Statement: 'Junta promised reforms, but nothing essential has changed in the past three years!'
What about the actual reforms in the Thai community, something the junta promised when they staged a coup three years ago.
I think many of us who follow the news wonder what the junta has accomplished in the past three years. Have improvements been made in a number of areas? For example, I am thinking of:
- Economy
- Reducing economic and other inequalities
- Political reconciliation
- Environment
- Police reform
- Fighting corruption
- Improving education
- International prestige
- Freedoms and rights
- Judiciary reform
- Solve problems in the Deep South
- Road safety
- Fighting drug abuse
The junta promised to implement major reforms. Frankly, I see very little of that and I see a decline in many areas. It seems as if the junta mainly focuses on eliminating (alleged) opponents and consolidating their rule.
But maybe I'm not judging it right and dear readers can help me. Have substantial and good changes been made?
So join the discussion about the Statement of the week: 'The junta promised reforms, but nothing fundamental has changed in the past three years!'
I think it's the same all over the world. The government promises a lot, but can change little or nothing.
You cannot change people's mentality by raising (more) taxes, more rules, more education and being kind to people who are not.
The deep south will never change as long as they are not dealt with harshly.
Raising taxes on plastic packaging doesn't work either. Producers are tough on it.
Tackling corruption, for example by police officers, also does not work by tackling individuals who go wrong. The whole system must then be overhauled.
Especially with fines, things can be very different in Thailand. No more paying in cash, but registering by registration number. And not pay; seize vehicle.
I could name many more examples, but it all boils down to the fact that if you want real changes, you need a tough approach, on a large scale.
Governments do not dare to do that, not even in Thailand.
If they did, they would get 'human rights' organizations after them, and therefore sanctions from other countries.
That's how it keeps popping up all over the world.
Ah Tino, the transition period was the only real reason for the coup. The rest is folk food.
Indeed. But the junta's motto is still คืนความสุขให้คนในชาติ khuun khwaamsòek hâi khon nai châat, or "Return happiness to the people!" Seen daily on all Thai television screens at 18.00 pm and on Fridays after the royal news at 20.15 pm when Prayut gives his talk and the rest of the population waits for the soap.
And I just think that nowadays that program was called “khor kheun khwaamsoek tjaak khon nai chaat” or “may I return the happiness of the people”. 555
In Thailand nothing will change. With or without a junta. The culture is finished. Just as once the Egyptian culture was finished, the Greek, the Roman. There is no point in forcing a Western model on the Thais. Of course they want the pleasures, big car, big television, smartphone, but a democracy model alla the west is unknown to them and the ordinary Thai doesn't care. They prefer to place their existence in the hands of Buddha and their animistic folksy. Let them, I say.
True what you say. Thai society is no longer called a living culture for support, just a mixture of materialism and culture kitsch. It will be a long time before a new social order or. cultural guideline will develop, address education first…
Dear Bert,
All the cultures you mention have influenced each other. There is no 'pure' culture, all cultures are and always have been 'multicultural'. As someone else said it better:
Culture only develops through exchange with other cultures, sharing ideas, commerce, philosophy, etc, and improvement of the genetic pool. When cultures stay insulated they are doomed to fall or to stagnate.
Multiculturalism is and always has been the essence of human development.
This goes way back to ancient times. Look at the huge spread of the mother cult in Neolithic times, the cultural and commercial exchanges in the antique, between Kelts and Chinese, between the Greek city states and India, etc. (Nick Nostitz)
Democracy has three important pillars: freedom of speech, participation and compassion (helping each other). That is universal and not limited to the West. The Thais themselves have been fighting for this for a hundred years. It has nothing to do with the Buddha or animism. Thailand, as you know, also has Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and atheists.
There is no question of the 'west' 'forcing' anything on Thailand. There is just a fruitful exchange of ideas (and sperm) 🙂
A military junta almost never solves a problem, and certainly not in Thailand.
