An excellent commentary, but you miss the connection between actions such as were perpetrated against the Hmong, and the ‘political fatuities’ you mention, because it is the same uneducated and immature mindset that is the cause of both.

In my humble opinion, I believe that Thailand is finished economically, politically and socially. I believe we are watching the demise of a player that never should have been at the big table, and only ever was because of the strategic interests of others, whose strategic interests have now changed.

If you scratch the average Thai pooyay, you will find a Burma-admirer who believes that the countries interests coincide with their own personal inclinations.

I think that this year will likely see a break-down beginning in Thai society, which will involve economic collapse and civil war, as other commentators have noted. Something better needs to be built in Thailand, but first, the Augean stables need to be cleaned.

Like everyone else when Christmas came I would have been happy to get away from it all and pretend the world is a better place than it is. Unfortunately, while sitting at home with my feet up I gave up watching bad TV. Reaching out from my comfortable armchair for another mince pie I was unlucky enough to pick up The Nation newspaper. A minute later I was viewing its coverage of the ruthless deportation of Hmong refugees back to the land where they will no doubt be once again persecuted. I tried to ignore Abhisit’s laughable attempt to reassure people that nobody is going home to torture and an unmarked grave … And I tried to ignore the fact that the UNHCR was kept out of this camp for years and therefore does not actually know who was there and therefore will not be able to monitor their fate now that they have been returned … But to swallow The Nation’s spin I would have needed to ignore an awful lot as there are so many other facts, historical and current that would have be set aside for the Hmong to have any chance back in Laos, God Help Them …

The text was summed up in a photo that really should win a disinformation gold medal. It really left me sickened this Christmas season. If you look on their website you can probably still find the color photo in The Nation accompanying its account of the deportation. Not a photo of the thousands of troops, police and paramilitary volunteers that “assisted” in the deportation. Nor were there photos of prison trucks, riot gear, razor wire fences etc. …

The Nation, bowing to its antecedents, gave us a chilling reprise of the National Socialist Newspaper coverage of the 1930s’ Jewish expulsions. A color photograph of the top of a truck that seems to be laden with unfortunate Hmong. In the center of the photo clutching the top of the truck’s cabin you can see a young girl smiling at the sensation of wind in her air … I am sure that you would have seen Jewish children smiling as they headed towards Auschwitz too …

This blog is directed at expats who some legal authorities claim may no longer have certain legal rights under the new Thai constitution. That the Hmong certainly didn’t have any rights has been very clearly demonstrated … Obviously there are plenty of other national and ethnic groups in a similar situation already. And, I begin to wonder when it will be our turn …

As a foreign resident of Thailand I would be less concerned with whatever might be the latest fatuity in the political struggles between locals, and much more concerned about how popular scapegoating of minority groups helps to create a fascist political consciousness.

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak out for me.

I hope I am wrong but I think that the Boxing Day pogrom against the Hmong will come to be seen as a milestone in the ongoing evolution of the Thai state towards pure fascism. Like the Germany of the 1930s, this new political direction is a very popular one with some sections of the Thai people and that seems to be reflected in their media. When I try to talk about these things with Thai people I know there is little interest and much apathy. Many people I speak to remind me very strongly of those Germans who, after the war was lost and their country defeated, tried to claim that they did not know what was going on …

Bit of a shame.

Happy New Year all you Thai-sters.