demographics. Now they take it in turns for fear of another war. When was the last time NTT elected a Muslim Governor? Suwandi was appointed not elected.
‘religion to be frank often doesn’t have much of a part.’
Very few of the vendors in places like Jatujak or Pratunam or Platinum are licensed and taxed. These places are where entrepreneurial Thais go when they would rather not have to put up with the rigidly hierarchical employment available in companies that do payroll tax deductions etcetera.
“Kaz” takes the standard Bangkok middle-class position and suggests that street vendors et al are more or less parasitic on the economy, which would be funny if it weren’t so backwards and upside-down. The more these shadow economy folks have to interact with the “real economy”, like paying rent to landlords, the more they are ripped off by the utterly corrupt upper echelons who control land and retail space.
Sam Deedes takes the western “social justice warrior” point of view which can never see people like Thai street vendors as anything but victims when in fact they are the people who have in most cases absolutely refused to be victimized in this economy. The ones who stay at their stations year after year do so because they are making enough money to keep their kids in school and smartphones and eventually put them through university. The ones who drop out, and there are many, are those who end up going to the Middle East or Singapore to make more than they can working in the “real” economy here.
The 300 baht per day minimum wage translates out to somewhere between 7 and 9K baht a month. That is the official economy where folks like Sam would imagine they would rather be if given their druthers. 6 day weeks and 10 hour days for 9K baht is not what everyone dreams of at 40 with two kids and dependent parents back home.
I’ve worked with kids finishing their BAs and intending to go to work with their parents in the street stall biz or at a talat nut because surprisingly enough having to suck up to a contact to get a job at a bank or an airline starting at 12 or 14K a month just isn’t all that attractive to some people.
In its own small way, this “Singaporization” movement is similar to the closing of the commons in 18th century Britain, in that its ultimate effect will be to drive more and more people into the “real” economy where the capitalists who form a significant part of this network tyranny (and who are constantly ignored by commenters hereon) can put them to work for minimum wage and firmly under the thumb of the bureaucracy.
It depends on region. Ambon, NTT, Kalimantan have elected Muslim officials in non-Muslim majority areas. Again its far more complicated then you make it out to be. There is a lot wheeling and dealing going on in many regional elections, and religion to be frank often doesn’t have much of a part.
As for picking a Muslim for Governor of Jakarta they might have won the Jakarta election, but that doesn’t necessarily correlate to a win in 2019, which is a long way off. Trying to make predictions based on the assumption that Anies can actually do the work. all it takes is 2 major floods and Prabowo is finished. By the way Prabowo can’t control the weather.
‘If not for his candor on Almaidah, Ahok would have won.’
I agree. He has done magnificently just to reach 40-45%. He wouldn’t have got that much in Bali because he’s the wrong ethnicity and religion.
His loss is a setback but a temporary one and PDIP must be honest when drawing conclusions. With a track record such as theirs, it’s not guaranteed. The next time an ethnic Chinese Christian throws his/her hat in the ring for PDIP in Jakarta, they should refrain from quoting the Koran to Muslims, as if they were religious authorities. It seems they will have a deficit of just 5-8% to pull back if they are to win and that should be possible. The long term goal of eliminating ‘primordialisme’ from Indonesian politics is just that – long term. This is a tactical not strategic loss.
But that’s not the narrative editors of the Aust msm papers, and their readers, want to read about. Even if their journos were brave enough to leave the safety and camouflage of the herd and go for a wander on the Serengeti.
Bravo, Acharn Pavin, for having the courage, academic integrity, the conscience, the chutzpah, to say it like it is. For informing and keeping us informed of “THE TRUTH” of what is transpiring in Bangkok in the present time, as Thais wake up to the reality of this pervert, hedonistic, power hungry, immoral, vengeful, despised Rama X, who’s reign of terror has only just begun.
I like what Christine had to say in her comments, once again on target and correlates with what I believe as well, how it is being played out before our eyes.
