It may be hard to believe, but I've noticed something at these anti-Thaksin demonstrations. All of a sudden, different groups of anti-Maew activists are dying to express their gratitude to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for various reasons. Strange it is, but let me tell you who they are and why:
Street vendors
Meatball and dried-squid vendors would love to have 10 prime ministers like Thaksin. They just won back all those long-lost customers who have acquired a taste for dining out at high-end shopping malls. Now they're patronising roadside vendors once again. And the smiles on the vendors' faces reflect their skyrocketing revenues. They were more than willing to serve the anti-Thaksin crowd.When the protesters marched to Democracy Monument in the wee hours of Monday morning, quite a few vendor carts travelled alongside them.
Santi Asoke
This unorthodox and long-reclusive Buddhist sect has suddenly received free publicity as the Dharma Army.
When the sect, comprising monks, nuns and lay followers, marched to Sanam Luang last Sunday morning, it boosted the morale of the other protesters, and the sect re-entered mainstream society. Thanks to our political leader, Santi Asoke has emerged as a symbol of "moral" force against evil.
Human-rights advocates
Isn't Thaksin a heaven-sent gift to human-rights advocates? They preach philosophically that human rights are natural rights. The United Nation's Declaration of Human Rights states; "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." That's also spelled out in our Constitution, but little did Thais realise there even were such rights.
Now, after five years of Thaksin's rule, Thai citizens have become increasingly aware of these rights. Sondhi Limthongkul put it succinctly when he told the rally that exercising these rights is as natural as breathing the air.
University and high-school students
They used to be accused of indulging in drugs and other social ills and blamed for the Kingdom's moral decay. But a lot of these students have apparently broken their stereotype and showed that they, too, care about Thailand's future and refuse to stay apathetic.
When these students announced their anti-Thaksin stance, they provided a much-needed boost to the morale of grown-ups.
Folk artists
Before Thaksin's time, when did you last experience the improvised folk chant lam tat? And how long has it been since a song-for-life band or Chinese-opera troupe performed in front of tens of thousands of people? Now they perform political satire before appreciative crowds.
The Chinese opera "Justice Pao Struggles with the Square Face" and some hilarious lam tat sessions would never have pulled in such big crowds if Thaksin and his cohorts had not provided good material.
News media
In my own industry, journalists and photographers - despite their exhaustion from covering protest after protest - are indebted to Thaksin for all he has said and done during the five years. In modern Thai history, no political leader has inspired as much investigative reporting into corruption. Journalists should also remember Thaksin as the man who successfully created awareness about press freedom by stomping on it every so often.
But only when he made frustrated citizens take to the streets did newspaper sales start soaring. News websites experienced a meteoric increase in their number of hits. To give you a rough idea, The Nation website reported the highest traffic of all time this past Monday, the day after the big Sanam Luang rally.
Snoh Thienthong
Once he left the stage at Sanam Luang, Snoh would probably have loved to say a big "Thank you" to the man he once supported. As Thaksin stubbornly adhered to "my brand of democracy", Snoh whitewashed himself and emerged as a ray of hope for democracy. By condemning the premier onstage, the veteran politician was reborn as Righteous Snoh from his previous existence as a political dinosaur.
Me and my fellow protesters
Throughout my life, I always wondered what it would be like to participate in a demonstration and march along Thailand's historic Rajdamnoen Avenue. My generation learned about the student uprisings of October 14, 1973, and October 6, 1976, largely from textbooks and old news clippings, but nothing can compare with the real thing.
A genuine sense of excitement and comradeship transform everyone who joins in. They have nothing else in common except showing up to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. It was inspiring to see one woman coming straight from the office in high heels, a family bringing their little toddler along, groups of senior citizens, even some disabled in wheelchairs. Who says Thai democracy is in decay?
We might be shouting, "Thaksin, awk pai!" ("Thaksin, get out!") but I and all of the other protesters would like to thank the prime minister for branding us a "stupid mob". Little did he realise that so many would consider it a rare honour to be a part of such a stupid mob under his CEO-ship.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Undecided for tomorrow? Take our simple voting test
Can't remember what it was like when we went to the polls last year? Can't recall which candidates you voted for then? Are you one of those who are facing a dilemma about what would be best for the country? Will you vote for "him" or will you vote "no" tomorrow?
Yes, it is a bittersweet experience. An Abac poll yesterday revealed that 74 per cent of people in Bangkok and nearby provinces plan to vote. If you are certain you'll go and exercise your right but are still uncertain about how you'll vote, simply take this quiz and find out whether you will give him your vote or join the "Vote for No Vote" campaign.
1 What is your first reaction when you listen to the hit song "Na Liam" (Square Face)?
A. The lyrics consist of so many names that I wonder why my beloved Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda's name is also included.
B. I laugh my head off and give the song composers two thumbs up for its perfect blend of satire, sarcasm and humour.
2 Which of the following best describes your sense of democracy?
A. If you love democracy, then you must vote.
B. People's participation and people's power.
3 Are moral standards in society on the decline?
A. Absolutely! Otherwise, those stupid mobs wouldn't enjoy a marathon rally where speakers try to discredit our leader who has done so much for the country and takes good care of grass-roots people like nobody's business.
B. Unlikely. When more than 100,000 people rallied outside of Siam Paragon on Wednesday, it showed that morality still matters to Thais.
4 From among which set of names would you choose to name your baby?
A. Chakrapop, Chidchai, Mingkwan, Newin, Plodprasob, Phumtham, Pojaman, Samak, Sansanee, Somkid, Sudarat, Surakiart, Suranan, Suriya, Suwan, Suwat, Sonthaya, Thamarak, Thanong, Varathep, Wisanu, Yongyuth, and Yuranand.
B. Ammar, Carina, Chamlong, Chaianan, Chermsak, Hugo, Jaruvan, Karun, Kasit, Klanarong, Kraisak, Manoonkrit, Pimporn, Rannacha, Rapee, Rosana, Saranyu, Samran, Sondhi, Surachai, Suriyasai, Somsak, Piphop, Seri, Somkiat, Supinya, Thirayuth, and Wutthipong.
5 If there were no chance the Revenue Department would find out, would you cheat on your income tax?
A. Yes, why not? It would make my lawyer proud of me.
B. No chance. Not that I'm a person of good conscience. It's simply that I don't want to be like him in any way.
6 Where were you when the Supreme Administrative Court ruled against Egat's privatisation?
A. It did what? Sorry, I don't know when it happened.
B. In front of my television set, cheering along with the crowd outside of the court.
7 You see a photo of the anti-Thaksin rally at Siam Paragon, and your opinion is:
A. They - the mob - cause traffic jams and harm the shops' business operations.
B. Wish I'd been there.
8 When the Erawan Shrine was destroyed, you thought:
A. That poor mentally ill man should not have been lynched.
B. It must have been instructions from a Khmer wizard.
9 What are some of the Thaksin administration's more impressive policies?
A. The war on drugs, the war on poverty, the Bt30 universal healthcare system, Otop.
B. Umm ... give me a week to think about that.
10 You are on a treacherous jungle trek, armed with a knife and a pistol with only two bullets. Suddenly, you encounter a tiger, a big bear, a giant snake and Thaksin Shinawatra all at the same time. What will you do?
