In recent months the National Library of Australia, Asian Collections, has received numerous titles related to the current political and social conflict in Thailand. Readers can find the complete list of recent acquisitions through the online catalogue. However, to give you something of a more direct flavour of the current crop of contemporary Thai discourse, with more depth than you might find simply browsing websites, we highlight the following titles.
р╕Ър╕Чр╕зр╕┤р╕Юр╕▓р╕Бр╕йр╣Мр╕зр╣Ир╕▓р╕Фр╣Йр╕зр╕в р╕кр╕▓р╕Шр╕▓р╕Ур╕Ур╕гр╕▒р╕Рр╣Др╕Чр╕вр╣Гр╕лр╕бр╣И / р╕Юр╕┤р╕Кр╕▒р╕вр╕вр╕╕р╕Чр╕Шр╣М р╕кр╕вр╕▓р╕бр╕Юр╕▒р╕Щр╕Шр╕Бр╕┤р╕И = Regarding The Analysis On The New Thailand Republic. 149 pages.
р╕Ър╕╣р╕гр╕Юр╕▓р╕Юр╕вр╕▒р╕Др╕Жр╣М р╕Чр╕лр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕кр╕╖р╕нр╣Бр╕лр╣Ир╕Зр╕гр╕▓р╕Кр╕┤р╕Щр╕╡ / р╕Юр╕┤р╕Щр╕┤р╕И р╕Юр╕┤р╕Щр╕Шр╕╕р╕кр╕▓р╕кр╣Мр╕Щ = 21st Infantry Regiment Queen’s Guard. 95 pages.
Both published by Siamese Publishing House. These volumes are strongly pro-military; arguing that Thailand needs the military to protect the “Three Institutions” (Nation, Buddhism, and Monarchy) from the Red Shirted “communists”.
р╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕зр╕▒р╕Хр╕┤р╕ир╕▓р╕кр╕Хр╕гр╣Мр╕Кр╕▓р╕Хр╕┤р╣Др╕Чр╕в / р╕нр╕╕р╕Фр╕бр╣Др╕К р╣Ар╕Кр╕вр╕Бр╕╡р╕зр╕Зр╕ир╣М р╣Ар╕гр╕╡р╕вр╕Ър╣Ар╕гр╕╡р╕вр╕З (History Of The Thai Nation/ Udom Ch┼Уiki╠Дwong, compiled). 360 pages.
A history of the Thai Nation as a monarchy. Curiously the text begins in prehistoric times (including dinosaurs) to the present. It chronicles the role and importance of the monarchy to Thailand. Interestingly, there are 4 pages of bibliographical references, Thai language sources only.
р╕лр╕ер╕▒р╕Бр╕Рр╕▓р╕Щр╕Вр╣Йр╕нр╣Ар╕Чр╣Зр╕Ир╕Ир╕гр╕┤р╕Зр╕Бр╕гр╕Ур╕╡р╕Юр╕┤р╕Юр╕▓р╕Чр╣Др╕Чр╕в-р╣Ар╕Вр╕бр╕г р╕Бр╣Ир╕нр╕Щр╣Бр╕Ьр╣Ир╕Щр╕Фр╕┤р╕Щр╣Др╕Чр╕вр╕Ир╕░р╕кр╕┤р╣Йр╕Щр╕кр╕╣р╕Н / р╕зр╕▒р╕ер╕вр╣Мр╕зр╕┤р╕ар╕▓ р╕Ир╕гр╕╣р╕Нр╣Вр╕гр╕Ир╕Щр╣М (Evidence and Truth, The Case Of The Thai-Cambodian Border Conflict: Before The Loss of Thai Territory / Wanwipha Charunrot). 399 pages.
The author is an activist pursuing a campaign to retain the disputed World Heritage area with Thailand. The substantial volume contains a collection of documentation assembled by her, from Thai government and other sources, and a chronology of her activities since 2008.
р╕кр╕гр╣Йр╕▓р╕Зр╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Зр╣Др╕Чр╕вр╣Гр╕лр╣Йр╕Щр╣Ир╕▓р╕нр╕вр╕╣р╣Ир╣Гр╕Щ р╣Щр╣Щр╣Щ р╕зр╕▒р╕Щ /р╣Ар╕Ир╕┤р╕бр╕ир╕▒р╕Бр╕Фр╣М р╕Ыр╕┤р╣Ир╕Щр╕Чр╕нр╕З, р╕Ър╕гр╕гр╕Ур╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Бр╕▓р╕г (Built a Better Thailand In 999 Days / Choemsak Pinthong, editor). 135 pages (v. 2) : this is the second volume of short editorial articles by a variety of mostly prominent people from business and public organisations. Contributions give advice to readers such as: it doesn’t matter how poor you are, just do good things; love Thai society more rather than being selfish; change yourself to be better rather than demanding that society should change. Here is the TOC (Thailand in 999 days TOC), the titles are very descriptive of the contributions.
