NationStates Jolt Archive

I find it amazing how little regard for democracy or human rights mainstream US media has. The news coverage of the coup in Thailand was absolutely wanton. The fact that a democratically elected government was overthrown by a military junta didn't seem to matter to anyone. The only coverage on the coup was about whether or not this event would hinder the much vaunted "War on Terror." Personally, I'm disgusted.

You know, I heard that 80%+ of the population of Thailand supports the coup.

You know, I heard that 80%+ of the population of Thailand supports the coup.

Ask them the same question in a year, after the junta fails to hold elections and seizes absolute power.

I find it amazing that peopl hold democracy in such high regard that they would force democrocy on people that prefer the dictator.

Ask them the same question in a year, after the junta fails to hold elections and seizes absolute power.

We shall see.

I find it amazing that peopl hold democracy in such high regard that they would force democrocy on people that prefer the dictator.

They only prefer the junta because the prime minister was a real sleazy prick. My concern is what happens next. Will the junta actually live up to its promise to hold elections in one year, or will they just hold onto power. The government already is cracking down on political groups as we speak. My bet is that they won't give up power.

Ask them the same question in a year, after the junta fails to hold elections and seizes absolute power.

Maybe that is what they want. Let Thailand have the right to be stupid.

Ask them the same question in a year, after the junta fails to hold elections and seizes absolute power.
They only support it because the democracy was failing.

You know, I heard that 80%+ of the population of Thailand supports the coup.

of course, the junta has imposed penalties on anyone who says otherwise and has imposed strict censorship on the media...

They only support it because the democracy was failing.

or, rather, those damn peasants were electing people somewhat opposed to the interests of the elite.

again.

I'd say the junta knows that if they don't hold elections the people will just take them out of power (there is already talk of it in rural areas but as of yet no one has really stood up)

This goes as quite a proving ground though as this is how Queen Elizabeth would seize power (well if parliament resisted anyways) so if this coup turns nasty we must be sure never to have trouble in parliament when we have jolly old prince Charles in power

I'd say the junta knows that if they don't hold elections the people will just take them out of power

well, assuming they don't just mow the people down in the streets. it's not like that's unheard of from the thai military when it wants to rule the place.

Ask them the same question in a year, after the junta fails to hold elections and seizes absolute power.

Then 97% of them will support it, lest said junta hunts them down and tortures them to death, as happens when the military takes over the government...

I just hope that this won't affect our nation's supply of Thai food

mmm... pad thai shrimp...:D

No one in America cares. If anyone even knew it was going on to begin with by now it has been forgotten. Thailand? Wherezat?

Given how it was a democracy (a corrupt one but still...) I'm surprised Bush isn't complaining about the military overthrowing a freely elected government. If he has it surely hasn't gotten much widespread coverage.

of course, the junta has imposed penalties on anyone who says otherwise and has imposed strict censorship on the media...

I'm guessing you know no one in Thailand.

How many of you know the King of Thailand is an American citizen by birth? His father was attending MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts when his son was born.
(I know it is off subject, but thought I'd post it for shits and grins anyway.)

I'm guessing you know no one in Thailand.

not recently, though i used to know several. what i do know is that the ousted party kept getting 60+% of the vote, while the second highest party got 18% in the last election they didn't boycott. and i know that complaints against thaksin read like this (http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/03/21/opinion/opinion_20003175.php):

Taken at face value, Thaksin's argument appears sound and consistent with one of the most fundamental principles of parliamentary democracy. But on closer inspection, his invocation of ballot-box democracy, as he chooses to interpret it, does not hold water. It fails to take into consideration a major fallacy of the concept, particularly in a less-developed democracy like ours, in which the impoverished, poorly informed masses are easily manipulated by people of his ilk.

And Thaksin's manipulation has been well documented. It includes an ingenious use of populist policies that pander to the unprincipled wants and needs of the people...

damn that bastard and his shameless pandering to the masses' needs and wants!