I am so happy today
"I'm so happy today, so happy, so happy, I'm so happy today, I've never been so happy." Who doesn't know this classic; once sung with full devotion by Herman van Veen (not related by the way).
As a Thailand blog reader you will now ask yourself: why all this cheerfulness? Well, this morning I saw the results on Thai TV of two Thai polls (Nida and Strichaa) which showed that resp. 93 percent and 87 percent of the Thai population support the military and are happy that they intervened to send the wrong Yingluck government home.
What? Whether these polls were in English? Well no, in Thai and since I don't speak this language, translated by my beautiful, oh so impartial Sao who jubilantly noted that in the South of Thailand, her native region, no less than 95 percent support the military.
Was this the cause of my joy? Well no. The joy was based on the triumphant feeling that came over me because my opinion about the feelings of the Thai people was confirmed.
Sorry. Twitter message
Again my somewhat naive but oh so politically correct compatriot P.
“These polls were conducted at the request of the military,” he said this time. Mainly held in the circles in which I (Ronald van Veen) move, namely the well-educated Thai who hide their opinion.
To my 'retweet' why this wisdom, he replied that you could feel on your Dutch wooden shoes that the many Thai people who are indeed against this coup have opted for the military because they are afraid to express their opinion under penalty of imprisonment. Those who are already imprisoned have not even been asked.
Regardless of whether I move in those circles; this is exactly the feeling I have about all those Dutch people who know better. By the way, P., these polls, which involved more than 45.000 Thais, were anonymous. Maybe you should start working on your perception and objectivity?
Nothing is given to the Thai just like that and the little they can show is their own opinion whether we like it or not. The decision of the Thai to believe unconditionally in her or his norms and values, therein lies the greatness of the Thai. Therein lies her decision not to give a damn what we Dutch people may think of it.
"I'm so happy today, so happy, so happy, I'm so happy today, I've never been so happy."
Ronald van Veen
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Pfff I'm just so glad that the Thais don't care about the opinion of the Dutch. For a moment I was afraid that would happen, but I'm reassured again. I mean, the Dutch index fingered expat group is also so huge in Thailand, compared to the Germans and Swiss, the Scandinavians, Americans and Canadians…. and this one is again so big compared to the Chinese and other Asians who live here in Thailand…
Seriously… would our opinion even count in this world? Our country has as many inhabitants as residents of Bangkok alone. Mexico City, São Paulo, Tokyo have millions more inhabitants per city than live in our frog country and then people will have to worry about our fish mouths?
As if our opinion counts!
Just a rhetorical question.
Couldn't the attitude of the Thai also have to do with the fact that every coup in the last 60 years has always been actively or passively supported by a man everyone listens to, because every Thai knows/thinks/suspects/suggests/accepts that he wants the best for all Thai?
For the record: that man's name is not Thaksin.
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Thailand has had to take a step back democratically because of the overwhelming corruption. But it will take great strides forward and mature into a worthy DEMOCRACY when things are put in order. I think the military government has what is best for Thailand and those who reside there, so give them that chance!
It is premature to say that the military government wants the best for Thailand. What determines for me what will be the electoral law. If the rumors are true that only 30% of future members of parliament are directly elected through a national election, then that is 10 steps back.
I still don't see any measures to bring the work to where it is needed in the country, people are still forced to move to Bangkok and the rest of the world.
Regards, Gerald.
Dear GJKlaus,
It is indeed a bit premature, but this 'undemocratic' junta has dared to name and address more problems in this country since May 22 (less than a MONTH ago) than all democratic governments in the past 15 years. I can put it even more strongly: these so-called democratic governments have caused or only exacerbated the biggest problems.
Awesome! With such an overwhelming majority, known from polls and election results in dictatorial states, all restrictions on public opinion and political activity can immediately be lifted. And elections can be called as soon as possible. After all, 90% will support the new policy. Praise be to the military who cleared up the mess so quickly. All the more so as they, and the branches on which they rely and are part, have had no part in causing the mess. So you see how quickly you can do the laundry with clean hands and not driven by the interests of yourself or your supporters, let alone any form of corruption. There is nothing but blessing and happiness on the soldiers. But we already knew that. Just look at the wealth and interests they have acquired with their rather limited official salaries. Purely thanks to blessing and luck.
Democracy is nice, but it also gives no guarantees of perfection or banishes corruption.
The Netherlands is also corrupt and a lot of money on the head, how are people here deceived with empty promises. During elections, voters are promised all kinds of things, but once they win the seats, they experience memory loss. What good does the free market do for poorly performing managers who fill their pockets while the employee is left empty-handed? What is the difference with Thailand in that.
Ronald van Veen, I'm happy with you (and with Herman hihi). I am also a person of norms and values. I was raised that way. It is indeed a good feeling that a majority approves of this action. Also indicates that standards and values are also being considered and that this also benefits people.
Of course, not much will change immediately, but perhaps the beginning of a turnaround. But let the THAI decide for themselves what is best for them. We must limit our reactions. We are guests here, after all. Corruption will continue to exist. But don't forget that there is also a lot of corruption in our country and that it is teeming with pickpockets and bonus sharers. WE are no better when it comes to that.
That is very reassuring, I was just as afraid that most Thais just let it happen, because it has happened so many times and the rich are bringing the rebellious country back under control.
But no, 93% and 87% even applaud it, the polls are very clear, the army has relieved Thailand of a major burden, or is still doing so. Because as I understand from Western reports, the army in Chiang Mai has banned the screening of the film 1984.
You know the book by that English writer George Orwell, from which our John de Mol also borrowed his Big Brother.
But that's all over now and it's also poll supported.
And what would we westerners worry about, with all that clatter of arms from the army, Thailand remains a safe and cheap country for us and we want that anyway.
You didn't think that the screening of that film 1984 in Chiang mai was a coincidence and had been scheduled for months, did you?
It was clearly politically motivated.
George Orwell's book is from 1948 and the movie was released in 1984.
The movie was made because of the success of the book, which features Orwell's ominous vision of the future. In the film, the terrifying Big Brother figures by seemingly omnipresent, protagonist John Hurt plays the lonely individual who is a victim of the totalitarian state.
Of course, this film was chosen on purpose, by the small group of dissenters who oppose coup and state.
If so many Thais would support the military, why do 77% still want elections?
see tweet from journalist:
Pravit Rojanaphruk @PravitR 17 pm View translation
Latest NIDA poll stated that 77% of respondents say prime minister of #Thailand must be an elected MP. Should polling be banned now?
Went to search on the NIDA website and guess what: 77% of Thai people think that the prime minister should be elected directly by the people. Doesn't necessarily have to be in conflict with the current situation. Perhaps Phrayut would be elected PM if he ran for office.
Those 77% do indeed have a problem with the current situation, so the solution is “perhaps” in the offing.
A more interesting result of the poll is – in my opinion – that 54% of Thai people think that a member of parliament does not necessarily have to be a member of a political party. So non-party could also be MP.
Incidentally, people always give answers in polls, to smart and stupid questions. In my former life as a researcher, we regularly asked the Dutch population who was the minister in the Netherlands at that time. We read the names and people could answer yes, no or don't know. One of the names was always the name of one of my colleagues in the office. It always ended up in the top ten!!!!