Of Foreigners As Political Bargaining Tools & The King’s Birthday Speech

The Thai crisis, holding a country hostage and bringing tens of thousands of stuck travelers to despair, is unique in many ways. The most outstanding singularity: The protesters brazen egoism due to their god-given sense of choseness: “We and nobody else.” No sincere foreign world leader would like to be seen shaking hands with a PAD-induced government, as the group’s tactics and values go hand in hand.

Looking back at other crises around the world the uprising non-state parties didn’t care much about foreigners. They let them go. They allowed foreign planes to evacuate their citizens while remaining concentrated on their political goals. Here in Thailand, foreigners are intentionally used as a political bargaining tool. Next escalation? Hijacking luxury hotels.

Only the months and years to come will show what price the kingdom will have to pay for this most ruthless and reckless of all strategies: Terrorizing the very innocent, trustful people that give the country more than they take with their stays and expenses. For millions and millions around the world though Thailand will remain a rogue state and therefore be shunned. Yet, no one here seems to really care.

Next Friday is the 81st birthday of revered HM Bhumibol Adulyadej. Like every year on his birthday, he is expected to give his birthday speech. HM’s witty, critical and sharp-tongued birthday addresses were always a pleasure to listen to. Like in 2005, when the King advised Thaksin to tolerate criticism as this comes with any high-profile position.

Next Friday could be the King’s saddest birthday – Thais would never forgive themselves – and his most important birthday speech ever.

Long Live HM The King.

+++ Listen here to the song Australian singer Kelly Newton-Wordsworth wrote in honor of His Majesty’s 80th birthday.




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November 29, 2008 | Filed Under On Our Own, Politics 

Comments

38 Responses to “Of Foreigners As Political Bargaining Tools & The King’s Birthday Speech”

  1. Of Foreigners As Political Bargaining Tools & The King’s Birthday Speech | boatknees.com on November 29th, 2008 12.41 pm

    [...] Here is the original [...]

  2. SBThailand on November 29th, 2008 12.44 pm

    This is a joke right? It has to be a joke at this point in the conflict.

    http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=132369

    PAD has made it very clear that they are not going to negotiate with anyone. Why are we continuing to beat our heads against the door expecting a different result?

    Police/Government: Soft Measures (ie negotiate) PAD: We will fight to the death! Police/Government: Please talk to us? PAD: We will not negotiate! Police/Government: Please negotiate …

    It’s like living in the movie Ground Hog Day!

  3. ricefields on November 29th, 2008 3.44 pm

    That would be the Kelly Newton-Wordsworth who entertained the crowd at the illegally occupied Government House, would it?

    Google it for yourself, or go straight to this very critical blog entry:

    http://bkkmindscape.blogspot.com/2008/09/pad-protest-kelly-newton-wordsworth.html

    You can also find references on pro-PAD websites.

  4. bosunj on November 29th, 2008 3.49 pm

    Many evacuation flights are being conducted daily from U-Tapao. Japan, Gulf States, Singapore, China, Macao and many others have sent multiple evacuation flights to bring back their citizens.

    Other countries, those who embrace the Extremist-Capitalist IGMFU model are leaving their citizens to twist in the wind and posting “displeasure” on their State web sites.

    One wonders about these tourists “that give the country more than they take with their stays and expenses” who don’t have enough money to get themselves somewhere where they can get on a plane? If they’re that broke why are they here in the first place?

    One wonders why, as they are so much better than these whom they call “terrorists” they can’t figure out how to get on a train to Malaysia, a bus Laos or Cambodia or perhaps charter a van?

    International travel is inherently different than traveling from Shreveport to Las Vegas. Those that don’t know that should stay home.

  5. SBThailand on November 29th, 2008 6.30 pm

    Well bosunj, maybe you should write a book and ed-u-ma-cate the rest of the world on how to travel and budget in case of terrorist take-over of an international airport?

    Um huh, those countries and Thai Air that have expressed their inability to take care of the passengers from economy, but are more than happy to accomadate the first/business class passengers.

    Shreveport to Las Vegas … that was actually a good one.

  6. bosunj on November 29th, 2008 8.35 pm

    One who does not have multiple contingencies preconfigured for each trip written down in their dayplanner with addresses, phone numbers and maps in the the language of the country traveled to when they travel anywhere is at once foolish, lazy and irresponsible. Period.