I know you are quite pro-red and live there in the high cold north. I don't live permanently in TH and when I come there (overwinter), then mainly in BKK. A number of things have indeed changed for the better (in my eyes) in that city and a number of others have deteriorated according to the western 'gutmensch' view.
What has clearly turned in favor are those endless "mobs" (plain Thai word for demonstration) that flattened half the central city and that pock noise that always seems to have to get rid of it. Although I know, no need to correct me, that the last ones were yellow.
Furthermore, but rather by the BMA than by the junta, a firm start has been made with reclaiming the sidewalk and some parts of the city from the "poor, oso-silige" little man/salesman, who, like any right-minded Thai of half a stabbed phalanx of the finger to make a whole hand right away. As if a right-minded Thai doesn't immediately know where he can open his stall.
A more realistic economic policy with regard to all kinds of subsidies and free giveaways. Next time even I will pay for city bus rides again, although that will only be half of the ChMai price for double distance.
What I somewhat regret is that it looked like the junta was finally going to put the (always seen as pro-red) brown boys with their tight suits in their rightful places and nothing else, but that seems to have bogged down.
More entertaining and actually also a bit sad is the hunt for the Thaksin family remnants still residing in TH, and above all - it remains TH - their scholarships - looks a bit North Korean.
Dirty counter question: is it possible that in pro-red ChMai there is silent underground resistance to the firm measures of junta so that you get a different picture?
This is the story of a know-it-all. You are certainly pro-yellow and pro-dictatorship. The way you talk about mobs and the poor pathetic man is contemptuous of democracy. We cannot understand Thailand. And we are guests here. All that fuss about red and yellow. It seems like the Thais start talking about VVD and GL. And what do you have to say about corruption? It is whole or red?
Already 20% fewer bookings Thailand. Many of my friends no longer go. Atmosphere in Bkk less and less Thai. The junta wants to follow Singapore. Europeans do not go to Thailand for that. Singapore could just as well be in the US. Why do pedestrians need more walking space? In Pratunam, for example, nobody is waiting for that. The upcoming gigantic increase in alcohol excise duty will also scare away the last tourists. Now, especially in Bkk and Phuket, there is no difference with the Netherlands. Belgium is slightly cheaper. swedish model) Nowhere so many alcoholics as in Sweden and England / Then in Thailand it will be STIR YOURSELF WHISKEY!!!
Rome wasn't built in a day either, I say, keep it up, finally someone who wants to put things in order, even if it takes a while,
Politicians all over the world always promise everything, but in practice nothing changes. In that respect, this government is no exception.
The most tangible change is political. The new constitution profoundly affected the political rules of the game and profoundly influenced the field of influence. Whether this is interpreted for good or for bad depends to a large extent on the social position of the Thai who dares to talk about it.
For us farrang, not much has changed in practice. We are and will remain strangers in LOS.
Real social changes only take place when there is a radical change at the top that is supported by a decisive part of the population. The French revolution, the American revolution, the Maoist revolution,… are examples of this.
A coup d'état by the army, where the population just watches and thinks their way, has no real impact. That is the problem of the current rulers, you cannot change society by decree.
I can't think of anything. Or it must be stability through the suppression of freedom. But I don't count re-education camps as improving education. While it is precisely there that the seed can be sown for a people who are encouraged to ask questions and to investigate, to be critical. Thailand can also become a well-functioning democracy if the kklojesvol is given that space. Democracy and dialogue are not Western but human values. In the end, the people can overcome the yoke of a junta. The country deserves to live up to its own name.
The political scene has calmed down and Thailand has become a more stable country. In addition, this government (the word junta is a completely misplaced disqualification; with a junta we think of a South American banana republic) is seriously trying to tackle corruption. Conclusion: positive changes indeed, but of course this is happening slowly.
yellow and red, it's all a big play. opium for the people. the laughing third are the people and companies with money and the lobbyists who bribe either left or right politicians
so it is everywhere in the world
One drank a glass, one peed and everything remained as it was. Amen.