One cannot even begin to take note of so much more hideous acts that Rama X has done, that is out of the public eye, hidden behind the scenes and covered up, as a result of his coterie of hand picked guards, who do his bidding, despite living in fear of his mood swings, and selfish and self centered whims. But as history has shown us time and time again, the veil will be torn down one day and everything will be uncovered and laid bare for the world to see. A day of reckoning is fast approaching and the whole truth will be exposed, as “the wheels of justice, although they grind slowly, they grind exceedingly fine.”
I am deeply concerned and saddened of all that has transpired but was never under the illusion, or naive that Sia O, will change. It was just a matter of time before he showed his “true” colors. And many are trembling in fear at the prospect of what awaits any and all who upset him in any way, form or manner.
I do want to stress that Acharn Pavin take extra precautions about his whereabouts, esp. during his travels, as this “devil” is mad as hell and raging, thirsty for revenge, to silence any and all critics, for being exposed, in Munich and elsewhere, and has let loose his cronies to do the dirty work of silencing his critics like Acharn Pavin, Somsak and Andrew Marshall. It all goes to show how insecure, mad as hell, vengeful Rama X is.
How will this sad saga end? History has shown time and time again, that it will not end well. The billions socked away overseas, the depraved and hedonistic lifestyle and the vengeful attitude and behavior will lead to his ultimate downfall and horrible demise.
It’s sad to see how his father, the previous king’s reign ended, holed up on the top floor of Siriraj Hospital for years, alone and sidelined, suffering and in despair, of what his son has become and how his nation was staring into the abyss. And the fate of the Queen, who has been one of the main reasons behind all this turmoil for decades, is now suffering the consequences of her conniving and maneuvering behind the scenes to control the outcome. She is now reaping what she has sowed for decades, and it is a pretty sad sight I might add.
As I’ve said before, Thailand is a dynamite keg waiting to erupt, meaning, the millions of hard working Thais will not take all this repression, suppression, autocratic, dictatorial, illegitimate, coercion, living in fear and trembling, for much longer. They will eventually feel compelled to speak up, to rise up and take to the streets, and though it may start small, the spark will turn into a raging fire, it will burn and bring everything down. And the elites and royalists, will flee overseas as is so often the case, and the reign of terror and the chapter on Rama X, the Chakri Dynasty, will come to a horrible end.
I agree. There should also be analysis about the community response in The Smart Jakarta Card, Healthy Jakarta Card, free ambulance, etc. I do disagree with the eviction process which seems not fair for the poor compared to Kemang and malls, but I have to admit the more effective and no cost public service for any legal issues, the reduced burden of health, education, the better public transportation and its progress, etc. There are always pros and cons with the government programs (and always will with any other government), but there should be an overall analysis on the whole program to be fair.
Also the sectarian issues should considers that not all the minority, either by ethnic or religion, are middle class people. Most of them are among the poor too, something I have not read in many articles.
If indeed street traders are making making 40 – 50K baht a month then I am more than happy to acknowledge Michael Wilson’s advice though most traders of my acquaintence don’t appear to enjoy so much income and if they did why would they be there for years on end?
Of course they are a cheap convenience for Bangkok office workers and also the Thai government who can use them to hide the true unemployment rate in Thailand.
Thanks for the points about taxation. Is it the case that taxes are more often collected from the vendors in authorized public markets? places like Jatucak and the various night markets that are found around the city?
Do we think that the junta’s supporters are more likely to eat and shop indoors at the various malls around the city, not so much the center city show piece malls but the several places with an anchor store of some sort, moderately priced retail, banking, and assemblies of chain restaurants and indoor food courts? I know a number of middle class people for whom these places are a regular part of their weekly routine and who are afraid of or maybe embarrassed by the street food that ordinary folks and tourists buy.
