Thailand Land of Smiles» Thailand Commentary

You Can Never Go Home Again

Talen — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:11:20 +0000

The old adage gets thrown around throughout your life and has come to mean different things to different people. When we are young and we first leave home to strike out on our own it’s usually the first time in our lives we hear the phrase and later in life when our parents have passed you tend to hear the phrase again. Each time the phrase takes on a new meaning. When we leave home young and ready to take on the world we know we can always go back home, Mom told us we could, much to dads chagrin. Even so part of us left that can never really go back, we felt the freedom of being on our own and we want more of that.

When your parents pass the phrase takes on a much different meaning, unless you or another family member will be living in the family home then chances are you really can’t ever go home again. Sure, you can drive up the street you used to live on and reminisce about old times with the family but chances are the people living there now won’t be too happy about you dropping in.

This week my family wrapped up the final piece of our parents estate by selling the family home. In a way it was quite a cathartic experience, going through all the old memories and getting the house ready for sale with my brother and sister was painful at times but it brought out much more smiles and laughter than I would have imagined.

Together we wrapped up the lives of two wonderful people that we will miss dearly, but they aren’t really gone and even though the house has been sold I realized that the old adage really isn’t true. You can go home; home isn’t just a house or a place where memories were made but the feelings and memories themselves. Home is in your heart and as long as you live and breathe you can always go home. Having family to share that with makes it all that much sweeter.

Looks like I have a lot of loose ends to wrap up in the next 6 weeks before the house closes. If my timing is right then that should put me in Thailand somewhere in the last two weeks of August. It will be sad of course to close this chapter in my life but I look forward to beginning a new chapter in a new land that I hope one day to comfortably call home.

UDD Conditions for Peace, Arrest Suthep

Talen — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:00:19 +0000

The Red Shirts ( UDD ) were falling over themselves just last week saying that they welcomed negotiations with the government to bring the protests to an end. The key element of those negotiations is the dissolution of Parliament and new elections being held in November. Of course, in true Red Shirt fashion, it’s not enough that they agree to the governments 5 point plan they need to have their own plan which includes Deputy Prime Minister, Suthep Thaungsuban, surrendering to police. The UDD feel that he alone is responsible for the death and injury toll that happened on April 10th when government troops clashed with protestors.

Suthep was in charge of security operations on April 10 when more than 20 people were killed in a failed attempt to disperse protesters. His role was subsequently given to army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda. Suthep is expected to meet with Justice Ministry officials from the Department of Special Investigation today to answer questions about the event. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, also agreed to meet DSI officials once he is cleared to do so by Parliament. Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn made this statement yesterday:

The prime minister and the deputy prime minister made the decision to go and listen to the complaint at the DSI tomorrow especially for the case of Khun Suthep Thaugsuban. This is in line with the prime minister’s position to defend his decision in a court of law when the emergency decree was declared

Lets forget for a moment that this would have never happened if the Red Shirts weren’t protesting, while we are at it lets also forget the fact that protesters were also armed and just for shits and giggles lets ignore the fact that UDD leaders put not only their people but private citizens lives in jeopardy on more than one occasion. The UDD leaders want the Deputy Prime Minister to be charged and stand trial for the April 10th clashes although they want their own leaders absolved from all prosecution.

Should their be an inquiry into the April 10th action against the protesters? Absolutely. Should Deputy Prime Minister Suthep step down and face possible action from the Ministry of Justice? Yes. Should this be a sticking point to the peace process? Absolutely not.

Although the UDD leaders have endorsed the governments schedule for new elections they are standing firm on this one point and have stated that the protests will continue until the Deputy Prime Minister is taken into custody. This doesn’t sound as if they are welcoming negotiations or accepting the Prime Ministers 5 point plan.This sounds like the usual nonsense from the UDD leaders who are still in contact and under the control of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin.