р╕Чр╕▓р╕Зр╕нр╕нр╕Бр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕Чр╕ир╣Др╕Чр╕вр╣Гр╕Щр╕ар╕▓р╕зр╕░р╕зр╕┤р╕Бр╕др╕Х / р╕вр╕╕р╕Др╕нр╕Щр╕▓р╕гр╕вр╕░ (Thailand’s Way Out Of The Crisis). 256 pages. This book was published in May, just before the government announced the National Reconciliation Plan. The author uses a pen-name meaning “Savage/Uncivilised Period”. The main content is a compilation of details of events since September 2006 through to May 2010. Interestingly the author lists Prawet Wasi’s (р╕Щр╕▓р╕вр╣Бр╕Юр╕ир╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕зр╕и р╕зр╕░р╕кр╕╡) five recommendations to bring peace to Thailand. Also, he explains the crackdown on the Red shirts as necessary because the rallies annoyed the Bangkokians, disrupting their lives. The author adds that they should not rush into a new election; instead the government should try to talk to the stakeholders, clean up the mess, and provide aid to victims.
The following are books whose titles should be self explanatory.
р╕Др╕╣р╣Ир╕бр╕╖ *р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Ыр╕Пр╕┤р╕гр╕╣р╕Ыр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕Чр╕ир╣Др╕Чр╕в р╣Ар╕лр╕вр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕нр╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕б (р╕ар╕▓р╕Др╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕З) /р╕Кр╕▒р╕вр╕зр╕▒р╕Тр╕Щр╣М р╕кр╕╕р╕гр╕зр╕┤р╕Кр╕▒р╕в (A Handbook On Reforming Thailand: Unjust Victims (Political Division)/ Chaiwat Surawichai. 313 pages.
р╣Ар╕Бр╣Ир╕Зр╕бр╕▓р╕Ир╕▓р╕Бр╣Др╕лр╕Щр╕Ир╕╢р╕Зр╣Др╕бр╣Ир╕нр╕▓р╕Бр╕йр╕▒р╕Хр╕гр╕┤р╕вр╣М / р╕Ыр╕гр╕▓р╣Вр╕бр╕Чр╕вр╣М р╕Щр╕▓р╕Др╕гр╕Чр╕гр╕гр╕Ю (Who are You To Reject The Monarchy?/ Pramot Nakhonsap). 168 pages.
(No Cover Image) р╕Ьр╣Ир╕▓р╕вр╕╕р╕Чр╕Шр╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Бр╕Фр╕Зр╣Ар╕Ьр╕▓р╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕З р╣Цр╣Ш р╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╕кр╕╣р╣Ир╕бр╕┤р╕Др╕кр╕▒р╕Нр╕Нр╕╡ / р╕Бр╕нр╕Зр╕Ър╕гр╕гр╕Ур╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Чр╕╡-р╕Щр╕┤р╕зр╕кр╣М (Revealing Red Shirts Strategies In Burning Down The City: 68 Days Of Internecine Warfare / T News Editorial Board). 208 pages.
р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕Ир╕гр╕┤р╕Зр╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╕Щр╕▒р╣Йр╕Щ (Truth That Day) by the Lok Wanni News Team. 239 pages. Short editorial articles regarding the Redshirts’ rallies since March until the massacre May. Highlights include commentaries by academics (e.g. Suthachai Yimprasoet, Sirot Khlamphaibun, Noam Chomsky ), some news columns that were published in Lok Wanni Newspapers. The volume includes a VCD video documentary with English subtitles.
р╕кр╕Зр╕Бр╕гр╕▓р╕Щр╕Хр╣Мр╣Ар╕ер╕╖р╕нр╕Ф : р╕ир╕╢р╕Бр╕Др╕гр╕▒р╣Йр╕Зр╕кр╕│р╕Др╕▒р╕Нр╣Бр╕ер╕░р╕Ър╕Чр╣Ар╕гр╕╡р╕вр╕Щр╕гр╕▓р╕Др╕▓р╣Бр╕Юр╕Зр╕Вр╕нр╕З “р╕Др╕Щр╣Ар╕кр╕╖р╣Йр╕нр╣Бр╕Фр╕З” / р╕кр╕┤р╕Зр╕лр╣Мр╕Чр╕нр╕З р╕Ър╕▒р╕зр╕Кр╕╕р╕б. (Bloody New Year: Important Campaign And Priceless Lessons). 160 pages. This work analyses what happened in respect of Red Shirt rallies in April 2009, with recommendations and advice.
