A Member Of The Thai Travel Industry Speaks Out
Thaksin is in the same league as Bin Laden and responsible for the terror attacks in Thailand
ETN received this letter from a known member of the Thai travel industry. ETN respects not to disclose the identity of this long-time eTN reader.
Thaksin is responsible for the horrible things that happened lately in Thailand.
He is in the same league as Bin Laden – Thaksin’s behind-the-scenes financing of the terror attacks should be punished the same way as Bin Laden would be punished.
77 deaths. Over 1,400 injured. Hundreds of billions of baht in losses. Our country’s image stained with blood and smoke and flames.
The Red March — which rapidly grew into the Red Crisis — comprised of many elements. There were those who genuinely and passionately felt that for so long they had been abused. They believed — erroneously — that Thaksin Shinawatra had a magical elixir that would cure them of their of inequality and injustice, perceived or real. So heated was their passion they were prepared to fight and to die for it in the name of “democracy.”
Then there were the opportunists, who selfishly and without care of the results of their actions, acted on Thaksin’s behalf. Some felt the time was ripe to overthrow the Monarchy and usher in a new regime. Others marched due to lingering resentment of the 2006 coup.
If there is anything we must learn from the nightmare of the past five years, it is that it will take years, if not a generation, to tend to the wounds, right the wrongs, and reduce the gaps that have so divided us. Let us never forget — for Thais do easily forget.
But just as we should not forget the task ahead, we also should not forgive. The actions of some among the Red Shirts of the past several weeks were unconscionable, actions taken with full knowledge of their leaders and tacit approval by Thaksin to wreck havoc and destabilize the government, the country’s image, and economy for their own aims.
Red Shirt leaders have repeatedly, and conveniently, said they had no control over the unruly elements. But as leaders, they cannot deny responsibility for the protesters – whatever faction they belong to.
While it may be argued that some of the violent incidents can be attributed to inflamed passions over principles and beliefs — the torching of buildings, the shootings to prevent rescue operations, and use of war weapons are heinous acts which are planned — someone organized it, someone funded it, and someone supported it. And they must be punished.
The terrorist connection:
Watching the news in Thailand and seeing part of Thailand’s pride burn to the ground, one cannot help but see a connection with the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington DC on September 11, 2001. The only difference between the two is where the terrorists come from.
Walk into any post office in the USA and you will find a picture of Osama bin Laden on the wanted posters being labeled the mastermind for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the USA. The attacks served Osama bin Laden on both and ideological level and a personal level. Although Osama never personally carried out the attacks, many did so in his name.
Fast forward to May 19, 2010 in Bangkok Thailand, and you will see similar attacks on many levels. Seeing that Thailand is a country driven by tourist revenue, attacks on the shopping sector are no less significant than the attack on the World Trade Center in New York. In this case it is the followers of Thaksin Shinawatra seeking out his political enemies and the news media who would dare hold up a mirror for him to see himself as he really is.
For many people now, Thailand has become another victim of terrorism, and in this case, domestic terrorism. But when looking at this it is very important to look beyond the face value of double standards. The issue of double standards was just a convenient Trojan cause Thaksin could use to advance his personal goals.
It now becomes difficult for Thaksin to distance himself from being the Osama bin Laden of Thailand, there are just too many parallels between the two men. In fact the only significant difference is one prefers staying in caves while the other prefers 5-star hotels. Perhaps the most significant parallel is neither have respect for human life be it children or adults. They simply are pawns or tools to be used as needed. The remaining question is will the governments of other countries that host Thaksin see it the same way?
It should not take too long for the media and some governments to make the connection and start applying some pressure to Thaksin hosting governments. This is particularly so when the connection between Thaksin and children human shields becomes an instinctual motivator, as well as a political one that could re-power a faltering re-election bid.
The reaches of this go far beyond the borders of Thailand. Businesses from Japan are already seeking some compensation for financial losses, as well as other countries. So in short, Thaksin has started to hit the wallets of the rich from other countries, and they do not approve.
What will come of this in Thailand is yet to be seen. Some say this may be the start of a civil war, and others are hopeful that this is just a short-lived temper tantrum. In any case, the next few days will tell as the acts of terrorism seemed to have moved upcountry as government offices have been burned to the ground in several provinces. That upcountry violence will be short lived, as there are few government buildings, and the self-inflicted wounds will be felt far sooner than in Bangkok.
Comments
There are enough respected press reports that directly point at Thaksin Shinawatra as directly inciting the Reds protests, and, being behind the violent Reds rampage of M79 grenade attacks, shootings and even the arson:
(1)The interview given by Gen. Khattiya, a Red leader hardliner, with Asian Wall Street Journal w/ some quotes below:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870386670457522377218163460...
"He (General Khattiya) says he raised his ragtag militia for one last mission: to turn the marathon antigovernment protest on the streets of Bangkok into a full-blown civil war."
"I won't leave until Mr. Thaksin tells me to" - rogue commander says he has his own authority stemming directly from Mr. Thaksin.
(2) Thaksin derailed the negotiation process w/c split the Reds leadership, and, the Reds leadership taking a hardline that led to the crackdown, see quote below:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870485200457525779013492508...
