Re-decorating with Political Flair

Breathless Bangkok Post reports of the past few days emphasise how warmly the apparent majority of Bangkokians have embraced the soldiers who rolled tanks into town last week. The coup's royal imprimature seems to have precluded any animated public dialogue as to the coup's kosher-ness. Instead we read stories with sub-headlines such as this one from Sunday's Post: "Armoured tanks can both destroy buildings and enchant children."

Move over, "Sesame Street".

It's no secret that Mr Thaksin's critics' base is here, and that his supporters' base was (is?) -- well, just about the rest of the Kingdom except for the South. But not all Bangkokians were born and reared here. Countless residents came to the Big Mango to seek their fortune after growing up in the provinces, and as they say in the southern United States, ya can take a feller outta the country, but ya cain't take the country outta the feller. I wonder how most salt-of-the-earth Thaksin fans are squaring their beloved monarch's judgment call with their fondness for the deposed Square-faced Man. I haven't asked anyone yet because the situation is still somewhat sensitive.

(Call me a pansy, but I'll consider the situation "sensitive" until I can grocery-shop at the Rama IV Lotus without passing armed soldiers on the footpath and several tanks in the carpark. Unless...maybe they were on their way to get groceries as well?)

My friend K., however, volunteered her opinion today. She's lived in Bangkok for seven years, but grew up shuttling to and fro between her pa's and ma's families near Phrae and near Chumpon. She still returns to their villages regularly so her little boy can know his extended family. K. has always loved and respected the King. She also sees Mr Thaksin as the first prime minister ever, misdeeds aside, even to pretend to care about "ordinary" people. So how does she reconcile her disappointment about his ouster with knowing that the revered person approved of said ouster?

The armoured tanks haven't enchanted K. In her home she has taken down all images of the revered person, that's how confused and betrayed she feels by what's going on. For a Thai, this is a drastic move. She said that she will re-install the images when Thailand holds the election promised by Gen Sonthi. She will support Mr Thaksin if he returns, rested and ready, after this interval in England. K. sees recent events as yet another example of Thailand's primate city imposing its will on the rest of the Kingdom.

K. is but one example. Who really knows how the majority of 65 million Thai subjects view Thaksin's ouster? A recent opinion poll reported that 80 percent of respondents support the coup and the CDRM. As long as this poll was conducted properly, the result reflects overwhelming confidence in the direction Gen Sonthi will take Thailand. Let's hope the interim government's actions will fulfill the apparent majority's expectations, and also prompt my friend K. to restore the cherished images of you-know-who in her home.

Comments

[Bangkok Pundit]

Unity/harmony/solidarity (kwaham samakee) is an important concept in the Thai ideology and the so-called divisiness which has rocked the Thai political scene over the last year goes against this grain.

Some people will see the coup as stopping this disagreement and support that. This doesn't mean that they don't want TRT or Thaksin in power.

[Bron]

I was at a small lunch gathering yesterday- over half the women at the table were born & bred in Thailand. The subject of the coup came up and I asked that exact question: how do Thaksin supporters reconcile their support for 'the square-faced man' with their love for the King, as the two now seem blatantly at odds. The consensus was that Thaksin supporters care only about 'the money' and are blinded by its power, so much so that it eclipses their love for the revered one. I was amazed, and the topic of conversation was hastily changed.

[Thaihome]

Most of Taksin's so called grass root support is actually based with the upcountry "feudal" leaders that tell (and often pay) everyone else how to vote. Taksin's populist programs just put more money in their pockets. People such as your friend K have bought into an illusion. There were never any populist programs. They were merely means for money to be divvied up.
Unless he comes back, the TRT will breakup into the many separate factions that were held together by his promise of a share of the spoils.
TH