Friday, May 07, 2010

Thai protesters should count their blessings

Thailand (John Blanchard / The Chronicle)
Supporters rally for the Thai government (seen here) while Red Shirt foes denounce it. (Photo: Paula Bronstein / Getty Images)
Supporters rally for the Thai government while Red Shirt foes (seen here) denounce it. (Photo: Manpreet Romana / AFP/Getty Images)

Sunday, May 2, 2010
Joel Brinkley
San Francisco Chronicle (California, USA)

Today, Cambodia is ruled by a kleptocratic, elective dictatorship. Emblematic of its behavior, the government sold a beautiful lake, a landmark in the center of the capital city, to a developer for $79 million and pocketed the money. The buyer began pumping sand into the water intending to fill it up and build a new development. But to do that, the government had to order the eviction of 4,000 families from their homes on the water's edge. Angry about this, one resident painted a declaration on the side of his home that said "Stop Evictions!" The government sued him for defamation.
Southeast Asia is a frustrating part of the world for anyone hoping to live in a democracy, as the violent protests in Bangkok right now make perfectly clear. But take a close look at Thailand's neighborhood and you come away wondering: Why can't the Thai people appreciate what they have?

To Thailand's west lies Burma, which last held democratic elections in 1990. Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party, the National League for Democracy, won a sweeping victory. But the ruling military government refused to accept the results and instead locked her away in her home. The next year she won the Nobel Peace Prize, but that changed nothing. She is still under house arrest today. Now the military junta is planning new elections this fall, but it recently released rules structured so that Aung San Suu Kyi cannot participate. Last month, her party's leadership announced it would boycott the vote. No one anywhere regards these planned elections as anything but a sham.

To the north of Thailand lies Laos, a closed, impoverished little nation where hammer-and-sickle flags fly above government offices, perhaps the last place on Earth where that is so. Schools and offices display posters of Marx and Lenin, and in a speech earlier this year, President Choummaly Sayasone opined that "Marxist-Leninist theory is practical and is suitable for the current situation in Laos."

Laos last held an election in 1955, but the coalition government collapsed in 1958, and the country hasn't experienced even a breath of democracy since. Meanwhile, half of the nation's children are so malnourished that they are stunted, meaning they are not growing, either physically or mentally.

To the east lies Cambodia, whose people received an extraordinary gift from the world almost 20 years ago. The United Nations, recognizing the tragedy the nation faced under the Khmer Rouge, occupied Cambodia for two years and spent $3 billion to redeem the state, giving it a democratic constitution. The United Nations staged national elections and, obviously hungry for democracy, 90 percent of the Cambodian people voted. But all of it was for naught.

Today, Cambodia is ruled by a kleptocratic, elective dictatorship. Emblematic of its behavior, the government sold a beautiful lake, a landmark in the center of the capital city, to a developer for $79 million and pocketed the money. The buyer began pumping sand into the water intending to fill it up and build a new development. But to do that, the government had to order the eviction of 4,000 families from their homes on the water's edge. Angry about this, one resident painted a declaration on the side of his home that said "Stop Evictions!" The government sued him for defamation.

Then, to the south lies Malaysia, which does have a democracy of sorts. But like their neighbors, Malaysians are having serious difficulties maintaining democratic freedoms. The U.S. State Department's human rights report, published last month, noted that "significant obstacles prevented opposition parties from competing on equal terms with the ruling coalition. Some deaths occurred during police apprehensions and while in police custody.

"The government also arrested other opposition leaders, journalists, and Internet bloggers apparently for political reasons" and "continued to restrict freedom of press, association, assembly, speech, and religion." At the same time, "arbitrary arrest and detention using the Internal Security Act and three other statutes allowed detention without trial, and persistent questions remained about the impartiality and independence of the judiciary."

And then there's Thailand, a democracy. It's not without problems, some quite serious. Official corruption is rampant. Occasionally, as in 2006, the military stages a coup. The Thai government, like Malaysia's, "maintained some limits on freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly," the State Department said.

But by and large, Thailand is more democratic - freer than any of its neighbors. And yet, thousands of people are demonstrating in the streets because they don't like the outcome of recent elections, just as they did before, in 2006 and 2008.

Two mass-protest groups, the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts, are roughly similar to Democrats and Republicans. It's a crude comparison, but the Red Shirts are poor and working-class populists, while the Yellow Shirts are defenders of Thailand's oligarchy. In recent years, leaders who were perceived to be advocates of one camp or the other have served as prime minister. Each time, the other side took to the streets, paralyzing the nation.