р╕Чр╕▒р╕Бр╕йр╕┤р╕У… р╕Ьр╕┤р╕Фр╕Фр╣Йр╕зр╕вр╕лр╕гр╕╖р╕н? /р╕Юр╣Ир╕нр╕Ыр╕╣р╣И р╕Др╕гр╕╣р╕Ър╕▓ (Was Thaksin Guilty?) (ISBN: 9789742255305). 42 pages.
The author asserts that Thaksin was no guiltier of corruption than other leaders, but was punished for sharing with the poor what should have gone to the elite. He uses phrases like: “The grass roots are the owners of the country.”
р╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╣Ар╕Чр╕ир╣Др╕Чр╕вр╣Гр╕Щр╕нр╕╕р╣Йр╕Зр╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕нр╕│р╕бр╕▓р╕Хр╕вр╣М / р╕Ыр╕▒р╣Кр╕бр╕Др╕Щр╕Вр╣Ир╕▓р╕з (Thailand In Aristocracy’s Hands). 194 pages. Chronologies of major events and key people since the Coup up to March 2010 when the Court decision about Thaksin’s corruptly acquired wealth. Author recommends that Red shirts should not stop at: seeking dissolution of parliament, Aphisit’s resignation, and new elections, but they should campaign for a new system of popular sovereignty.
р╕Кр╕Бр╕Вр╣Йр╕▓р╕бр╕Др╕╕р╕Б : р╕кр╕╣р╣Йр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕ер╕╣р╕Б р╕кр╕╣р╣Йр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Др╕Щр╣Др╕Чр╕в р╕кр╕╣р╣Йр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Ыр╕гр╕░р╕Кр╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Ыр╣Др╕Хр╕в р╕кр╕╣р╣Йр╣Ар╕Юр╕╖р╣Ир╕нр╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕вр╕╕р╕Хр╕┤р╕Шр╕гр╕гр╕б / р╕Чр╕╡р╕бр╕Вр╣Ир╕▓р╕зр╕лр╕Щр╕▒р╕Зр╕кр╕╖р╕нр╕Юр╕┤р╕бр╕Юр╣Мр╣Вр╕ер╕Бр╕зр╕▒р╕Щр╕Щр╕╡р╣Й (Striking Even From Jail: Fighting For My Child, Fighting For Thai People, Fighting For Democracy, Fighting For Justice) / the Lok Wanni News Team. 96 pages. The recent story of р╕Бр╣Ир╕нр╣Бр╕Бр╣Йр╕з р╕Юр╕┤р╕Бр╕╕р╕ер╕Чр╕нр╕З (Kokaeo Phikunthong), one of the UDD leaders who was charged after the events of April-May. He was famously released on parole to campaign in the Bangkok Municipal Election in June.
р╕Ър╕▒р╕Щр╕Чр╕╢р╕Бр╕Юр╕др╕йр╕ар╕▓’53: р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕Ир╕гр╕┤р╕Зр╕Ир╕▓р╕Б’р╕Вр╣Ир╕▓р╕зр╕кр╕Ф’ р╕Др╕зр╕▓р╕бр╕Хр╕▓р╕в 90 р╕ир╕Ю / р╕Бр╕нр╕Зр╕Ър╕гр╕гр╕Ур╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╕Вр╣Ир╕▓р╕зр╕кр╕Ф (Recorded May’10: The Truth Of Khao Sot, Death with 90 Corpses ) (ISBN:9789740205999). 86 pages.
Two books without cover images:
р╕Бр╕▓р╕г “р╕ер╣Ир╕бр╕кр╕ер╕▓р╕в” р╕Вр╕нр╕Зр╕Юр╕гр╕гр╕Др╕Бр╕▓р╕гр╣Ар╕бр╕╖р╕нр╕Зр╣Др╕Чр╕в /р╕кр╕┤р╕Зр╕лр╣Мр╕Чр╕нр╕З р╕Ър╕▒р╕зр╕Кр╕╕р╕б, р╕Ьр╕╣р╣Йр╣Ар╕Вр╕╡р╕вр╕Щ ; р╕Ър╕┤р╣Кр╕Бр╕Ыр╣Лр╕зр╕в р╣Гр╕Ир╣Др╕Чр╕в, р╕Ър╕гр╕гр╕Ур╕▓р╕Шр╕┤р╕Бр╕▓р╕г (Destruction of Thai Political Parties) .174 pages. Analyses the fate of party politics since the Thaksin era; roles of parliamentarians and politicians.
2 р╕бр╕▓р╕Хр╕гр╕▓р╕Рр╕▓р╕Щр╕нр╕зр╕кр╕▓р╕Щр╕нр╕│р╕бр╕▓р╕Хр╕вр╣М / р╕кр╕бр╕вр╕и р╕Юр╕др╕Бр╕йр╕▓р╣Ар╕Бр╕йр╕бр╕кр╕╕р╕В (Double Standards, End of Aristocracy). 112 pages.