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BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTING!
- Thread starter ahleebabasingaporethief
- Start date
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
Soldiers shield themselves from rocks thrown by Red Shirt supporters of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra at a television satellite center on April 09, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Red Shirt supporters of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra throw rocks at soldiers at a television satellite center on April 09, 2010 in Bangkok,Thailand
Thai soldiers protect themselves from stones thrown by anti-government protesters in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Wason Waniichakorn)
A press photographer takes photos of an anti-government protester who was injured after Thai soldiers fired tear gas at the Thaicom teleport center in Pathum Thani province, north of Bangkok, on Friday April 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Soldiers shield themselves from rocks thrown by Red Shirt supporters of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra at a television satellite center on April 09, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Red Shirt supporters of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra throw rocks at soldiers at a television satellite center on April 09, 2010 in Bangkok,Thailand
Thai soldiers protect themselves from stones thrown by anti-government protesters in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Wason Waniichakorn)
A press photographer takes photos of an anti-government protester who was injured after Thai soldiers fired tear gas at the Thaicom teleport center in Pathum Thani province, north of Bangkok, on Friday April 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
Protesters and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra celebrate after they seized the Thaicom satellite station in Pathum Thani province, Thailand Friday, April 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
Thai soldiers are greeted by protesters and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as they retreat from the Thaicom satellite station when protesters stormed the station in a demonstration in Pathum Thani province, north of Bangkok, on Friday April 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
Protesters and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra celebrate after they seized the Thaicom satellite station in Pathum Thani province, Thailand Friday, April 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
Thai soldiers are greeted by protesters and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as they retreat from the Thaicom satellite station when protesters stormed the station in a demonstration in Pathum Thani province, north of Bangkok, on Friday April 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
Abhisit’s Dictatorial Face Revealed
Pravit Rojanaphruk
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva addressed the nation on television on Thursday evening, a day after the state of emergency was declared, to defend the government’s censorships of red-shirt media by stating that by doing so he has succeeded somewhat in stopping “the spread” of “distorted information”, and is “in expectation that there will be a gradual reduction of hatred”.
Abhisit also added that “we should be able to coexist although we do have differing opinions.”
Those words made a mockery of the prime minister himself because the shutting down of red-shirt media such as People Channel Television (PTV), 36 websites including those sympathetic to red shirts such as prachatai.com online newspaper, along with those critical of the monarchy institution such as Fah Diew Kan or www.sameskybooks.org and www.weareallhuman.net, would only cause more hatred towards Abhisit and the old ruling elite.
What is it with Abhisit in sweet talking about coexisting with “differing opinion” while actively censoring dissent media at the same time? Is this a bad joke? Does the prime minister want to try a shameless and impossible feat of giving lip service to respecting “differing opinion” in society while censoring opposition media as the same time?
What Abhisit has succeeded in doing is making himself look like a dictator and he is doing a fine job at that, especially from the point of view of people who have differing opinions from Abhisit.
By censoring opposition media, Abhisit has demonstrated that he thinks people, especially red shirts, are stupid and vulnerable to ‘propaganda’ generated by red-shirt media and the like. Such patronizing attitude by Abhisit was earlier revealed when mainstream media recently reported that he thinks that red shirts are “victims” of ousted and convicted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra whom red shirts supports. Apparently, the prime minister doesn’t believe that people, especially red shirts, can think for themselves and able to decide whether what they see, hear, or read is true or false, believable or not. Abhisit merely wants to feed them with the “right” and “appropriate” set of information – as if there is ever such consensus set of view and information in any society.
It is foolish of Abhisit to think that red-shirts, without access to opposition media due to censorships, will simply re-subscribe to state-controlled media or majority of the mainstream media which is overwhelmingly biased against red shirts and generally regards the poor and less educated people as mere pawn in the political struggle without any agency. The fact is, most red shirts have long ceased to trust mainstream and state media due to their partial reports and patronizing commentaries and editorials. The trust in these media is long gone since in 2006 coup and unlikely to be restored anytime soon, if ever. In fact, red shirts have expressed hatred towards many mainstream newspapers, radio and television stations.
