The Troubles in Paradise

[Guest BKKvisitor]

Reading this and other boards is a good way to take the pulse of how farangs and a sprinkling of others view the problems in Thailand. Here's my two cents worth:

 

(1) The country faces something much more profound than a currency crisis. The article below describes the most recent attacks in the south. The current coup leaders appear no more successful than was the preceding administration in bringing the violence under control. The dissidents are duplicating the success of dissidents in Iraq in hopes that Thailand will relent and give the southern provinces their freedom.

 

(2) Other Asian powers are closely eyeing what's happening and looking for economic weak points to exploit. Unfortunately, Thailand's history of corruption at all levels makes it ineffectual in fending off these type of threats. The rich will get richer.

 

(3) At some point (and perhaps not to far off), they'll be another militarty-led coup. Reasons will be given and promises will be made. The people will be temporarily placated. But when they realize they're no better off, the cycle will repeat. But future coups are not as likely to be as bloodless as the last.

 

(4) Foreign investment will slow. Big-spending visitors (especially those from China and the new economic tigers) will look for other places to spend the new money.

 

My scenario is indeed not encouraging but it wasn't intended to be. Thailand needs more than wonderful malls and efficient subways in its capital city. It needs leaders who can make a break from he past. It needs leaders who can give the poor and working class a reason to believe that it's really different this time. The insufficiency of the "sufficiency" economy is the elephant in the china shop that no one seems eager to address.

 

 

(From the Bangkok Post)

 

Sabaiyoi villagers protested the brutal attack on Sunday, calling on authorities to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to court.

 

The crowd blamed rangers stationed at the village for the attack on the school, and demanded they be pulled out. Several threw stones at government officials trying to intercede.

 

The crowd also set fire to a school near the village mosque as tensions rose.

 

It was the latest in hundreds of acts of violence over the past three years to pit Thai-Muslims against Thai-Buddhists in the majority Muslim deep South, comprising Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces and parts of neighbouring Songkhla.

 

Last week, insurgents attacked a passenger van in Narathiwat province, killing eight people, including three women. On the same day unidentified assailants threw a grenade into a mosque, injuring 11 people.

 

Thai authorities on Friday slapped an 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. curfew on two districts deemed "red zones," and may extend the curfew to other districts.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/tops...s.php?id=117511

[PattayaMale]

The article quoted above does not really mention

[Guest CurlyEye]

It appears that the Buddhists in Thailand may finally be fed up with the Muslims down south if the following item from a newsgroup is accurate at all:

 

----- Original Message -----

From: <botakeagle@yahoo.com.sg>

Newsgroups: soc.culture.singapore,soc.culture.thai,soc.culture.malaysia

Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2007 1:08 AM

Subject: Killings in southern Thailand....it is no longer a one-way street.

The Buddhist has started to act!

 

 

> The Thais Buddhists are gentle and friendly people in most situations.

> Even when provoked, they somehow managed to keep under control like a

> volcano with the lid on.

> Once their long fuse is lighted, they explode....eventually. This is

> what is happening in Southern Thailand now. An violent

> explosion...deadly.

>

> In the past two years, over 1,000 people were killed, mostly Thai

> Buddhists...monks, school childre, girls, police men, hospital nurses,

> old women, teachers, school children.....by Islamic

> terrorists....trying their best to drive out the Buddhists from

> southern Thailand. Chinese schools, shops, cars, buses, temples, homes

> of Buddhists, were burnt.....in speading terrror among non-Muslims.

>

>>From Yesterday...the Buddhist started their fight back...in earnest.

> It is an eye for an eye, blood for blood,...kill for kill......without

> end.

> I understand, the triads in Bangkok have finally decided to take

> action....This is serious trouble. Triad members will kill with

> stealt..will strike at mosques on Friday, at Madrasah schools, at

> Muslims gatherings...wedding, parties....at their homes at

> night, ...burn their mosques, schools, property....just like what were

> done to the Buddhists..Muslims will not be able to live their normal

> life...will become victims instead.

> These triad gangster are deadly killers, executioners, professional

> contract killers,... very efficient, very dependable, very

> deadly....Normally, they would kill only for money. ....now they are

> doing it for free.

> Islamic leaders who are behind the islamic terrorists will be taken

> off...one by one...as sure as the sun will rise from the east.

>

> The fun has began......

>

 

[Guest pgsp]

I think we will see Vietnam rise in economic power as the problems in Thailand discourage foreign investment. In the past Vietnam's foreign investment has been in areas of natural resources (fishing, argiculture, some modest oil exploration, apparel and shoes) but more hi-tech companies are looking closely at Vietnam.

 

Intel recently announced plans to build a 1B US plant in Vietnam, adding 4000 skilled hi-tech jobs.

 

Will more follow suit?

 

Thailand has for a well over two decades been one the leading supplies for components and parts for hard drives, CD-ROM, DVD drives, optical components.

 

The uncertain political environment and the recent currency policies may lead many of these companies to consider investments in Vietnam.