    While it is truly awful that many died in Mumbai for instance, they were likely partly responsible for their fate by assuming that their expensive lodging and privileged lifestyles insulated them from the big bad world. At a minimum did they read the fire escape details on the inside of their door or in their desk drawer hotel guide? Did they then walk the route to familiarize themselves? Did they explore other possible routes of escape? Did they make an effort to engage a hotel staff member for further possibilities using areas and passages not normally used by guests that are often much more efficient and may not be known to attackers?

    The same tools can be used to escape from people who want to kill you.

    Did they have in their kit at minimum a one-time use fire hood? Did they educate themselves how to use it? Did they learn how to check a door to find out whether there is a fire in the passageway or room on the other side?

    If one does not want to be trapped by circumstances they cannot control they must accept responsibility for themselves and prepare for unpleasant circumstances that may confront them.

    You have done that, haven’t you?

    BTW, PAD are not terrorists no matter how much you use that word.

    It’s all a matter of perspective. King George considered those who signed the American Declaration of Independence to be terrorists. Your history books exalt them as patriots.

    Chok dee

  7. SBThailand on November 29th, 2008 11.36 pm

    As a matter of fact, yes I do familarize myself with my surroundings, just in case, when I am anywhere new. I think your example is a bit extreme, but to each his own paranoia.

    As for the people in Mumbai, what a rude thing to assume about people out for dinner, at a place of worship, catching a train, at the hospital, and just generally going about their lives. You ASSume that everyone goes around with a chip on their shoulder linked to their pocketbook.

    As for the PAD being terrorist, I say right back at you. No matter how many times you wish they weren’t, taking over government buildings, brainwashing people, hiding behind old ladies/men/children, and shutting down two airports make them terrorist. They are armed, attack law enforcement, and they have set up a perimeter of barbed wire. They are terrorist in any country including this one. So if Hamas was to wear yellow shirts and wave clappers, they become peaceful protesters in spite of the guns, bombs, etc?

    Again with the American Revolution. Such a obvious shot meant to provoke……. Your personal issues with America are certainly showing!

  8. Krid on November 30th, 2008 1.23 am

    @bosunj: The sickening twisted logic of terrorism apologism rears its ugly head in your comment.
    I leave it to you to advise every tourist to Thailand to bring their rubber dingy so they can row themselves and their families back home.

  9. Chris on November 30th, 2008 2.24 am

    Interesting take on international tourism, my dear Bosunj.

    Perhaps TAT should include a few survival paragraphs in their brochures for those Koreans, Chinese, Japanese and Europeans who are so gullible as to expect a carefree 14 days in the Land of Smiles for their hard-earned money.

  10. Baba Booey on November 30th, 2008 11.18 am

    Dear wiseguy bosunj

    How many people in the world do you think have the means to pay full fare for a family of 4? If only people wealthy enough to do so were to travel, there would be few tourists in Thailand.

    You seem to be as compassionate as the thugs that hijacked the airports.

  11. Wenthworth on November 30th, 2008 1.36 pm

    bosunj

    You make a few valid points amongst some deranged ones. Some people revert to childhood when traveling and should stay at home. If you can’t deal with changed circumstances stay at home.

  12. Judy on November 30th, 2008 2.09 pm

    I’m beginning to think that Thaksin is funding this whole fiasco and manipulating his way into power by making people believe he is, after all, the good guy and he can save the country.

  13. SBThailand on November 30th, 2008 2.30 pm

    What is really sad is that for most people, a trip to Thailand is the “trip of a lifetime” which they have probably been looking forward to and saving money for, for a long time. Now their “trip of a lifetime” has become a nightmare.

    Those of us who live here tend to forget that.

  14. SBThailand on November 30th, 2008 2.32 pm

    Judy, I have considered the same thing several times in the last few days. Create a crisis and ride in on the white horse …

    He was friends at one point with one of the leaders, right?

  15. Eduardo in Bangkok on November 30th, 2008 3.21 pm

    As an (near and soon fading) PAD supporter I fully understand the problems the PAD are currently creating and feel very bad about it.

    And especially as the PPP (Thaksins political party he manages from Dubai) will be most likely anyway dissolved next week, I don’t understand why they had to take over the airports now during this week, prior this court decision which will most likely mean a resignation (PAD goal) of our current PM Somchai?

    Why not wait until next week for the courts verdict? Can any pro-PAD explain or understand?

    On the other hand, I also don’t understand why apparently most Pro-Thaksin people (also PAD tend to use force, but much lesser and more on self-defence) also currently use weapons of war and send nearly daily grenades etc. towards elderly women and other human beings on various locations? And therefore (60-80% of the demonstrators are women!) kill and injure so many people?!