A. Kill the tiger and the bear with the two bullets, then take on the snake with the knife, for your only hope of survival.
B. Shoot Thaksin twice and plunge the knife through his heart.
This test will help you determine what kind of voter you are. It works best for those who are still undecided. However, it is not intended to change your political opinion.
Let's see what kind of voter you turn out to be. If the majority of your answers are B, that would place you among those who have given up hope in this election, and you are part of the "Vote for No Vote" group.
But if your answers are mostly A, well, good luck to Thailand!
See you at the polling booth. Say goodbye to the rubber stamp and enjoy casting your vote with a pen.
Good luck to every voter and God bless Thailand!
Yes, it is a bittersweet experience. An Abac poll yesterday revealed that 74 per cent of people in Bangkok and nearby provinces plan to vote. If you are certain you'll go and exercise your right but are still uncertain about how you'll vote, simply take this quiz and find out whether you will give him your vote or join the "Vote for No Vote" campaign.
1 What is your first reaction when you listen to the hit song "Na Liam" (Square Face)?
A. The lyrics consist of so many names that I wonder why my beloved Sorrayuth Suthassanachinda's name is also included.
B. I laugh my head off and give the song composers two thumbs up for its perfect blend of satire, sarcasm and humour.
2 Which of the following best describes your sense of democracy?
A. If you love democracy, then you must vote.
B. People's participation and people's power.
3 Are moral standards in society on the decline?
A. Absolutely! Otherwise, those stupid mobs wouldn't enjoy a marathon rally where speakers try to discredit our leader who has done so much for the country and takes good care of grass-roots people like nobody's business.
B. Unlikely. When more than 100,000 people rallied outside of Siam Paragon on Wednesday, it showed that morality still matters to Thais.
4 From among which set of names would you choose to name your baby?
A. Chakrapop, Chidchai, Mingkwan, Newin, Plodprasob, Phumtham, Pojaman, Samak, Sansanee, Somkid, Sudarat, Surakiart, Suranan, Suriya, Suwan, Suwat, Sonthaya, Thamarak, Thanong, Varathep, Wisanu, Yongyuth, and Yuranand.
B. Ammar, Carina, Chamlong, Chaianan, Chermsak, Hugo, Jaruvan, Karun, Kasit, Klanarong, Kraisak, Manoonkrit, Pimporn, Rannacha, Rapee, Rosana, Saranyu, Samran, Sondhi, Surachai, Suriyasai, Somsak, Piphop, Seri, Somkiat, Supinya, Thirayuth, and Wutthipong.
5 If there were no chance the Revenue Department would find out, would you cheat on your income tax?
A. Yes, why not? It would make my lawyer proud of me.
B. No chance. Not that I'm a person of good conscience. It's simply that I don't want to be like him in any way.
6 Where were you when the Supreme Administrative Court ruled against Egat's privatisation?
A. It did what? Sorry, I don't know when it happened.
B. In front of my television set, cheering along with the crowd outside of the court.
7 You see a photo of the anti-Thaksin rally at Siam Paragon, and your opinion is:
A. They - the mob - cause traffic jams and harm the shops' business operations.
B. Wish I'd been there.
8 When the Erawan Shrine was destroyed, you thought:
A. That poor mentally ill man should not have been lynched.
B. It must have been instructions from a Khmer wizard.
9 What are some of the Thaksin administration's more impressive policies?
A. The war on drugs, the war on poverty, the Bt30 universal healthcare system, Otop.
B. Umm ... give me a week to think about that.
10 You are on a treacherous jungle trek, armed with a knife and a pistol with only two bullets. Suddenly, you encounter a tiger, a big bear, a giant snake and Thaksin Shinawatra all at the same time. What will you do?
A. Kill the tiger and the bear with the two bullets, then take on the snake with the knife, for your only hope of survival.
B. Shoot Thaksin twice and plunge the knife through his heart.
This test will help you determine what kind of voter you are. It works best for those who are still undecided. However, it is not intended to change your political opinion.
Let's see what kind of voter you turn out to be. If the majority of your answers are B, that would place you among those who have given up hope in this election, and you are part of the "Vote for No Vote" group.
But if your answers are mostly A, well, good luck to Thailand!
See you at the polling booth. Say goodbye to the rubber stamp and enjoy casting your vote with a pen.
Good luck to every voter and God bless Thailand!
The ABCs of peaceful protest
Trust me, this won’t go any further: women can become just as deeply involved in politics as men. And now, one of those rare occasions for both sexes is here, thanks to two men, neither of whom I really trust.
“Will you be joining Sondhi Limthongkul on Saturday?” has been a popular question from my friends these past few days. Some are determined to attend the protest against Thaksin Shinawatra at the Royal Plaza, while others are hesitant. I should note right here that as a journalist, I ought to remain neutral and not become emotionally involved. But as an individual, I have every right to head down to the rally.
A friend of mine won’t join the crowd, but she’s not passive either. She’s been busy tallying numbers. “I don’t follow politics closely, but you know, I’ve done some calculations about that Bt73.3 billion the PM and his family made, and if they spent Bt1 million a day, it would take 200 years to go through it all! Will they live that long?”
Such alarming figures have struck a chord with the public. As Thaksin says, people envy him his wealth, but the operative term is “tax-free”. Imagine a woman’s pulse if she were to see a sign that said, “Tax-free shopping”.
The financial riddle of the Shin Corp deal is no longer an issue. It’s all about February 4, and we simply must decide whether we should make our voices heard. No offence to those who say “no”; you’re still good citizens, by all means. Just take a look at your tax slip and pat yourselves on the back.
If you find it hard to accept Sondhi as your leader, rest assured that you’re not alone. But participation isn’t necessarily a vote for Sondhi.
Try imagining yourself as Achilles, the independent fighter, in the movie “Troy”. At the end of one fight early in the movie, he says, “He is not my king.”
Joining Sondhi’s rally doesn’t necessarily mean you share his ideology. You just have in common a determination to represent those Thais who can no longer tolerate an immoral leader.
I’m not an experienced protester or anything, but if you’re planning to be at the Royal Plaza today, here’s some advice:
Use the buddy system
History teaches us that even if you have a grand plan for peaceful assembly, there may be a confrontation anyway. Keeping with a buddy or in a group, you’ll be better protected and able to take care of others.
Men always tease us about going to the loo in groups. This time maybe the habit will save us!
