David W
 |
There is no problem. This is good for Thailand. Here's a letter from Thailand today
'When my wife finally stopped singing and dancing around with our son at 7.45am this morning, she shouted out "Damn good!"
a) few people outside Thailand really know how Taksin has so cleverly usurped, benefitted from financial corruption instead of tackling it, bought up enormous tracts of his own country in areas of future development, bought foreign homes while barring foreigners from doing the same here, sued every major media outlet that criticised him and done NOTHING for the poor, and especially the hilltribes. Smiled at foreigners while restricting visas even further and pursuing policies which may ultimately be seen to be xenophobic. Full of promises and no delivery. Even his home city Chiangmai has waited a year in vain for his promised 53m baht to tackle flooding.
b) yes, he was democratically elected. The second time. Like another western premier we could name. At the first one he bought his way in with the "million baht per village" offer. That turned out to be a loan, not a gift of course, but it did the trick. Literally!
c) In my personal view this bloodless coup would not have taken place so smoothly, if at all, without the tacit consent of His Majesty. Maybe the writing was on the wall days ago? It is reported that Taksin took his whole family to the UN conference - unprecedented.
d) Dancing in the streets? Well there should be wherever thinking people are to be found (ie mainly in Bangkok). What we have in the streets here are lots of armoured personnel carriers and soldiers with rifles slung, looking a little bored and confused. But they don't mind having their photos taken as I proved on the way into the office this morning. Not allowed to talk, though, and many don't know what is happening.
e) Next? One of many responsible comments by General Sonthi was that the army would not hang on to power for very long. A coalition government, maybe with the promising young Democrat Abhisit to the fore, could be great!
f) We live in quite exciting times, but feel totally safe and very curious about the spin-off effects. Prayerfully this can only be good for Thailand!' |
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