The Great Uncertainty

Can’t count the cancellations of events for this weekend anymore. Everyone’s postponing. Parties, receptions, trips, they have to wait. The Thai capital is in the grip of the red shirts without them yet being here. Parts of Bangkok will be deserted, others rather not. Speculation is the government will issue a curfew from Friday onwards, but that would show that they don’t have the ability to control the masses.

The red protest is no longer a protest. It’s a mobilization of hope for some, victory seems near, of utter discomfort for others. Maybe we have never seen as many reds united, but they’re not here to make new friends. Make no mistake. This is no protest per se. The Shinawatras have fled the country already – flown out for business as papa Thaksin’s said on Twitter -, and Newin’s in London to see his kids.

Thaksin’s foot soldiers – how many?! – are marching, some of them unsure and scared themselves, while many people’s color of the day is no longer red or yellow, but white, the color of peace, purity and cleanness – illusory concepts in current Thailand. There is so much rumor, speculation and uncertainty all around, nobody has a clue what’s going on and what will happen. If this confusion is an intention of the red shirts, then well done, you won your first battle.

Seems like the army is moving heavy gear from Kanchanaburi towards Bangkok, while the kingdom’s newspapers on Tuesday published a photo (see the Bangkok Post’s below) whose significance only Thais can truly feel and understand: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva not only briefing His Majesty the King, but with the prime minister at the same head height as the king. A very clear message.

What the Post didn’t print:

Here’s the full video:








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March 10, 2010 | Filed Under News & Media, Politics 

Comments

15 Responses to “The Great Uncertainty”

  1. Mr. V on March 10th, 2010 8:25 pm

    Wow, that is some strong propaganda. No doubt about that. Ah, and I thought this was constitutional monarchy with king above politics eh. Isn’t this exactly that, being part of daily politics, not with words but with images?

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  2. Oneditorial on March 11th, 2010 4:30 am

    I have just found out that Chalerm Yoobamrung has also left the country.

    You cannot ask for anything more exciting than this weekend, can you?

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  3. Chdarat on March 11th, 2010 9:09 am

    If you’re Mr. T’s foot soldier and you find out that all your so call leaders and the people you believe in have left the country. Would you still:

    a. Believe in them and think that they have no other choice bit leave the country for their own safety.
    b. Still go out and march as you’re fighting for a cause not for the people.
    c. Just go anyway as at least you might be on TV.
    d. I go if I get pay and food.

    Now how many people do you think fit a, b,c and d?

    Mr. V, there’s an interesting book you might want to read which the author sets out to illustrate how effective the monarchy is at politics. But you must go overseas and read as it’s banned here, it’s the king’s unauthorized biography written by Paul M. Handley. But you might have to counter his opinion and read The Revolutionary King then find a middle way which will be quite an interesting exercise.

    Then perhaps you can glob about what you think here.

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  4. StanG on March 11th, 2010 9:46 am

    In the picture Abhisit is trying to keep his head low. I think the dog conveys a message, too.

    Thanong (of The Nation) said in his blog the meeting didn’t go too well for Abhisit.

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  5. geomark on March 11th, 2010 10:32 am

    Yeah, this is the normal way the king takes a private meeting with a PM. Abhisit is leaning over, effectively bowing the whole time.

    I asked a few Thais and they have no reaction to this photo. It’s not a special show of support.

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  6. JJ on March 11th, 2010 5:25 pm

    If some of the comments here wouldn’t be ridiculous I’d prefer to stay quiet, but yes, everyone has a right to demonstrate … Gimme a break, this is not a demonstration, this is intended for mayhem or else!

    Liberalism gone mad, just amazing.

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  7. Bangkok Pundit on March 11th, 2010 5:26 pm

    Stan – So then the meeting must have gone well for Abhisit …

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  8. Chunkton on March 11th, 2010 7:41 pm

    The Puppet Masters on both sides have moved their players into position, the poor and ignorant will be killed, but the masters care not, it is just a grand game of strategy where pawns get taken but the major players are immune.

    Same as it ever was …

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  9. Global Voices Online » Thailand: The Red Shirts are coming! on March 11th, 2010 8:44 pm

    [...] receptions, and trips have been postponed because of the planned rally. From absolutelybangkok.com: Can’t count the cancellations of events [...]

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  10. Thailand: The Red Shirts are coming! :: Elites TV on March 11th, 2010 9:08 pm

    [...] receptions, and trips have been postponed because of the planned rally. From absolutelybangkok.com: Can’t count the cancellations of events [...]

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  11. crocodilexp on March 11th, 2010 9:43 pm

    Note how when Abhisit bows to the king his head is lower than Khun Tong Daeng (king’s dog). Moreover, throughout the meeting, Khun Tong Daeng remains closer to the king.

    Knowing the Thai sensibilities and care with which HM’s image is maintained, presence of Khun Tong Daeng at the meeting, and even the camera angles, are deliberate. This seems to clearly indicate contempt for the prime minister.

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  12. Oneditorial on March 12th, 2010 5:02 am

    Breaking news: Chalerm has just returned from Singapore and has proudly announced that he had never chickened out and criticized the government for invoking the Internal Security Act unnecessarily.

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  13. Hobby on March 12th, 2010 5:13 am

    “This seems to clearly indicate contempt for the prime minister.”

    Contempt because Mark’s much talked “reconciliation” has not happened, or contempt that those pesky reds have not been … yet?

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  14. Mithran on March 12th, 2010 3:37 pm

    This is starting to sound like something out of the Da Vinci Code: and the three empty chairs, a reference to the Illuminati, surely!

    The protest is aimed at damaging Abhisit’s image, so he shores up said image by getting his photo taken with HMK. Does it have to be more complicated than that?

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  15. Mr. V on March 12th, 2010 3:50 pm

    About the being on the same head level, wasn’t this an issue before with different people that they were “against the protocol” when they were sitting on the same level with king?

    But the what happened before and including the dog in the pic, as mentioned, I also felt was part of all this “message is there.” And to me, it feels like conflicting message. First on the level of dog, then on the same level. I prefer clear messages on writing instead of deciphering cryptic messages hidden in images. I guess Thais love Dan Brown Da Vinci Code etc. :)

    Yes, I am not very good in reading hidden messages, or doing cross word puzzles, I never seem to find the hidden words … :)

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