Thailand's Recent Events

[ConanKND]

Today it's a very important day in Thailand, as it is the birthday of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. Long Live the King!

The media here in Thailand reported that foreign news agencies, like BBC, CNN, AP etc. have also reported the news. And as a Thai, I can't help but wonder, does any foreigner, apart from Thais living overseas, actually acknowledge the news about our grand celebration? Please post whether you heard about the news or not. Thanks.\

Ex. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7128252.stm

 

[Newbunkle]

I think it was given a quick mention, but wasn't covered in depth.

 

[vader_tat]

I seconded that... Very important indeed!! 05/12 is de-facto, if not official (or is it already?) National Day.

 

[plarq]

How is the government running after the coup?

 

[warpus]

I haven't heard of it until now.. and no offense to your beliefs, but I believe that monarchies are an outdated institution.

I have heard though that you have very good reasons to think so highly of this man. I can respect that What are those reasons though?

 

[aronnax]

For one, he used his own money to fund projects that help the rural farmers with their agriculture and harvest and so on.

Another, he visits every province once a year (at least when he was younger) to just see how the things are going, including the south

 

[aelf]

The level of superstition involved is not admirable. But I guess the king is somewhat a force of stability (even though that does not prevent repeated interference by the military), so it's not so bad.

Still, considering the number of coups that have occurred, I think Thailand is a dysfunctional democracy much like the Philippines. It seems to be hallmark of Southeast Asia, unfortunately. With the exception of Singapore, which is not a democracy anyway. But, on that note, I do sympathise with the Singapore government more now, though - given the levels of intellect prevalent in that country (a little knowledge is dangerous, as they say) and the chaotic political trends in the region, a strong hand is probably necessary.

 

[Leonel]

Give my congratulations to His Majesty on his birthday!

 

[philippe]

I do not celebrate the birthday or find it worth celebrating of a person in whose country you can get arrested for "insulting" him.

 

[EdwardTking]

Today it's a very important day in Thailand, as it is the birthday of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. Long Live the King!

The media here in Thailand reported that foreign news agencies, like BBC, CNN, AP etc. have also reported the news. And as a Thai, I can't help but wonder, does any foreigner, apart from Thais living overseas, actually acknowledge the news about our grand celebration? Please post whether you heard about the news or not. Thanks.\

Ex. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7128252.stm

Long Live the King and constitutional monarchy!

 

[Leonel]

I do not celebrate the birthday or find it worth celebrating of a person in whose country you can get arrested for "insulting" him.

I thought you hippies were all about peace and understanding.

 

[philippe]

I thought you hippies were all about peace and understanding.

hippy...got me there

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6440645.stm

Oliver Jufer was arrested last December after drunkenly spray-painting several portraits of the monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

In court, Jufer pleaded guilty to five charges under Thailand's draconian lese majeste law.

He is due to be sentenced later this month, and the maximum penalty he could face is 75 years in jail.

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/31922/118/

face it guys, he is a "charismatic despot" like the Germans had with Frederik I, both were very harsh on critizism too...

 

[Leonel]

hippy...got me there

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6440645.stm




http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/31922/118/

face it guys, he is a "charismatic despot" like the Germans had with Frederik I, both were very harsh on critizism too...

Oh come now, did His Majesty order the arrest personally? Surely you can't blame the guy when his followers are zealots. Like you can't blame Jodie Foster when one of her fans tries to assassinate the President.

 

[philippe]

Oh come now, did His Majesty order the arrest personally? Surely you can't blame the guy when his followers are zealots. Like you can't blame Jodie Foster when one of her fans tries to assassinate the President.

You gotta be kidding:

you can't be saying:" the Leader in Birma is not a dictator, it's his soldiers that do all the killing and oppressing."

(No I don't say The King is an "evil" dictator but the promised "leap to democracy" still hasn't come yet...)

 

[warpus]

Oh come now, did His Majesty order the arrest personally? Surely you can't blame the guy when his followers are zealots. Like you can't blame Jodie Foster when one of her fans tries to assassinate the President.

Surely the King could have had the law changed if he doesn't approve.

 

[Yoda Power]

Like you can't blame Jodie Foster when one of her fans tries to assassinate the President.

Did that really happen???

 

[Leonel]

Did that really happen???

You never heard of that guy that tried to assassinate Ronald Reagan because he wanted to impress Jodie Foster after he watched Taxi Driver? He was even stalking her and trying to devise all sorts of ways to try and get her attention.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hinckley,_Jr.#Obsession_with_Jodie_Foster

This was back in the 80's though so you might not remember it. I sure as heck don't and I was born in 82.

 

[Martacus]

You never heard of that guy that tried to assassinate Ronald Reagan because he wanted to impress Jodie Foster after he watched Taxi Driver? He was even stalking her and trying to devise all sorts of ways to try and get her attention.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hinckley,_Jr.#Obsession_with_Jodie_Foster

This was back in the 80's though so you might not remember it. I sure as heck don't and I was born in 82.

Well, as the assassination attempt was in '80 or '81, IIRC, then no, you definitely wouldn't have remembered it. Come to think of it, I was born in 1980 and don't remember it either.

EDIT: Oh, and Happy Birthday, too, your highness.

 

[Verge]

Happy birthday, your highness. But to answer the OP, I'm not seeing much news about Thailand today. There's just been a mall shooting in Omaha, and that's been cornering a good share of the media today.

 

[ConanKND]

Thanks, everyone.

An hour ago, aThai TV channel's morning news show broadcasted a clip from CNN about the news, and it looks quite good.

Asfor some comments about the monarchy, yes, some people are worrying that when the king (Buddha forbids it) die, the Crown Prince, which has aa shady reputation will be, well, crowned. Some thinks that the constitutional monarchy may be at risk.

The 'zealots'? Well, yeah, but he was really influential. Even if he didn't go up and down the country for decades, his musical, sports (awarded gold medal i the South East Asian games in sailing) and scientific talent, would have brought him great admiration. As it stands, Thais will be fanatical when it comes to anything about the King. It's helping the economy a bit too, you know, with the yellow shirt fever. the most important thing is, he's the force keeping Thailand together at the present. Thailland will have o wait long before it can think of being a pure democracy, or a republic.

Which brings me to the topic, someone asked about the coup, yes? The government's OK, but the Election Commitee's ferocious (yet righteous, mostly) persucation of the former PM's party has led to concerns that, beause Thais easily pity the losers, the former PM"s party, disguised in a new party, may win the elections, which are due on the 23rd of this month. 17 days to go.

As for the crazy Swiss, he's been acquited by His Majesty, if I'm not wrong.

And aelf, you're from Singapore? Just wanna know.