We all know, Thai newspapers are not for the faint-hearted. Gross front pages showing accident victims torn apart and blood all over are the order of the day. Because there’s a market appreciating violence.

But what about the essentially more subtle handling of violence per se? That’s why this ad below (click to enlarge) can probably only appear in Thailand: “If your boy is getting anally raped by his teacher, we’ll uncover the truth.”

Let’s play “where’s Waldo being violated?”, commented advertising copywriter copyranter.  ”Bangkok daily newspaper Prachachat says that they “see through the truth.” Pretty disturbing visual, though it is Thailand.”

Says copyranter: “That’s one way to advertise your journalistic chops. But I want a full investigation! Is the boy doing it for a better grade? Is safe sex taught in this school’s health class? And why is the playground slide so damn rusty?”

Adds Gawker: “So, here is how a Thai newspaper promotes itself, with an ad showing – and I’m no expert, but – a teacher sodomizing some kid, it looks like? Tagline: “See Through the Truth.” Ummm … sure, whatever you guys want.”

Or simply … a golden Thai rule? Fuck the truth?

Or the usual – as a commenter on Gawker writes: “A pretty accurate representation of the reporter-editor relationship.”

Can’t show a nipple in Thailand. But sodomizing a schoolboy, hey it’s pedophiles’ haven.

Related posts:

1. TFY TFY – Think For Yourself. But first: am stuck in Europe. About to head back to the realm, but Icelandic...
2. Welcome To Absurdistan Apologies for joining this dark dowsing rod aka GT200 debate slightly too late, but fact is: the self-prepossession of our...
3. Alarmism: An Open Letter Dear Dan, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way but I have to say that I have been...

You’re well aware of the dark daylight and bright nights here in the land of illusion and camouflage. If you’re into the twilight world of protective tattoos and amulets, you know why Central World’s Zen burned down and Isetan survives without a scratch.

Ratchaprasong is powerfully protected by seven deities and their shrines. In front of Central World’s northeastern corner you find the Trimurti Shrine, devoted to Phra Trimurti, god of love, where people ask for success in love and lay down roses, flanked by the Pikanet Shrine, dedicated to Ganesha, god of wealth and prosperity.

In front of Zen? There was this beheaded Indian figure, an artist’s way to celebrate Thai-Indian friendship, the head of a … yes, a ghost, that’s how the artwork is called by now. Zen was made vulnerable by a staring ghost – oh and remember the Erawan Shrine attack? When mentally deranged Thanakorn Pakdeepol in 2006 smashed the statue with a hammer and was beaten to death on the spot by angry bystanders, Thais knew: doom will beset the nation.

Well the red stage was right beside Erawan shrine, with the beheaded ghost overlooking the stage and supporters. There was no powerful goddess protecting Zen. The Hyatt with its shrine remained safe, Sogo and Le Meridien with their own shrines remained safe. Apocalyptic destruction around the powerful golden head staring unmoved into the abyss, absorbing all the bad luck.

Well, I’m not saying, am just saying what Thais are saying.

Looks like a classic case of insufficient phu yai merit-making?

(image credits)

Related posts:

1. Mean Thai Resistance Tactics Yes, some people here are very upset. Another shit tosser has been arrested. Human waste attacks against our dear ruling...
2. In Thailand It’s Real, Halloween It’s one of those nights I try to avoid. Halloween. Why celebrate death and the macabre when the non-Halloween world...
3. Govt’s Leaked New Year’s Resolutions Here’s a scoop, but first: A new decade ahead – and with it new hopes and wishes, even though we...

So what about that Thai identity. The kingdom has so far been spared the racial chasm that openly split Indonesia and still today Malaysia. Are ethnic Chinese the shadowy masters of Thais? Name a leader here. They’re all of Chinese descent. Except, yes.

There is no Singapore without them. But what would Thailand today be without the Chinese. After centuries of immigration and assimilation there’s hardly a Thai family left without some Chinese blood.

Thailand’s a quasi-Chinese colony, internally taken over by immigrants whose diaspora did what Thais didn’t and took chances? Now traces of the old envious sinophobia rooted in socio-economics are back.

Blame it on the Chinese:

This despite their nearly seamless assimilation with a fairly full acculturation. Excerpt from G. William Skinner, “Chinese Assimilation and Thai Politics”:

“In spite of the popular myth about the “unchanging Chinese,” the descendants of Chinese immigrants have been assimilating to Thai society since the beginnings of Chinese settlement in Siam (…) In the nineteenth century, some children and practically all grandchildren of Chinese immigrants achieved complete assimilation to Thai society. Fourth-generation Chinese were unheard of, not because Chinese had not been settled and rearing families for at least four generations, but because all great-grandchildren of Chinese immigrants had merged with Thai society (…) Assimilation is considered complete when the immigrant’s descendant identifies himself in almost all social situations as a Thai, speaks the Thai language habitually and with native fluency, and interacts by choice with Thai more often than with Chinese.”