The various tactics to maintain power are sure to return time and time again. Think of discrediting critical citizens as communists and not patriotic. Last March, Prayuth said that he thinks it's a pity that some people don't understand the military junta … oops, excuse me .. military government and keep asking critical questions. Those people don't like their country, are they Thai?
So spoke the man who keeps hammering that everything will be fine if everyone just walks neatly in line under the leadership of the people who know what is good for the country...
Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinion/2017/03/25/insidious-identity-politics-thai/
that is, of course, rather authoritarian, fascist, and encourages corruption. A terrible party that is now in power, it shows again. But on the other hand there are certainly no sweethearts either. People don't realize that the politicians look down on us. for them it is about power and they are willing to sacrifice a lot for it. one of the first things sacrificed is their sincerity, and immediately after that the common good. They don't care about us.
As far as I can judge after 10 years of living and working in Thailand, very little has changed, but something. I think this is the first government to make promises to the people that cannot be held to account through elections. The governments for this had no coalition agreement and hardly any programme. They reacted to what is happening and that has not really changed. Being proactive, looking ahead and making decisions based on that that are important for the entire people is foreign to Thai politics. It is short-term thinking (if at all), pushing through decisions in parliament, scoring quickly and therefore a lot of populism. This government makes no positive or negative exception to this.
Attention has been fully focused on a new constitution containing all kinds of rules and procedures to prevent a repeat of the unworkable situation of the past 10 years. There is an important difference between the Bangkokians and other Thais in the perception of this period. With the exception of a few arson attacks outside Bangkok during the crackdown by the army against the red shirts in Rachaprasong (and the ongoing unrest in the south), Bangkok has always and most suffered from disturbances and unrest: demonstrations, demonstrations, shootings, bombings, political kill. While everyone in Thailand could just go to work without danger, this was completely different in Bangkok in the years before the coup. You can be in the wrong place at the wrong time every day. THAT has certainly changed, but I must admit: it is not essential.
Behind the scenes, something has definitely changed. However, most retired expats do not notice this. Work is being done to improve the quality of education and also to combat corruption, which I notice in education. However, this is done the wrong way. Instead of tackling the problem at its roots, a new bureaucracy has sprung up that completely misses the mark. More unworkable rules means that people in the workplace come up with all kinds of creative solutions to get around these rules. And so the shore turns the ship….again.
There is – in my opinion – an unprecedented lack of quality in management: in politics, in universities, in hospitals and perhaps in many other government sectors. It is much more a lack of quality than ill will. One of the examples is that people categorically refuse to learn from 'best practices' in other countries (as if Thailand were so unique in everything that people had to make their own solutions) and from the past. People just continue with populism to make the people happy. Not realizing that the people will not be happy at all in the long term. It is precisely a junta that could take unpopular measures because it is not accountable to an elected parliament. And sometimes they do. But not with the happiness of the population in mind.
Indeed, things have changed for the better
Finally, the land theft is addressed
Finally, the loansharks are being dealt with
There are transparent financial and other support measures for agriculture
Corruption is indeed being dealt with harshly up to the highest echelons of the system.
And no, the police have not yet been reformed, but corruption has become ingrained there, so that in fact 95% of the force should be thrown to the curb, the same goes for the teaching staff, because there too corruption is rampant and incompetence is great.
The junta's main objective is to completely dismantle the power base that Voldomar Na Dubai has built in the country's power centers. The biggest problem here is the police and in some areas the local authorities, which are in fact at the service of Voldomar instead of the population. That is why the Kamnans will be elected every 5 years in the future. This is to prevent cities from being controlled by Mafia families with Voldomar connections, as happened in Pattaya for decades, until the junta intervened.
All of Thailand knows that the entire police apparatus, from DSI to the local commanders, are/were loyal to Voldomar. Because it is normal that a newly promoted national police chief travels to Homg Kong to pay tribute and thanks to a convicted fugitive criminal for promotion and take a photo with him. He is not even reprimanded for this. The fact that this photo is also on his desk is also telling.