If the UDD leaders are serious about having Suthep turn himself into the police then they should offer up their own leaders who have arrest warrants out for them as well to show that they are willing to do what is best for the country. I doubt any UDD leader will be turning themselves in any time soon though. This seems as if it is yet another ploy by the UDD to derail the possibility of peace unless it is on their terms.

With the announcement last week of the governments 5 point plan and the possible acceptance of that plan by the UDD fresh violence broke out in Bangkok with the killing of two police officers and the injury of many innocent citizens. It is still not known who was responsible for the latest attack but there are many on all sides of this story that would like nothing better than to see the peace process derailed.

The Prime Ministers 5 point plan to bring peace back to Bangkok and Thailand also includes constitutional and electoral reforms and economic development as well as the dissolution of Parliament and new elections..

Transcending the Cultural Divide

Talen — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:35:19 +0000

Few things transcend culture easily, and while we all may have different customs, the end of ones life is always a very sad affair. As I write this Pookie’s 86 year old grandmother is fading fast in a hospital in Nakhon Phanom and my father is quickly losing his battle with cancer.

The cultural divide quickly erodes when it comes to the simple joys of life or the sadness of losing a loved one, it’s a universal understanding that we all share and brings us closer together. While sometimes language and customs can be a barrier it’s these simple truths that let us know we aren’t so different after all.

Although our cultures are different the feelings are very much the same. Wanting our loved ones to pass quietly with as little pain as possible, as our families come together to support one another and do all we can for our loved ones. Death is never easy, even when it is expected and you have followed the long slow decline.

Pookie’s grandmother had been at home until this past week when the family could no longer care for her in the way that was needed. She slept most of the 24 hour day and when she did occasionally wake she would take very little food and water. My father on the other hand wishes to be at home and this is where he will pass. It has been a long hard battle for both of them and hopefully their last days will go peacefully.

It’s a feeling of helplessness as we watch our loved ones lose their struggle with life. We can only be there for them and help to make them more comfortable and let them know they are loved. It’s the one thing that binds all of us as human beings across the world. The process is as hard in America as it is in rural Thailand. The family pulls together and does all they can, little sleep is had and many tears are shared. Although, there are still bright spots and small fits of laughter as our loved ones help us to come to terms with the inevitable.

Sleep has been hard to come by in the past 2 weeks for my family and Pookie’s family as we wait and do what we can to ease our loved ones on. As the rest of the world moves on in what seems a very slow procession of events it becomes very clear what is really important in life. Rich or poor, Thai or American, life is a very finite and precious thing that shouldn’t be measured in time but in memories and feelings that will last much longer than any one life.

Two very different people from two very different cultures sharing one single aspect of life that we all must endure. We come into this world with nothing but hopefully everyone leaves taking with them the thought that they are loved and those that remain behind will always keep them in their memories.

Live, love and touch as many lives as you can. Explore the world around you, while what life we have is finite the possibilities are infinite and the only thing that matters are those people that have shared in our journey.

Outrage Over Hmong Repatriation Misplaced

Talen — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:09:31 +0000

Picture courtesy AFP

The Hmong Came to Thailand as refugees from Laos in 2004-2005 and they have remained in Huay Nam Khao refugee camp in Petchabun Province guarded by the Thai military until this past Thursday when 452 of the Hmong refugees were among the first to be repatriated back to Laos.

Cries of outrage have echoed across the blogoshpere and through the world news outlets about Thailand’s great injustice about how Thailand refused U.N. access for interviews with the refugees, about how the Thai army wouldn’t reveal their screening process and of course how the Hmong have legitimate protection concerns and Thailand isn’t protecting them.

This isn’t going to be one of those articles.

The United States, Australia, Canada and Australia all condemned the forced repatriation as well as the U.N., who recognized the Hmong’s refugee status. The aforementioned countries also offered the 4,400 Hmong refugees resettlement in their respective countries. So here’s the question, why haven’t these countries resettled the Hmong? Why hasn’t the U.N. stepped in and asked that the Hmong be handed over to them for resettlement in another country?