Not genuinely accept differing views and what one regards as “distorted information” is a true hallmark of dictatorship. If Abhisit truly respects diversity of views, which includes the right to be “dis-informed” by others and the right to decide by themselves whether the information is truly distorted or not, then there’s absolutely no need whatsoever for the prime minister to censor any media, be it red, yellow or whatever.
What’s more, Abhisit himself had never called for the censorship of yellow-shirt ASTV television or ASTV-Manager Daily Newspaper even though the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) used it as an instrument to facilitate the seizure of Suvarnabhumi International Airport or publicise the occupation of Government House in 2008. (Back then, this writer wrote an article on The Nation newspaper, defending the right of ASTV to freely disseminate or “distort” information).
Now that Abhisit is busy censoring red-shirt media, he is committing a double-standard faux pas for he failed to see that many anti-red shirt media, be it state-controlled or privately owned, is currently engaged in a frenzy of anti-red-shirt campaign, throwing all kinds of insults and sneers at them.
Given the situation, freedom-loving citizens must peacefully resist such shameless and abusive use of power under emergency decree in order to achieve a censored society. Abhisit’s true face has been revealed, and no less by himself, as a dictator who wishes to control what people read, watch, listen and think.
This is what Abhisit and his clique think of the Redshirts : Rural Buffaloes.
Abhisit’s Dictatorial Face Revealed
Pravit Rojanaphruk
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva addressed the nation on television on Thursday evening, a day after the state of emergency was declared, to defend the government’s censorships of red-shirt media by stating that by doing so he has succeeded somewhat in stopping “the spread” of “distorted information”, and is “in expectation that there will be a gradual reduction of hatred”.
Abhisit also added that “we should be able to coexist although we do have differing opinions.”
Those words made a mockery of the prime minister himself because the shutting down of red-shirt media such as People Channel Television (PTV), 36 websites including those sympathetic to red shirts such as prachatai.com online newspaper, along with those critical of the monarchy institution such as Fah Diew Kan or www.sameskybooks.org and www.weareallhuman.net, would only cause more hatred towards Abhisit and the old ruling elite.
What is it with Abhisit in sweet talking about coexisting with “differing opinion” while actively censoring dissent media at the same time? Is this a bad joke? Does the prime minister want to try a shameless and impossible feat of giving lip service to respecting “differing opinion” in society while censoring opposition media as the same time?
What Abhisit has succeeded in doing is making himself look like a dictator and he is doing a fine job at that, especially from the point of view of people who have differing opinions from Abhisit.
By censoring opposition media, Abhisit has demonstrated that he thinks people, especially red shirts, are stupid and vulnerable to ‘propaganda’ generated by red-shirt media and the like. Such patronizing attitude by Abhisit was earlier revealed when mainstream media recently reported that he thinks that red shirts are “victims” of ousted and convicted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra whom red shirts supports. Apparently, the prime minister doesn’t believe that people, especially red shirts, can think for themselves and able to decide whether what they see, hear, or read is true or false, believable or not. Abhisit merely wants to feed them with the “right” and “appropriate” set of information – as if there is ever such consensus set of view and information in any society.
It is foolish of Abhisit to think that red-shirts, without access to opposition media due to censorships, will simply re-subscribe to state-controlled media or majority of the mainstream media which is overwhelmingly biased against red shirts and generally regards the poor and less educated people as mere pawn in the political struggle without any agency. The fact is, most red shirts have long ceased to trust mainstream and state media due to their partial reports and patronizing commentaries and editorials. The trust in these media is long gone since in 2006 coup and unlikely to be restored anytime soon, if ever. In fact, red shirts have expressed hatred towards many mainstream newspapers, radio and television stations.
Not genuinely accept differing views and what one regards as “distorted information” is a true hallmark of dictatorship. If Abhisit truly respects diversity of views, which includes the right to be “dis-informed” by others and the right to decide by themselves whether the information is truly distorted or not, then there’s absolutely no need whatsoever for the prime minister to censor any media, be it red, yellow or whatever.