    So back to a little history and background regarding the source of this problem. Found today a very interesting link on another forum:

    http://www.hrw.org/en/search/apachesolr_search/thaksin

    Please read if you have time. I don’t know if the “Human Rights Watch – claims/warnings” concerning Thaksin are still up to date. But I never read any clarification on his side. Only only claims to do good for the country!

    Very one-sided indeed currently Mr. Thaksin.

    I think many people can never forget their hardship during his rough and shear brutal handling of local politics & matters, which also lead to many thousands of dead people here.

    Up to today his followers are creating similar problems nowadays. Isn’t it time Mr. Thaksin to retire sincerely from Thai politics and give Thailand the peace it has certainly deserved?

    ——

    Bangkok Dan on another note, I don’t understand why you write (tweet) today:

    “And Thai people just keep quiet. Thank you very much”

    Whatever you mean (most likely you refer to big mouth politicians + PAD leaders only)? Or I’m not sure if you intend to make some more Thai friends here online or not?

    2 days ago, you also spoke not so polite about a Thai Military Officer who took his time, to gave you some information and now this?

    Can you clarify?

  16. BangkokDan on November 30th, 2008 3.36 pm

    Eduardo I can’t recall being disrespectful. On the contrary. Maybe you’re too thin-skinned and mistook a question asked for an insult taken. I remain on best terms with mentioned security officer.

    And yes, but this is personal: I am utterly disappointed with the response of Thais to this crisis. Most don’t even care because they’d never use the airport anyway. See? A country can somehow exist even without a government and main international airport.

    But that happens when you created a strictly hierarchical society where nobody is able anymore to take a decision without fear of being reprimanded.

    Thailand’s the proof that somehow you can just muddle on. Just don’t mind those strangers, as “we’re Thai!”

    BangkokDan

  17. SBThailand on November 30th, 2008 5.33 pm

    You know Eduardo, Thaksin was quiet until the PAD started to use him to gain power. That’s right, I said it. The PAD is just using Thaksin to get what they want – POWER. They can’t win in an election, so they don’t run. True reform means that you are an honest person willing to do the work and campaign for a seat. Democrats didn’t like the elections, so they sat out. Boy … that’ll show ‘em. Then we have a coup. International community says, “well, we don’t like it, but we will let it slide this time.” Then a sham of a constution is passed with the excuse that “it can always be ammended later.” New elections held and determined to be fair. PAD still doesn’t like the outcome, but … and here is the biggy … THEY DON’T RUN NOR HAVE A POLITICAL PLATFORM as an alternative.

    This is all a power grab, but this time if there is a coup, don’t expect the international community to sit by and continue business as usual. I predict an extraordinary amount of suffering for this beautiful country in the near future.

  18. Krid on November 30th, 2008 7.29 pm

    @Judy: I haven’t heard the “It’s all Thaksin’s fault” meme for about five days now. It was about time.

    @Eduardo: If the coup/PAD was about Thaksin’s despicable killer ways, why was there never a trial of authorities, Thaksin, military, police, rangers? You know why, because the drug war was openly endorsed by not only Thaksin but by 95% of the “educated” “elites” and … oh wait, we all have to be hush-hush and can’t spell out the truth. The sophistry that this is elites/urban/rich vs. Thaksin/rural/poor is beginning to make me ill. Everybody and the world is learning fast who the puppeteers really are.

  19. twitter.com/bangkok on November 30th, 2008 11.04 pm

    “Terrorizing the very innocent, trustful people that give the country more than they take with their stays and expenses.”

    Lol – give the country more than they take? You raised a lot of valid points, and I want to respect you for that. Though you might rethink that. No one (except for NGO volunteers) who travels Thailand does so for “unselfish reasons” (otherwise they’d be traveling Sierra Leone). Fact is, many people find that in Thailand you get the best travel experience for the money you spend. Saying that these people “give the country more than they take” just isn’t very balanced.

    Apart of that … yes, you’re right. It’s sad and frustrating to see that Thailand’s elite is willing to sacrifice the future of the country just for greed of power.

  20. BangkokDan on December 1st, 2008 8.05 am

    twitter bangkok I most certainly agree with you, but this is not the time for in-depth studies on the sociological impact of tourism.

    It’s simple: Foreigners are individuals with no basic rights here and forcefully victimized. Worst of it: The elite doesn’t care. Not one sorry from above so far.

