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Political Situation?
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dustdevil



Joined: 27 Mar 2014
Posts: 38
Location: Retired in U.S.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 04, 2015 7:02 am    Post subject: still not Malaysia Reply with quote

TomAndHuck wrote:
Situation is that about 3500-3700 upcountry activists have "disappeared". Reports are that homes are raided at 2am-3am by squads of armed soldiers. People beat up and dragged away. Farming tools to make a living in some cases smashed up. People thrown in a black hole. Presumably military camps. No access to legal representation. No outside communication. No access to family friends or relatives. They are gone. No idea what is going on. No way to know. Military checkpoints all over Northeast and Chiangmai. Checkpoints also outside military bases in Sattahip. At least 3 military stops on the way to Cambodian border. Cars, trucks, vans randomly pulled over and searched by armed soldiers. Armed soldiers taking video of all stops. Soldiers filming everyone who eneters and exists the country. Armed soldier carrying loaded M-16 will inspect every passport that comes into the country. For local people who want to constitute their govenment through elections, it is a situation of absolute terror and violence. Education minister of the last elected government abducted at a speech for the Foreign Correspondents club. Photos of him released in prison fatigues and walking around in prison in handcuffs. Several top academics "summoned" by military. Thrown into a black hole. Unreachable. Several top lawyers of the Nitirat group summoned and thrown in the black hole. Another top lawyer was seized at the airport after attending a civil rights seminar in the USA. Thrown in the hole. Best union organizer who is not in prison, Jittra Cotchadet "summoned" while she is on holiday in Sweden. Former Prime Minister's son "summoned and put in black hole. Prime Minister Yingluck, elected in last Feb 2 election, detained several days then released into house arrest, presumed gag order. All leaders of her former politcal party invited to a negotiation with military, captured, placed in handcuff and blindfolded, held in military camp several days, released under gag order and committment not to engage in politics. Mr. Sombat, civil society organizer of post 2010 killing of civilians, refused to comply with summons. Hunted and arrested by military police. Now in the hole. Rumored going to be charged with 50 year old anti-communist laws. Top union organizer Somyot, serving an 11 year prison sentence for a published magazine article, his wife and son "summoned" and now in a black hole. The top poor people's ghetto organizer summoned and in the black hole. All protest against coup is banned. Women up to 70 years old arrested for protesting. Foreign guy arrested for holding a shirt that said "peace please". Woman snatched off the street by plain clothes military police and whisked away in a taxi. Students arrested for reading books like 1984 in public. Two major bookstores sold out of Orwell in Thai translation. Students handing out sandwiches in support of anti-coup activists arrested and detained. Handing out sandwiches now forbidden (this is not a joke). Giving three finger hunger games salute in public now banned. Several people arrested for doing so. Clicking "like" on anti-coup facebook messages now illegal. Liking pro-coup pro-military messages ~not~ illegal. Citizens openly encouraged to spy on each other and rat each other out as in former East Germany. Academic turned in his taxi driver over a conversation during a fare. "Divisive rhetoric" which means any left leaning or social democtratic talk or online speech now banned. Constitution unilatterally annulled. Legislature dissolved. Senate dissolved. All further "representatives" in government will be appointed by the military. Basically it is a regime of terror that would probably make the North Koreans envious.

This is what you will be getting when you start your teaching job in Thailand.

Also, in my school, the big sticks have come out. Morning lineup is now patrolled by teachers who beat 12-13 yer olds for any infraction. Students as young as 8 or 9 now have teachers with big sticks in the class. Sticks on display even in Kindergarten. Meaning that all problems will now be solved with corporal punishment (violence).

Not kidding you, this is the second school I worked at with this regime and this is what you will be walking into.

I am well aware of many people who post here, that this is some kind of ideal environment for teaching or making money. That you should just keep your head dowwn and try not to hear the screams of agony and terrror. There are plenty of ultra-cynical hyper-alienated people like that who now live and work in Thailand and you can read some of them on this forum too. Most of them have no problem whatsoever with this kind of regime. So if you are in Thailand or you want to come to Thailand in order to be an incompetent predatory douchebag, this is probably the best time to come.