Plan your route in advance
One friend has her route all planned, how to get in and out. Car-pooling is practical, and it’s also logical to plan an emergency exit. Always stick with someone who has a good sense of direction.
Dress code
Don’t get me wrong - I’m not talking about matching shoes and bags here. It’s time to check out your wardrobe for the most comfortable outfit. Needless to say, this is not the right time for a skirt. Although the organiser has urged everyone to wear a yellow T-shirt (the uniform of Sondhi’s television show), you can wear any colour. One advertising executive offered a good reason to choose any colour she wants: individual choice is essential under the circumstances.
She’s prepared a scarf and jacket, as recommended on the Manager website. “It’s important - if you want to stay overnight, you can lie on your jacket and use the scarf to chase away mosquitoes.”
Travel light
Women have more necessities than men do (and no, I’m still not talking about matching shoes and bags!), but the rally won’t take place at Siam Paragon, so pack wisely and in accordance with your schedule.
One friend of mine has a very sensible list. Your bag (preferably a backpack rather than a Louis Vuitton) should contain a water bottle or two, a hat, sunglasses, sun-protection cream, mouthwash, tissue paper, sanitary napkins if needed, multipurpose tiger balm and an eye-dropper if you wear contact lenses. And of course, no lipstick or eye shadow, please! This is not Miss Protest Universe, and you need not look pretty all the time.
Go equipped
To keep up with what’s going on while protesting, keep your mobile at the ready.
The Manager website is reminding people to charge their phone batteries, but another friend of mine has an even more effective strategy: two phones! “One for outgoing calls and the other for incoming calls, and both will be fully charged.”
Make peace, not war
If you’re a novice protester, it’s always wise to stay with your group. Don’t join any impromptu crowd surges; do try to avoid confrontations. (We ladies have an advantage over men here, as we’re born with non-violent genes.) As soon as you sense any violence, run away as fast as you can.
These are only some rough guidelines, but they should be sufficient. It’s now up to you whether to mob or not to mob, but make the rally meaningful and peaceful - bloodstains are so difficult to wash out of your clothes.
“Will you be joining Sondhi Limthongkul on Saturday?” has been a popular question from my friends these past few days. Some are determined to attend the protest against Thaksin Shinawatra at the Royal Plaza, while others are hesitant. I should note right here that as a journalist, I ought to remain neutral and not become emotionally involved. But as an individual, I have every right to head down to the rally.
A friend of mine won’t join the crowd, but she’s not passive either. She’s been busy tallying numbers. “I don’t follow politics closely, but you know, I’ve done some calculations about that Bt73.3 billion the PM and his family made, and if they spent Bt1 million a day, it would take 200 years to go through it all! Will they live that long?”
Such alarming figures have struck a chord with the public. As Thaksin says, people envy him his wealth, but the operative term is “tax-free”. Imagine a woman’s pulse if she were to see a sign that said, “Tax-free shopping”.
The financial riddle of the Shin Corp deal is no longer an issue. It’s all about February 4, and we simply must decide whether we should make our voices heard. No offence to those who say “no”; you’re still good citizens, by all means. Just take a look at your tax slip and pat yourselves on the back.
If you find it hard to accept Sondhi as your leader, rest assured that you’re not alone. But participation isn’t necessarily a vote for Sondhi.
Try imagining yourself as Achilles, the independent fighter, in the movie “Troy”. At the end of one fight early in the movie, he says, “He is not my king.”
Joining Sondhi’s rally doesn’t necessarily mean you share his ideology. You just have in common a determination to represent those Thais who can no longer tolerate an immoral leader.
I’m not an experienced protester or anything, but if you’re planning to be at the Royal Plaza today, here’s some advice:
Use the buddy system
History teaches us that even if you have a grand plan for peaceful assembly, there may be a confrontation anyway. Keeping with a buddy or in a group, you’ll be better protected and able to take care of others.
Men always tease us about going to the loo in groups. This time maybe the habit will save us!
Plan your route in advance
One friend has her route all planned, how to get in and out. Car-pooling is practical, and it’s also logical to plan an emergency exit. Always stick with someone who has a good sense of direction.
Dress code
Don’t get me wrong - I’m not talking about matching shoes and bags here. It’s time to check out your wardrobe for the most comfortable outfit. Needless to say, this is not the right time for a skirt. Although the organiser has urged everyone to wear a yellow T-shirt (the uniform of Sondhi’s television show), you can wear any colour. One advertising executive offered a good reason to choose any colour she wants: individual choice is essential under the circumstances.
She’s prepared a scarf and jacket, as recommended on the Manager website. “It’s important - if you want to stay overnight, you can lie on your jacket and use the scarf to chase away mosquitoes.”
Travel light
Women have more necessities than men do (and no, I’m still not talking about matching shoes and bags!), but the rally won’t take place at Siam Paragon, so pack wisely and in accordance with your schedule.
One friend of mine has a very sensible list. Your bag (preferably a backpack rather than a Louis Vuitton) should contain a water bottle or two, a hat, sunglasses, sun-protection cream, mouthwash, tissue paper, sanitary napkins if needed, multipurpose tiger balm and an eye-dropper if you wear contact lenses. And of course, no lipstick or eye shadow, please! This is not Miss Protest Universe, and you need not look pretty all the time.
Go equipped
To keep up with what’s going on while protesting, keep your mobile at the ready.
The Manager website is reminding people to charge their phone batteries, but another friend of mine has an even more effective strategy: two phones! “One for outgoing calls and the other for incoming calls, and both will be fully charged.”
Make peace, not war
If you’re a novice protester, it’s always wise to stay with your group. Don’t join any impromptu crowd surges; do try to avoid confrontations. (We ladies have an advantage over men here, as we’re born with non-violent genes.) As soon as you sense any violence, run away as fast as you can.
These are only some rough guidelines, but they should be sufficient. It’s now up to you whether to mob or not to mob, but make the rally meaningful and peaceful - bloodstains are so difficult to wash out of your clothes.
Do you think you have what it takes to be an LNH?
I am a Lady of Nakhon Heaven (LNH). Don’t be startled; it’s a relatively new title. LNHs are, in brief, women who understand democracy and realise its benefits. Living life as an LNH is a dream: you receive special privileges from the authorities, apart from universal healthcare and stuff like that, which everybody gets.
I didn’t initially know there was such a sisterhood until a female colleague enlightened me. She informed me our beloved prime minister had, in a touching and straightforward speech, promised all women of Nakhon Heaven special funds from the state coffers. All we had to do was trust him, and he would reward us.
It turns out the talk of state funding has made women apply in droves for LNH membership. Not very surprising; we all love privilege, especially when there’s no price to pay, except for entrusting our future to our trustworthy leader.
Almost everyone I work with has an area of expertise: music, food, television, movies, theatre, etc. But not everyone knows how to become a successful LNH and derive endless benefits from the government.