What’s more, Abhisit himself had never called for the censorship of yellow-shirt ASTV television or ASTV-Manager Daily Newspaper even though the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) used it as an instrument to facilitate the seizure of Suvarnabhumi International Airport or publicise the occupation of Government House in 2008. (Back then, this writer wrote an article on The Nation newspaper, defending the right of ASTV to freely disseminate or “distort” information).
Now that Abhisit is busy censoring red-shirt media, he is committing a double-standard faux pas for he failed to see that many anti-red shirt media, be it state-controlled or privately owned, is currently engaged in a frenzy of anti-red-shirt campaign, throwing all kinds of insults and sneers at them.
Given the situation, freedom-loving citizens must peacefully resist such shameless and abusive use of power under emergency decree in order to achieve a censored society. Abhisit’s true face has been revealed, and no less by himself, as a dictator who wishes to control what people read, watch, listen and think.
This is what Abhisit and his clique think of the Redshirts : Rural Buffaloes.
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
Last night News reported Thaksin in Dubai Hospital ICU following relapse of Prostate Cancer ... seems he lost consciousness while undergoing chemo treatment - had to be rushed to ICU ....
Beloved Thai King, where are you when your people need you most ?
Last night News reported Thaksin in Dubai Hospital ICU following relapse of Prostate Cancer ... seems he lost consciousness while undergoing chemo treatment - had to be rushed to ICU ....
Beloved Thai King, where are you when your people need you most ?
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
A very provocative cover from RED POWER magazine's special edition.
The cover reads: The Russian Revolution
The mob toppling the royal figure early in 20th century
History will not forgive us if we do not seize the power at this moment.
++++++
Are they going to lynch the royal family next ?
Thais surely live in interesting times...
The caption reads: King Rama V photographed with King Tsar Nicholas II
and royal family members of the Romanov during his visit to Russia
in Rattanakosin year 116 ( B.E. 2441) [1898]
A very provocative cover from RED POWER magazine's special edition.
The cover reads: The Russian Revolution
The mob toppling the royal figure early in 20th century
History will not forgive us if we do not seize the power at this moment.
++++++
Are they going to lynch the royal family next ?
Thais surely live in interesting times...
The caption reads: King Rama V photographed with King Tsar Nicholas II
and royal family members of the Romanov during his visit to Russia
in Rattanakosin year 116 ( B.E. 2441) [1898]
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
Media Crackdown a Mistake, Say Analysts
Lynette Lee Corporal
BANGKOK, Apr 9 (Asia Media Forum) — For press freedom advocates, it was bad enough, though not totally surprising, to hear that the government had shut down the opposition media amid the state of emergency in the Thai capital. But alarming to them is the gagging even of independent news sites.
"There is a mistaken notion that we are supporters of the red shirts,” Chiranuch Premchaiporn, director of the independent Thai news website Prachatai.com said in an interview with IPS, referring to the red-clad protesters that have been demonstrating here for the fourth week to get the government to call for a new election.
“I have to say again that we are an independent media organisation that does not take sides with anyone in particular," she explained.
Prachatai.com – which means ‘free people’ — is one of the 36 websites singled out for blocking by the government in a directive approved Thursday. Most of the other sites were media outlets by opposition groups themselves.
But "we will continue to follow events and I hope (the government) will see us in a proper light, that we're just doing our duty in informing the public about what's happening," added Chiranuch, who is out on bail on a lese majeste charge due to comments that were not removed from Prachatai's discussion board in 2009.
Thus far, Prachatai’s English-language site, Prachatai.org, is still on.
Among the blocked opposition-backed sites is People's TV, the satellite television station of the red shirts, as the supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) are called due to their protest colour.
Also blocked were an FM community radio and online sites, including the red shirts’ YouTube channels and pages on Facebook and Hi5.
Thai media activist Supinya Klangnarong says that banning these websites is "simply wrong".
"This government worries too much,” Supinya, the head of the Thai Netizen Network, said, referring to the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. “It has become so fearful that they tend to exaggerate and see the Internet as the enemy when it is not. The Internet is a space for different views to be discussed.”
The government hopes that shutting down some communication networks of the red shirts will weaken the protests, which on Friday continued despite the emergency decree. That decree was instituted on Wednesday night, after a group of protesters broke into Parliament grounds.