This situation didn’t just begin on Thursday, this has been an ongoing concern for 4 years. These countries and the U.N. couldn’t figure it out in that length of time? Of course they couldn’t, because they never had any intention of resettling the Hmong. While they cry about abysmal conditions in the refugee camp and they disagree with Thailand’s assessment that the Hmong are economic and not political refugees they didn’t take the time or the diplomatic initiative to do anything about it.

The U.N. and the United States are the last entities that should be crying foul with their abysmal records of refugee treatment. Has everyone forgotten the Cuban refugee crisis of the 80′s in the United States when Fidel Castro figured out how to relieve his over populated prison cells? The problem was Castro not only released his prisoners on America but normal everyday Cuban citizens saw this as their chance as well and boarded anything that would float for America.

The United States had their own Abysmal refugee camps in Miami where murders happened daily and basic necessities were scarce. The United States not only forcible repatriated thousands of Cubans, which went against their own dictate they also patrolled the waters off of Florida and fired warning shots across the bows of boats filled with refugees heading to America. To add insult to injury they forced these boats to return to Cuba where many of these refugees were imprisoned and killed. Not to mention that many of these boats that were returned had a staggering death rate due to starvation and dehydration due to lack of food and water. Where was the U.S. outrage then? Where was the U.N. then?

Picture Courtesy Reuters

When I hear of the U.S. State Departments outrage over the Forced Hmong repatriation I have visions of Elián González being forcibly repatriated to Cuba by armed Force. While the Elián González incident is a little different than the Hmong I think the picture clearly shows how The United States saw fit to repatriate a child. The family weren’t cooperating with the U.S. State Department and refused to hand Elián González over but they weren’t exactly armed insurgents that needed to be raided by a heavily armed tactical squad.

The real outrage shouldn’t be targeted at Thailand, it should be targeted at the real cause of all the Hmong’s problems…The United States of America!

Most people reading about this situation will have no clue that the United States are the sole cause of the Hmong peoples persecution which led to this point in the first place. During the Vietnam War the CIA recruited and paid the Hmong to fight alongside American troops in a secret war to halt communism in Laos and keep Vietnam from using Laos as a site for the Ho Chi Minh trail. The communist government of Laos didn’t take too kindly to this and the Hmong have had a rough ride since.

Many thousands of Hmong have made it to the U.S. and resettled but those left behind were forgotten by the U.S. government that now so strongly condemns Thailand for not cleaning up the mess that they made

Picture courtesy some smartass

The U.N. are just as responsible for the Hmong situation although they always like to claim that they are working on the problem. There hasn’t been a more ineffective or inefficient organization since the U.N. was created so there was no doubt that they would provide no real relief for the Hmong. The U.N. has proven time and again that they are inept at helping any citizens of the world and that is clearly evident by their inaction’s in Africa.

Thailand has housed, clothed and fed the Hmong refugees for 4 years and the Thai claims that they are economic refugees isn’t a blatant disregard for the Hmong’s political situation, which can’t be denied, it is a very real concern. Thailand has to deal with thousands of illegal Lao and Cambodian workers yearly. They are taking jobs from Thai citizens and it has become as big a problem as illegal Mexican immigrants in America.

It also has to be noted that Thailand is the country that will have to deal with the political and diplomatic ramifications of this situation and it’s inevitable fallout with it’s neighboring countries.

Diplomatically this has been a nightmare for Thailand especially considering the current strain on relations with Cambodia. Thailand has had an agreement with Laos for several years now to repatriate the Hmong and the Lao Government has guaranteed Thailand that the Hmong will not be persecuted. Thailand has held off from repatriating the Hmong for 2 years because various nations and the U.N. have promised relief that never arrived. Should Thailand now forget that agreement and cause more diplomatic strife for itself?

