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The Soap Box Red Siam Manifesto | Red Siam Manifesto |
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| Written by Giles Ji Ungpakorn | |
| Tuesday, 10 February 2009 | |
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See Also: Index on Censorship: Interview with Giles Ji Ungpakorn Giles Ji Ungpakorn, a political science professor and writer at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, was arrested in January and charged with lese majeste – insulting Thailand’s royalty in his book,” A Coup for the Rich,” in the wake of the 2006 military coup that deposed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Ungpakorn, an occasional contributor to Asia Sentinel, fled Thailand over the weekend for the UK rather than present himself today to police to face three to 15 years in prison. He holds joint British and Thai nationality. Here, he issues a flame-throwing manifesto daring the people of Thailand to change the way the country’s society works.
Read the Thai language version here. The enemies of the Thai people and democracy may have their army, courts and prisons. They may have seized and rigged parliament and established the government through crimes like the blockading of the airports and other undemocratic actions by the PAD. Yet those that love democracy, the Red shirts, have strength in numbers and are waking up to political realities. Disorganized and scattered, this movement of ours will be weak, but a party that is organized and self-led can create a democratic fist to smash the dictatorship. While world leaders such as Obama struggle to solve the serious economic crisis, the Democrat government in Thailand is allowing thousands of workers to lose their jobs. The government sees its priority only in cracking down on opposition using les majeste, it has even created a website where citizens can inform on each other. Troops have been sent into communities and villages to stifle dissent. The enemies of democracy have guns, an army and shadowy bosses in high places. But their weakness is that they are united around an absurd and un-scientific ideology: the ideology of the monarchy. This ideology seeks to make Thais into groveling serfs. They want us to believe that an ordinary human being, just because of an accident of birth, can be transformed into a god, when the true abilities of the king are no different from millions of ordinary engineers, artists, farmers or skilled workers. The conservative elites want us to believe that the king loves and takes care of the people. But the Thai population are quite capable of looking after themselves. All that is beautiful and honorable about Thai society has been created by working people. This king:
Finally, this king allows his supporters to proclaim that he is "the father of the nation," and yet his own son is not respected by anyone in Thai society! The elites in Thailand, who claim legitimacy from the king, are exploiters and blood-suckers. They are not the real owners of society. They should remember that their wealth and status is as a result of the hard work of those ordinary citizens whom they despise. For the millions of Thais who know all this to be true, it is only fear and intimidation that stops us all from speaking this truth out loud. If we are alone, we will be frightened. If we are together we will have courage. It is time to bring into the open our anger, courage and reason in order to destroy the fear in Thai society and to bring light back to our country. We must all ask questions about the present regime, which after all is nothing other than a dictatorship which shrouds us in darkness. When we all stand up and ask questions, they cannot jail us all. So long as we crawl before the ideology of the monarchy, we shall remain no better than animals. We must stand up and be humans, citizens in a modern world.
The red, white and blue
Thai flag was copied from the west in order to indoctrinate us to be
loyal to "Nation Religion and King", the same slogan which
was recently last used by the PAD protestors who blocked the
airports. Yet during the French revolution, the red white and blue
meant "Liberty Equality and Fraternity.” This is the
slogan we must use to free Thailand from the "New Order"
which the PAD and the army have installed.
Read the Thai language version here.
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Hits: 26593 Comments (27)
  written by Sirikit, February 10, 2009
Giles and Thaksin fled Thailand as refugees on Lese Majeste or related crime charges. Do you think that they are escaping the long reach of our esteemed Justice sysem or they are afraid of going into our prisons given our good records of tortures and human right abuses such as harsh treatment of refugees?
written by HHHHHHHHHjohn lim, February 10, 2009
A wonderful article, written directly from his heart. It's a warning for anyone who still think they can turn the clock backward.
written by Athita, February 10, 2009
K. Gile,
I know how it is like. So when you're out of this country, you can speak to the world to understand what's really going on in Thailand. Find out more truth and more story. Good luck K.Gile and we Thai still love to hear from you. You're not alone.
written by Krathingdaeng, February 10, 2009
Good on you Gile, keep speaking out loud, there are millions of Thai people want to listen to a person like you rather than listening to those Generals who crawls before the King. We are the TAX payers and we have the right to determine our Country's future and not wasting our money on some Royals who launch a nude birthday party.
written by Don, February 11, 2009
The situations from PAD's doing make me to think that way. All foreigners both in the country and outside are still waiting for the punishment for the PAD group who closed the airports. Who can tell them that why PAD's group are still living peacefully and have the position on the present government.
 written by Philips Holland, February 12, 2009
Giles, go on speaking out the hidden truth in Thailand. You have a very good English to effectively communicate with the world about the untold stories to obstruct the movement of democracy in Thailand. Go on Giles, I was in Thammasat on Oct 6 and sorry for your dad. He is one of our democratic heros.
written by Jirun, February 12, 2009
I'm a mathematician. Has Mr. Ji any proof to support the 5 or 6 things he claimed our beloved King did? If so, why not share with us? I refuse to believe anything not proven. To me, this manifesto is all lie .I've heard about our King's policy of Sufficiency Economy and it's not the way Dr. Ji described. The policy helps one to live within one's mean; help recycles the dwindle world resources; help eliminates the use of harmful chemical substances. and much much more.
written by Mr. Anonymous, February 12, 2009
Mr. Ungpakorn seems to have something of a leader/revolutionary complex that is not strongly tied to the real situation in Thailand.
