Domestic Politics Caused Terror in Thailand
By Thang D. Nguyen
JAKARTA-2007 looks like it will be another year of living dangerously for Thailand. On New Year's Eve, a series of six bombs went off in Bangkok, killing three and injuring 38 persons, including nine foreigners.
These blasts were the latest political development following a coup last September when Thai military leaders, who called themselves the Council for National Security (CNS), ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra and took over the government.
As bloodless as it was, the September coup was, to be sure, a setback for Thailand's democracy and damaged the Thai economy, particularly the tourism industry-which has been, and will be, a sine qua non for Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.
To make matters worse, stock plunged by 15 percent after the Bank of Thailand (BoT) imposed capital control on 18 December as a way to curb the Thai baht's strength as it was overvalued against the US dollar, hurting exporters.
Shortly after the Bangkok blasts, Thai military-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont was quick to say that "briefs from various intelligence agencies, based on evidence available, show that they [the blasts] came from groups that have lost political powers."
On his part, former Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra denied any involvement in the blasts.
"I strongly condemn this act and I swear that I never ever think of hurting the people and destroying the country's credibility for my own political gain," the toppled premier two in a letter from China.
Thaksin also suspected that Islamic separatists in southern Thailand, where they had been waging a bloody insurgency for the past three years, were behind the New Year's Eve blasts.
As expected, the CNS ruled out this possibility.
"The bandits and terrorist groups in southern Thailand had no links or connections to the bombs in Bangkok," Gen. Saprang Kanlayanamitr, a member of the CNS, told reporters.
While it's unclear who was-or were-behind the Bangkok blasts, one thing is certain: The cause was Thailand's domestic politics.
Unlike the Sept. 11 attacks, the London bombing in 2005, or the numerous bombings in Indonesia's resort island Bali and its capital Jakarta from 2002 to 2005, the targets were not foreigners, or foreign premises.
In other words, these attacks were directed at the Bush Administration, its unilateral foreign policy, and its allies, namelthe UK and Australia.
Rather, the target in the Bangkok blasts was the Thai junta who seized power after the September coup.
Whoever they may be, the perpetrators New Year's Eve bombs achieved their goal of discrediting the military-installed, interim government of Thailand.
And while the death toll and injury from the Bangkok blasts were not as serious as they could be, the political implications, of the event are significant.
For one thing, the blasts heightened Thailand's political instability. To be sure, Thailand is no stranger to military coups. And, of course, Muslim-majority southern Thailand has experienced deadly attacks, including bombs, from insurgent groups.
But, it was the first time the capital city of Bangkok was the site for such an attack, and this means the level of Thailand's instability is at its peak.
Second, the impact of this event on the embattled Thai economy is immense.
"Bangkok has changed overnight. People started to worry about their security and will keep money in their pocket," James Davison, vice-president for international business development at giant retail Central Group, told AFP.
Third, whoever was behind the Bangkok blasts, the message sent to the junta government was that managing Thailand is far more difficult than taking it by force.
"They [military leaders] are beginning to wake up to quite how difficult the task they have set themselves is, if you fling out a political leader who has support of 55 percent of the country," Chris Baker, a political analyst and Thaksin biographer, told AP.
It will take quite some time to find out--if ever--who were responsible for the New Year's Eve attacks.
Meanwhile, it is certain that 2007 will be a challenging one for Thailand.
For one thing, the junta government has to come up with security measures to ensure security for both Thais and foreigners, including tourists. On the economic front, this also means restoring investor confidence in the Thai economy.
Otherwise, capital flights will continue and tourists will stay away from Thailand.
What is more, whether Thaksin loyalists or southern Muslim separatists were behind the Bangkok blasts, the junta government has to find away to deal with them properly to ensure peace and security for the whole
kingdom of Thailand.
For now, it is interesting to see if the revered Thai monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, will do something--if any--to help his nation through this tough time.