One wouldn’t say Thailand’s Chinese are anti-Thai, on the contrary. There is no modern Thailand without the Chinese, these decent, hard working, successful people.

Related posts:

1. Thailand Perfects Hold On Power After a long series of tumultuous coups with blood filling the streets upheaval-rich Thailand has demonstrated in convincing manner that...
2. This, Dear Friends, Is Thailand They thought no one on the outside world will ever hear those torrents of hatred, but then again, they’re actually...
3. Loved Only @ Home Don’t accuse me of not trying. I tried very hard to uncover some positive international news reporting about Thailand. A...

Well blame Mr. Nice aka our dear prime minister for being too cozy for way too long, just to mention a free bus service for enemies of the government. But maybe, hopefully, there’s a strategy behind Abhisit’s policy of passive containment. By doing not much the anger of the people grows, giving Abhisit the green light for stronger action. The luxury hotels around Rajprasong are emptied. Collateral damage minimized they’re ready to go.

But that’s not good and reading blogs and Twitter these days is an even less happy pastime. Red sympathizers seem to get even more radical and determined while the reds’ opponents cannot wait for a crackdown, and bloody it shall be. Not you farang, but many Thais ask for harsh measures. Now you tell me whom to blame. The poor reds for their provocations and open lies about a “peaceful” protest? The rich non-reds for urban arrogance and their deriding of “pure” democracy?

If the reds fail, they’ll be marginalized even further, and they asked for it. If the reds succeed, it’s the ultimate Pyrrhic victory in recent human history. The kingdom will be torn apart by more hate and distrust than ever. An election under these circumstances would lead to the world’s most laughable vote in recent human history. Who would accept an Election Commission’s intervention? With reds not being able to campaign in the south and non-reds hunted down in the north and northeast?

What this country needs now is not an election, but time and talks and compromise. But with the construction of a bamboo fortress in the midst of Bangkok the old Maoist guerilla tactics have arrived. You might need to differentiate. Even worse, there’s not a single element of positive surprise, constructive engagement, a hint of an exchange of ideas or compromise in the reds’ iron stance. Their “fight for democracy” has not only become a contradiction in itself, calling themselves democrats flies in the face of an autocrat.

We witness old-style propaganda warfare – and are told it’s all for the betterment of nation, crown and society. Wait, we were all eager listeners. Thaksin had a voice, a voice reaching all Thais in a way. Many undecided applauded his recent interview with The Times. The benefit of doubt is gone, El Presidente fights for more than his credibility. A few thousand red Rambos and martyrs prepare for the final final final showdown while Bangkokians welcome the many soldiers now securing “dictatorial territory” with food and drinks. The people can’t all be that dumb, can they.

And yes, to be called reactionary in these times is a compliment. Sharing a beer with Dr. Weng & Co. would be OK. The Dr.’s a reasonable guy with good intentions. But seeing how far they’re willing to go while preaching peace and freedom and honesty and democracy and legitimacy and wealth for all, well, they clearly had their chance. And gosh how they blew it.

Over a beer those radicals and extremists can tell me what democracy is all about. But not as leaders.

+++ Related – but hardly noticed – key development? The finally proposed land & building tax. Do I hear land reform? Right, it’s only a basic agreement in principle so far. There’s a long way ahead. Still. Think of the kingdom’s largest property owner. How to handle? What more can reds want.

Related posts:

1. Carpetbaggers Or Else!!! It’s a terrifying sight, once respected minds voicing support for mayhem and death – for rather selective, hardly sane reasons....
2. Bangkok’s 9/11 The events of the passed few weeks, days and hours will be burned deeply into Bangkok’s psyche. Our Bangkok will...
3. Alarmism: An Open Letter Dear Dan, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way but I have to say that I have been...

TFY – Think For Yourself. But first: am stuck in Europe. About to head back to the realm, but Icelandic volcano ashes grounded some 16,000 flights. Well looking at the Central European sky this sunny Saturday afternoon I cannot see a single darkish cloud. Satellite images show marginal ash contact with outer Continental Europe. Yes the ash plume will move and may pose some risk. Still … closing down the continent’s air space? They could fly!

And how about that H1N1 mass hysteria? Crises are easily made in these days of governmental paternalism and instant digital simultaneity. This brave new world is no stranger to hysterical overreactions – yes, maybe there might be some ash risk, but the volcano will continue to erupt and the paranoia will settle soon as if nothing ever happened. A made crisis? What this has got to do with Thailand?!

Are tens of thousands of stranded passengers the victim of massive overreaction of super cautious politicians and bureaucratic herd instinct? And how does this remind us of the Thai crisis. Of this our “made Thai crisis.” Yes we heard all the arguments. Some say it’s necessary to fight for democracy exactly now. Why? And fighting for what exactly? Democracy? Come again? Did we just fall into that same trap of herd instinct and mass psychosis? They made their point. Let’s move on.

Had an interesting conversation the other day with a foreign news editor of a leading European newspaper. “Why don’t they just allow an election,” he smiled. “Look how they came to power. Even if the vote’s gonna be dirty, you think elections in Italy or Germany are cleaner? Let the people vote, and who knows, the reds may wish they hadn’t protested.”