"[Pua Thai] will only fight within the confines of present structures of society while thousands of citizens wish to go further." Ungpakorn then goes on to explain how he and like-minded people will fight within the confines of present structures of society (at least government). Which is a good thing. I want rapid change for the better in the Philippines. I want the landed gentry aristocracy that controls the government and the economy ousted from power. However, revolutions - all over the world, including in France - usually end out badly. A common phrase is 'evolution, not revolution.' That is probably the best option for the Philippines and for Thailand, considering both ostensibly have governments voted in by the people. For starters, Thais could vote in a government that will change the constitution to allow fuller freedom of speech, including the ability to question (not necessarily overthrow) the king. The 'Red Shirts' can also show that the ordinary Thai people are the ones in ultimate control, if Thailand is truly a country governed by its people. Every Southeast Asian country should also be working harder for greater ASEAN unity. While Southeast Asian countries have internal and external bickerings (to use Thailand, the divide in society mentioned here and the conflict with Cambodia over that temple on the Thai-Cambodian border), China and, to a lesser extent, India are only growing stronger. Both can push around Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, etc. easily. A unified ASEAN would be more strongly placed to guide its own future more independent of the wishes of China, India, and the United States. Southeast Asians can either start by taking a common stance against the military junta in Burma and removing it from power, or by scrapping the current ASEAN altogether, and forming a new ASEAN, with stricter criteria for membership - the way the EU and USA have done for their member states.
written by toro, February 13, 2009
As Gie commented thai king in negative way, most of parts are true.We should open the mind to investigate and consider the past event in Thailand eg. interfere politic, coup, apparently back Pad
written by Tang, February 13, 2009
Our Thai King never pay Tax before. But he is the richest King in the World.
written by Farang-Thai, February 14, 2009
Gile had every right to speaks his mind. This is to the point. Thais are being "brain wash" by the elites of promoting the Monarchy and put fear into Thais, let's take this to consideration. Every evening at 8pm what do you see or hear on every Thai TVs, and Radios? The Royal News, and it all good! I am sure most of you been to Thailand. What do you see, almost every kilometer, when you ride in the car. Why is it so wrong, so bad, and worse they called you" EVIL" to speak out, to have opinions, and to criticize the king!? Let's have an open mind discussion . There are facts for you to find; there are proofs for you to discover, but you must open your mind to the possibilities. Still want to try?
written by BAD DOG, February 20, 2009 Bad Dog in Da House! Hey Reds! Do us all a favor by reading Craig Evans review of Handley's hatchet job on the King. And Gi, do us all a favor and cut out the Thaksin-style immature self-obsession and whining - it's as unattractive as it is unpersuasive i.e. very. And to the red shirt who dissed Gi, I think you're alright, man. Finally, in my opinion, although the number of pro-Thaksin submissions seem to clearly outweigh those against, it only serves to remind whay might well be Thaksin's democratic credo: Never mind the quality, feel the width (and you wonder why they call them the "Jews of Asia") Bad Dog Out.
written by bunty, April 09, 2010
HM the KING being one of the worlds richest people no doubt contributes financially to good causes for the betterment of the poor and disadvantaged in thailand.
I wondered how much in fiscal terms he has 'given ' to good causes in a land bereft of welfare to the poor, and how this would compare with the contribution from Warren Buffet a self made mere mortal with no divide obligation to a 'people'... Incidentially Mr Buffet has given $32 billion to charity
written by Nuetral, April 16, 2010
All of us should have the right to speak. But in the same time we should respect others too. The world will be peaceful if freedom is practiced with ethics and morality. If accusations are unavoidable, they should be supported with evidences or proves.
When we ask something from justice, do we have or respect justice at the first place?
written by Kumnun Thai, April 20, 2010
Giles,you do a good job for Thai people. The King is not Thai either because he was born in the US! Wake up and smell the coffee, the King is the master mind behind all the coups in the past-present. We don‘t need King‘s education. We don‘t need no thought control. We don‘t need feudalism in the class room. As long as this moron rules the country there will be no freedom of speech, democracy and we have to crawl and lick his ass like his dog did. God save the King, the fascist regime, oppressive ruler ans blood sucker.
written by Hong Kong Walker, May 25, 2010
As a foreigner who is not Thai, I will only say that perhaps Thailand needs something similar to the ICAC in Hong Kong that works against corruption as an independent body (and of course, 'les majeste' in no way supports the spirit of free speech).
written by Red Shirt, September 24, 2010
Ever the Yellow bellies here, trying to say Giles is not even Thai. He is Thai, actually, and he holds Thai citizenship. It's so common for the Yellows to say everyone who disagrees with them is either not Thai or uneducated. Shame on their arrogance and ignorance. Trying to tell everyone Thailand is all a single race and religion, no, it's not homogeneous. Get over it you brainwashed fools. There are over 50 different ethnicites in Thailand that make up the Thai people, each with their own race, religion and language.
As a Western born Thai myself, of course I'm a Republican. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. I won't be down on my knees to applaud some old man who's clearly got a failed moral character. The Yellows can kiss the ground at someones feet their whole life if they want - I won't be joining them. For too long has the Kings name been used to destroy democracy and freedom in Thailand and he has said nothing. Though the military holds the real power, not the King. The King needs to be removed, the military vastly reshuffled and the constitution amended to take away their power. Only through this will the Thai people have the freedom to govern themselves.
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