Doesn't sound good but Thailand is still 10x better than Malaysia!
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sigmoid



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276

PostPosted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 12:12 pm    Post subject: Ticking timebomb Reply with quote

The time-bomb is ticking...


Rare anti-coup protest in Thailand



Excerpt:

Quote:
Dozens of anti-coup activists held a demonstration in central Bangkok Saturday, handing out roses and copies of George Orwell's "1984" - a rare expression of public dissent in a nation still under strict martial law.

The demonstrators, a collection of pro-democracy groups including students, made no secret of their Valentine's Day protest plans, advertising them on Facebook.

In response the authorities put up a series of barriers to stop demonstrators accessing a plaza opposite a mall in the city's downtown Siam shopping district.

But dozens of activists nonetheless managed to gather on the streets and pedestrian walkways in the late afternoon, watched by a similar number of police officers.

Festooning the walkways and streets with roses, some erected cardboard ballot boxes and put up mock voting tables - a criticism of Thailand's generals who seized power in a May coup following the ousting of Yingluck Shinawatra's democratically elected government.

Several of the most vocal protesters were seen being led away by police.

"I am here to protest against the coup," Pat Lertkeerstikul, an office worker, told AFP.

"It's almost a year since they stole the last election. We want our democracy back," she added.


For the rest of the article see:
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/rare-anti-coup-protest-thailand-20150214
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sigmoid



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276

PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 3:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

As easily predicted, the situation is slipping out of control.

Thailand's students defy military junta and call for return to democracy

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/17/thailands-students-defy-military-junta-and-call-for-return-to-democracy

Some excerpts:

Quote:
Thai student protesters billing themselves as the “last group standing” in seeking to end military rule say they will openly defy what one leader called a tyrannical regime nine months after the army seized power.

. . . . . . . . . . .

A resurgence of public protests could prove destabilising for the military rulers, already struggling with economic mismanagement. The army says it wants to negotiate with the students, but at the weekend detained several for holding a public meeting.

“A sure way the junta can mess up is if it slips up on the economy, which impacts the people directly,” Jurin Laksanawisit, a member of the conservative Democrat Party, Thailand’s oldest political party, told Reuters.

. . . . . . . . . . .

The students say growing disgruntlement over the economy means Thailand is ripe for a new wave of protest.

. . . . . . . . . . .

People are starting to get sick of this tyrannical regime, especially how they manage the economy,” Than told Reuters.

The junta, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order, said it wants to negotiate with the students.

“We will use negotiation, but if they persist with their activities we will have to hand them over to police,” junta spokesman Winthai Suvaree told Reuters.

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plumpy nut



Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652

PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 5:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Go Thaksin Go! With all of the families faults and there are many, they are the only politicians with any power that give a damn about Northern Thailand.
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sigmoid



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276

PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 5:39 am    Post subject: Heating up Reply with quote

Thai politics heats up after Yingluck's impeachment

Quote:
"After eight uneasy months of relative calm after its latest military coup on May 22, Thai politics is heating up again following the impeachment of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra..."

"As the noose tightens around her, it has undermined Thailand's reconciliation efforts, setting the country up for a new phase of political turbulence."

"In the medium and longer term... the generals are likely to come under more pressure and be put to the test. The backlash against the anti-Thaksin power plays over recent years... will likely become volatile and virulent when it later surfaces."





Continue: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/opinion/more-opinion-stories/story/thai-politics-heats-after-yinglucks-impeachment-20150219
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Mr. Kalgukshi
Mod Team
Mod Team


Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Posts: 6613
Location: Need to know basis only.

PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 12:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stay on topic and do not post insults directed at any individual or nationality. Failure to abide by this warning or being incapable of participating in civil discussion will see you and your ISPs permanently banned.
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nodgar



Joined: 20 May 2015
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Tue May 26, 2015 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hmmm.. is this why I keep getting job offers in Thailand... or has it calmed down at all yet?
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EFL Educator



Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Location: Cape Town

PostPosted: Wed May 27, 2015 2:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Plenty of exciting, rewarding and interesting teaching jobs available in Thailand...enjoy the Land of Smiles! Very Happy
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sigmoid



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276

PostPosted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 5:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
.. is this why I keep getting job offers in Thailand... or has it calmed down at all yet?