Thailand's protesters should look around, see how their neighbors live, realize how fortunate they are - and then wait for the next election.

Joel Brinkley, a professor of journalism at Stanford University, is a former foreign correspondent for the New York Times.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes I agree that Thailand is freer than many of its neighbors.

But I don't think it is a democracy country. better to say aristocracy with democracy on the surface...

See this link below to learn how the elite establishment vs the rural poors:

http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/ungpakorn160410.html

iTheCommentator,

Anonymous said...

Extra link on Thailand democracy:

http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=46493

iTheCommentator

Anonymous said...

"Joel Brinkley, a professor ...a foreign correspondent" - the name and professional experiences sounded so impressive and almost endorsed everything what he has said.

Thoroughly read it can understand his main point is to prove that Thailand is a better place than its neighbours in view of implementation of democracy.

The main question is why he wrote that for. Everybody knows that, even though high school students

Is his attempt to drown the FOUR neighbours further?

Speaking about Cambodia in particular, the non-stop repetition of $3 billion spent by the United Nations for national election in Cambodia sounds so bothered and irritated. I just can't believe that I heard from a credible professional person like Joel Brinkley.

You think that it was too much! How was about the four super powers changed hands to ruin my/our country for almost a century. You should spend more than that, not $3 billion.

Don't get me wrong! I am not trying to pro the current regime. But we have no alternatives and learn to live that way and change it gradually, rather than let our men pointing guns to each other AGAIN.

May be not now, but other generations in the next 10 or 20 years can make things happened, as long as our population increasing year by year.

Anonymous said...

Thailand did what they did, because they think they got it made and better than anyone. They're dumb and a brat.

In America, even a powerful republican who lost the election, stood back, shook hands with Obama and patiently wait for the next election. Did they see it? Nop. Bat. They cann't and Abhisit was the first brat and an assh*le. Thailand deserves what they got today.

Anonymous said...

6:39pm, i'm not Prof. Joel Brinkley, but you're not really seeing the pain of the 4000 families who got evicted from their home and out to the middle of nowhere or $ 79 millions that the Hun Sen's men loaded into their banks. You too are dumb. Why cann't they build a home or shelter ahead for each family to start their lives peacefully? and with dignity? Why treat our own people like animal? What for F*cker?!!!

Anonymous said...

Tell me what is the different between Thailand democracy and Cambodian democracy?

Here is the different! Thai democracy allowed the King of Thailand to make billion and billion of dollars over dirt poor Thai people and allowed no Thai citizen to criticize in anyway as if he is God! ahhahahhahah

The Cambodian democracy allowed the King of Cambodia to rule under Cambodian constitution which rule but has no power and Cambodian King can only dream of making billion and billion of dollars! ahahhahahhah

Anonymous said...

Before speeking about other countries, Joel"le Pro", look at your own country, America. What America has done to the people of Iraq, Afganistan....under the slogan "fighting for democracy"...You are not the best in this world!

Anonymous said...

Sometimes it need talking down by an outsider for Cambodians to be shamed. Otherwise no matter how thousands of family suffer or Khmer protest no other Khmer that are not affected by the miserable Khmer gives a dam. Especially our government.

Professor Joe is right, Thailand having so much freedom is something they should start to appreciate, look at our Cambodia, even a protest of 200 people cannot go through and if it must we have a. "Freedom Park" now!

Does no one get the irony of that? Or do we always clamor to protect "our face" when foreigners speak the truth! Well I say you can speak for your own face, my isn't and be part of anything that puts farmers in jail and throw out poor Khmers out of their home'

Anonymous said...

Speeking about children in Laos, I quote you are saying : "Meanwhile, half of the nation's children are so malnourished that they are stunted, meaning they are not growing, either physically or mentally....", i realize that you are the most STUPID professor in this world!

Anonymous said...

yes, nothing can last forever as world history have showed. great civilization of the world come and go all the time. it may be their time, or our time, but don't only time will tell. this is the reality of the cycle of civilization of human kinds. what people are experiencing in siem now is the beginning of their decline and what we see in cambodia now is the beginning of another great khmer civilization. i mean, everything has to start somewhere, somehow, really! good can't last forever, the same can be said of bad time too, you know. time doesn't stand still!

Anonymous said...

what kind of professor is judging other culture like this without taken into consideration the differences in the world's people, etc? my god, this professor will lose a lot of students once they learn that he is not open-minded, i'm sure! that is so unamerican in this kind of attitude of an american professor! in my career as a student, i never heard from any professor judging people like this professor.