" . . .But in recent weeks Mr. Thaksin has kept in close contact with rogue military officers training a paramilitary "people's army" to attack troops and turn Bangkok's streets into a war zone, according to opposition members.
At a luxury hotel near the Red Shirts' camp in central Bangkok, a team of Mr. Thaksin's lawyers and advisers regularly conferred with protest leaders and other negotiators to ensure that the former premier was kept in the loop.
"Mr. Thaksin couldn't go along with the deal because there was nothing in it for him. He would still be left in exile and powerless," says one government negotiator, Korbsak Sabhavasu, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's secretary-general.
(3) Finally the letter from the KloengToey Slup priest, FatherJoe, is reproduced below describing how the arson of Bangkok's Rachaprasong district begun:
"And what? You did not yet read Father Joe’s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Maier) related letter?
--------
Dear Everyone
Once again from Bangkok, “after the present troubles.”
All is quiet. The curfew is slowly going away. I believe Saturday will be the final night. Today, Thursday, as I write this, curfew is from midnight till four a.m. The first night, five folks tried to torch different parts of our Klong Toey slum. One by dropping burning material from the express way above the slum. All were doused in minutes. Two of the arsonists were 14-year old kids who had been given a handful of money to throw a petrol bottle bomb anywhere they could, to burn the slum, and if they succeeded, they would get more cash.
The total slum mobilized and kept watch against strangers, and even their own. First time in my forty years here I have seen total unity: no one – absolutely no one will burn – will torch – our slum. And that is the way it was and is. Our kids kept watch also, boys patrolling the street with a couple of slum street motorcycle gangs and the girls up the roof, keeping watch. We don’t have enemies, but our buildings are large, and look flammable, (which they ain’t) but you can do a lot of damage with a petrol bottle bomb!
The loss to this beloved land is beyond counting. For most, all started rather jovial – everyone getting a daily stipend of anywhere from a thousand baht for people on foot, and three to four thousand baht for motorcycles for joining the rallies. A thousand baht is four to five days wages for unskilled labor here in the slums and a bit more in the provinces. But then if you joined the protesters, they took your photo, registered you. That was when it began to unravel.
Then, it all blew up. Huge buildings, banks, shops, homes got torched. Hospitals evacuated. The police were passive, allowing everything to happen. Maybe that’s what they were told to do. I shall not comment on that. I think everyone was “like slapped senseless” by the reality.
What now?
Life goes on. We pick up the pieces. We are most uncertain of a calm tomorrow. We here in the slums, strongly feel this is just the beginning.
The poverty level here in Klong Toey has jumped higher. The port closed for a while. The bars closed, and many of the nighttime working moms of our kindergarten kids had no work – no customers. Street kids went hungry. Most of the slum had and still has no work – no wages. And the long term suffering is just now beginning. More and more people come to us daily for help, to begin their lives again.
Had the protesters won the day, we would now be under dictatorship with lots of folks disappearing. The Law of the Gun. I am reminded of the lyrics of “Keeper of the Song.” Those in power write the history, those who suffer write the songs. Meanwhile, now, children are beginning the new school year – but the corruption goes on, the carpetbaggers go on.
We, and that means almost everyone in Thailand, fear that any new radical government certainly would not be interested in the cost, time and effort necessary to bring about the radical economic changes urgently needed for better equality.
As for us and our children, our family at Mercy Center, thank you for your prayers and concern. Many of you asked how you could help us. I hope that I do not have to put out another letter, urgently asking, begging for your assistance. Right now, today, we are fine, unscathed physically, but emotionally pretty beat up. Some of our neighbors died, both protesters and those in uniform. Death is death."
Article is a just try to balance the million US dollars PR machine hired by Taksin so Mr. Amsterdam can keep repeating the gospels of Taksins fight for the poor. CNN & BCC has followed this PR line whereas Aljzeera has shown courage and balanced reporting when the terrorist tactics became evident from RED camp.
Thailand have social differences which needs to be addressed but to believe Taksin could care about anything than his money would be foolish.
The first TWO governments after the 2006 coup were RED - Phua Thai governments (Samak & Somchai) elected by same parlimentarians as present government - how come they were the "will of the people" until a new coailition formed majority and elected the democrat lead government ?
The similarity is there for all to see if anyone cares to look.
Thaksin extrajudicially had 2500 Thais killed. Bin Laden had 3000 passengers die on 9/11.
Both are wealthy, and use their fortunes to drive their propaganda campaigns and actions.
Both are hell-bent on destroying their enemies.
Both use terrorist tactics.
Actually, I think Thaksin has a much blacker heart than Bin Laden.
Seriously, does the Abhisit's government really care about "War On Terror" policy and the fight against terrorism like developed nations do or was it actually the Abhisit's illegal government who is actually sponsoring Terror acts against the people of Thailand???
Here are more fun jokes to be add to this article: "Mr. Thaksin was hiding in caves in Afghanistan with his donkeys and camels for so long and he oftenly reads Quran and prays to Alah as a daily basis for 5 times a day to ask Alah to bless him because he was been democratically elected and to protect him from the Thai king's lese majeste and Abisit's illegal government who rule the Muslim land illegally. Whenever he feels angry, he would convince his followers to become suicide bombers to bring Democracy and justice to the nation..."
