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From Thailand

A collection of MsExPat's writing on Thailand from 2009 up 'til today, including reporting from the ground in Bangkok and elsewhere. (Additional links from lambert)

WikiThai: Behind the Palace Doors

The latest batch of WikiLeaks embassy cables has a delicious dispatch from the U.S. Ambassador to Thailand. (Via the Guardian).

Two thoughts: first, it's fun to know that the behind-closed-doors dish from the King's privy councillors about the Royal family and its foibles pretty much matches all the "unattributed" speculation that appears in the Thai and overseas press.

The other thought: unlike other folks, my take on the Wikileaks diplomatic cables is not "Gosh, how venal and duplicitous are the officers of our empire". Rather: I am encouraged by how smart, culturally savvy, professional and, well, diplomatic our foreign service officers reveal themselves to be. Based on what I've been reading, quite a few of our FSOs are out in the field doing their level best to mitigate the damage the idiots in Washington and the defense department are trying to shove through. Plus, many of them are damn good writers. This stuff is more compelling than any Graham Greene novel. (BTW the Guardian's coverage is WAAAY better than the NYT or the WP.)

But on to the Thailand goodies! (Note, the date on this dispatch is January 2010, about four and a half months before the Red Shirt protests in April-May 2010).

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Behind the barricades with Seh Daeng's "Black Angels"

Two Asia Times Online correspondents infiltrated the Red Shirts' Black army, and lived to tell the tale.

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Thailand: More Palace Intrigue

Very dishy analysis of King Bhumibol's behavior during the coup, and recently, from the Canadian journalist who was his advisor and wrote his biography, William Stevenson:

(via the Toronto StarSmile

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Thaksin Charged With Terrorism

I guess I was wrong about the Red Shirts cutting a deal for Thaksin's immunity. Or maybe they did, and the government decided to renege. In any case, the arrest warrant's gone out and Thaksin Shinawatra, exiled former PM of Thailand, is now wanted in Thailand on terrorism charges.

Blogger Bangkok Pundit breaks down the indictment, translating the relevant sections of the Thai Criminal Code that Thaksin allegedly violated.

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Bangkok: The Big Cleanup

Today, Sunday, thousands of ordinary Bangkok citizen-volunteers have come out to clean up the city. “Bring your own broom” the ads read. It’s a non-partisan, local effort, and pretty wonderful. Local journalist Richard Barrow is tweeting it live, with pix.

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Thai writers deconstruct the Red Shirts' rebellion

A digest of after-the-flames-have-died-down essays from an assortment of Thais who write in English. I'll update periodically as I run across more goodies and feel free to add anything you find in the comments.

Wassana Nanuam, military affairs columnist, Bangkok Post, on the Generals, the Army and the politics of "Operation Rajaprasong":

The role _ and eventual departure from the scene by assassination _ of Seh Daeng in the victory of the government and army over the red shirt movement cannot be overlooked. Hawkish soldiers are in one voice on how the outcome of the army's Ratchaprasong operation could have been so different had Seh Daeng had not been murdered.

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Thailand: One Small Rebellion at a Time

So far, this is my favorite piece among the "post-Battle of Bangkok" essays. It's from Southeast Asia scholar Duncan McCargo. The reason I think the essay is worth reading is because McCargo is not emotionally trying to defend one side or another. He actually understands Thai culture and history, and is looking at what happened in the context of both.

Some excerpts:

This has been portrayed as a struggle between poor farmers from the countryside and an undemocratic Bangkok elite. Yet despite the sympathetic coverage for the Redshirts in much of the international media, this is not a classic "pro-democracy" struggle between good guys and bad guys. It is a savage and dispiriting civil conflict, from which nobody emerges with much credit.

At the election in December 2007, the ruling Democrat Party took 39.63 per cent of the party list vote -- almost exactly the same as the 39.6 per cent of the People's Power Party, from which the Redshirts are largely drawn.

Neither side has had a monopoly on popular support; both have some valid arguments and positions; and neither has been playing by the rules.

Here is the most important point McCargo makes:

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Thailand: Did the government and the Red Shirts cut a deal?

And was this the condition of the UDD leadership's surrender?

Bangkok Post:

Thaksin's arrest warrant delayed

The Criminal Court has taken back the arrest warrant for convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on terrorism charges on Wednesday night, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) director-general Tharit Pengdit said.

Mr Tharit said the court had issued arrest warrants for Thaksin and nine other anti-government core members on terrorism charges earlier today but it had decided to recall Thaksin's arrest warrant.

"Further investigation will take place on May 24 at 9.30am," the DSI chief said.

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Just when you think you've got a grip on Thailand's politics:

You don't.

HM The King and Queen sponsor Seh Daeng's Funeral

from The Nation (Thailand):

Their Majesties the King and Queen will graciously sponsor the funeral of Maj-General Khattiya "Seh Daeng" Sawasdipol who succumbed to brain injuries yesterday morning.

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In the City of the Fourth Heaven

Renegade Thai general Seh Daeng just died in Bangkok's Vajira hospital from his head wound.

Even though he was shot just last Thursday, events have raced past his assassination. I haven't been posting about it much because it is just one nightmare story after another. The battles are fragmenting and spreading throughout the city, like a gang war gone viral. Thirty five people, 34 of them civilians, are dead. The civilians died of gunshot wounds to the head and/or upper body--the mark of sniper fire from Army sharpshooters.

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