Anonymous said...

maybe this professor got brainwashed by the bias siem pad thugs, really! i wouldn't be surprised a bit!

Anonymous said...

8:20pm - thanks for the comments. You call me a dumb? I really don't know how would I call you.

How do you know I have not seen the 4,000 families evicted. I am a Cambodian in Cambodia. You know that you are such an idiot.

We are talking about the general view about Cambodia as a whole, not the eviction of course. You are painful with 4,000 families you followed the media?

Read the article again, I think your English can understand enough what Joel was talking about. And also read my comment again what I really mean.

Anonymous said...

My prediction says that Adulyadet will die at the end of this year and that correspond to the dissolve of Thai parliament in this September. At the moment now Abhisit is making the Red shirt to believe him because the instability is making Thai lost a lot of money.

Mark my words, Thai king will die and the end of this year will the chaotic year for Thai to taste its first civil war.

Khmer/Muslim,

Anonymous said...

1:20 PM, I agree.

Anonymous said...

Brinkley is a respected journalist. His article sums up the situation pretty nicely. Don't forget it's directed at an American audience who by and large don't know a whole lot about other countries. Consequently, Brinkley needs to keep it simple. Of course, it leave out a lot about the differences in culture, and they do exist between Thailand and Cambodia, for instance. And it leaves out the most important aspect with respect to Cambodia. From 1970 to 1993 Cambodia was going through political turmoil and human tragedy. From 1993 to 1997 two parties were involved in a power struggle. Although Thailand did have several coup d'etats during that time, it still had some 30 years of a headstart in its economic development. Cambodia got its start in about 2003. Despite all the negatives, it's doing pretty good, all things considered.

Anonymous said...

I read the Professor's article. And his comparisons are nothing like you make it out to be. In fact, you should probably appreciate the fact that a foreigner, in some way exposed the brokenness of our heartless government, while not even having speak about Cambodia. Its a little aside of shame, that Cambodians should wake up to.

Don't think every time someone write anything that had the mention of Khmer's misery, that they are set out to attack Cambodia and praised Thailand or our neighbor or being bought by this and that.

It is your ego, and these type of clamor to save our face that we have, have not made us progress very slowly as a country.

Why are some people so angry about comparison to others country and taking to consideration of different cultures? In fact, I think that is exactly what this professor has done, he has taken into consideration of the apathetic and pathetic culture of Cambodia where "loyalty" comes before reasons and common sense!


The author did not set out to attack Cambodia, but Cambodia, as a fail nation, offers a good material for his comparison.

If you don't want others to look down on our country, then start being active and stop being loyal.

You need to be loyalty to your rights, dignity, and people. Not loyal to people who make your country a laughing stock by the world. People such as those who sell poor people's land, destroy free assembly, free speech, and
free opposing views.

Anonymous said...

I'd said something good about Cambodia too if we have no war and if we have political stability way back since 1945 I'm going to bet that professor and the rests of you that we will lead Thai in many fields. Plus, we could even lure the Khmer Issan or Khmer surin back to us if we economic power. Full stomach is the essential needs to every races.

I still don't buy the story from that professor. He could be biased and didn't analyzed how and what is the differences between Thai/Khmer. Plus, he should know that Thai had stole many things from Cambodia, you name them. Example, traditions and cultures Khmer had influences Thai for so many years back in the old day.

Almost 99% influences that Thai still practice today.

Khmer/Bangkok

Anonymous said...

12:30AM,

True, since we are behind the modern time for more than 30 years what do you expect?

If we have the lead times for +30 years I bet the Thai will be Cambodian slave anyway.

Khmer PoiPet,

Anonymous said...

11:11pm If am an idiots for the evicted 4000 Khmer families, so be it. Please also tell me what did our government do with those families? and where are they now? and why there is still a great misery going on in the name of development? and Why?

$3 billions may not mean much to you, but it would take Communist China & Vietnam to pay back $100 millions a year to Cambodia for 3 centuries for the great pain & suffering they caused and the 2 precious millions lives they took away from our country. I don't know about you, but i'm mighty thankful even just a dollar they give and i'm going to really make a different from that dollar.

Prof. Brinkley's comment wasn't meant to drown Loas, Burma, vietnam & Cambodia further. It was meant for everybody to open their eyes up a little bigger, to make some correction and to get better. Just how in the hell is Combodia going to get better when we cann't see what is good or what is bad for our very own people? How?!

Anonymous said...

from 12:33am,

11:11pm you also have such great patient. I don't and it bothers ta hell of out me when i'm seeing our country moving in a speed 1.5 miles an hour. You're refraining a vehicle that is make for moving 100 miles and beyond. Let me tell you one thing, please that if I can put a rocket under Hun Sen's ass to get where we want him to be, I'll put 5 and may be better, yet is to double that amount.