Tens of thousands of protesters remain at the Rajprasong intersection, which they have occupied since Saturday.
Sathit Wongnongtoey, Abhisit’s office minister in charge of shutting down the media sites, said the opposition media content "contained distorted facts and was aimed at inciting unrest", according to news reports Thursday.
Thai anthropologist Yukti Mukdawijitra says the crackdown on opposition media sites "is just something they had to do" but is unlikely to be permanent. He, however, feels that the government has let its Achilles' heel show by these acts of censorship.
"I think it shows that the government can't calm down the protesters and so they try to give a semblance of control by doing something else, that is, ban the opposition's media sites, which is something they have control over," said Yukti, deputy dean and graduate programme director of Thammasat University's sociology and anthropology department.
Supinya agreed: "This government is very insecure and believe that shutting down opposition sites will help them control the situation."
But she says that shutting down these sites while leaving government-backed media institutions untouched – which has already drawn rallies from the red shirts -- will upset the public. "Television is almost one-sided and biased for the government side," she says.
The Thai Journalists' Association questioned the "double standard" being employed by the government. "...The government continued to use state-owned radio and TV stations to present one-sided information," it said in a statement. "The government also allowed other radio stations and another satellite TV to present similar content of state media, which could lead to further rifts in society.”
Overall, Chiranuch says she is worried that with the blocking of Prachatai, people would not be able to access diverse and more independent information and this could lead to further confusion and fear-mongering.
"It can be a frightening thing for both the protesters and the general public not to have access to reliable information," she said.
Yukti finds it sad that Prachatai's independent coverage has been twisted by other groups as sympathy with the red shirts. "If you report about the red shirts, you would most likely be identified with them. I don't think the public cares about these (episodes of) web censorship," said Yukti.
People react negatively to media bans when their personal space is attacked and majority of Thais see the Internet more as "personal space" for networking instead of a political venue, Supinya notes.
"A temporary shutdown of sites is fine but not if it's permanent, which will definitely invite negative reactions from the public," she said.
Source:
http://www.theasiamediaforum.org/node/3213
Media Crackdown a Mistake, Say Analysts
Lynette Lee Corporal
BANGKOK, Apr 9 (Asia Media Forum) — For press freedom advocates, it was bad enough, though not totally surprising, to hear that the government had shut down the opposition media amid the state of emergency in the Thai capital. But alarming to them is the gagging even of independent news sites.
"There is a mistaken notion that we are supporters of the red shirts,” Chiranuch Premchaiporn, director of the independent Thai news website Prachatai.com said in an interview with IPS, referring to the red-clad protesters that have been demonstrating here for the fourth week to get the government to call for a new election.
“I have to say again that we are an independent media organisation that does not take sides with anyone in particular," she explained.
Prachatai.com – which means ‘free people’ — is one of the 36 websites singled out for blocking by the government in a directive approved Thursday. Most of the other sites were media outlets by opposition groups themselves.
But "we will continue to follow events and I hope (the government) will see us in a proper light, that we're just doing our duty in informing the public about what's happening," added Chiranuch, who is out on bail on a lese majeste charge due to comments that were not removed from Prachatai's discussion board in 2009.
Thus far, Prachatai’s English-language site, Prachatai.org, is still on.
Among the blocked opposition-backed sites is People's TV, the satellite television station of the red shirts, as the supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) are called due to their protest colour.
Also blocked were an FM community radio and online sites, including the red shirts’ YouTube channels and pages on Facebook and Hi5.
Thai media activist Supinya Klangnarong says that banning these websites is "simply wrong".
"This government worries too much,” Supinya, the head of the Thai Netizen Network, said, referring to the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. “It has become so fearful that they tend to exaggerate and see the Internet as the enemy when it is not. The Internet is a space for different views to be discussed.”
The government hopes that shutting down some communication networks of the red shirts will weaken the protests, which on Friday continued despite the emergency decree. That decree was instituted on Wednesday night, after a group of protesters broke into Parliament grounds.
Tens of thousands of protesters remain at the Rajprasong intersection, which they have occupied since Saturday.
