The King catches a cold...

[Stogie]

It's the Kings birthday today. But his usual radio address is not happening this year.

The frail and ailing 81 year old King is not very well.

It's all pretty bad timing after the last few weeks of political and public disturbances and it may just be me, but I'm feeling the effects of the monarch's uncertain health.

It's his uncertain health that reflects the health of the nation. The whole Kingdom of Thailand is entering a cold and unsure future.

With no political guidance and unpopular heirs in the wings, the stage is set for a massive change in sentiment in Thailand.

No one really knows what for sure will happen, but my instincts tell me that it's gonna be pretty nasty.

Enjoy the Land of Smiles whilst ye can, folks...

...there's a slow train comin'!

[manarak]

I dunno... There is a part of me that thinks he's done it on purpose.

Of course I'm talking out of my ass, but I think he is waiting for a better timing to speak, maybe he waits to see if the governing parties will do his will and choose a prime minister that is not too close to Thaksin.
I think the King knows he must speak, yet if he speaks too early, he could drive the situation deeper into crisis.
It would be a loss of face for him if he spoke, and if after his speech they choose a pro-Thaksin prime minister again. Plus, there is nothing much he could do after such an event, except sending the army in again.


So I think this is tactical.

[pacman]

When the inevitable happens, the choice faced by Thailand is stark, in total contrast & utterly irreconciliable.

Doesn't auger well for a peaceful future in the country that has served us so well. Many of us are about to learn what a fierce & ruthless lot the Thais can be.

After all the place has never been conquered, it would be sad if they inflict an own goal on the country they are so proud of.

As for the King, I don't think it safe or advisable for the forum to be speculating on his future, the charge of Lese majeste is levelled at anyone who dares to make public pronouncements about him, I doubt the forum would be immune from the dilligence of the Thai authorities.

[lance2546]

(pacman @ Dec. 05 2008,20:48) Many of us are about to learn what a fierce & ruthless lot the Thais can be.

After all the place has never been conquered, it would be sad if they inflict an own goal on the country they are so proud of.

Agreed that the Thais -for all their smiles- can be a bit nasty as well.

Not to nit pick, but Thailand was invaded by the Burmese in 1767 and the ancient capital of Ayutthaya was burned to the ground.

Thailand served as a buffer state between British colonized Burma and French Indo China. Do you really think Thailand could have resisted a determined colonization effort by the British Empire? Or the French?

Th Japanese invaded Thailand on Dec 8, 1941 and the Thais resited for maybe 12 hours before throwing in the towel.

Yeah, Thailand has never been conquered...

[pacman]

I didn't know about the Burmese invasion,

I guess what I should have said was that the country has never been colonised. Hard to fight an opponent who would rather die than lose face.

Nasty indeed...

[lance2546]

No worries Pac, I wasn't trying to be a know it all, just pointing out that while Thailand has a lot of positive attributes; it, like all countries has had its ups and downs.

I try to be a realist and I don't see the ongoing political stalemate being settled amicably. Its winner take all and neither side is willing to compromise.

I hope that I am 100% wrong and Thailand resumes its place as the number one SE Asian Tiger economy and there is a more equitable distribution of wealth for the Thai people.

In the mean time I'm not holding my breath

[Master Bator]

[quote]
(lance2546 @ Dec. 05 2008,18:17)

After all the place has never been conquered, it would
Thailand served as a buffer state between British colonized Burma and French Indo China. Do you really think Thailand could have resisted a determined colonization effort by the British Empire? Or the French?

Th Japanese invaded Thailand on Dec 8, 1941 and the Thais resited for maybe 12 hours before throwing in the towel.

Yeah, Thailand has never been conquered...

Thailand has become a chinese colony. There are chinese all throughout SE Asia but the ones in Thailand (Thaksin & friends) are the only ones who managed to take full control of the place.
They are a conceited and arrogant bunch and even their distant relatives in S'pore and M'sia hate them.
The root of all current evil.

[Master Bator]

On the other hand I would not mind a chinese fair-skinned LB in a red shirt....
Anyhow let's not get too political here on the forum, we are guests of the country. Oops - no the Indians (who have the same right as the Chinese to be Thai) are the khecks (=guests). We are the aliens.....
In their view I am just wanking alien (see avatar).
Perhaps they are right...

[jimslim]

(Stogie @ Dec. 05 2008,13:24) ...there's a slow train comin'![/b]  

Ain't that true , and even Dylan rode it for a while .

All things must pass , and who knows what will happen , but Thailand will change in a big way once the King dies ,and that is a guarantee , but anyone here who would try to anticapte Thai politics would be foolish , its gonna happen , so lets see what happens .

[ciobha]

Hopefully they'll criminalise all LB's and exile them to Ireland (except Galway)