I admit I’m a new face in Nakhon Heaven, but I’m working really hard to learn more about our domestic affairs and democracy. A thorough knowledge of the aforesaid is an essential qualification.
I’ll share with you a copy of a test I surreptitiously obtained from a state official. It will help you determine whether you are ready to be admitted into LNH circles. Please don’t tell anyone you got this from me.
1 Your ideal date would be ...
A) With Newin Chidchob, discussing how revealing all of the truth about the bird-flu outbreak could only cause disastrous panic.
B) With Panthongtae, who tells you his business plans and vigorously defends them against conflict-of-interest charges.
C) With Abhisit Vejjajiva, who lectures you on the value of making your voice, not just your vote, heard by the government.
2 Which of these prominent women is your role model?
A) Khunying Pojaman.
B) Sudarat Keyuraphan.
C) Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka.
3 Which of these activities will make you feel the most empowered?
A) Casting a vote for the “Thai Love Thai” party.
B) Rallying in front of City Hall in favour of legalised abortion.
C) Participating in public hearings about a project to empower women in politics.
4 Your dream election result is …
A) One ruling party.
B) A coalition Cabinet.
C) An effective opposition
5 How do you follow the country’s affairs?
A) With iTV, “Naiyok Thaksin Khui kab Prachachon” on Channel 11 and www.thairakthai.or.th.
B) With the “Muang Thai Rai Sappada” television programme and www.manager.co.th.
C) With the Nation News Channel, www.pantip.com and www.democrat.or.th.
6 A friend keeps asking to borrow money from you. You ...
A) Tell her not to come around and borrow money again if she votes for the ruling party.
B) Shrug it off and persuade her to register as a poor person, to get a low-interest loan.
C) Preach the principle of self-sufficiency to her.
7 Your concept of human rights is ...
A) Drug dealers deserve to die.
B) Press freedom has nothing to do with my personal well-being.
C) Democracy and human rights are closely linked.
8 The news that you would certainly skip on the paper’s front page involves …
A) Press freedom plunging in Thailand.
B) PM promising more village funds.
C) Miss Thailand World resigning her title.
9 What’s your idea of putting state money to good use?
A) Buying a luxurious Airbus for the prime minister and funding programmes in constituencies that vote for the ruling party.
B) Investing in mega-projects to modernise the country.
C) Spreading the money around equally for the whole country, because it came from taxpayers in every constituency.
10. An example of good governance is ...
A) Announcing a grand scheme to create a new province around a new airport. No environmental study needed, because waiting means lost opportunities.
B) Using state money to buy a foreign football club and build casinos. Again, no public hearings are necessary.
C) Supporting the opposition’s idea of extending the Skytrain two more kilometres. It’s a good initiative, although the project won’t be profitable, and an environmental study hasn’t been conducted.
Test results:
If your answers are all “A”, congratulations! You are absolutely a new LNH member who will surely get everything.
If your answers are mostly A, you will have a very high potential to become an LNH member if you try harder to study further.
If your answers are mostly B, you still can wait in line for LNH status, but be prepared to be a second-class citizen.
If most of your answers are C, then sorry, but you don’t stand a chance.
Published on November 05, 2005
I didn’t initially know there was such a sisterhood until a female colleague enlightened me. She informed me our beloved prime minister had, in a touching and straightforward speech, promised all women of Nakhon Heaven special funds from the state coffers. All we had to do was trust him, and he would reward us.
It turns out the talk of state funding has made women apply in droves for LNH membership. Not very surprising; we all love privilege, especially when there’s no price to pay, except for entrusting our future to our trustworthy leader.
Almost everyone I work with has an area of expertise: music, food, television, movies, theatre, etc. But not everyone knows how to become a successful LNH and derive endless benefits from the government.
I admit I’m a new face in Nakhon Heaven, but I’m working really hard to learn more about our domestic affairs and democracy. A thorough knowledge of the aforesaid is an essential qualification.
I’ll share with you a copy of a test I surreptitiously obtained from a state official. It will help you determine whether you are ready to be admitted into LNH circles. Please don’t tell anyone you got this from me.
1 Your ideal date would be ...
A) With Newin Chidchob, discussing how revealing all of the truth about the bird-flu outbreak could only cause disastrous panic.
B) With Panthongtae, who tells you his business plans and vigorously defends them against conflict-of-interest charges.
C) With Abhisit Vejjajiva, who lectures you on the value of making your voice, not just your vote, heard by the government.
2 Which of these prominent women is your role model?
A) Khunying Pojaman.
B) Sudarat Keyuraphan.
C) Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka.
3 Which of these activities will make you feel the most empowered?
A) Casting a vote for the “Thai Love Thai” party.
B) Rallying in front of City Hall in favour of legalised abortion.
C) Participating in public hearings about a project to empower women in politics.
4 Your dream election result is …
A) One ruling party.
B) A coalition Cabinet.
C) An effective opposition
5 How do you follow the country’s affairs?
A) With iTV, “Naiyok Thaksin Khui kab Prachachon” on Channel 11 and www.thairakthai.or.th.
B) With the “Muang Thai Rai Sappada” television programme and www.manager.co.th.
C) With the Nation News Channel, www.pantip.com and www.democrat.or.th.
6 A friend keeps asking to borrow money from you. You ...
A) Tell her not to come around and borrow money again if she votes for the ruling party.
B) Shrug it off and persuade her to register as a poor person, to get a low-interest loan.
C) Preach the principle of self-sufficiency to her.
7 Your concept of human rights is ...
A) Drug dealers deserve to die.
B) Press freedom has nothing to do with my personal well-being.
C) Democracy and human rights are closely linked.
8 The news that you would certainly skip on the paper’s front page involves …
A) Press freedom plunging in Thailand.
B) PM promising more village funds.
C) Miss Thailand World resigning her title.
9 What’s your idea of putting state money to good use?
A) Buying a luxurious Airbus for the prime minister and funding programmes in constituencies that vote for the ruling party.
B) Investing in mega-projects to modernise the country.
C) Spreading the money around equally for the whole country, because it came from taxpayers in every constituency.
10. An example of good governance is ...
A) Announcing a grand scheme to create a new province around a new airport. No environmental study needed, because waiting means lost opportunities.
B) Using state money to buy a foreign football club and build casinos. Again, no public hearings are necessary.
C) Supporting the opposition’s idea of extending the Skytrain two more kilometres. It’s a good initiative, although the project won’t be profitable, and an environmental study hasn’t been conducted.
Test results:
If your answers are all “A”, congratulations! You are absolutely a new LNH member who will surely get everything.
If your answers are mostly A, you will have a very high potential to become an LNH member if you try harder to study further.
If your answers are mostly B, you still can wait in line for LNH status, but be prepared to be a second-class citizen.
If most of your answers are C, then sorry, but you don’t stand a chance.