Sathit Wongnongtoey, Abhisit’s office minister in charge of shutting down the media sites, said the opposition media content "contained distorted facts and was aimed at inciting unrest", according to news reports Thursday.
Thai anthropologist Yukti Mukdawijitra says the crackdown on opposition media sites "is just something they had to do" but is unlikely to be permanent. He, however, feels that the government has let its Achilles' heel show by these acts of censorship.
"I think it shows that the government can't calm down the protesters and so they try to give a semblance of control by doing something else, that is, ban the opposition's media sites, which is something they have control over," said Yukti, deputy dean and graduate programme director of Thammasat University's sociology and anthropology department.
Supinya agreed: "This government is very insecure and believe that shutting down opposition sites will help them control the situation."
But she says that shutting down these sites while leaving government-backed media institutions untouched – which has already drawn rallies from the red shirts -- will upset the public. "Television is almost one-sided and biased for the government side," she says.
The Thai Journalists' Association questioned the "double standard" being employed by the government. "...The government continued to use state-owned radio and TV stations to present one-sided information," it said in a statement. "The government also allowed other radio stations and another satellite TV to present similar content of state media, which could lead to further rifts in society.”
Overall, Chiranuch says she is worried that with the blocking of Prachatai, people would not be able to access diverse and more independent information and this could lead to further confusion and fear-mongering.
"It can be a frightening thing for both the protesters and the general public not to have access to reliable information," she said.
Yukti finds it sad that Prachatai's independent coverage has been twisted by other groups as sympathy with the red shirts. "If you report about the red shirts, you would most likely be identified with them. I don't think the public cares about these (episodes of) web censorship," said Yukti.
People react negatively to media bans when their personal space is attacked and majority of Thais see the Internet more as "personal space" for networking instead of a political venue, Supinya notes.
"A temporary shutdown of sites is fine but not if it's permanent, which will definitely invite negative reactions from the public," she said.
Source:
http://www.theasiamediaforum.org/node/3213
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
So those are all rights then
Harrison George
It is reported that National Human Rights Commissioner Dr Tajing Siripanit stated on national television that the Abhisit government would be justified in using force against the red shirt protestors at Ratchaprasong intersection ‘because they were disrupting shopping’.
Many have dismissed these remarks as the sort of thing you might expect when you appoint as Human Rights Commissioners people who don’t really know that much about human rights.
However, Prachatai has learned that Dr Tajing’s remarks form part of a long-term human rights strategy of the Thai government and ruling elite and should be interpreted in the context of Thailand’s candidature for membership of the UN Human Rights Council.
This candidature was also the object of some ridicule when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened its diplomatic offensive to secure election to the UN body. Snide remarks were based not so much on Thailand’s performance in human rights, which has been long on rhetoric and spotty at best in implementation, but is no more deplorable than other candidates for a seat on the Council. No, much of the criticism was motivated by Thailand’s apparent long-standing lack of interest in the international dimensions of human rights.
Thailand has signed on to relatively few international human rights conventions and agreements, often late, and normally with little more than token compliance. It has resolutely opposed any attempts to ‘internationalize’ human rights problems inside the country, arguing that if there were problems (which it often denied) they could best be dealt with ‘in house’. And its indifference to human rights violations in other countries, even those on its doorstep, has been expressed through a near perfect sequence of abstentions whenever a human rights issue has come up at the UN.
Thailand has for the past decade given every impression that it just doesn’t care. So why the sudden interest in taking a leading international role?
The grand strategy is apparently not yet complete and Dr Tajing was perhaps letting slip more than he should. But his lapse was telling.
Thailand thinks that the current set of human rights on offer are sadly lacking. And it wants to introduce some new ones, especially those more suited to the Thai context than run-of-the-mill freedom from torture, right to a fair trial, right to a decent education and so on, which don’t really do much for Thailand’s movers and shakers.
From Dr Tajing’s remarks, clearly the right to use violence on unarmed and peaceful demonstrators and the right to unrestricted shopping will be on the list. And this gives us a clue to how the architects of Thailand’s strategy are thinking.
They’re not so much inventing entirely new rights, but codifying rights that have long been exercised in Thailand, at least by certain privileged groups, but never actually written down and given the force of law.