In the past, King Bhumibol, whose position commands the ultimate authority in Thailand, has intervened in Thai politics when the nation was in trouble. If the king does not, this time, who can?
The writer is Jakarta-based columnist, whose writing can be read at www.thangthecolumnist.blogspot.com. He is also the editor of an upcoming book on Thailand.
JAKARTA-2007 looks like it will be another year of living dangerously for Thailand. On New Year's Eve, a series of six bombs went off in Bangkok, killing three and injuring 38 persons, including nine foreigners.
These blasts were the latest political development following a coup last September when Thai military leaders, who called themselves the Council for National Security (CNS), ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra and took over the government.
As bloodless as it was, the September coup was, to be sure, a setback for Thailand's democracy and damaged the Thai economy, particularly the tourism industry-which has been, and will be, a sine qua non for Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.
To make matters worse, stock plunged by 15 percent after the Bank of Thailand (BoT) imposed capital control on 18 December as a way to curb the Thai baht's strength as it was overvalued against the US dollar, hurting exporters.
Shortly after the Bangkok blasts, Thai military-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont was quick to say that "briefs from various intelligence agencies, based on evidence available, show that they [the blasts] came from groups that have lost political powers."
On his part, former Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra denied any involvement in the blasts.
"I strongly condemn this act and I swear that I never ever think of hurting the people and destroying the country's credibility for my own political gain," the toppled premier two in a letter from China.
Thaksin also suspected that Islamic separatists in southern Thailand, where they had been waging a bloody insurgency for the past three years, were behind the New Year's Eve blasts.
As expected, the CNS ruled out this possibility.
"The bandits and terrorist groups in southern Thailand had no links or connections to the bombs in Bangkok," Gen. Saprang Kanlayanamitr, a member of the CNS, told reporters.
While it's unclear who was-or were-behind the Bangkok blasts, one thing is certain: The cause was Thailand's domestic politics.
Unlike the Sept. 11 attacks, the London bombing in 2005, or the numerous bombings in Indonesia's resort island Bali and its capital Jakarta from 2002 to 2005, the targets were not foreigners, or foreign premises.
In other words, these attacks were directed at the Bush Administration, its unilateral foreign policy, and its allies, namelthe UK and Australia.
Rather, the target in the Bangkok blasts was the Thai junta who seized power after the September coup.
Whoever they may be, the perpetrators New Year's Eve bombs achieved their goal of discrediting the military-installed, interim government of Thailand.
And while the death toll and injury from the Bangkok blasts were not as serious as they could be, the political implications, of the event are significant.
For one thing, the blasts heightened Thailand's political instability. To be sure, Thailand is no stranger to military coups. And, of course, Muslim-majority southern Thailand has experienced deadly attacks, including bombs, from insurgent groups.
But, it was the first time the capital city of Bangkok was the site for such an attack, and this means the level of Thailand's instability is at its peak.
Second, the impact of this event on the embattled Thai economy is immense.
"Bangkok has changed overnight. People started to worry about their security and will keep money in their pocket," James Davison, vice-president for international business development at giant retail Central Group, told AFP.
Third, whoever was behind the Bangkok blasts, the message sent to the junta government was that managing Thailand is far more difficult than taking it by force.
"They [military leaders] are beginning to wake up to quite how difficult the task they have set themselves is, if you fling out a political leader who has support of 55 percent of the country," Chris Baker, a political analyst and Thaksin biographer, told AP.
It will take quite some time to find out--if ever--who were responsible for the New Year's Eve attacks.
Meanwhile, it is certain that 2007 will be a challenging one for Thailand.
For one thing, the junta government has to come up with security measures to ensure security for both Thais and foreigners, including tourists. On the economic front, this also means restoring investor confidence in the Thai economy.
Otherwise, capital flights will continue and tourists will stay away from Thailand.
What is more, whether Thaksin loyalists or southern Muslim separatists were behind the Bangkok blasts, the junta government has to find away to deal with them properly to ensure peace and security for the whole
kingdom of Thailand.