Thailand shouldn’t become the worlds whipping boy when no one else has stepped up to do anything about the situation. Furthermore the eyes of the world should more importantly be focused on Laos and America. Laos, to make sure that the Hmong are treated fairly and America because the United states government should be taking responsibility for the actions that led to the persecution of the Hmong in the first place.

The U.S. government created this situation with the Hmong and the U.S. government should be the one to solve this problem, not leaving it for others to clean up as they always do. The U.S. State Departments press release of outrage should be seen as exactly what it is, just words. Once again the United States has successfully transferred responsibility onto another country and then attacked the diplomatic decisions of that country.

If you still need to feel outrage then you should consider directing it at those who created the problem and those that stated they would resettle the Hmong but didn’t. I know diplomatic lines between various countries can take time but 4 years was more than enough time to help the Hmong. Those countries and the U.N. that are now expressing outrage should be ashamed, they talk a good game but when it comes down to it they did nothing.

Will the world now be watching Laos, the United Nations and the United States or will it be easier to keep their anger focused on Thailand?

Thailand Wishes for 2010

Talen — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 07:13:15 +0000

Last January one of Thailand’s most respected young Monks, Phra Maha Wuthichai Vajiramedhi, released his list of 9 wishes for Thailand in 2009 and I followed suit and released my own list of Thailand wishes for 2009. So, here on the first day of 2010 I thought it might be a good idea to put together a list of wishes I would like to see come true for Thailand in 2010.

I hope everyone had a safe and very happy New Year and may your 2010 be a great year!

Thailand Wishes for 2010:

1. May King Bhumibol Adulyadej have continued good health throughout 2010.

2. May Thailand and Cambodia put their troubles over Thaksin Shinawatra and Preah Vear behind them and move to strengthen their ties.

3. May Thaksin realize that what he is doing is dividing the country he claims to love and reconsider his actions so that Thais can come together for a better Thailand for all Thai’s.

4. May the Islamist insurgency in the South be put down for good by any means necessary so the killing of innocent people will stop.

5. May all the people of Thailand realize that they are not red shirts or yellow shirts, rich or poor, they are simply all Thai people that must work together for a better Thailand.

6. May Thailand’s leaders realize that the Lèse majesté laws are antiquated and abused political vehicles that serve no real purpose in the 21st century and strike them from the books for all time.

7. May all travelers to Thailand find the beauty and kindness of the country in every Thai smile.

8. May 2010 be a good year for Thailand tourism and a prosperous year for all Thai people.

9. May everyone visiting or living in Thailand in 2010 have a safe, happy and healthy year filled with laughter, friendship and those famous Thai smiles.

What are your wishes for Thailand in the new year?

No monks were harmed in the poorly executed photoshop process and as always no disrespect was meant.

Wandering throughout Thailand

Talen — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:45:31 +0000

When I’m in Thailand I become a different person than I am in The U.S. I become more of an explorer and while I’m not discovering new lands or people I am discovering more of myself and the Thailand that I have grown to love. Thailand isn’t perfect by any means but it’s so far off the beaten track in terms of cultural differences of what I know that it seems like it could be perfect.

I think we all find something in our lives that bring on such feelings at one time or another, it’s what shapes us and makes us who we are. It’s not so much the destination or that perfect sunset picture but the journey that led to it. I become a nomad of sorts when the plane touches down in Bangkok, wandering from place to place searching for something more, something else. The best part is that I am a digital nomad so I can take pictures and share my journey with anyone that wants to come along.

In 2007 I sent pictures home daily to my brother who printed them out to show to my mother, who was otherwise worried about her youngest son being on his own in Thailand for an extended stay. Mom passed away last December, but not before showing me a large folder with all the printed out pictures and emails I had sent over 5 weeks while I was in Thailand. They meant something to her because Thailand meant something to me. A year on and her laugh is still dearly missed.