Observers believe that the proposed list of new rights will be extremely long and may include the following:
the right to claim that a long and expensive schooling entitles the holders to regard themselves as ‘educated’ and hold in contempt anyone with a shorter or cheaper form of schooling. (This right will bear no relationship to any concept of wisdom, common sense or genuine intellectual capacity.)
the right to drive on any section of unoccupied road space that you can squeeze into, regardless of whether you are on the correct side of the road, of whether you are blocking other vehicles who would have otherwise unhindered passage, or of whether you have had to mow down any number of pedestrians to effect your occupation.
the right to change one’s opinion on what constitutes a human right as soon as one passes from the opposition side of the house and into government. (There is an optional protocol to this which lays out the right to deny point blank that you have done any such thing, no matter what the weight of evidence that proves you a liar.)
the right to use certain expensive makes of cars as offensive weapons against the class of person who could never afford one themselves.
the right to ignore any other rights, to ignore the will of the people expressed either through formal elections or informal means such as rallies and demonstrations, to ignore any abstract principles of social justice, equality before the law and such like, and to govern by means of quasi-religious beliefs in myths, fabrications and the assumed goodwill and benevolence of persons in lofty and protected positions.
These are, as I say, but a handful of the proposals that Thailand, if elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, may bring forward. And even a casual reading demonstrates that these rights are restricted to certain groups, normally elite groups.
For this reason, Thailand will be proposing one important amendment to an existing fundamental human rights instrument. They want the word ‘universal’ deleted from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
About author: Bangkokians with long memories may remember his irreverent column in The Nation in the 1980's. During his period of enforced silence since then, he was variously reported as participating in a 999-day meditation retreat in a hill-top monastery in Mae Hong Son (he gave up after 998 days), as the Special Rapporteur for Satire of the UN High Commission for Human Rights, and as understudy for the male lead in the long-running ‘Pussies -not the Musical' at the Neasden International Palladium (formerly Park Lane Empire).
So those are all rights then
Harrison George
It is reported that National Human Rights Commissioner Dr Tajing Siripanit stated on national television that the Abhisit government would be justified in using force against the red shirt protestors at Ratchaprasong intersection ‘because they were disrupting shopping’.
Many have dismissed these remarks as the sort of thing you might expect when you appoint as Human Rights Commissioners people who don’t really know that much about human rights.
However, Prachatai has learned that Dr Tajing’s remarks form part of a long-term human rights strategy of the Thai government and ruling elite and should be interpreted in the context of Thailand’s candidature for membership of the UN Human Rights Council.
This candidature was also the object of some ridicule when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened its diplomatic offensive to secure election to the UN body. Snide remarks were based not so much on Thailand’s performance in human rights, which has been long on rhetoric and spotty at best in implementation, but is no more deplorable than other candidates for a seat on the Council. No, much of the criticism was motivated by Thailand’s apparent long-standing lack of interest in the international dimensions of human rights.
Thailand has signed on to relatively few international human rights conventions and agreements, often late, and normally with little more than token compliance. It has resolutely opposed any attempts to ‘internationalize’ human rights problems inside the country, arguing that if there were problems (which it often denied) they could best be dealt with ‘in house’. And its indifference to human rights violations in other countries, even those on its doorstep, has been expressed through a near perfect sequence of abstentions whenever a human rights issue has come up at the UN.
Thailand has for the past decade given every impression that it just doesn’t care. So why the sudden interest in taking a leading international role?
The grand strategy is apparently not yet complete and Dr Tajing was perhaps letting slip more than he should. But his lapse was telling.
Thailand thinks that the current set of human rights on offer are sadly lacking. And it wants to introduce some new ones, especially those more suited to the Thai context than run-of-the-mill freedom from torture, right to a fair trial, right to a decent education and so on, which don’t really do much for Thailand’s movers and shakers.
From Dr Tajing’s remarks, clearly the right to use violence on unarmed and peaceful demonstrators and the right to unrestricted shopping will be on the list. And this gives us a clue to how the architects of Thailand’s strategy are thinking.
They’re not so much inventing entirely new rights, but codifying rights that have long been exercised in Thailand, at least by certain privileged groups, but never actually written down and given the force of law.