For now, it is interesting to see if the revered Thai monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, will do something--if any--to help his nation through this tough time.
In the past, King Bhumibol, whose position commands the ultimate authority in Thailand, has intervened in Thai politics when the nation was in trouble. If the king does not, this time, who can?
The writer is Jakarta-based columnist, whose writing can be read at www.thangthecolumnist.blogspot.com. He is also the editor of an upcoming book on Thailand.
posted by Thang D. Nguyen at 12:45 AM
23 Comments:
Dear Mr. Thang,
Thanks for looking at the domestic political forces in Thailand. Sometimes people look for the hand of Western powers when turmoil hits Southeast Asia.
But whilst the West and the White Man are constantly trying to undermine my country, it's important to remember that some events have domestic sources.
In Thailand's case, we don't fully know yet. It still might be the White Man trying to discredit Thailand's hard-won democracy. But thanks for presenting a very credible and alternative scenario.
Peace Always, Brother,
Achmad
Achmad,
You are an idiot. Pure and simple, a complete idiot.
"It still might be the White Man trying to discredit Thailand's hard-won democracy".
You are also a resentful, grubby little racist but above all else, you are an idiot.
Anonymous,
Please don't take this the wrong way, but your pathetic cowardice in using 'anonymous' is possibly matched only by your chronic erectile dysfunction and inability to use a modern toilet. (You probably think we Asians only know how to squat!)
I qualify that: your denial of the sinister realities of the legacy of white rule is equally pathetic.
Anonymous, I said that the White Man was not necessarily undermining democracy in Thailand. That has done so in my country is beyond doubt.
The latest tactic is flooding Jakarta with hordes of drunken, fornicating and slothful bums. Many congregate at a slime-covered place called Blok M, to lure desperate and poor village girls with promises of marriage before dumping them into lives of prostitution.
I thank Thang because he presented an alternative scenario. It's just not true that the White Man is to blame for every misfortune. That you can't understand this is evidence only of your utter mental inadequacy and failings in personal higene.
It's sad, Dude.
P.S. Anonymous: please don't think I'm trying to insult you. I'm trying to help you. The sooner you realise you have a problem, (erectile dysfunction, being a stupid asshole, not recognising the truth when it's shoved hard up your pallid white asshole,) the sooner you can fix it.
Peace, brother,
Achmad.
Let's get one thing crystal clear "Achmad' .. I am not your 'brother', you filthy little unwashed yellow heathen. Your name even sounds like the noise someone makes when spitting.
If it wasn't for "white man's rule" (as you so quaintly put it) you'd still be living in a mud hut having intimate relations with your sister and probably also having an affair with the village goat...Hang on, you're probably still doing that eh?.
Get on your grubby knees you surly flea-ridden dog and praise the "white-man" for all the advantages you know have in your pathetic existence.
As for "white-man" exploiting local girls??..well go and tell their greedy parents to stop selling them into prostitution. Didn't think of that did you dickhead?
By the way Acccchmaad, what's with your obsession with 'erections'???. I bet you're some "white man's' bitch aren't you??. Off you go then little gay-boy..Just don't forget to thank "whitey" for everything you have in this world...
you contemptible little maggot.
Yours sincerely,
"Whitey".
Folks,
I let this 'person's' comments speak for themselves. In fact, I couldn't have demonstrated the brutal, base, and barbaric nature of White Racism any better.
'Whitey':
- Try to keep your comments polite on this Blog. Mr. Thang likes to maintain a standard of gentlemanly decency, free from insults and innuendo, even from gaping ignoramuses like yourself.
- Once again you display your pathetic cowardice in not having the guts to use your name. It's o-so-easy to cast venom from behind a fake name, something you'd never have the courage to do in real life.
- I'm not yellow, I'm brown.
- Here's a question: if you think so lowly of the Yellow and Brown man, what are you doing skulking around internet sites, where you're sure to meet them ?