It’s the little things that are most important, like the folder of my journey that my Mom kept or the fact that I have it now and even though I lived through the journey this folder means more to me than the journey itself…because it meant something to her.

No matter where you are in life, take pictures and make memories that you can share with those you love. And remember to keep an eye out for those little things because they are often the things that hold the most meaning although we sometimes overlook them.

Long Live the King & Happy Fathers Day

Talen — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:53:00 +0000

A very happy 82cnd birthday to the king of Thailand today. The King’s birthday is also fathers day in Thailand so a happy fathers day to everyone in Thailand as well. Let’s hope the King continues to recover from his recent illness and that the Thai People can come together for the king and the Kingdom and put aside all the political strife at least for the next few days.

Remembering Those Who Served in Thailand

Talen — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:33:56 +0000

Picture Courtesy John Sweet

This week saw yet another Veterans day pass with the observance by most nations of those brave men and women who have served their countries with honor and in some cases made the most noble of sacrifices by giving their lives for their countries.

Everyone knows that Thailand played a role in the American war with Vietnam but most have only seen that role as one of R&R provided for American Military away from the front lines. Others may know that Thailand filled a much more needed role to the American military.

Today I received an E-mail from John Sweet about a site I might be interested in because it deals with the history of Nakhon Phanom and some of those brave individuals I mentioned before. The link he sent me was to Nakhon Phanom During the Secret War 1962-1975 which tells the story much better than I ever could.

I had known that the American military ran operations out of North East Thailand but I didn’t know to what extent. John’s web site is filled with information and pictures concerning Nakhon Phanom’s role in the war and I would think he would know exactly what he is talking about since he served there between 1969-1970.

You will also find a link from John’s site to The Thailand-Laos-Cambodia Brotherhood which John and almost 500 other servicemen are a part of. This brotherhood provides humanitarian assistance throughout Issan and Laos. This says so much about the honor and integrity of those who have served and continue to give of themselves.

John, Thank you for sharing your site and for the service you and all the other American servicemen and women have given to your country, and continue to give though humanitarian efforts.

John Sweet

TUOC – 1987th Comm NKP 69-70

Thaksin Shinawatra and the Chamber of Secrets

Talen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:44:02 +0000

With Thaksin’s recent interview with the Times released this week it has all suddenly taken on the air of a Harry Potter book with everyone exclaiming the words ” He who must not be named” and ” The interview that must not be named”. The Thai government in all of it’s archaic grandeur have proclaimed that this interview with he who shall not be named shall also not be published or spoken about online.

I originally considered Thai politicians to be the same type of highly trained hypocritical monkeys that can be found in any western country. Basically, not concerned with more than what they can get out of any situation and how anything they do can be used as an opportunity to help with re-election efforts. Unfortunately I was wrong, as Thai politicians are much more dangerous in their ineptitude.

Instead of releasing a statement that the government disapproved of the interview done with Thaksin they have basically issued a decree stating that they will take action against anyone printing, posting or generally discussing said article online or otherwise. What they fail to understand is the fact that with every such step they make they lend more and more credence to everything Thaksin says and does. The Thai government is playing into his hands.

Now that the Times online interview is front and center in the news charges of lèse-majesté are most likely going to be brought against Thaksin and journalist Richard Lloyd Parry of the Times. Thaksin for his part is saying that the interview was taken out of context and he plans to sue the Times.

Thaksin is not a stupid man, he knew exactly what to say in the interview and how he wanted to say it and he knows those words were not an affront to the Thai royal family but to those surrounding the royal family. I believe Thaksin has calculated every move he has made since the 2006 coup, from buying Manchester City to becoming Cambodia’s economic advisor, and now this interview.

With every step Thaksin has given the Thai government more means to stumble in the eyes of the world, and they have. Instead of ignoring the man they removed from power and treating him as an insignificant outsider they have given him a platform to stand on and call out their hypocrisy.

