With the blockade of Bangkok now just ten days away an organization called the Network of Thais Overseas has produced a video to put forward the views of the protesters.
They may feel they are losing the propaganda war judging by criticisms of the western media. But they may be looking on the pessimistic side there. Here they try to explain democracy.
The film is concise and although some figures have been exaggerated it paints a grim view of what the Shinawatra regimes have really been up to.
I personally love the bit when it came to the sale of Shin Corp. Not even an attempt at transparency.
My view? I am not sold on the leaders of either side. But the Thais certainly have a right to demonstrate and have justified grievances. I do however believe that masses demonstrating in Bangkok and the masses in the countryside have more in common with each other than they are led to believe.
What do the other foreign correspondents think of it? – I guess we’ll hear soon enough.
The dated picture of Thaksin Shinawatra, who most people believe is running the country by Skype, depicted as Adolf Hitler does not of course illustrate my views.
Just shows how high feelings can get, or have got.
For balance here on the right is Abhisit Vejjajiva similarly portrayed.
Actually this seems a common trait in Asia, where it seems, not a lot of people really know who Adolf Hitler was.
For instance Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also been promoted as Adolf Hitler.
Of course the first thing that occurs to me is – Don’t they have their own little Hitlers, like Pol Pot, Saloth Sar, Ne Win, Hun Sen, surely Japan must have one or two. Were they just good guys who built the Death Railway?
Nope I don’t think Asian history points up their bad guys.
Actually now Shinzo Abe is viewed by the Chinese Government as the Voldemort of Asia – See what I mean – a British creation by J.K. Rowlings.
Use your own villains!
Enjoy.
great video Andrew, but where did they get their attendance figures from? Pattaya Times??
6 Million people LOL!!!
Well the Thaksin sign says คนเนรคุณ which translates to 'ungrateful person' but it has the deeper meaning of someone who has betrayed the country. Somebody who is only out for themselves and doesn't give a toss or have any real love for the country.
People have short memories, I remember when he was making his run into politics. Everyone was saying he would be good as he was so rich he wouldn't need to be corrupt! He was given the green light when he was let off the charges of stashing all that dosh in his servants and drivers names.
My Thai niece summed it up very nicely. "Everybody in Thailand wants to get rich, once rich nobody cares how you made it, your rich now so everybody will respect you"
A Thai translation would be needed, sending it upcountry is a must.
I could have done without the Star Wars style music.
Good that they have published something to counter the simplistic view of many of the Western media but this seems to be overly simplistic also, no mention of what Suthep has got up to in the past, no concrete discussions as to what will happen if he gets his way.
With no offence intended, many country people are very unsophisticated. Asking them to understand corruption through policy, insider trading, share ramping and tax evasion is not easy. Thaksin like most of the Chinese/Thai billionaires got rich through a monopoly, his in telecommunications.
He entered politics to stifle competition and keep competitors form sharing in the gold mine that was mobile phones. We can remember how expensive they were and how expensive the calls were when they first arrived in Thailand. Thaksin was ahead of the pack and needed political clout to keep his monopoly.
Thaksin is an addict but his addiction is to money and power. Both go hand in glove and society doesn't recognise this as a form of mental imbalance. Most see it as being industrious and goal orientated rather than just plain greedy and power mad. There is a fine line between the former and latter.
I feel sorry for the red shirts in the North East if they actually think Thaksin gives a toss about them. He is just smart enough to know that is where the bulk of the votes are and by pretending to care about the people there. He knows he will always be able to buy their support.
The Democrats are in dire need some political viagra, when given a chance they do nothing and fall back into old school politics as well. Abhisit seems reasonably sincere but he needs a bit of mongrel in him if he is to be a real leader and take on some of Thaksin's cronies like Chalerm.
Suthep is an interesting character, people know he is a complete scallywag but say at least he loves King and country. In the South they see Thaksin claim to be Thai but think his allegiances are in China, Hong Kong and Singapore.
All the signs depicting Thaksin say he is 'ungrateful,' 'disloyal,' or a 'dictator.' His own actions reveal that this is all true. Thailand has given him and his family it's vast fortune, he never seems to acknowledge that. I'm told by people who know him he can be very generous and kind but his big weakness is his inability to accept any defeat or admit he can do wrong.
Unfortunately I think he'd rather see Thailand in ruins than give up his grip on power.
I once spoke to a young Bangkok lawyer from Ayutthaya about the sale of Shincorp. He said he was angry at first but then realised that its exactly the same tactic used by the old (yellow) gaurd that it was pure hypocrisy to go after Thaksin for that.
He also confessed that all his money went through his mother's bank account to avoid the taxman!
As the French say…plus ca change…