I'd add more, but you've insulted yourself with your stupidity already. Once again, next time have the good grace to recognise it when the truth is rammed, solidly up your blistered-from-getting-self-fisted asshole.
If you're Australian, I hope you enjoy that we Asians are buying up your national debt: have fun paying that back, Aussie. You'll be pulling rickshaws for Chinese for pennies at the Gold Coast in no time !
Peace, your brother,
Achmad.
WTF!!!?????
..."Try to keep your comments polite on this Blog. Mr. Thang likes to maintain a standard of gentlemanly decency, free from insults and innuendo..."
Hahaha!!! Are you for real you cretin!!????.. Have you re-read your own posts???.. hahaha!
Aaaccchhhmmad. You truly are slime of the lowest order.
I know your type well.. bitter and twisted, insanely jealous of whites, realising that you'll never amount to anything in your own godforsaken country.
What happened?..get refused a visa to come to Australia??...or perhaps a white man rejected your homo advances??. Deep down you really wish you were a white man don't you Aaaaacchhhmad??
Jabbering monkeys like you infest the internet (invented by the evil 'white-man of course) and provide a rich source of humour for the civilised West.
Keep it up gay-boy!!.. You're a laugh a minute!.
Yours sincerely,
"Whitey"
Whitey,
I won't call you white 'man', because I don't think you are a real man. Just a sad imitation of one, perhaps passing fleeting inspection, but once the erectile dysfunction, cowardice, and inability to complete anything difficult emerges, you'll be exposed as the snivelling little coward you are.
I hope you enjoy the Chinaman buying up Australia's government bonds. Have fun as your children (I mean your friend's children because your sperm-count is too low), pay the loans back.
I revert to my previous statement: you insult yourself all too well. You don't need me, Aussie.
Some Asian inventions:
Paper
The Clock
Gunpowder
The magnetic compass
Some White Man inventions:
The Nazi Party
Viagra (for guys who can't get it up)
Unemployment benefits (for lazy beggars who can't get a job).
Whining to the government.
Oooh..good come-back Aaaaachhmaad. You really got me with that one. Pretty short list you came up with though!..Getting tired are we?..or are you just plain stupid. My money's on the latter.. you dickhead. However, I'll remember your idiotic points when I next exercise my cultural superiority when visiting Indonesia on business. (I do love Indonesia's human rights record though..pretty impressive).
I've actually met your type before, ..obsequious, cringing little turds, anxious to please 'the white man' yet seething with fear and resentment underneath.
And there you go again with your fixation on erections????!!. Good god boy!..come out!. You'll feel better!.
...Then again... this explains everything;
.."Achmad Sudarsono is an emerging Indonesian writer, philosopher, activist, poet and cabaret singer. His mandate: take on the tough issues, tell the truth..."
Hahaha!!!. I haven't laughed so hard in ages!!. You're just another bitter Indonesian muslim aren't you!. Your hatred of the culturally superior Westerner is now explained!!! You wanker!
'Cabaret dancer'??!!!!.. Well there you go!!.
Tell me dirtbag, how do you reconcile your homosexuality with your mohammedan beliefs?. Shouldn't you be stoned to death or something?
"..take on the tough issues, tell the truth." ..
Hahaha!.. I've got a good idea of what you take mate..and it isn't 'tough issues'
Get stuffed you drag queen,
'Whitey'.
PS: give my regards to your pet goat...I feel sorry for it.
I understand it all now. Last night, as I was givin' yo' Momma, orgasm after orgasm - for the first time in her life - she told me everything about you. She said you were a child with low self-esteem, a poor communicator with others, a rampant masturbator with a history of shoplifting. She said she always wondered what was missing in her life- that is until she met me.
Just joking.
That last one was a bit below the belt, I admit. But as you have nothing below the belt, Whitey, there's no problem.
Whitey,
Let's keep the discussion away from personal insults, jibes, and slander. I know it's difficult for a cro-magnon imbecile such as yourself with regressive DNA, but give it a shot 'big fella'.