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Last orders in Bangkok
Need those taxes to pay those generals and buy those submarines
Last orders in Bangkok
Dear Michael,
the issue of taxation and formalization is a really central one. It has, however, nothing to do with the junta’s actions. The first and only serious attempt to bring the grey economy into a formalized system of taxation and social protection in Thailand was started in 2003, under the formula of De Soto’s “transforming assets into capital.” Vendors, motorcycle taxi drivers, and some of the van operators were register, given formal permission and offered to social security in exchange for taxation and limiting of the civil servants’ demands for money. That project had a lot of a short-comings (see my upcoming book for details) but it worked in making part of the economy more readable and less corrupt (partially). Doing so had nothing to do with kicking vendors out of the streets or with evicting them, it requires a proper registration and control over police officers. That process stopped after the 2006 coup, in which many affiliated with the junta were involved. Prayuth’s actions have none of the aspects which suggest the ban as part of a formalization of grey economy. No alternative markets are being offered, no registration procedure has been devised, and no attack to police interference and racketeering of street economies have been implemented. If you read the BMA’s orders and notices are about pedestrians and cleanliness, not taxation. I would be happy to have that discussion about taxation mechanisms and agree with with that VAT is the worst possible way of implementing taxes but, once again, this government does not have an interest in raising taxes or extending social services.
As for the issue of nomadism and order, I think whether in SEA, contemporary US, Europe, or China authoritarianism since the 19th century is obsessed with people who move and seem uncontrollable. My own country, Italy, basically watching people sinking into the Mediterranean is one of the many contemporary examples. Unfortunately, insanity is not a regional disease.
Last orders in Bangkok
The question not yet clarified for me here is that whether food prices will increase? whether this will increase inflation? Thailand has always had low inflation, is it partly a result of the informal economy? Furthermore, many rural and other marginal populations provide Bangkok markets and some food stalls, the demise of such will affect many, many households and communities, along with motorcycle taxi drivers and other local workers in accessing cheap food. All this is so consistent with Prayuth’s policies of supporting the rich/middle classes and not the lower classes.
Last orders in Bangkok
OK Michael, I defer to your experience. I led myself away from my not clearly expressed initial point which was that the article was about people who did not have a voice in it. I just think the article would have been better if it had included that aspect.
I am, by the way, a huge fan of Claudio Sopranzetti. I have met him and purchased his books.
Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
I think your analysis isn’t very good, despite trying to sound like a edgy PhD student. The reason why Muslim leaders in non-Muslims areas are not mentioned often, because there are quite common, even post-1998. Here are some examples.
https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awang_Ishak
Awang Ishak – Islam. Mayor of Singkawang 2002-2007 / 2012-2017.
Singkawang is not just majority Christian, but majority Chinese.
https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarot_Winarno Bupati of Sintang,
http://ardi-lamadi.blogspot.ca/2013/07/jumlah-penduduk-berdasarkan-agama-di_8470.html
Sintang – 37% of the population is Muslim
If you drill down the data for the other kabupaten in Kalimantan Barat, you will see non-Muslim areas electing Muslim leaders. Its common enough that its hardily mentioned. Its like this across much of Kalimantan.
Its the same in North Sumatra, if you look at election results at Kabupaten level. Why? because they are won on a simple plurality of the votes, rather than requiring a majority for the second round.
In situations like this in the long run religion isn’t important. Why? Minority candidates have a good chance of winning.
First the Muslim candidates aren’t going to go all Sharia, because they will lose in the next election. So they down play Islam. The Christians parties seeing that do the same. In Kalimantan, the same when the situation is reversed
When you don’t have run offs, and the race is 3-4 way as they usually are in Indonesia, Candidates don’t use the religion card when the minority makes up 15-40% of the vote because what happens is minority candidates can rally the minority vote and win. In a 3-4 way race, religious polarization is dangerous, because minorities will vote along identity and what results is a block voting. Meaning people vote based on religious identity for protection. This is what happens with Ahok, and even with Jokowi.
If Jakarta didn’t have run offs, over time it would encourage more minorities to run. People are far less likely to use the religion card in the long run. And after changing Muslim / Non-Muslim mayor / bupati the 5-6 time, religion becomes irrelevant as in Kalimantan. Elections would be less polarizing at the provincial level if plurality is used as in the case at Tingkat II. Of course there are problems with plurality, you can elect a Duterte.