    Maybe a creeping Libanonization is not too off the cards any longer.

    BangkokDan

  21. JJ on December 1st, 2008 10.57 am

    Have you been sleeping the past few years Eduardo? What a hopeless romantic, your thinking is so typical of the infantile and violent approaches presented by a shrinking minority here.

    You really don’t seem to have a clue of the broader picture developing. People like you make such dangerous movements like the PAD possible.

  22. Dave on December 1st, 2008 3.33 pm

    The term “Terrorist” is thrown about too easily and this is another example of that. One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist may be cliche, but it’s true.

    International law recognizes the right of the occupied to armed resistance. And Nelson Mandela amongst many others have been labelled terorists over the years. What is the limit to resistance to an illegitimate government? Thaksin lost his legitimacy when he put himself before the country and continues to manipulate the country for his own gains. The airport occupation started to block the amnesty that Somchai was trying to pass. So while the tag of ‘terrorists’ may be acceptable, really the term has lost almost all of it’s meaning when it can be thrown about so easily …

  23. BangkokDan on December 1st, 2008 3.45 pm

    What is a terrorist act?

    Bangkok Pundit has this no-nonsense explainer based on Thailand’s Criminal Code.

    I think that puts that discussion to rest.

    BangkokDan

  24. Judy on December 1st, 2008 4.27 pm

    @ SB
    You don’t think that Thaksin is making back-handed payment to the PAD to do what they’re doing? Hang on, is this about tourists or is it about the very sad, naive, ignorant and manipulated Thais?

    @ Eduardo
    You said “If the coup/PAD was about Thaksin’s despicable killer ways, why was there never a trial of authorities, Thaksin, military, police, rangers?” Because Thaksin has money to manipulate, and the people he manipulates don’t have money OR ENOUGH OF IT.

    @ Bosunj
    Hang on, is this about tourists or is it about the very sad, naive, ignorant and manipulated Thais? And if you need to talk about what is happening in India, go to the Indian forum – perhaps you need to realize that each country has their own way of (mis)management.

    Thais are notorious for not making waves. The “system” does not allow oppostion – ie. no democracy. Also they know that because of corruption a just system does not operate – hence the police standing off from the airport.

  25. bosunj on December 1st, 2008 6.48 pm

    I am waiting for the day when just enough Americans develop the same back bone that PAD has and finally stand up to the corrupt scum that infect DC and Wall Street. The extremist -capitalist idea that nothing matters more than profit and the government is nothing more than a tool of business must be extinguished. That is the day I will join the American version of PAD!

  26. Krid on December 1st, 2008 6.58 pm

    @Judy: Maybe you’re right about Thaksin paying off the judiciary, a rotten and corrupt institution that the Thaksin-opponents pin so much of their legitimacy on. However, the real puppet masters of Thailand have even more money than Thaksin (according to recent reports) and they pay off not only the courts …

  27. SBThailand on December 1st, 2008 7.29 pm

    Judy, my opinion is that the PAD is dependent on Thaksin and now, Thaksin is dependent on the PAD. Without one, you don’t have the other. Kind of like Jesse Jackson and the KKK in America are interdependent on one another. It is all about POWER and who has it/who wants it. If (God forbid) Thaksin/PPP/etc. were really gone tomorrow, what new cause would the PAD take up to maintain their newly acquired power? If Thaksin and PAD were actually in this together, I wouldn’t be surprised.

    Oh and Singapore & Cambodia are laughing their azzes off at Thailand right now. That ought to be reason enough to end this nonsense!

  28. petrushka on December 1st, 2008 11.01 pm

    Thailand back on the world map, finally; now we can expect an enourmous class action suit against the Thai government and the PAD for uncalculable damage they have submitted unsuspecting visitors to. Not to mntion their own export and tourism business, amongst the most obvious ones that come to mind. Finally the middle class Thai people have shown their true skin. Finally the world can see for themselves, and they won’t look at me in disbelief anymore …

  29. cosmos on December 2nd, 2008 12.29 am

    Noam Chomsky explains it most clearly: “It’s very simple. If they do it, it’s terrorism. If we do it, it’s counter-terrorism.”