The issue here is the racism of the White Man. You've proved it conclusively with your comments. Also with your homophobia.
By the way, I was wondering what you think about the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, one of the biggest of its kind in the world ? I remember seeing a giant Fred Nile float once along with all the dancing drag queens. Very Australian.
I also wonder where your apparent hatred of gays comes from. In fact I know: you have a burning desire for the cabernossy, but not the courage to act on it.
Show us some courage, Aussie, tell us your real name.
I knew it, Aussie.
You're nothing but a little sooky-bubba-gutless wonder.
Don't have the guts to go the distance. Quits while the going gets tough.
No wonder you're country's the joke of Asia.
Aaaaaaachhhhmaaaaad, you dirty little moon-god worshipper. Australia the joke of Asia???...hahaha! Who cares what Asians think!!!!. I can tell you now that Australians certainly don't!. It's funny that so many of you want to be here though!. Seriously though, the Asians that are here are hard working and actually love being here. They of course are the 'non-muslim' variety.
At least we won't be seeing you here eh?, you pathetic, dirty, grubby muslim.
Also, you're a rampant homo!!. We've established that fact. That's ok you maggot..it really is in this day and age..well at least it is in the civilised West anyway.
So Aaaaachhhmaaaaad, you stinking little arse-bandit, I strongly suggest you get psychological help to assist you in reconciling your religious beliefs with your outright faggotry.
Now I know that the death-cult known as islam does not tolerate freaks such as you who happen to be of the 'gaaay persuasion' but after seeking help, and as you are being stoned to death by your enlightened peers, you may meet your demise with some mental comfort.
Alternatively you can keep on sodomising your pet goat.. if that helps you.
Oh, one more thing Aaaaaccchmmmmmaaad, you little shirt-lifter, what's this then?;
(from a previous post by Achmad Sudarsono)
...."have a favor to ask. I'm going to apply for some writing fellowships in the U.S.A., in Australia, and also some grant money. Could you guys could give me a reference or writing testimonial ?
Amongst others, I'm hoping to get in to the Iowa Writers' Program, Stanford University, and Columbia University's business journalism program for 2007-2008..."
WHAAAT!!!!! Hahahahaha!!!. You have to be effing kidding!!???. You filthy little parasite!!!. There you are sitting in your mud-hut, up to your neck in dung, hating the West and 'The White Man' and all the while you desire to come to Australia and elsewhere in the West!!!!!!. What's more, you want the West to pay!!!!!!!!!!. If this wasn't so patently absurd I'd be pretty angry. Typical muslim Indo..the hand-out kings of the world (though in your case 'hand-out queen')
One thing Arse-bandit, and this is serious, never, ever, ever set foot in my country. I repeat, never.
Now go and practice your cabaret dance steps and sod off.
Yours Sincerely,
'Incredulous Whitey'
One more thing, my poofter friend; Don't bother replying tonight as I'm going out on the piss this evening. Ah..glorious pubs!..love 'em!..no mohammedans to be seen in any of them.
Tomorrow morning I'm off to the shooting range.
AaaaachhhMAD, you twisted turd-burglar, would you post a photo of your ugly mug on the internet for me?. I need something to aim at tomorrow.
Up Yours Sincerely,
'Whitey'
Whitey,
I was with your mother again last night. She's a real screamer; I've got the scratch marks to prove it. In between moaning my name, gyrating wildly in between orgasms, and getting down on all fours, prone for me to 'do the dog,' she told me more about you.
She said back in school you were the creepy kid of the class, the one that skulked about in the back corner, who the teacher was worried about. She said she was worried too, that one day you'd pick up a gun and go postal. Instead, she said, you'd turned into an utter mediocrity, doing nothing, nothing to distinguish himself. She said it didn't matter, however, because I'd given her everything she could want from a man.
I notice:
- You still don't have the guts to tell your real name. Gutless wonder. Typical Aussie.