Observers believe that the proposed list of new rights will be extremely long and may include the following:
the right to claim that a long and expensive schooling entitles the holders to regard themselves as ‘educated’ and hold in contempt anyone with a shorter or cheaper form of schooling. (This right will bear no relationship to any concept of wisdom, common sense or genuine intellectual capacity.)
the right to drive on any section of unoccupied road space that you can squeeze into, regardless of whether you are on the correct side of the road, of whether you are blocking other vehicles who would have otherwise unhindered passage, or of whether you have had to mow down any number of pedestrians to effect your occupation.
the right to change one’s opinion on what constitutes a human right as soon as one passes from the opposition side of the house and into government. (There is an optional protocol to this which lays out the right to deny point blank that you have done any such thing, no matter what the weight of evidence that proves you a liar.)
the right to use certain expensive makes of cars as offensive weapons against the class of person who could never afford one themselves.
the right to ignore any other rights, to ignore the will of the people expressed either through formal elections or informal means such as rallies and demonstrations, to ignore any abstract principles of social justice, equality before the law and such like, and to govern by means of quasi-religious beliefs in myths, fabrications and the assumed goodwill and benevolence of persons in lofty and protected positions.
These are, as I say, but a handful of the proposals that Thailand, if elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, may bring forward. And even a casual reading demonstrates that these rights are restricted to certain groups, normally elite groups.
For this reason, Thailand will be proposing one important amendment to an existing fundamental human rights instrument. They want the word ‘universal’ deleted from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
About author: Bangkokians with long memories may remember his irreverent column in The Nation in the 1980's. During his period of enforced silence since then, he was variously reported as participating in a 999-day meditation retreat in a hill-top monastery in Mae Hong Son (he gave up after 998 days), as the Special Rapporteur for Satire of the UN High Commission for Human Rights, and as understudy for the male lead in the long-running ‘Pussies -not the Musical' at the Neasden International Palladium (formerly Park Lane Empire).
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
Seh Daeng also on wanted list
WANTED : SEH DAENG
Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, known as Seh Daeng, an army specialist who has been suspended from duty, is one of the 17 people wanted under arrest warrants approved by the Criminal Court, police said.
Pol Lt-Gen Tha-ngai Prassajaksatru, commander of the Central Investigation Bureua, on Friday confirmed the Criminal Court had approved arrest warrants for 17 prominent members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.
He said a request for approval of the warrants was submitted to the Criminal Court on Thursday night.
The 17 UDD leaders under the arrest warrants are :
Weng Tojirakan, 59,
Mrs Darunee Kritboonyalai, 61,
Jaran Ditha-apichai, 63,
Nathawut Saikua, 35,
Nisit Sinthuprai, 50,
Veera Musikhapong, 62,
Korkaew Pikulthong, 45,
Kwanchai Sarakham or Praipana, 58,
Chinawat Haboonpat, 66,
Wiputhalaeng Pattanaphumthai, 58,
Adisorn Piengket, 57,
Worapol Prommikbut, 53,
Pol Lt-Col Waipot Arpornrat, 51,
Samroeng Prachamrua, 45,
Visa Khanthap, 56,
Mrs Paijit Aksornnarong, 48,
Pol Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, alias Seh Daeng.
WANTED : WENG TOJIRAKAN
WANTED : MRS. DARUNEE KRITBOONYALAI
Lady in RED aka Chae Da
Businesswoman Darunee Kritboonyalai, a founding shareholder of a Thai iced-tea brand and an active supporter of Mr. Thaksin.
Seh Daeng also on wanted list
WANTED : SEH DAENG
Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, known as Seh Daeng, an army specialist who has been suspended from duty, is one of the 17 people wanted under arrest warrants approved by the Criminal Court, police said.
Pol Lt-Gen Tha-ngai Prassajaksatru, commander of the Central Investigation Bureua, on Friday confirmed the Criminal Court had approved arrest warrants for 17 prominent members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.
He said a request for approval of the warrants was submitted to the Criminal Court on Thursday night.