As for Prabowo-Anies. Its still too early to tell. PKS could lose West Java in 2018, and it could go over to Nasdem/secular parties (Ridwan Kamil). Reason is for the last five years, West Java isn’t improving as fast as Jakarta or East/Central Java, Unemployment hasn’t recovered to even close to pre-Reformasi levels. Manufacturing jobs / Investment is being gobbled up East and Central Java. Now West Java is the largest supplier of TKI, 30-40% above levels in East and Central Java. Per capita income has slipped, in 2011 it was ranked the 14th richest province. In 2015 it slipped to 22nd. Most likely by the time the election comes around it would have slipped below Central Java.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
Some years ago I was told (by someone claiming to be close to a palace insider), that when the old boy died, the son would quickly fly away – probably to Europe, for fear of his life.
Might be partly true, in that it’s not hard to imagine a situation in which he needs to acclimatise to his new power slowly, and think how best to exercise it. Plus all of the whats and hows of achieving his objectives – which I no longer believe might be useful to Thailand except insofar as they move the country further or more quickly towards an upheaval.
Who knows? Maybe he will understand that the way he appears to be going is unsustainable in the 21st Century, even in a feudal society. No harm in hoping…
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
I can understand the ennui, Same ole same ole… I know how you feel, But a part of counter-indoctrination (deprogramming if you will), is to constantly repeat the truth where the programming was achieved by constantly repeating the lie.
Even the same ole same ole can have a usefulness, though to take up your cudgel, I doubt that was Pavin’s intention. Even so…… many things can be achieved without an awareness of how they’re achieved being necessary.
Interpreting communal violence in Myanmar
In general my organization Burma Task Force opposes the term “communal violence” to describe the anti-Muslim pograms that target the Rohingya in Burma. In the media this becomes a vague term that unhelpfully obscures the one sided nature of the violence. However, even as an academic frame as it is here, “communal violence” is misleading, as it tends to de-contextualize the violence, de-emphasizing the key involvement of state actors and harshly restrictive state policies that go back many decades.
This de-contextualizing shift in focus can have an unfortunate impact on international policies responding to destructive ideology and practice in Burma.
I have looked at Mr Cheesman’s long version article and clearly he knows his subject and feels for the victims of violence. He admits that the “communal violence” is one-sided. He also recognizes that the 2016-7 violence in Maungdaw is not communal in nature but state generated. However, even before this, violence clearly arises out of anti-Muslim rights restrictions imposed by the military and the state. The links between Ma Ba Tha and the military, and the role of profit in property confiscations, are other factors that might be considered.
To summarize, regarding “communal violence”–it still seems to me at least that this interpretative frame is imposed on the tragic situation and does not arise from it.
I hope that the writer will accept that some of his colleagues view these terms as problematic, and consider other views and perspectives, and even include them in his ongoing explorations.
Last orders in Bangkok
What’s wrong with having more Singapore style hawker centres in Bangkok. IMHO, there are way too few. In Bangkok, it’s far too often ONLY a two-choice menu : either air-con, or street food (hugely delicious both almost invariably are). But I’ve seen far too few Singapore-style non-air conditioned hawker centres built on the ground floor of Thai housing estates, or even buildings a bit more upmarket. Would be glad to know of some more.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
THE MAJOR contradiction in ALL of the above, is that Thailand’s new King chooses to – or has to – live much of his time in Germany, one of the world’s strongest, most law-abiding democracies.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
So just the same old, same old in Thailand then.
There’s nothing particularly ground-breaking in Pavin’s piece here. As soon as I saw the title I knew exactly what would follow. Unfortunately Pavin offers no new insights, no new thinking, and there’s nothing of note in his work that helps take the discussion forward beyond the long-established and fairly obvious “Thai monarchy bad” take. It’s pretty clear that they isn’t much difference between Bhumipol and Vajiralongkorn. We’re just witnessing a continuity project.
What keeps this degenerative family in “power” is the real meat and potatoes here. Figure that out – rather than continually repeating ad infinitum “monarchy bad” – and maybe, just maybe, some proper political change might be possible.
Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
‘It depends on region. Ambon, NTT, Kalimantan have elected Muslim officials in non-Muslim majority areas.’