Just by only reading the title, I already start laughing. Whoever wrote this article is definitely a clown from circus. The article and its biased accusations against Mr. Thaksin is going too far and it is total joke. Who can take this kind of article seriously? The author is saying as if Mr, Thaksin is like a Radical Muslim Extremist! What does Islamic extremism leader Osama Bin laden have to do with Mr. Thaksin and Red Shirt movement in Thailand who are just asking for democratic election, their freedom and democracy peacefully since 2009? And how can they be related?? Come on!
Wow! This article and its accusations against Mr. Thaksin being like Taliban or Al Quaeda Islamic Fundamentalist Terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden is an Absolute Joke! Oh my God!
Who is too foolish to even believe this article????
I've been watching about Islamic Fundamentalism and Iraq Insurgencies and Hezbollah Movement in Lebanon for a long time and they are not even related to either Mr. Thaksin or Pro Democracy Red Shirt movement in Thailand at all. Has the publisher of this article gone mad or something??? It is laughable!
I think that Mr. Thaksin is more related to the ousted President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras by Honduras' corrupted military coup.
I am a Thai citizen. I think you are mistaken. Thaksin is the best Thai prime minister, even Sondhi said that. He did many good things for Thailand. Your living in Thailand for seven years does not guarantee that you are Thailand expert.
What crime is Thaksin doing? Signing a paper for his wife to join the land auction? I don't think it is crime anywhere else in this world. Selling his own shares to Temasek? The deal is the same as DTAC did earlier.
This is damn lie. The guy who wrote this letter is a liar.
The fact is the red shirts are Thai citizens fighting for democracy peacefully, but the tyrant government of Abhisit crushed them with armed forces. The armed forces brutally shot women, boys, old people, reporters even paramedics.
It appear that Thai goverment want people think that.
You receive only information from goverment.
They'll tell you that protester has a lot of weapon, but only protester died by soilder.
Wow! I though this was a joke! Does this site have any standards?
Do you mean to heal or hurt the crisis in Thailand further? Your lead story by an unnamed source equalling Thaksin with Osama bin laden must have been a paid political ad by the present government. For shame. I will no longer trust the legitimate authority, nor objective overview, of your newsletter again.
Unsubscribe me immediately if this is the calibre of your future reportage.
At the bare minimum, your "unnamed source' should have identified himself. Was he Thai or foreign? -- and if in the latter case, perhaps he should bow out of an issue of Thai fighting Thai.
Shame on you!!!!!!
I am dumbfounded that you would say something like this. Are you a resident of Thailand? If so you must only look at the Red Shirts side and not the entire picture. WAKE UP!
If you live in Bangkok,you will get a much better idea of what is really going on here. Anyone who thinks that Taksin is a good man and wants good things for Thailand is sadly mistaken. The story is well stated and TRUE! Taksin is a criminal and should be in a Thai jail for the crimes he has committeed. I've lived here for 7 years and this man is trying to distroy the lovely kingdom.
It was an appalling lack of editorial judgment to run this unbalanced opinion. The writer wasn't prepared to put his or her name to it, but you were prepared to editorialise in the most blatant way by running the headline in the newsletter without any acknowledgement. I will be cancelling my subscription to this newletter.
Thanks for revealing the truth. Thaksin is currently in France and the French government has ordered that he not involve himself in any political activities while on their soil. I guess the French government also has high suspicions on his involvements in recent terrorist activities in Thailand.
Other good, more academic readings I'd recommend are:
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Bangkok+battles+rehearsal+civil/305063...
and also this:
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2905056.htm
Dear Sir or Madam,
whatever the status of this member of the Thai travel industry, and also whatever his losses, I think for an online portal, that wants to be taken serious, as eturbonews, I believe, does, it is more than doubtful to allow somebody who represents an industry and economical interests to voice a personal comment with a headline "Thaksin is in the same league as Bin Laden and responsible for the Terror attacks in Thailand" via its portal!
Whilst all are entitled to their opinions there should be a responsibility placed on all who wish to heal the events in Thailand. Whilst this letter shares one view it is niave to think that had Thaksin not appeared on the scene the events in Thailand would not have happened. The underlying unrest has been developing over many years and not just the past five. The respect between rich - poor - government - monarchy and military has been debated for many years and will continue until an amicable solution to ALL is drawn. Thailand has and is growing very fast and will no doubt suffer in the process of its integration internally and worldwide. Those who care should be more mindful of overall feeling of its populace and not continue thinking that nothing will change - it will and must. One can only hope that it's heart will not be damaged too much in the process but arrive healthier and fitter for it.
It is a incrdible ethical mistake publishing this. You took one side in the conflict and supoorting it. This person is a military supporter. No respected media in the world reported abiut Thai crisis like this. Taksin is looking to hel poor peopel and was rekoved n undemocratic manner. Ashame of yourself. I will unsubscribe from you and recomend business to do so.
Post new comment