To cut a long story short, the junta has taken over 20 years of chaos and a thoroughly corrupt state. And Thai citizens know very well that Voldomar Na Dubai is primarily responsible for this. Before the junta intervened, Thailand was on its way to becoming the family holding company Voldomar Na Dubai. And one can hardly blame the junta for wanting to completely dismantle this family holding company and its branches to which even a corrupt Buddhist sect belongs. And it is to their advantage that they choose the legal route for this.
It may not be very democratic, but I hope that the army will remain in power for years to come, until things are completely cleaned up, and that figures like Voldomar Na Dubai can never come to power again.
Lol Henry, straight from the book of one ST from S. In your opinion, is the military not part of the political chaos and corruption?
Peace is back, no red and yellow shirts attacking each other, that is already quite a sensation for many Thais, for some countries a tight hand is sometimes good, fighting corruption will take many years, what color will the coming government will form, the corruption will not be less. The economy will not really pick up again until a “democratically” elected government is installed. Had hoped they would do something about the many useless civil servants who collect their money every month by showing their face every now and then.
Economy:
Large projects useful within Asean, long-term positive effect, cost enormous, but no effect on the disadvantaged areas such as Isan and ultimately exacerbated the frustration in the red areas.
In short, no reduction in economic inequality, certainly not in the next 20 years.
Clearing the BKK streets of the sales stalls that mainly come from people from the deprived areas in an attempt to grab a crumb. As with any trade is “Location, location. location” essential to get some income, so don't come with they will find another place.
It's another way of saying fuck off go back to your dead zone.
Clearing the beaches idem ditto.
Political reconciliation:
Is not possible due to suppression of freedom of expression (art.44 and lease majesty(?) etc.)
A government that cannot handle criticism and responds accordingly is rightfully a dictatorship
There is no reconciliation, but everything is aimed at consolidation, in short, no change.
Everything revolves around power or fear of losing it.
With regard to the other points, the junta does not consult experts from outside its own circle insufficiently or not at all. The universities are very low in the international ranking because there is a serious lack of research, they hardly go beyond batchelor status and must strive more for master status. Here too you see the twist of Thai history: we can all do it ourselves without acquiring enough knowledge. It is strange when you see that the royal family set a good example for the former king and 2 of his daughters and still show what research means.
In short, I share Tino's vision.
Everything takes time, changes don't happen in 1 day. Change and habituation go hand in hand.
One thing has improved greatly and that is that there is more peace throughout the country. The daily riots here and there in the country have become minor incidents and they will always exist.
Give the Thai time and space to get used to the necessary changes. A drop can drill a hole in a stone if the drop just keeps falling.
Listen to the ordinary person on the street and they know what is going on. Not those sitting behind a large desk. The best helmsmen are on shore. I have known Thailand that was clean, without plastic, if not fine 2000 bath, and it worked. You couldn't even see a cigarette butt. The mentality must change, especially that of foreigners. Without a helmet, a sour face and instant Thai shopping without a paper bag. Shameful
It is certainly all those foreigners who dump thousands of kilos of waste on the street and in the sea every day.
Come on, do you believe that yourself. And if there are 65 million Thai living in Thailand and maybe 1 million farang then of course it will all be the fault of the farang, talking about rose colored glasses…
I think it is very difficult for a non-Thai to judge this.
Understanding the Thai language and reading is essential to know what's out there
is said and written.
My knowledge of the language is good enough for the simple things but talking about politics
is a whole other level.
Still, I can see that things have changed, some positive and some negative.
We have good opticians in Thailand.
Anyone who does not see that VEEEEL has changed in detail AND main issues is blind. Or almost.
But yes, providing commentary to the side of the playing field is oh so easy.
Some look at that.
Impulsive unfounded criticism.
And above all, talk to each other. Dutch parrots
Prayuth Chan-ocha THANK YOU.
KhunBram
They are more likely to adhere to their clientelistic and nepotistic obligations. Us knows us and fills our pockets.
