Golden Verdict

It’s the best of possible outcomes to avert further mayhem. It’s no guarantee against further mayhem, but no side can claim victory and no side can pretend total defeat after the Thai Supreme Court’s handing down of a partial seizure of fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra’s frozen 76 billion baht. The state gets 46 billion plus plus, the remainder of some 30 billion baht shall go back to Thaksin. “Probably the best possible solution among all,” as someone said. A compromise à la Thai; a decision that will not really please the government, but appease some anti-government forces.

The split in society is reflected by the verdict. People can take a break for the time being. Just don’t ask how they wanna hand over those nearly 900 million dollars to a fugitive – the verdict’s a trap? Seriously, the money’s not yet paid out, but in his live address following the seven-hour reading of the verdict a somber Thaksin repented his stubbornness to ever have entered politics and he thanked his supporters for not protesting in front of the court house. Yes, he slams the “political verdict.” Many lost everything in Thailand. He could have. The verdict may well signal a turnaround in Thai politics. Things seem to settle down. Part of Thaksin’s argument is gone.

The verdict is the expected compromise – a clear sign that well Thaksin, you’re guilty of everything, but here you go you crook, get your billion. You’re not only guilty. The judges used the words it would be “not fair” to confiscate the whole lot – a criminal deserving leniency? The fugitive’s not too guilty after all? The rules of the game change constantly and quickly, but it’s safe to say I think that the groundwork is laid for the next, more mature phase of the conflict: the long-awaited, so difficult mutual convergence. It will take time, but this verdict was necessary for it.

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February 26, 2010 | Filed Under History, News & Media, Politics | 5 Comments 

The Ten Commandments Of Thai Politicians

I rarely do this, but this “field manual” for Thai politicians written by Prophessor Stephen B. Young for The Nation is worth to be mirrored in full. You may remember The Nation’s telling interview back in September last year with the man. Young introduces his helpful rules for Thai politicians with this:

“Having tasted of politics both east and west, and having shared many a story over the last 49 years with Thais in and out of government and politics and from Isaan villages to royal residences, it seems to me the current unrest in Thailand could be overcome by application of the following guidelines for Thai politicians:” (…)

Take a deep breath. It’s an again telling list. Explicitly mentioning to “beware farangs bearing condescending advice” as if we’d still be stuck in colonial times. Or Thailand as a potential Leitkultur? The old man has definitely gone Thai. And who’s that “established moral elite”?! But Young only lists eight helpful rules. So what two rules are missing to make it a uniquely Thai Decalogue? Maybe “Thou shalt first and foremost dismiss thouself” …

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January 30, 2010 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, Culture Shock, History, Politics, Society | 9 Comments 

Making Way

“Thai people attend a religious floral offering Saturday, January 9th, 2010, during a religious ceremony at an old military prison, known as Tuk Din, in Bangkok, Thailand.”

“The prison believed to be haunted with the spirits of the dead, is being demolished to make way for several 20 story apartment blocks for senior military officials. The site has been used to hold and execute criminals for hundreds of years.”

Quoted from Daylife/AP. Making way for senior military officials … Nah, no better place for senior military officials? That’s what you call self-sacrifice for the sake and the good of the nation. Being at it, always wondered who will once live above the amazing Christian cemetery between Sathorn and Silom. Prime location.

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January 13, 2010 | Filed Under Culture & Arts, History, The Thai Mind | Leave a Comment 

Nick Nostitz: Photographer, Documentarian, Communicator

He’s the “most Thai foreigner” I know. After years of work in the twilight of Bangkokian nights and his recent front line coverage of Thailand’s political conflict he has become something of a celebrity around here. Thai Politicians of all sides and the top brass know him. He recently published Red vs. Yellow: Thailand’s Crisis of Identity, has been interviewed twice by Stickman, the rather pro-old The Nation just spoke to him, and now this site: pleased to meet German photographer Nick Nostitz.

Nick came over for a coffee and half a pack of cigarettes – and we talked. I actually wanted to avoid politics as much as possible. Hasn’t everything been said already? Obviously not. There is no way talking to Nick without talking about Thai politics and society. „It’s very difficult to be a Thai in Thailand,“ says Nick who has a grasp of the inner workings of Thailand that makes many seasoned observers look like dilettante newbies. So what lies ahead?

Nick’s not an observer. He’s a man at the front lines. Wrote Stickman: The man once known as “Mr. Nightlife (…) has become the Westerner whose opinions I respect more than any other on many matters Thai as he digs into the deepest, darkest depths of Thai society. When Nick covers an issue, you can be sure that what you are about to read will be a thoroughly researched, unbiased report that doesn’t seek to charm.” Here we go:

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January 10, 2010 | Filed Under Being Farang, Culture Shock, History, Politics, The Interview, The Thai Mind | 31 Comments 

Siam, Cradle Of Humankind

In case you missed it, this topic has been briefly touched upon by readers’ comments in the earlier post Earful of Nonsense. Main question arising was – this being Siam – how to gauge the intellect of a people. Now we have proof. Siam is the cradle of humankind.

Forget the Romans, forget the Greeks, forget the origins of mankind in Africa where 32-million-year old fossils of anthropoid primates were discovered. An ancient ape fossil found in a Krabi coal mine links earliest man to Thailand.

“The anthropoidia primates – an order that includes humans like us – might have originated right here in Thailand, the recent discovery of a 35-million-year old Siamese ape fossil has suggested,” we learn from The Nation.

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January 7, 2010 | Filed Under History, Tidbits | 7 Comments 

Of Rankings, Mediocrity & Quality Of Life

Well, there’s always an exception that proves the rule. According to a recent poll Bangkok was voted the no. 1 most attractive city in Asia. Thai media hailed the headline. But the poll was conducted in Bangkok, among 500 foreign tourists. As if 500 interviewed tourists in Tokyo would have chosen Bangkok. That’s not what you call “representative.” Still, despite subliminal indoctrination attempts, dwindling freedoms and regressing investments in the kingdom it’s not all that bad.

Take any internationally credible poll or ranking and Thailand features not too shabby. Again, there’s the exception that proves the rule. In the Press Freedom Index 2009 Thailand remains near the post-Thaksin historic low of 135th. In 2002 Thailand ranked 65th. On the other hand, according to the IMD World Competitiveness‘ stress test, Thailand holds the 26th overall rank in 2009.

A rare success that was thoroughly enjoyed by our dear prime minister. But when the same stress test ranks Thailand’s Government Efficiency as 17th, sandwiched between Taiwan and Malaysia and clearly ahead of the U.S. and the U.K., you may wonder what standards apply. And according to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index 2008 the Thai kingdom ranks 80th, after 61st in 2001. But how do you measure one of Thailand’s real strengths? The quality of life?

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November 5, 2009 | Filed Under Business & Economics, History, News & Media, Politics, Society, Survey / Poll | 1 Comment 

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