Ambon elected a Muslim Governor once, because the demography had been altered by transmigration and free settlement from Java and Sulawesi. The result was a war in which they forcibly changed the demographics. Now they take it in turns for fear of another war. When was the last time NTT elected a Muslim Governor? Suwandi was appointed not elected.
‘religion to be frank often doesn’t have much of a part.’
Nonsense.
‘Prabowo can’t control the weather’
Then he should get a new paranormal.
Last orders in Bangkok
Very few of the vendors in places like Jatujak or Pratunam or Platinum are licensed and taxed. These places are where entrepreneurial Thais go when they would rather not have to put up with the rigidly hierarchical employment available in companies that do payroll tax deductions etcetera.
“Kaz” takes the standard Bangkok middle-class position and suggests that street vendors et al are more or less parasitic on the economy, which would be funny if it weren’t so backwards and upside-down. The more these shadow economy folks have to interact with the “real economy”, like paying rent to landlords, the more they are ripped off by the utterly corrupt upper echelons who control land and retail space.
Sam Deedes takes the western “social justice warrior” point of view which can never see people like Thai street vendors as anything but victims when in fact they are the people who have in most cases absolutely refused to be victimized in this economy. The ones who stay at their stations year after year do so because they are making enough money to keep their kids in school and smartphones and eventually put them through university. The ones who drop out, and there are many, are those who end up going to the Middle East or Singapore to make more than they can working in the “real” economy here.
The 300 baht per day minimum wage translates out to somewhere between 7 and 9K baht a month. That is the official economy where folks like Sam would imagine they would rather be if given their druthers. 6 day weeks and 10 hour days for 9K baht is not what everyone dreams of at 40 with two kids and dependent parents back home.
I’ve worked with kids finishing their BAs and intending to go to work with their parents in the street stall biz or at a talat nut because surprisingly enough having to suck up to a contact to get a job at a bank or an airline starting at 12 or 14K a month just isn’t all that attractive to some people.
In its own small way, this “Singaporization” movement is similar to the closing of the commons in 18th century Britain, in that its ultimate effect will be to drive more and more people into the “real” economy where the capitalists who form a significant part of this network tyranny (and who are constantly ignored by commenters hereon) can put them to work for minimum wage and firmly under the thumb of the bureaucracy.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
Well said.
Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
It depends on region. Ambon, NTT, Kalimantan have elected Muslim officials in non-Muslim majority areas. Again its far more complicated then you make it out to be. There is a lot wheeling and dealing going on in many regional elections, and religion to be frank often doesn’t have much of a part.
As for picking a Muslim for Governor of Jakarta they might have won the Jakarta election, but that doesn’t necessarily correlate to a win in 2019, which is a long way off. Trying to make predictions based on the assumption that Anies can actually do the work. all it takes is 2 major floods and Prabowo is finished. By the way Prabowo can’t control the weather.
Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
‘If not for his candor on Almaidah, Ahok would have won.’
I agree. He has done magnificently just to reach 40-45%. He wouldn’t have got that much in Bali because he’s the wrong ethnicity and religion.
His loss is a setback but a temporary one and PDIP must be honest when drawing conclusions. With a track record such as theirs, it’s not guaranteed. The next time an ethnic Chinese Christian throws his/her hat in the ring for PDIP in Jakarta, they should refrain from quoting the Koran to Muslims, as if they were religious authorities. It seems they will have a deficit of just 5-8% to pull back if they are to win and that should be possible. The long term goal of eliminating ‘primordialisme’ from Indonesian politics is just that – long term. This is a tactical not strategic loss.
But that’s not the narrative editors of the Aust msm papers, and their readers, want to read about. Even if their journos were brave enough to leave the safety and camouflage of the herd and go for a wander on the Serengeti.
Kingdom of fear (and favour)
Bravo, Acharn Pavin, for having the courage, academic integrity, the conscience, the chutzpah, to say it like it is. For informing and keeping us informed of “THE TRUTH” of what is transpiring in Bangkok in the present time, as Thais wake up to the reality of this pervert, hedonistic, power hungry, immoral, vengeful, despised Rama X, who’s reign of terror has only just begun.