The 17 UDD leaders under the arrest warrants are :
Weng Tojirakan, 59,
Mrs Darunee Kritboonyalai, 61,
Jaran Ditha-apichai, 63,
Nathawut Saikua, 35,
Nisit Sinthuprai, 50,
Veera Musikhapong, 62,
Korkaew Pikulthong, 45,
Kwanchai Sarakham or Praipana, 58,
Chinawat Haboonpat, 66,
Wiputhalaeng Pattanaphumthai, 58,
Adisorn Piengket, 57,
Worapol Prommikbut, 53,
Pol Lt-Col Waipot Arpornrat, 51,
Samroeng Prachamrua, 45,
Visa Khanthap, 56,
Mrs Paijit Aksornnarong, 48,
Pol Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, alias Seh Daeng.
WANTED : WENG TOJIRAKAN
WANTED : MRS. DARUNEE KRITBOONYALAI
Lady in RED aka Chae Da
Businesswoman Darunee Kritboonyalai, a founding shareholder of a Thai iced-tea brand and an active supporter of Mr. Thaksin.
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Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
Wow even the ex-Beatle is interested in Thai affairs too.
Wow even the ex-Beatle is interested in Thai affairs too.
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
Wow even the ex-Beatle is interested in Thai affairs too.
Wow even the ex-Beatle is interested in Thai affairs too.
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
So will Thailand mirror the history of France?
Let history be the judge.
So will Thailand mirror the history of France?
Let history be the judge.
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
This is what I call got BALLS............
tulsathit: RT @paisal_nt: Veera demanded Abhisit to dissolve House and flee abroad immediately.
Saturday, April 10, 2010 9:10:24 PM
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This is what I call got BALLS............
tulsathit: RT @paisal_nt: Veera demanded Abhisit to dissolve House and flee abroad immediately.
Saturday, April 10, 2010 9:10:24 PM
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Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
Breakingnews » Breakingnews
UDD calls for PM to leave country
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<!-- end heading-panel --> A United Front for Democracy against Dictotorship leader early on Saturday night called for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House of Representatives and leave the country immediately.
Veera Musikhapong, the UDD chairman, also condemned the government, alleging it to have let soldiers to crack down on the red-shirt protesters with weapons on Ratchadamnoen avenue.
He said the UDD's fight against the government had reached its peak, and callled for the red shirts throughout the country to gather at the city halls in their provinces.
Mr Veera said a number of red shirts would be moved from Ratchaprasong, under the leadership of Nathawut Saikua and Arisman Pongruangrong, to protect the other rally base at Phan Fa bridge where the government aimed to seize tonight.
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Breakingnews » Breakingnews
UDD calls for PM to leave country
- Published: 10/04/2010 at 08:30 PM
- Online news: Breakingnews
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<!-- end facebook-wall -->
<!-- end main-sns -->
<!-- end heading-panel --> A United Front for Democracy against Dictotorship leader early on Saturday night called for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House of Representatives and leave the country immediately.
Veera Musikhapong, the UDD chairman, also condemned the government, alleging it to have let soldiers to crack down on the red-shirt protesters with weapons on Ratchadamnoen avenue.
He said the UDD's fight against the government had reached its peak, and callled for the red shirts throughout the country to gather at the city halls in their provinces.
Mr Veera said a number of red shirts would be moved from Ratchaprasong, under the leadership of Nathawut Saikua and Arisman Pongruangrong, to protect the other rally base at Phan Fa bridge where the government aimed to seize tonight.
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Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
http://tv.spacezap.com/tvonline_astvnews1.html
live
http://tv.spacezap.com/tvonline_astvnews1.html
live
Re: BANGKOK: More than 100K at 9pm. Many More Coming. JAMS 50km Long. ArbiSHIT SHITTI
Latest info ( live from BKK )..... CHAOS!!!!! Up till now 525 rush to hospital, 4 soldiers died ( confirmed ) and 1 Japanese tourist died also.............live rounds fired now and live GRENADE being thrown also!!!!!!:(:(
Latest info ( live from BKK )..... CHAOS!!!!! Up till now 525 rush to hospital, 4 soldiers died ( confirmed ) and 1 Japanese tourist died also.............live rounds fired now and live GRENADE being thrown also!!!!!!:(:(
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