    Below are interesting readings:

    “The United States is a Leading Terrorist State”

    Interview with Noam Chomsky

    http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/200111–02.htm

    Excerpt of another interview here:

    http://www.serendipity.li/wot/us_terr_st.htm

  30. Dave on December 2nd, 2008 8.20 am

    Nice Cosmos. Of course any state labels their opponents as terrorists. The FBI definition of terrorism could easily include any nation depending on perspective …

    The FBI defines terrorism as:

    The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a Government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

    This includes the PAD, but also the Somchai government and every American administration ever I would imagine …

  31. SBThailand on December 2nd, 2008 9.17 am

    Please stop with all the U.S. bashing! If you want to bash the US, then start your own blog. This is about the PAD and their current occupation of the airport.

    bosunj, feel free to get on a bus gus (too bad PAD terrorist shut down the airport), head to the States and start your own movement. BTW, since you hate the U.S. so much, have you given up that almighty American passport of yours? Or are some things from the American government worth a damn?

  32. Dave on December 2nd, 2008 12.25 pm

    PAD have to be discussed in a wider context to decide on their legitimacy as the issue of terrorism, and when it is appropriate to use it, transcends national borders or simplistic definitions.

    The discussion is based around the legitimate use of “terror” as a weapon of the weak and, unfortunately, as the dominant hegemon, America has featured in many of what could be considered terrorist activities, either as perpetrator or victim.

    SB if you want a broad discussion on this (which I hope you do as it’s an interesting issue that requires great analysis) then America will have to feature, as would apartheid S.Africa, The I.R.A, French/American revolutionaries e.t.c.

    Also, one doesn’t have to denounce their nationality due to disagreements with government/foreign policy. The tone of this is actually quite totalitarian, which I hope is a misreading of the situation by me.

  33. SBThailand on December 2nd, 2008 2.04 pm

    Actually Dave, if you follow bosunj’s posts, you would understand my attitude towards him. I am not particularly fond of everything about America or Americans, but I am intelligent enough not of condemn the entire nation.

    And I am sorry, but a broad discussion is not necessary to classify PAD’s armed seizure of the airport as terrorism. A broad discussion is not necessary when we call anyone who seizes an aircraft a terrorist, so why do you think it is necessary now? It is very obvious that the PAD has ceased being an agent of change and has morphed into a terror organization. If you don’t believe me, ask all the people that have been beaten up, kept hostage in Thailand, or the police officers that came under fire the other day.

  34. Dave on December 2nd, 2008 2.56 pm

    I accept the definition of PAD as terrorists, but as I said, the term is loose. Is a state-supported army considered terrorist? What about UDD? What about the army guy who was implicated in throwing grenades?

    What is the limit that an organization can go to in order to bring about change?

    I don’t support PAD as their agenda is corporate/military, although I do sympathize with their desire to rid the country of Thaksin. Power structures shape society, the PAD movement is just another example of traditional power structures flexing their muscles. The answers to the problems in Thailand though will not be solved any time soon unfortunately. :(

  35. SBThailand on December 2nd, 2008 4.03 pm

    No argument about the term being loose, but I think it is fairly easy to decide if something is a terrorist act or not. A state-supported army, I would normally say no, but I guess that depends on which side of the army you are on. Guy throwing grenades-seems to be a run of the mill criminal, but he could qualify as a terrorist. As an average citizen, I am more “terrorized” by everyday crime (in U.S.) than any “terrorist” activities. I think calling someone or something a terrorist implies a organizational belief system and longivity of activities rather than a one-time crime spree.

    When you start to impede my right to move around freely, we have a problem. I don’t think there is a limit per se, but at some point, as a group, you have crossed the line. PAD has definately crossed that line. I agree, Thailand’s problems will not be solved anytime soon and I am certain it will be much worse before it can get any better.

  36. bosunj on December 2nd, 2008 4.04 pm

    @Dave: A wider discussion is in order and has been for some time. The faux news adherents herein don’t want that though as it rocks their propagandized view of the planet. Click on my user name to go to my site. Send me an email from there. Dan has a good blog but it’s about Thailand.

    As for SBThailand, the state she’s from is dominated by people with an attitude like hers. Unfortunately it is one I know all to well as I had the misfortune of doing crew changes there for several years while I was building sea time to advance my license. Lousyana is a place where dissent is not only not tolerated it is savagely attacked. And, they’re darn proud of it!

  37. bosunj on December 2nd, 2008 5.03 pm

    Bangkok Pundit and AFP are reporting PAD has announced that flights can resume from both airports immediately.

  38. Judy on December 4th, 2008 10.14 pm

    So news is out that come Friday, again PAD will close the airport because the current government is still governing the country.

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