It’s not that, I tried to reply. We’re prisoners of an endless cycle of vigilante justice, arbitrariness and more and more anarchy. Thailand was hoping to find some balance again. Now we’re thrown back even behind square 1. Why give in to mob pressure again. It’s time to gain some sort of foothold. Why curses and blood and death again when quiet progress and reform can do.

I felt ridiculous trying to defend the, yes, status quo. Even worse: you start thinking of a “Singapore solution.” Thai democracy. By now ever Thai citizen can present an own list of experienced injustices, setbacks and double standards. Everyone turns out to be some sort of a victim in a crisis with not a single winner so far. With the hardest part remaining: how to put the past behind.

So why do we have to hear the “willing to die for democracy” and martyrdom stuff again now. Why now.

It seems so much easier to start a fight than stopping one. In a crisis thou shalt be united. We’ve become good at singing from the same hymn sheet. Even there’s peace, we’re looking for a fight.

How about start thinking for ourselves again, not just dancing to someone else’s tune.

How to?

• Question everything
• Be curious and ask “why, why, why”
• Think outside the box
• Vaccinate against mental viruses
• Challenge your assumptions. Proven wrong? Accept it
• Look for selfish motives
• Stop being a people pleaser. Trust your gut. Don’t worry what others think about you
• Do the research yourself. Be as informed as you can about topics relevant to your life
• Why not stop being lazy. Thinking for yourself takes some effort
• Say bye to the blessing of ignorance
• Live outside your comfort zone
• Put no authority higher than your ability to think for yourself

It’s simple, really. Annoy your opponent. Think for yourself.

But what do I know.

Amen.

Related posts:

1. The Stockholm Syndrome & Kraisak Choonhavan’s Letter To ACHR One of the most amazing observations these days is the hardening of hearts and minds. Have to find yet a...
2. Bangkok’s 9/11 The events of the passed few weeks, days and hours will be burned deeply into Bangkok’s psyche. Our Bangkok will...
3. Red Letdown Well either it was too hot or their numbers just didn’t cut it yet, but a few hundred red shirts...

Dear Dan, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way but I have to say that I have been a little disconcerted by aB.com’s rather strident alarmism over the past few days. Of course, you are entitled to your own opinion, which I respect, but I would ask you to consider this possibility. Their public statements notwithstanding, the reds have no real interest in engaging in large-scale violence and property destruction. What they are trying to do is to: 1) Show that Abhisit cannot govern; and 2) Perhaps bait the government into cracking down violently. At the very worst, that is, they are trying to find a way to portray themselves as the victims of violence, as opposed to engaging in violence themselves. You might argue that this is a very cynical strategy and I would definitely agree with that. Alas, that’s how the game is played in Thailand.

However, I hope you would entertain the possibility that the only party that is actually interested in the reds turning violent is the government – in large part because that will delegitimize the red shirts and provide the excuse to repress them. As such, I think it’s at best naive and at worst disingenuous to blame the red shirts alone for the climate of fear that envelops Bangkok. We have The Nation for that, anyway. A particularly good example of this is the fact that the government now appears to be ready to impose a state of emergency, which in essence suspends all civil liberties, in the face of what so far has been an entirely peaceful demonstration (with the exception of a one-on-one scuffle in Pathum Thani).

Do they have any reasons for doing so, other than to scare the public to death? After all, the behavior of the red shirts so far has not really squared with the government’s propaganda, so that’s apparently all they have left aside from instigating some violence themselves (that itself is, in my view, forthcoming). Given the track record of military governments and military-backed governments in Thailand, are you sure you want to give them this much benefit of the doubt? Much like the reds, these people are also playing a very cynical game.

As you know, much like you I have deep misgivings about the reds and, especially, Thaksin. But I am also wondering whether you may have been a little too quick to blame them for creating a situation that the government is at the very least co-responsible for. I am only saying this because I respect your work and, perhaps more importantly, because blogs like yours have been, over the past few years, the place where one can find honest coverage of the events considering the sad state of the Thai media. And, unless you are trying to prove to someone that you pose no danger “to the security of the kingdom,” there is hardly any benefit in parroting The Nation’s intellectually dishonest coverage. That, by the way, includes that propagandist and rumor-monger that is Tulsie, to whom you have apparently turned over a portion of your site.

Again, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, in the sense that I didn’t write this to attack you or criticize you, but only to invite you to consider alternatives to the viewpoint you have put forth. All the best,

Federico Ferrara, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Singapore.

Related posts:

1. I See Red When I See Yellow Thailand’s so called new politicians standing for – for what exactly? – once again made it possible that the kingdom...
2. Backlash Say Hi! Well blame Mr. Nice aka our dear prime minister for being too cozy for way too long, just to mention...
3. The Vongthip Letter Apr ‘10 Abhisit’s red hot summer: March 2010 was indeed a month for a crash course on Thai democracy, not only for...