Published on November 05, 2005
News from the front may not be all good
That certainly put the icing on the cake: “War declared on mosquitoes”. Reading newspapers nowadays always makes me feel as if I’m crouching in a bunker. After the war on drugs, war on poverty and war on corruption, now our beloved authorities are going after the tiny little insects.
But you can’t just blame the media. It’s always the politicians who drag out the term “war”, isn’t it? They love that word for some unknown reason. Why must politics have to be about “war” all the time? Can’t we stop fighting and think about peace and love?
Reading all the headlines, I imagine Government House as a big 19th-century fortress with thousands of hardened soldiers marching in and out. If we fantasise a bit more, a conversation between the supreme commander and his ranking officers might go like this:
Supreme Commander: How’s it going on the Poverty Front?
Commander A: It’s a big battlefield success, or so it seems, sir. Our soldiers are heroes in a strange sort of way, and they’ve performed some astonishing feats that no other unit in the past could have. We’ve made the rich richer while the poor still fervently believe they’ll be rich themselves soon. Your idea to carpet-bomb our enemies with your “$$$” brain-washing missiles was brilliant: the poor really do believe they are now living above the poverty line.
Our “Bt30-for-all-diseases” tanks are a very effective weapon, sir, used in conjunction with our “borrow-till-you-drop” leaflets, which have won even more sympathisers and badly confused the enemy.
All in all, our target, “poverty”, proved very vulnerable. There’s no report that any of our people want to live in poverty. As long as you can keep providing your “$$$” missiles, everything should be fine. We hope you can do it, because if or when we run out of them, things may spin out of control, sir. The enemy could strike back and overwhelm us as fast as we did them.
Supreme Commander: Let’s move on to the Drug Front.
Commander B: We’re winning, but winning ugly, sir. Our troops have been accused of killing indiscriminately, and there’ve been calls for you to be taken before an international tribunal like the Khmer Rouge leaders were.
Nevertheless, you’ve been a genius in singling out targets for us. We’ve invaded pubs, khao tom shops, discos and schools and wreaked havoc in all those areas, but we’ve lost a number of our best fighters, including senior police officers and, not to be forgotten, our renowned “spaghetti-strap buster”, who was our only “clean” man, according to the media.
We’ve marched into schools nationwide to collect urine samples from students and separated young drug-abusers from others. Then we persuaded all of the schools to erect a “White School” sign out front. That strategy should have wide appeal for rural folks: parents are happy to have their kids studying in those white schools.
We’ve won major new allies in prosecutors and judges, because we’ve done them such a great favour. Now they save a lot of time on cases, thanks to our troops’ killing spree. The only complication of the war involves our international image, but we shouldn’t pay too much attention to that sort of criticism, sir. After all, the superpowers do it all the time. Many innocents have died in the Iraqi War too, but you never see Supreme Commander Bush complain. And you were so right when you told them that our troops were only shooting in self-defence. Your strategy was brilliant: pick a simple target, strike hard and fast and waste no time declaring victory.
Supreme Commander: Well said, and a great briefing. Now, let’s move on to our biggest battlefield. How bad is it?
Commander C: Very bad, sir. The enemy is too powerful and our resources limited. They overrun us day in and day out. There are signs of mutiny among the troops, who feel that you’ve not paid enough attention to this front. Our intelligence units also believe there to be “moles” operating near you, because the enemy seems aware of our every move and always stays one step ahead of us, sir.
Supreme Commander: Moles? What do you mean?
Commander C: I mean the enemy might be right here, sir. They’re fighting us from the inside while we hit at insignificant targets. Oh, and our spies also report that the enemy has acquired a powerful new missile called the CTX. I have just one suggestion if it’s trained on our fortress.
Supreme Commander: And what is that?
Commander C: Run like hell, sir.
Published on May 14, 2005
But you can’t just blame the media. It’s always the politicians who drag out the term “war”, isn’t it? They love that word for some unknown reason. Why must politics have to be about “war” all the time? Can’t we stop fighting and think about peace and love?
Reading all the headlines, I imagine Government House as a big 19th-century fortress with thousands of hardened soldiers marching in and out. If we fantasise a bit more, a conversation between the supreme commander and his ranking officers might go like this:
Supreme Commander: How’s it going on the Poverty Front?
Commander A: It’s a big battlefield success, or so it seems, sir. Our soldiers are heroes in a strange sort of way, and they’ve performed some astonishing feats that no other unit in the past could have. We’ve made the rich richer while the poor still fervently believe they’ll be rich themselves soon. Your idea to carpet-bomb our enemies with your “$$$” brain-washing missiles was brilliant: the poor really do believe they are now living above the poverty line.
Our “Bt30-for-all-diseases” tanks are a very effective weapon, sir, used in conjunction with our “borrow-till-you-drop” leaflets, which have won even more sympathisers and badly confused the enemy.
All in all, our target, “poverty”, proved very vulnerable. There’s no report that any of our people want to live in poverty. As long as you can keep providing your “$$$” missiles, everything should be fine. We hope you can do it, because if or when we run out of them, things may spin out of control, sir. The enemy could strike back and overwhelm us as fast as we did them.
Supreme Commander: Let’s move on to the Drug Front.
Commander B: We’re winning, but winning ugly, sir. Our troops have been accused of killing indiscriminately, and there’ve been calls for you to be taken before an international tribunal like the Khmer Rouge leaders were.
Nevertheless, you’ve been a genius in singling out targets for us. We’ve invaded pubs, khao tom shops, discos and schools and wreaked havoc in all those areas, but we’ve lost a number of our best fighters, including senior police officers and, not to be forgotten, our renowned “spaghetti-strap buster”, who was our only “clean” man, according to the media.
We’ve marched into schools nationwide to collect urine samples from students and separated young drug-abusers from others. Then we persuaded all of the schools to erect a “White School” sign out front. That strategy should have wide appeal for rural folks: parents are happy to have their kids studying in those white schools.
We’ve won major new allies in prosecutors and judges, because we’ve done them such a great favour. Now they save a lot of time on cases, thanks to our troops’ killing spree. The only complication of the war involves our international image, but we shouldn’t pay too much attention to that sort of criticism, sir. After all, the superpowers do it all the time. Many innocents have died in the Iraqi War too, but you never see Supreme Commander Bush complain. And you were so right when you told them that our troops were only shooting in self-defence. Your strategy was brilliant: pick a simple target, strike hard and fast and waste no time declaring victory.
Supreme Commander: Well said, and a great briefing. Now, let’s move on to our biggest battlefield. How bad is it?
Commander C: Very bad, sir. The enemy is too powerful and our resources limited. They overrun us day in and day out. There are signs of mutiny among the troops, who feel that you’ve not paid enough attention to this front. Our intelligence units also believe there to be “moles” operating near you, because the enemy seems aware of our every move and always stays one step ahead of us, sir.