These people have a right to their own country and their own culture.
This cannot be changed to the Western model.
Payuth has been appointed by higher authorities to bring peace to this country. He succeeded miraculously without bloodshed. He would have preferred to do something different, but unfortunately Pauyth was the only person who could do this.
After he took office, a lot was addressed, much that previous governments had left behind. People who follow the news every day on TV and in the newspapers cannot ignore this. The land theft, the loansharks, now the traffic measures with seat belts again, making the sidewalks usable again for what they are intended for, bring it on. It is clear that everything cannot be arranged in a short period of time in one or two days. People feel sorry for Thais who prefer to ignore all laws and regulations. That is ingrained in these people and Payuth can never change that.
Just get on there.
Incidentally, there has never been a country where I was so doubled over laughing at the way the population handles the rules. That's the bright side of the whole thing.
I could have written it myself, but you beat me to Corretje. There is a lot wrong in this country, seen from the perspective of Western countries. My wife, a real Thai, is happy with this regime and is in favor of decisive action. The army is the ideal group to tackle this. It is unfortunate but sometimes unavoidable that Article 44 must be applied. Weak surgeons make stinking wounds and sometimes this is necessary to avoid endless nonsense, because everyone has a different opinion and if you have to involve everything and everyone you will never achieve anything. Democracy at its best. Just look at the Netherlands, how often things go wrong and decisions are made that make my pants fall off. It is clear that there is still a lot wrong with the Thai economy. Fighting poverty should be the first priority, followed by corruption, etc., etc. There is still a long way to go and the last has not yet been written about this.
That may all be very true, but the question was whether or not that vigorous regime has done anything about it in the past 3 years. What has the military addressed besides removing some blemishes here and there?
Article 44 has been officially ratified and is being applied very sparingly. Payuth needs this as a stick behind the door. Fine I would say.
Like, for example, the reds have behaved in recent years. This under the leadership of Sea Deng. who, as he said himself, had his training in STREET Terror in Israel from Moshe Dyan. The results of this are still fresh in the memory: banbu sticks with sharp points and car tires filled with petrol that were set on fire. And Arisseman and a few more of those hot guys. We can go on like this for a while.
These ideas are still alive among the bedpopulation, scattered here and there.
Payuth, who may also already have a 7 for his age, must resolve this before free elections take place. A lot needs to be changed for this.
He is still working on these changes.
For several years now I have spent half of my time in Thailand. You observe a lot, read and hear what others experience and talk about this with your immediate environment. With your own glasses you weigh the good and less good things of this country. Of course there are many points for improvement and I can't help but think about how I would tackle those points myself. I think Prayuth genuinely intends to make improvements but it's a road full of pitfalls and traps; a search for what and how in one
jungle of interests.
It would be nice if, for example, there were an advisory board of foreigners to support him.
Many farang are well trained and have broad experience from their own current or past work. They are also quite capable of looking at problems from a more distant point of view, unimpeded by the culture that the Thais have in their genes. I realize that completely un-thai would be: listening to foreigners and perhaps having to admit that they see it right. However, I believe that if the junta is able to step over this threshold, they will realize that the farang in their country can be more than suppliers of Bahtjes.
As long as the shelves in the shops and markets are still full of food, the vast majority of the population thinks it's fine. The history of many countries teaches us that when scarcity and hunger manifest themselves through mismanagement of government responsibility, the people start to stir and become rebellious and demonstrative, which can sometimes lead to a bloody civil war.
Have every confidence that it will not come that far in Thailand.
When I came to live here Thaksin was in power.
Followed by many whose names I have already forgotten.
Now Prayuth and his team.
Has anything changed was the question.
I don't think so, just like from the beginning.
The police , the illegal gambling , the corruption etc etc etc .
Jan Beute.
If anything has changed, it will be "something behind the scenes", but I don't think it's really noticeable in everyday life at all.
NOTHING to notice in Bangkok. Thais say that we should not expect it all so soon ….
The reality is that it is a “waiting for Godot”…..