Anonymous said...

Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime

Members:
Pol Pot
Nuon Chea
Ieng Sary
Ta Mok
Khieu Samphan
Son Sen
Ieng Thearith
Kaing Kek Iev
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...

Committed:
Tortures
Brutality
Executions
Massacres
Mass Murder
Genocide
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Slavery
Force Labour
Overwork to Death
Human Abuses
Persecution
Unlawful Detention


Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime

Members:
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...

Committed:
Attempted Murders
Attempted Murder on Chea Vichea
Attempted Assassinations
Attempted Assassination on Sam Rainsy
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Assassinated over 80 members of Sam Rainsy Party.

"But as of today, over eighty members of my party have been assassinated. Countless others have been injured, arrested, jailed, or forced to go into hiding or into exile."
Sam Rainsy LIC 31 October 2009 - Cairo, Egypt
  
Executions
Executed over 100 members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders
Murdered 3 Leaders of the Free Trade Union 
Murdered Chea Vichea
Murdered Ros Sovannareth
Murdered Hy Vuthy
Murdered Journalists
Murdered Khim Sambo
Murdered Khim Sambo's son 
Murdered members of Sam Rainsy Party.
Murdered activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Murdered Innocent Men
Murdered Innocent Women
Murdered Innocent Children
Killed Innocent Khmer Peoples.
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Brutalities
Police Brutality Against Monks
Police Brutality Against Evictees
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Abuses
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Embezzlement
Treason
Border Encroachment, allow Vietnam to encroaching into Cambodia.
Signed away our territories to Vietnam; Koh Tral, almost half of our ocean territory oil field and others.  
Illegal Arrest
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation

Illegally use of remote detonation bomb on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and other military officials were on board.

Lightning strike many airplanes, but did not fall from the sky.  Lightning strike out side of airplane and discharge electricity to ground. 
Source:  Lightning, Discovery Channel

Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Removed Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country.
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Use Dead people's names to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
Disqualified potential Sam Rainsy Party's voters. 
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Death in custody.

Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leaders of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice. 

Anonymous said...

I'm so fucken tired of this shithead(12:49P) posting the same old shit in every blog. Yeah, don't use the 1% brain cell u got left.... just copy and paste. It's much easier. Don't need to think. That's what this no brainer's been doing all this time.

Anonymous said...

To blogger 12:19 AM, I completely agree with your comment. The article simply states how fortunate Thai protesters have in comparison to its neighbor.

Anonymous said...

12:30AM Khmer/Bangkok,

Can you tell me more about the people of Issan? Are they Khmer descendants?

As we all know the current crisis in Thailand is an ongoing struggle between the rich/elite in Bangkok and the poor in Issan. The rich consider the poor as second class citizen and want to rewrite the new constitution that "will not allow" the poor to vote.

Anonymous said...

Yes, those Khmer from the Issan regions are Khmer. They would love to rejoin Cambodia too if those CPP don't serve Viet.

We have close to 20 million of Khmer descendants currently live in Thailand and part of Laos. You know Champasak or Pakse or Wat Phu?

Those are belong to Khmer if not claiming more.

Now we can see Khmer are scatters all around the Main Land of Southeast Asia. I hope one day we embrace each other to revive our Empire.

Anonymous said...

That's time,
Khmer-Thais in EST provinces, separate from Thailand, be a country or as to be provinces of Cambodia.
Muslim-Thai in WEST provinces,
separate from Thailand, be a country or as to be provinces of Malasia.

Anonymous said...

12:33pm,

You now start talking about $3 billion, arent you? That's the topic I am talking about. However, you remain an idiot to me. $100 mil a year from China is not Xmas'gift, but it is a loan that we will pay it back, some even with full interest, in case you are blind and dumb still.

What you're trying to say is making so big deal with $3 bil. I dont even know who the hell are you by the way, Western or Eastern.

You raise the eviction of 400 families as an excuse to blame Cambodia, Cambodians and Government. That is a generalisation! Just because of that you even resort with the violence, as you said that wanting to fire rocket to Hun Sen house.

See! can you see who you are?

You are trying to ignite the fire among Khmers again.

That's why I asked you to read my comment again. We have another solution to solve by our own, but of course not the firing rocket, of course not Marxist dumb-shit revolution, not in armed conflict like you ignited that nation since the '60s.

Anonymous said...

12:19am - your justification is acceptable.