Supreme Commander: Moles? What do you mean?
Commander C: I mean the enemy might be right here, sir. They’re fighting us from the inside while we hit at insignificant targets. Oh, and our spies also report that the enemy has acquired a powerful new missile called the CTX. I have just one suggestion if it’s trained on our fortress.
Supreme Commander: And what is that?
Commander C: Run like hell, sir.
Published on May 14, 2005
Pornthip serves Thailand exactly as needed
If forensic pathologist Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunand chose to enter politics in the upcoming general election, she could expect a comfortable win in any constituency in this country. Pornthip has always been ranked at the top of opinion polls as one of Thailand's most popular persons. Recently her popularity has skyrocketed, thanks to her devotion to the gruesome task of trying to identify the decomposing bodies of tsunami victims in the South. Rumours had it that she was at one point a would-be candidate to represent Thai Rak Thai in the Bangkok governor election last year.
However, this brainy woman with her weird hairdo made it clear she had no political ambitions. Good for her. She is too smart and knows that politics has its downsides.
Here are "10 Reasons Why Pornthip Should Not Enter Politics":
1. She won't have time to do the job she does best. Dubbed "Dr Death" by the foreign media, Pornthip's good reputation is tied to her expertise in handling high-profile forensic investigation cases, such as the suspected murder of Hangthong Thammawattana, the Tak Bai tragedy involving Muslim detainees and, most recently, the identification of tsunami victims.
2. She may have to abandon her colourful fright hairdo. Besides her work, Pornthip is recognised as a forensic pathologist who studiously maintains her eye-catching hair style. Her trademark spiky, dyed hair changed the public's perception of what a doctor should look like.
She has explained that her hard, stressful work necessitates a hair style that is easy to manage. If Pornthip becomes a politician, she might find it too stressful to maintain her trademark hairdo. Maintaining their hair in tip-top condition is the prime responsibility of all women.
3. Many dead bodies would no longer be able to tell the truth. Besides, once in politics, she would never be able to tell the whole truth herself. In one of her famous books, "Sob Phoot Dai" (Dead Bodies Can Talk), she describes how forensic evidence and autopsies conducted on corpses have helped the authorities decipher the real cause of many a mysterious death.
Hence, dead men do tell tales. And a politician Pornthip would not be able to speak her mind, since we all know that politicians lie all the time.
4. Which brings us to the fact that Pornthip appears not to know how to lie. In the wake of the Tak Bai incident, when more than 80 Muslim protesters were found dead in unusual circumstances, she flew to Narathiwat to conduct the investigation. As it turned out, she was "used" by the government to tell the media and the world the cause of the protestors' death. The usually talkative Pornthip became an awkward speaker, as everybody could see that she was telling less than what she knew.
She did deny that she was whitewashing anyone, but it was one of the rare incidents when Pornthip was economical with her words.
Since she can't lie convincingly, she is ill-equipped to become a politician.
5. There would be one reliable forensics expert less to take care of the dead. Don't forget, dead bodies need decent and fair treatment, too, to tell the truth. Pornthip would be too busy arguing petty matters like politicians do instead of conducting her real and more useful work. When a person is murdered, who will go through the gruesome process to see that he or she receives justice? Surely, one cannot expect the police to handle this job unchecked?
6. As a forensics expert, she has the ears of the people. Once in politics, people would no longer trust her. Even PM Thaksin Shinawatra listens to her and stands ready to provide his support. But once she is one of the party faithful, she would be treated just like any other party functionary.
7. The dead would no longer befriend her, while her enemies would multiply. Whyso? Because in politics, again, she would not be able to speak the plain truth about high-profile criminal cases. The government sometimes must hide some ugly truths from the public, and she would be expected to become an accomplice.
8. She won't have time to write more books. She needs to add more titles like "Khon Kin Sob" (Man Eats Body), "Khon Lak Sob" (Man Steals Body), "Khon Son Sob" (Man Conceals Body) and may other anxiously awaited titles in the series.
9. In politics, she won't be allowed to break down in tears on anybody's shoulder. Pornthip couldn't hold back her tears and broke down while PM Thaksin was asking her about her work at Wat Yan Yao in Phang Nga. Remember when Pavena Hongsakul was heartbroken from her failure in the Bangkok election under TRT banner? She just had no choice but to hold back her tears at a time when it was most appropriate to cry a river. Pavena only showed red eyes and a quivering voice.
10. There won't be enough time for family. Pornthip is known as a family person. Despite her hard work, she always has time for her lovely family. Her husband and daughter truly understand her devotion to public service. But if she entered politics, she would be too busy doing petty politicians things. It is unlikely that her family wouldl enjoy that.
Published on Jan 15, 2005
However, this brainy woman with her weird hairdo made it clear she had no political ambitions. Good for her. She is too smart and knows that politics has its downsides.
Here are "10 Reasons Why Pornthip Should Not Enter Politics":
1. She won't have time to do the job she does best. Dubbed "Dr Death" by the foreign media, Pornthip's good reputation is tied to her expertise in handling high-profile forensic investigation cases, such as the suspected murder of Hangthong Thammawattana, the Tak Bai tragedy involving Muslim detainees and, most recently, the identification of tsunami victims.
2. She may have to abandon her colourful fright hairdo. Besides her work, Pornthip is recognised as a forensic pathologist who studiously maintains her eye-catching hair style. Her trademark spiky, dyed hair changed the public's perception of what a doctor should look like.
She has explained that her hard, stressful work necessitates a hair style that is easy to manage. If Pornthip becomes a politician, she might find it too stressful to maintain her trademark hairdo. Maintaining their hair in tip-top condition is the prime responsibility of all women.
3. Many dead bodies would no longer be able to tell the truth. Besides, once in politics, she would never be able to tell the whole truth herself. In one of her famous books, "Sob Phoot Dai" (Dead Bodies Can Talk), she describes how forensic evidence and autopsies conducted on corpses have helped the authorities decipher the real cause of many a mysterious death.
Hence, dead men do tell tales. And a politician Pornthip would not be able to speak her mind, since we all know that politicians lie all the time.
4. Which brings us to the fact that Pornthip appears not to know how to lie. In the wake of the Tak Bai incident, when more than 80 Muslim protesters were found dead in unusual circumstances, she flew to Narathiwat to conduct the investigation. As it turned out, she was "used" by the government to tell the media and the world the cause of the protestors' death. The usually talkative Pornthip became an awkward speaker, as everybody could see that she was telling less than what she knew.
She did deny that she was whitewashing anyone, but it was one of the rare incidents when Pornthip was economical with her words.
Since she can't lie convincingly, she is ill-equipped to become a politician.
