PAD A Cult?!
I’m all but a Samak-skeptic, but in today’s weekly “Talk Samak Style” program on NBT the premier raised a topic I’ve blogged on several times over the past days: Samak compared the People’s Alliance for Democracy to a cult.
Samak compared the PAD to the Branch Davidian cult in Waco Texas and a cult in Japan whose members were deceived to commit suicides – using its ASTV to launch its propaganda to deceive the people, reported The Nation.
He’s not too off the mark, even though any educated PAD adherer fighting for purely secular issues will laugh off the comparison. The PAD consists of a great many commendable thinkers and independent persons. But has already crossed an important threshold.
Sectarian peer pressure, repetitive indoctrination and the PAD’s claim of chosenness combined with the backbone of the movement over at Government House, the Buddhist Santi Asoke sect and the Dharma Army, have given the PAD a para-religious dimension.
Over at Govt House we’ve heard calls for a “martyrdom for democracy” and you have to admire the protesters for their perseverance. Over a hundred days under the sun, never minding the rain and all too familiar speeches. That’s hardly possible without the absolute dependence on leaders (just to mention the human shields) and a certain belief in miracles.
A variety of black and white magic rituals and black magic spells are commonly used by Thai politicians and wizards – just to mention black offerings to Phra Rahu, the mythical god of darkness
Anyone aware of rituals practiced over at Govt House?
Samak must read absolutelybangkok!
I start worrying somebody could take me for an avid Samak supporter.
Since the days Samak was Bangkok governor and issued directives that Loy Kratong floats should be made out of plastic foam I couldn’t take one word of the man serious anymore.
Then his public support for Thaksin and forced disappearance from the TV screens – only to become prime minister.
Today, and I say this with regret, he’s clearly the lesser of many evils.
BangkokDan
I just wonder, why and where all these heroes of democracy get their information from (including BBC J. Head etc.)?
Thaksin was the worst enemy of democracy and never made a secret out of out during his sheer 100% own dictatorship he was conducting during his six years time in office, controlling and demanding each political step by his own ideas and cronies pockets etc. Just a short 2 years now after the coup, suddenly everyone seams to have this forgotten now. Why?
Isn’t it absolutely clear that Thakin’s proxies are trying to do the same as he did:
Rob the country (by hiding behind short-minded economically, stupid even dangerous no functioning populist policies), and only themselves concentrating on mega projects, and cash in on huge commissions (illegal and under the table as just one big Japanese company recently confirmed), and also of course, securing highly paid management jobs in privatized companies Thaksin took to the stock market?
Why can’t you people understand that the PAD is right in demanding Samak’s resignation. He’s just a puppet and doing all what the people from his party = TRT = PPP = Thaksin and Newin and co are saying and trying to do: “Rob the country and trying to hide their own past illegal wrong doings and actions!”
Really not a democratic legal system (yes the elections are, but the rest is dictatorship) what we have here in Thailand, isn’t it?
Shame on those shortminded wanna-be-journalist and bloggers, who just take names and titles for the rule of law (democratically elected government here anyone? really?), instead of seeing the truth what is really going on here in Thailand and riding on the wave of shortminded/timed journalism and politics.
PS: I admit the one-day take over off NBT and some demands of the PAD are a bit over and uncoordinated. But the main claim: That we’re still having a Thaksinized full corrupt government is so true.
“rubbish” just sounds better with two “b’s” …
Well, if the PAD’s no cult, then you can safely call it a hate group.
All we’re trying to say ASR is that the PAD is setting quite dangerous precedents. Accusing the vicious cycle of Thailand’s democracy while showing utter disrespect for the rule of law.
If Chamlong, Sondhi & Co. would turn themselves in and fight their cause by legal means, well, it wouldn’t mean the end of their movement, would it, and set an encouraging precedent.
It all comes down to this simple fact: PAD is a misnomer. It neither represents democracy nor the people.
Read, among other voices, the Post’s recent PostBag: “Ordinary Thais have little sympathy for PAD” and “We have to accept the spirit of democracy” – and I’m quoting:
BangkokDan
Editor’s mood swings: Today the Bangkok Post published many letters that would contradict their own editorial stance on the current political standoff. But at least they publish other people’s letters … unlike the other national rag …
http://www.bangkokpost.com/080908_News/08Sep2008_news23.php
On open letter from a very bored Thai to Sondhi and Chamlong:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/190908_News/19Sep2008_news95.php
PAD not a cult?
(Source: The Nation; “Sondhi Limthongkul, a co-leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, blesses PAD supporters during a rite inside the Government House.”)
BangkokDan
Well, I was wondering just that, after reading about PAD leader’s plans for bringing Thailand into the 21st century. Maybe it’s the same reference?
See: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/topstory/read.php?newsid=30087963
Media man becomes the medium:
With all due respect to the well known powers of the City Shrine and the whole pantheon of deities that make this country so fascinating, there is now an opportunity for the disenfranchised to seek protection from these powerful entities on their own terms. These deities are not PAD symbols, nor are they predisposed to offer any special protection or guidance to PAD politics, their talismans or their racist contempt for Khmer sacred objects. These objects are not to be misconstrued as personal favourers based on any particular ritual. What we are seeing is a further obfuscating manipulation by deceptive people who have little respect for the underclasses, or any media related object that can be manipulated at will for their own advancement.
[...] by federal agents in Waco, Texas, in 1993. "Everybody believes without reason."Absolutely Bangkok blogs on Samak's statement:He’s not too off the mark, even though any educated PAD adherer fighting [...]
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