It will likely be some time (a decade?) before things calm down. As I mentioned over a year ago on this thread, Thailand is staring both a political and economic crisis in the face. It's just a matter of time. "When", not "if".


Thailand's Royal Conundrum
The death of the country’s 87-year-old king—who was hospitalized on Friday—could precipitate a major political crisis.

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/05/thailands-royal-conundrum/394529/

Quote:
"All this political uncertainty has damaged Thailand’s economy, which is Southeast Asia’s second-largest. Household spending has slumped and exports—hamstrung by the excessive strength of Thailand’s currency, the baht, have been disappointing. For decades, Thailand was seen as an oasis of success in a region beset by war, genocide, and stagnation. Now, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam are all growing faster than their once-exceptional neighbor."
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nodgar



Joined: 20 May 2015
Posts: 7

PostPosted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 3:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sigmoid wrote:
Quote:
.. is this why I keep getting job offers in Thailand... or has it calmed down at all yet?


It will likely be some time (a decade?) before things calm down. As I mentioned over a year ago on this thread, Thailand is staring both a political and economic crisis in the face. It's just a matter of time. "When", not "if".


Thailand's Royal Conundrum
The death of the country’s 87-year-old king—who was hospitalized on Friday—could precipitate a major political crisis.

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/05/thailands-royal-conundrum/394529/

Quote:
"All this political uncertainty has damaged Thailand’s economy, which is Southeast Asia’s second-largest. Household spending has slumped and exports—hamstrung by the excessive strength of Thailand’s currency, the baht, have been disappointing. For decades, Thailand was seen as an oasis of success in a region beset by war, genocide, and stagnation. Now, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam are all growing faster than their once-exceptional neighbor."


So... is it not a good time to be in Thailand or will this most likely not bother ESL teachers?
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EFL Educator



Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Location: Cape Town

PostPosted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thai schools are always looking for EFL teachers...the political situation will have no effect whatsoever on your teaching here. Enjoy amazing Thailand! Very Happy
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theoriginalprankster



Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Posts: 895

PostPosted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Doesn't sound good but Thailand is still 10x better than Malaysia!


Why? Please elaborate (here or by PM).

Thanks
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sigmoid



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276

PostPosted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 4:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

As expected, the dam is starting to crack...

Anti-coup protests tipped to continue

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Anti-coup-protests-tipped-to-continue-30263991.html

Quote:
Analysts said the move was meant to ease growing pressure on the government, but more protests are expected. Some are already calling for the dropping of all charges against the students and the right to protest and publicly criticise the NCPO [National Council for Peace and Order].


Quote:
Chiang Mai University law lecturer Kritpot Somanawat said the move would reduce pressure on the government but said more political moves were likely in the near future. He said the government would face more challenge to its claim of legitimacy and it was time for the government to find a way to exit from power, as it had been shown to not be adept in managing the country.
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sigmoid



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276

PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

And now the Thai Baht is slumping, or even "plunging" according to some. Looks like it might hit 35 THB/1 USD by next week if not before.

Thai baht slumps to new 6-year low as industrial sentiment dampens, stocks slide

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/thai-baht-slumps-new-6-year-low-industrial-sentiment-dampens-stocks-slide-1512058

Quote:
The Thai baht has fallen to a new multi-year low on 22 July as the drop of an industrial sentiment index highlighted increasing concerns over the economy as well as spreading drought.

USD/THB soared to 34.67, its highest since May 2009, translating to a 0.7% decline in the baht on the day. The broad dollar weakness failed to prevent the baht's plunge.


So, now the generous 30k THB per month salary is worth only about $860.

Plus, if the junta loses control of the economy, who knows what might come next.
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EFL Educator



Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Location: Cape Town

PostPosted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 12:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Compared to Canadian dollars the Baht has strengthened...compared to the US Dollar it is like a yo yo....up and down.....political situation in Thailand is always like that....same o same.... a yo yo aka roller coaster ride!!!!! Shocked Shocked Shocked
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