5. There would be one reliable forensics expert less to take care of the dead. Don't forget, dead bodies need decent and fair treatment, too, to tell the truth. Pornthip would be too busy arguing petty matters like politicians do instead of conducting her real and more useful work. When a person is murdered, who will go through the gruesome process to see that he or she receives justice? Surely, one cannot expect the police to handle this job unchecked?
6. As a forensics expert, she has the ears of the people. Once in politics, people would no longer trust her. Even PM Thaksin Shinawatra listens to her and stands ready to provide his support. But once she is one of the party faithful, she would be treated just like any other party functionary.
7. The dead would no longer befriend her, while her enemies would multiply. Whyso? Because in politics, again, she would not be able to speak the plain truth about high-profile criminal cases. The government sometimes must hide some ugly truths from the public, and she would be expected to become an accomplice.
8. She won't have time to write more books. She needs to add more titles like "Khon Kin Sob" (Man Eats Body), "Khon Lak Sob" (Man Steals Body), "Khon Son Sob" (Man Conceals Body) and may other anxiously awaited titles in the series.
9. In politics, she won't be allowed to break down in tears on anybody's shoulder. Pornthip couldn't hold back her tears and broke down while PM Thaksin was asking her about her work at Wat Yan Yao in Phang Nga. Remember when Pavena Hongsakul was heartbroken from her failure in the Bangkok election under TRT banner? She just had no choice but to hold back her tears at a time when it was most appropriate to cry a river. Pavena only showed red eyes and a quivering voice.
10. There won't be enough time for family. Pornthip is known as a family person. Despite her hard work, she always has time for her lovely family. Her husband and daughter truly understand her devotion to public service. But if she entered politics, she would be too busy doing petty politicians things. It is unlikely that her family wouldl enjoy that.
Published on Jan 15, 2005
Thaksin the father fails to impress
It took me by surprise when I saw Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra make his humble, almost tearful plea to the media, urging them to stop dragging his youngest daughter Paetongtarn into the national entrance-exam leak scandal. No, it wasn't the apparently "straightforward" and "sincere" manner of a heartbroken father that struck me. It was the timing of his official response to the explosive issue. The loving father's rise to his child's defence came far too late, not to mention how little it did to heal her deep wounds.
A wise man like Thaksin should have known that the damage had been done and asking people to stop talking about it could well have the reverse effect. Although he singled out the media, he must have been informed that gossip and contempt had gone far beyond what was written in news reports.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of students, have expressed their anger and frustration on websites. Should he check relevant webboards, Thaksin would learn that his daughter had been a target of social punishment long before her father came out to respond to the public.
Thaksin was probably busy familiarising himself with the lives of people in the Northeast, so busy he hardly found time to properly protect his beloved daughter. He won some sympathy, yes, but whether he has done enough as a father, considering the magnitude of rumours and allegations, I have my doubts.
He told the public how his heart was broken to see his daughter weeping when he peeked into her bedroom and how his daughter studied so hard to improve her grades. Some people were moved, but others remained unconvinced. There are parents who have seen their children work equally hard or even harder. There are other mums and dads who have seen their children's tears. The difference is they can't go on television and seek nationwide sympathy.
In the case of Thaksin, some view him as a father struggling to protect his daughter while others took it as another great "act" of our leader. I'm in the latter group. And if anyone asks, I can explain it. As a mother, I'd probably launch into a similar speech, but my protective instincts wouldn't take me on a tour of the Northeast, posing in my Fendi towel, before I opened my mouth to defend my child.
My evaluation: Thaksin did fairly poorly in this see-if-you-are-a-good-father test.
And what about his chief-executive responsibilities? He flunked. Again, the timing was very late and out of proportion. To show the public that he was serious about the investigation, he could have done a lot more. He left the entrance-exam leak controversy develop from a tiny wound into a large, festering sore. This is unlike the decisive man who launched the war on drugs that led to over than 1,000 deaths.
In this entrance-exam episode, Thaksin would have won the public's praise if he had chosen to react soon enough both as a father and as "CEO" of Thailand.
As the leader of the government, he should have at least put more pressure on two men, Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik and former secretary-general of the Higher Education Commission Voradej Chandarasorn. A credible and swift investigation would have overshadowed the rumours and hearsay, thus limiting the damage to innocent people, including those he loves.
Sad to say, he failed to exercise either of the roles when the public needed him to do so.
I ask myself whether, if I were in his shoes, I would do a better job. I'm not sure in the capacity of PM or CEO. But as a mother, I am positive that my instincts would drive in the right direction to defend my child. More importantly, I wouldn't let a political road show become a bigger priority than my daughter, but having said that, I know why I could never be prime minister and why some politicians can't be good fathers.
Published on May 8, 2004
A wise man like Thaksin should have known that the damage had been done and asking people to stop talking about it could well have the reverse effect. Although he singled out the media, he must have been informed that gossip and contempt had gone far beyond what was written in news reports.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of students, have expressed their anger and frustration on websites. Should he check relevant webboards, Thaksin would learn that his daughter had been a target of social punishment long before her father came out to respond to the public.
Thaksin was probably busy familiarising himself with the lives of people in the Northeast, so busy he hardly found time to properly protect his beloved daughter. He won some sympathy, yes, but whether he has done enough as a father, considering the magnitude of rumours and allegations, I have my doubts.
He told the public how his heart was broken to see his daughter weeping when he peeked into her bedroom and how his daughter studied so hard to improve her grades. Some people were moved, but others remained unconvinced. There are parents who have seen their children work equally hard or even harder. There are other mums and dads who have seen their children's tears. The difference is they can't go on television and seek nationwide sympathy.
In the case of Thaksin, some view him as a father struggling to protect his daughter while others took it as another great "act" of our leader. I'm in the latter group. And if anyone asks, I can explain it. As a mother, I'd probably launch into a similar speech, but my protective instincts wouldn't take me on a tour of the Northeast, posing in my Fendi towel, before I opened my mouth to defend my child.
My evaluation: Thaksin did fairly poorly in this see-if-you-are-a-good-father test.
And what about his chief-executive responsibilities? He flunked. Again, the timing was very late and out of proportion. To show the public that he was serious about the investigation, he could have done a lot more. He left the entrance-exam leak controversy develop from a tiny wound into a large, festering sore. This is unlike the decisive man who launched the war on drugs that led to over than 1,000 deaths.
In this entrance-exam episode, Thaksin would have won the public's praise if he had chosen to react soon enough both as a father and as "CEO" of Thailand.
As the leader of the government, he should have at least put more pressure on two men, Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik and former secretary-general of the Higher Education Commission Voradej Chandarasorn. A credible and swift investigation would have overshadowed the rumours and hearsay, thus limiting the damage to innocent people, including those he loves.
Sad to say, he failed to exercise either of the roles when the public needed him to do so.
