Reader Submission: Thailand and Traditions
Lopburi (weera studio / Shutterstock.com)
I have nothing against traditions but some I really don't understand, I respect everyone's traditions, but what I saw on live streams on September 29th really didn't make me good.
Prime Minister Prayut visited a flood area, and was welcomed by literally hundreds of hotemets with neatly displayed goods to show off how good the government is to its people.
However, I have also followed the live streams in recent days and what I saw there was, with a few exceptions, the lack of army and police, which are present in ridiculous numbers in Bangkok to act against the demonstrators. Only volunteers did their best to help people.
Now everyone first had to expand with all goods and the prime minister on photo and film and the prime minister also handed some "victims" a package handed over from behind, who then bow to him like a jackknife and probably have to promise to support him in the next elections. These people probably forget that these packages have been put together through fundraising, and if the government has had a hand in that, then it was paid for from their own tax dollars
I therefore cannot escape the impression that these are carefully selected “victims”.
Why does this charade need to be staged with hundreds of people who, at the same time, could have rolled up their sleeves to help the real victims of this natural disaster?
In my opinion, this has nothing to do with traditions or respect, but with oppression, corruption and cronyism. Because what I do know and see is that the ordinary Thai always help each other in need.
When looking at these images I felt sorry for the ordinary Thai, in fact I was sick of this hypocrisy.
Submitted by Rob
The author of this article is, of course, absolutely right. Think of it as political propaganda, that's all it is. You see the same charade if one has once again arrested a criminal. Tig police figures who take a picture with the criminal and then try to radiate. Look how good we are!!
It may also be that you don't fully understand the Thai game and even if you do, who cares? The Thai are perfectly capable of arranging it themselves and that can only go against your own logic.
What you didn't see is that Prayut's caravan has been booed by many Thais standing along the road, some stamping their feet on the asphalt in anger.
What you have seen is just the show, but the Thai youth no longer falls for it.
Prayut has big problems with the current young generation.
Yes the oldies still bend like a jackknife to the ground, but Thailand is changing fast, and I know how many feel about the current club.
The demonstrators in Bangkok are mainly young people and not sensationalist ringleaders as some here on this blog sometimes think.
Yes, and as far as the army is concerned, they only come into action when the elite is in danger.
Jan Beute.
That's right Jan Beute.
I also saw those videos and heard people shouting: Ai hia ('bastard') and Ohk pai ('fuck off').
Prayut waved to the bystanders with a cheerful smile. He later said that flooding was normal and part of Thailand's monsoon climate.
I also always told my patients that cancer is a normal thing, common and normal.
Dear Jan, I saw that too, but then I had already sent my piece, and yes I follow everything as much as possible, especially the demonstrations and the idiotic police action against this.
Unfortunately I don't speak Thai but my wife often translates it for me, but yes she works in the Netherlands during the day, then I try to translate things myself via google.
And with the comments next to the live streams, the tendency was usually also please go help instead of this charade, this for those who think I don't understand Thai customs, then the Thai probably don't understand them either 555.
Rob
These displays are a daily occurrence on Thai news broadcasts.
I can imagine how you feel when you see that comedy.
In Cangmai, for example, a minister once came to encourage the little man to use the bicycle more against the air pollution, but allowed himself and his entourage to be brought there with the thick sled.
Lionel.
Wonderful, isn't it, dear Rob, all those traditions? Like that tough soldiers are being photographed here and there, with those nice scarves and caps in cheerful colors. A tradition as old as the last monarch. And then those conscripts have something else to do, instead of constantly mowing lawns of generals and expensive armor... excuse me, show off cars of those same generals. It is also tradition that the prime minister makes a round in a boat or helicopter and is kindly jeered at, that is what people expect. As long as the business center of Bangkok stays dry, that's where the people who matter work. The plebs can make do with beautiful symbolism and they have little else to expect. If the plebs are good Buddhists then they accept that and let go of their frustrations…
(should I include another sarcasm disclaimer?)
No, that's clear, great just your view on the matter.