Postbag: Why not ban all rallies?

Postbag

Published: 27 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Re: ''20,000 police, troops outnumber Pitak Siam protesters'', (BP, Nov 25).

The government showed its new policy against protest organisers and rallygoers. For me, it is acceptable, because any rally disturbs normal social activities, more or less. Therefore, I hope the government makes this policy a standard practice and bans all kinds of rallies regardless of their purposes and colours. If the government fails to implement this new policy, we can accuse you people of double standards and call you liars.

R H SUGA

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ringmaster
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Discussion 17 : 28 Nov 2012 at 01.0617
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I used to think like John Kane but I changed my mind when the PAD held my family and me hostage at Suvarnabhumi in 2008. Besides, I pay some taxes, or at least VAT, and that gives me some rights to say what I think. Now I feel like I'm part of the solution and exercising my free speech is part of that.
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franklin
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Discussion 16 : 27 Nov 2012 at 20.2116
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It’s not much consolation but the treatment of long-living foreigners in Thailand is the same as all exploited non-Thai so-called ethnic minorities; they are exploited and not seen as equals to the almighty Thai majority. What I don’t ‘get’ is what exactly are the stellar world-class achievements, in science, medicine, humanities, education, communications, and research and development from Thailand that have benefitted not only Thailand but contributed to the world that they base their pride bordering on arrogance upon?
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banned
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Discussion 15 : 27 Nov 2012 at 16.5315
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I think both sides are correct about the rallies, attending, supporting or not. In the real world we'd able to express our thoughts freely, but we don't live in the real world. We live in a kind of OZ with a wizard behind the curtain and all manner of straw-men and tin-men stomping about.
Participate at your own risk is about all that can be done.
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rico
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Discussion 14 : 27 Nov 2012 at 15.4214
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John Kane : my Thai wife, who lives in Europe (Belgium) with me since 4 years, not only is regarded as a member of european society (with all the rights/duties of the "natives" - i.e. full social securtity - right to own businesses/proprety in her OWN name, full health care ) but is entitled to expresse her political views too. Even as a non European, she has the right to vote in municipal elections. Her (political) view counts as much as mine. So if one day we move to Thailand, I find it at least decent that, after a certain time, I m considered a part of the Thai society and not a mere tourist/guest.
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lungstib
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Discussion 13 : 27 Nov 2012 at 13.3113
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The lack of writing skills may also be connected to the lack of reading. In all my time in Thailand I have seldom seen a Thai in public reading a book or a newspaper. Even at airports where there is a large amount of time to waste you seldom see Thais reading. Why is that?
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OldThaiHand
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Discussion 12 : 27 Nov 2012 at 10.4212
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"I hope officials or educators who are responsible for Thailand's educational improvement start to realise this missing element in the the nation's curriculum"

Don't hold your breath.

I have been teaching university here since 1997, including at the 2 top unis. Even Thai professors have trouble writing papers which is a requirement for ranking. So, they hire research assistants and ghost writers to do their research and write for them. A Farang colleague was paid 150,000 Baht per paper to write 5 different papers, for which Thai professors got credit.

So, how can you expect students to show more ability and integrity than their profe
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mr.meldrew
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Discussion 11 : 27 Nov 2012 at 10.2011
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jcwilcox D4: Although I agree with you that some of us expats are more than just guests, I have a Thai wife and children born here, but attending rallies would do us no good. Many Thais have become even more intolerant and racist to farangs over the last few years so best not give them more reason to be against us by interfering in their messed up politics. Best educate your family correctly so their votes can count. We are not treated properly, I agree, but that is not going to change ay day soon. Especially with TS in charge.
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dao
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Discussion 10 : 27 Nov 2012 at 09.4110
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I believe foreigners should be able to attend a rally if they want to .Democracy didnt come from Thailand it came from Rome .We wouldnt even be using it if everyone followed Johns Kanes reasoning .
Making someone who has been here for much of their life a guest is a kind of insulting if you ask me .
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pjt
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Discussion 9 : 27 Nov 2012 at 08.569
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John Kane - but at some point a country becomes home. Indeed your country encourages that integration - how many US politicians have foreign ancestors? It seems strange to me that if you run a business here or are retired, have an extended family and daily see the impact of politics and government management of the economy on your community that somehow the fact you are foreign should disqualify you from having and expressing an opinion about how things are run or indeed supporting one political party over another even though you cannot vote
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barryw
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Discussion 8 : 27 Nov 2012 at 08.468
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John Kane - if we ARE guests then we are treated shoddily by our hosts, with government-led double pricing (except the government believes in 10-times pricing for their guests) and all kinds of other nonsense that underline we have absolutely no rights at all to anything - even according to you a view of the politics that affect us as much as the locals. Most countries allow protests by anyone, regardless of nationality. You don't need an approved passport to express your point of view.
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