- You still seem to think being gay is an insult. It doesn't bother me - chickens are my thing actually, not goats. But I wonder how you feel about Sydney having such a big gay community.
- Finally, dude, get an education. Your vocab is fine on the beach or the footy pitch, where you're surrounded by similar imbeciles, but there were actually some smart people when I was done in Australia (mostly Asian, admittedly), you're a disgrace to the lot.
Achmad.
Just before I head out;
"..Finally, dude, get an education. Your vocab is fine on the beach or the footy pitch, where you're surrounded by similar imbeciles, but there were actually some smart people when I was done in Australia (mostly Asian, admittedly)...."
"Dude"??. You actually call people "dude"??!!. What a stupid, adolescent expression!!...been watching too many American movies eh gay-boy?. Your fundamentalist bum-chums won't like that will they?. I can hear them now..."Quickly!!..we must stone Aaaachmmaaaad the Arse-Bandit yet again!!"..
Also, whereabouts were you "done" in Australia?. Was he gentle with you?, Was it painful?. Was it at the mardi-gras?, Did you pray to your moon-god for forgiveness afterwards? You obviously enjoyed it right?. Ah, so many questions eh?.. you dickhead.
No, you abhorrent Indonesian goat-molester, I don't think calling someone 'gay' is an insult. It's the bitter, twisted, repressed homo's like you that annoy me.
Anyway, Up yours!
See ya later butt-boy..gotta run.
Piss Be Upon You.
Whitey,
A few comments just to wrap this up. Again, I'm trying to help you: a sad guy who sits around insulting strangers on the internet and hiding behind an acronym.
Conclusions from our discussion:
1. Australia is a nation of dress-wearing girly-girl sookie-bubbas. The biggest pansies are it's sportsmen like Donald Bradman (plays a pansy of a game called cricket), Thorpe the swimmer (just quite, what a girl), and Shane Warne.
2. I only ever turn to goats as a last resort. My first preference is chickens. Admittedly, it's been a bit of a problem lately due to avian influenza, so yes, there's been a bit more bleating than usual, but they're totally up for it.
3. The White Man's day is over. It is time for him to roll over and hand the reigns to the Yellow Man and the Brown Man. But not the black man. Africa's a basket case and they wear those funny multi-colored caftan things.
4. Finally, you are a great big dickybird.
No, you retarded moon-god loving, bestial little coolie, I'll have the last word by repeating my very first post;
'Aachtung
You are an idiot. Pure and simple, a complete idiot.....
You are also a resentful, grubby little racist but above all else, you are an idiot.'
Don't forget to grovel at the feet of the next White man you encounter you miserable toe-rag.
Up Yours Sincerely,
'Whitey'
PS: Ever get the feeling you're being watched Achmad?
Goodbye.......... for now.
Why don't you tell us your name, if you're so brave ?
The answer: no balls.
Friends,
'Whitey's' silence speaks, nay, shouts volumes...
Your brother Achmad.
Aussie,
You might be interested to see my postings on:
achmadsudarsono.wordpress.com
Peace,
Achmad
Achmad, you are either a brilliant and highly-original piss-taker, or completely out to lunch and a total basket-case. I sincerely hope it’s the former!
Either way, I haven’t had such a good laugh for ages. Keep up the good work!
Friend,
I am the friend of the White Man; I am his Enemy. But make no mistake: I am a Warrior of the Truth.
Friend,
I stand to expose that land of the girly-girly pants athletes who quit, groin-grabbing footy players, and rednecks: the Land Down Under.
Friend,
It's good you are reading this Blog, unlike most Whiteys (I don't know what shade you are), you will have a chance to read the Truth and See Things As They Truly Are.
Thank, Friend, I hope you are Fres.
Guess "Whitie" lost the guts to come back... Not that he had any before... However, I don't understand half the word's you guys are saying (Vocab is too complicated lol)
Post a Comment
<< Home