I am not in Thailand right now and so I have no first-hand impression of what things are like with the coup almost a month old now. I confess that I was shocked to hear the new about the coup since I had assumed along with most Thais that that was old history that would not get repeated.
I correspond with several farangs and Thais by emails and, as usual, the Thais seldom comment on the political situation, even though two of them are educated professionals. Most of the farangs don't seem to care and say there is no sign of the coup anywhere but in the newspapers.
I have to wonder if this is a the dawn of a new democratic Thailand or more of same, same.....
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How are things post-coup ?
Started by BORG, Oct 18 2006 12:53 PM
3 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 18 October 2006 - 01:36 PM
I think the Thais are the least politically involved people that I have even encountered. Even their reaction to the coup was more like running to see an event like having the soldiers on parade, than taking part in anything political. They just don't seem to care who's running the show in Bangkok.
#3
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Posted 18 October 2006 - 02:04 PM
QUOTE(DollyLamma @ Oct 18 2006, 06:36 AM) 
I think the Thais are the least politically involved people that I have even encountered. Even their reaction to the coup was more like running to see an event like having the soldiers on parade, than taking part in anything political. They just don't seem to care who's running the show in Bangkok.
They are not just the least politically involved but the great majority of the Thai people, particularly in rural areas, are also politically illiterate. That is why Thaksin was able to get such massive support in these areas by buying the loyalty of district and village leaders with cash handouts and promises of political favours. They in turn told or "advised" their people how to vote.
"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence...Speak your truth quietly and clearly..."
"Desiderata" (1927), Max Ehrmann (1872-1945).
"Desiderata" (1927), Max Ehrmann (1872-1945).
#4
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Posted 18 October 2006 - 02:33 PM
It's unfortunate, but Thai democracy has had a hard time maturing under the heavy hand of paternalism that dominates it. Even a self-styled populist like Thaksin ended up a one-man show with a top-down "father knows best" mentality.
Kids usually grow up learning to think and act for themselves. Some nations have trouble doing that when their leaders can only think of the people as dependent children.
That's one of the reasons why I see little good in this coup. It may have been well-intentioned to rid the country of a corrupt demagogue, but it also suffocates the ability of the country's democratic institutions to deal with problem-solving through the democratic process. You cannot develop a democratic tradition if you always resort to the army to solve problems that mature democracies learn to resolve through the constitutional process.
Kids usually grow up learning to think and act for themselves. Some nations have trouble doing that when their leaders can only think of the people as dependent children.
That's one of the reasons why I see little good in this coup. It may have been well-intentioned to rid the country of a corrupt demagogue, but it also suffocates the ability of the country's democratic institutions to deal with problem-solving through the democratic process. You cannot develop a democratic tradition if you always resort to the army to solve problems that mature democracies learn to resolve through the constitutional process.