I like what Christine had to say in her comments, once again on target and correlates with what I believe as well, how it is being played out before our eyes.
One cannot even begin to take note of so much more hideous acts that Rama X has done, that is out of the public eye, hidden behind the scenes and covered up, as a result of his coterie of hand picked guards, who do his bidding, despite living in fear of his mood swings, and selfish and self centered whims. But as history has shown us time and time again, the veil will be torn down one day and everything will be uncovered and laid bare for the world to see. A day of reckoning is fast approaching and the whole truth will be exposed, as “the wheels of justice, although they grind slowly, they grind exceedingly fine.”
I am deeply concerned and saddened of all that has transpired but was never under the illusion, or naive that Sia O, will change. It was just a matter of time before he showed his “true” colors. And many are trembling in fear at the prospect of what awaits any and all who upset him in any way, form or manner.
I do want to stress that Acharn Pavin take extra precautions about his whereabouts, esp. during his travels, as this “devil” is mad as hell and raging, thirsty for revenge, to silence any and all critics, for being exposed, in Munich and elsewhere, and has let loose his cronies to do the dirty work of silencing his critics like Acharn Pavin, Somsak and Andrew Marshall. It all goes to show how insecure, mad as hell, vengeful Rama X is.
How will this sad saga end? History has shown time and time again, that it will not end well. The billions socked away overseas, the depraved and hedonistic lifestyle and the vengeful attitude and behavior will lead to his ultimate downfall and horrible demise.
It’s sad to see how his father, the previous king’s reign ended, holed up on the top floor of Siriraj Hospital for years, alone and sidelined, suffering and in despair, of what his son has become and how his nation was staring into the abyss. And the fate of the Queen, who has been one of the main reasons behind all this turmoil for decades, is now suffering the consequences of her conniving and maneuvering behind the scenes to control the outcome. She is now reaping what she has sowed for decades, and it is a pretty sad sight I might add.
As I’ve said before, Thailand is a dynamite keg waiting to erupt, meaning, the millions of hard working Thais will not take all this repression, suppression, autocratic, dictatorial, illegitimate, coercion, living in fear and trembling, for much longer. They will eventually feel compelled to speak up, to rise up and take to the streets, and though it may start small, the spark will turn into a raging fire, it will burn and bring everything down. And the elites and royalists, will flee overseas as is so often the case, and the reign of terror and the chapter on Rama X, the Chakri Dynasty, will come to a horrible end.
Jakarta: inequality and the poverty of elite pluralism
I agree. There should also be analysis about the community response in The Smart Jakarta Card, Healthy Jakarta Card, free ambulance, etc. I do disagree with the eviction process which seems not fair for the poor compared to Kemang and malls, but I have to admit the more effective and no cost public service for any legal issues, the reduced burden of health, education, the better public transportation and its progress, etc. There are always pros and cons with the government programs (and always will with any other government), but there should be an overall analysis on the whole program to be fair.
Also the sectarian issues should considers that not all the minority, either by ethnic or religion, are middle class people. Most of them are among the poor too, something I have not read in many articles.
Last orders in Bangkok
If indeed street traders are making making 40 – 50K baht a month then I am more than happy to acknowledge Michael Wilson’s advice though most traders of my acquaintence don’t appear to enjoy so much income and if they did why would they be there for years on end?
Of course they are a cheap convenience for Bangkok office workers and also the Thai government who can use them to hide the true unemployment rate in Thailand.
Last orders in Bangkok
Thanks for the points about taxation. Is it the case that taxes are more often collected from the vendors in authorized public markets? places like Jatucak and the various night markets that are found around the city?
Do we think that the junta’s supporters are more likely to eat and shop indoors at the various malls around the city, not so much the center city show piece malls but the several places with an anchor store of some sort, moderately priced retail, banking, and assemblies of chain restaurants and indoor food courts? I know a number of middle class people for whom these places are a regular part of their weekly routine and who are afraid of or maybe embarrassed by the street food that ordinary folks and tourists buy.