I ask myself whether, if I were in his shoes, I would do a better job. I'm not sure in the capacity of PM or CEO. But as a mother, I am positive that my instincts would drive in the right direction to defend my child. More importantly, I wouldn't let a political road show become a bigger priority than my daughter, but having said that, I know why I could never be prime minister and why some politicians can't be good fathers.
Published on May 8, 2004
No matter who you vote for, please exercise your right
Some say that tomorrow's gubernatorial election in Bangkok will be a good reflection of whether the city's voters are politically mature or whether they have the mind set of teenagers, who, many believe, love or hate on emotional rather than rational grounds.
But wait a minute: the results last week of the popular reality television show "Academy Fantasia" have proved that teenagers can be fair judges too.
The audiences voted Phatcharapon "Wit" Chantiang the winner, after a nine-week contest in which each of the 12 contestants demonstrated his or her talent under the full glare of live cameras, 24 hours a day.
Wit was picked as the most talented contestant, despite not being the most favoured at the beginning of the race. When the show was first aired, only about 50,000 viewers participated by sending SMS votes, and Wit was by no means a leading candidate. On certain weeks he was even on the verge of being voted out. (Each week the contestant with the least votes had to bow out of the competition.)
Neutral followers of the show knew well that the voting viewers were influenced by their personal feelings about each contestant and did not always take skill or talent into consideration.
Many initial votes went to good-looking candidates and were not at all in line with the quality of their performances.
But things started to change during the final few weeks, when some of professionally unimpressive contestants were voted out. It was clear that the audience was gradually becoming aware of the importance of their votes, and now each contestant's development and quality came into play.
Towards the end of the show Wit emerged strongly as a favourite, together with two other contestants who demonstrated their determination and delivered impressive performances at the weekly concerts. The trio took home the winner's and runner-ups' trophies without surprise or protest from the audience.
Meanwhile Bangkok voters have more than 20 candidates to choose from in tomorrow's poll, outnumbering the contestants in "Academy Fantasia". Bangkokians can be profiled into groups that parallel the viewers of "Academy Fantasia". There are passive spectators, who enjoy the spectacle but don't want to cast their votes for any candidate in particular; active audience members, who enjoy the contest before suddenly deciding who their favourite is; emotional voters, who like or hate particular candidates without really knowing them; and rational supporters, who make judgements based on proven quality or background.
At the beginning of "Academy Fantasia" about 50,000 votes were cast, but this figure rose to around 700,000 a week towards the end of the series. The number of viewers was much higher than the number of votes, for many decided to just sit back and enjoy the show. Perhaps they didn't think it was worth spending Bt6 to pick a winner. Some no doubt thought: "Let the others choose and see if they pick the one I like." Does this sound familiar?
"Academy Fantasia" had its fair share of emotional voters who, no matter how obvious the differences in talent and quality were, would pick the one they liked. This group's favourite line is something like: "I'm fed up with the popular faces and want to try something new." (Somehow this reminds me of the time when many people thought a rich and successful businessman would turn this country around for the better.)
The final result of "Academy Fantasia", however, showed that the die-hard fans who followed the show closely and knew the quality and talents inside out prevailed. This group of voters scrutinised all contestants and voted for the best.
Emotional, irrational or die-hard, these voters had one good thing in common: they knew their right and they exercised it. But there is another kind of voter, which certainly exists in both "Academy Fantasia" and the Bangkok governor race, and I think they are the ugliest of all.
This group will certainly remain at home during the election, without even realising the importance of their presence in a democratic society. They will not vote for any reality game or political contestant: they will just sit and watch, and in the end, when the winner is announced, they will whine and, worst of all, blame the voters for "picking the wrong one".
I challenge people who call "Academy Fantasia" a nonsense teenage fad to better the youngsters when tomorrow comes.
Published on Aug 28, 2004
But wait a minute: the results last week of the popular reality television show "Academy Fantasia" have proved that teenagers can be fair judges too.
The audiences voted Phatcharapon "Wit" Chantiang the winner, after a nine-week contest in which each of the 12 contestants demonstrated his or her talent under the full glare of live cameras, 24 hours a day.
Wit was picked as the most talented contestant, despite not being the most favoured at the beginning of the race. When the show was first aired, only about 50,000 viewers participated by sending SMS votes, and Wit was by no means a leading candidate. On certain weeks he was even on the verge of being voted out. (Each week the contestant with the least votes had to bow out of the competition.)
Neutral followers of the show knew well that the voting viewers were influenced by their personal feelings about each contestant and did not always take skill or talent into consideration.
Many initial votes went to good-looking candidates and were not at all in line with the quality of their performances.
But things started to change during the final few weeks, when some of professionally unimpressive contestants were voted out. It was clear that the audience was gradually becoming aware of the importance of their votes, and now each contestant's development and quality came into play.
Towards the end of the show Wit emerged strongly as a favourite, together with two other contestants who demonstrated their determination and delivered impressive performances at the weekly concerts. The trio took home the winner's and runner-ups' trophies without surprise or protest from the audience.
Meanwhile Bangkok voters have more than 20 candidates to choose from in tomorrow's poll, outnumbering the contestants in "Academy Fantasia". Bangkokians can be profiled into groups that parallel the viewers of "Academy Fantasia". There are passive spectators, who enjoy the spectacle but don't want to cast their votes for any candidate in particular; active audience members, who enjoy the contest before suddenly deciding who their favourite is; emotional voters, who like or hate particular candidates without really knowing them; and rational supporters, who make judgements based on proven quality or background.
At the beginning of "Academy Fantasia" about 50,000 votes were cast, but this figure rose to around 700,000 a week towards the end of the series. The number of viewers was much higher than the number of votes, for many decided to just sit back and enjoy the show. Perhaps they didn't think it was worth spending Bt6 to pick a winner. Some no doubt thought: "Let the others choose and see if they pick the one I like." Does this sound familiar?
"Academy Fantasia" had its fair share of emotional voters who, no matter how obvious the differences in talent and quality were, would pick the one they liked. This group's favourite line is something like: "I'm fed up with the popular faces and want to try something new." (Somehow this reminds me of the time when many people thought a rich and successful businessman would turn this country around for the better.)
The final result of "Academy Fantasia", however, showed that the die-hard fans who followed the show closely and knew the quality and talents inside out prevailed. This group of voters scrutinised all contestants and voted for the best.
Emotional, irrational or die-hard, these voters had one good thing in common: they knew their right and they exercised it. But there is another kind of voter, which certainly exists in both "Academy Fantasia" and the Bangkok governor race, and I think they are the ugliest of all.
This group will certainly remain at home during the election, without even realising the importance of their presence in a democratic society. They will not vote for any reality game or political contestant: they will just sit and watch, and in the end, when the winner is announced, they will whine and, worst of all, blame the voters for "picking the wrong one".
I challenge people who call "Academy Fantasia" a nonsense teenage fad to better the youngsters when tomorrow comes.
Published on Aug 28, 2004
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