Thaksin is now in Cambodia and leaders of his defunct Thai political party as well as leaders of the red shirt movement are crossing the border to meet with him. It isn’t coincidence that Thaksin is so close to his homeland or that his words have become more measured. He means to hold a position of power again in Thailand and the Thai government that fought so hard to remove him from office in 2006 are falling over themselves to hand him the keys to the kingdom by their arrogant and dismissive nature of the Thai people and democracy.

Thaksin is no hero by any means, he is a corrupt politician that abused the Thai peoples trust, but he still has the ear of the people. As long as the Thai government continues to hide behind the archaic lèse-majesté laws and discourage the peoples freedom to speak they will continue to push more people towards Thaksin. For his part Thaksin would love nothing more than to see the Thai government divide it’s nation so he can once again come to power.

What both Thaksin and the Thai government don’t seem to see is that this collision course has very real ramifications for the people and country they both claim to love. When blood is spilled it is never the blood of a politician.

Thailand Boogie, One Step Forward Two Steps Back

Talen — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:27:00 +0000

Picture Courtesy Reuters

Over the weekend Miss International Queen 2009 was Crowned in Pattaya, Thailand. You might think that that isn’t such a big deal, beauty contests take place all the time. Well, this beauty contest is a little different as all of the beautiful female contestants are actually male. This years winner was Ai Haruna age 37, from Japan.

Whether they be called Ladyboy, Kathoey or the third gender they often lead a very normal life in Thailand to some degree. They are generally accepted more and more into Thai society even though they are still looked down upon by a good many Thai’s.

Even so, the Miss International Queen pageant was broadcast live and watched by millions of Thai’s this past weekend which suggests that Thai’s are becoming tolerant of their transgendered countrymen.

While the Thai’s are seemingly taking a step forward on the transgendered front they are absolutely taking two steps backward on the laws which could protect them and millions of Thai women. Specifically, the rape laws in Thailand. For a very long time the rape laws in Thailand were a very narrow affair, not accepting spousal rape, male on male rape or transgendered rape within their scope.

It took some time but various rights groups, through very public campaigns, turned the tide and helped to get the rape laws amended to include marital rape, protection for homosexuals as well as expanding the term rape to include the anus and the insertion of objects into the anus or vagina.

You would think anyone in the 21st century would see that as progress and yet there are those who are clearly more comfortable with the old way of doing things. Thai government agencies such as the Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups, and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, think the law is now too broad. These agencies are saying that the police and judicial system are finding it too hard to prosecute offenders and want to see a return to the more narrow rape laws.

They have put forth a draft amendment to Thailand’s rape laws that would once again narrow the definition to forced vaginal intercourse between men and women. Forced oral sex, anal sex and male on male rape would be removed from the rape laws and be covered under the sexual obscenity laws. While the sexual obscenity laws would carry the same penalties as rape they belittle the people involved by downgrading their existence to something less than.

The draft amendment, funnily enough, seeks to protect those who cannot protect themselves by adding to the law increased punishment for the rape of under-age girls, the disabled, the elderly, and pregnant women. Unfortunately The law lacks protection for spousal rape, instead placing this issue in limbo by stating that this is a family problem that needs time to resolve within the family.

The amendment also seeks to take the courts power away to issue a divorce on behalf of a victim of spousal rape and place it back in the woman’s hands to file for a divorce. Ultimately this makes it much harder for spousal rape victims to get away from their attackers because certain Thai officials believe the family unit takes precedence above all.

It’s easy to see that little by little the attitude towards the transgendered is changing in Thailand. The fact that millions of Thai’s watched a transgendered beauty pageant on a Saturday night is at least a sign of passive acceptance. Unfortunately these small steps forward are often overlooked due to the narrow minded ignorance of Thailand politicking for the greater good of the Thai bureaucracy

It seems the more things change the more they stay the same in Thailand.

Thailand Land of Smiles» Thailand Commentary

You Can Never Go Home Again

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