Public Address | Cafe | Speaker: Colour coding Jonestown

Rich Lock

Tue, 20 May 2014 19:42:13 +1200

This doesn't look good.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/20/thailand-army-declares-martial-law-denies-coup-live

Hope you and yours are OK, Simon.

Simon Grigg

Mon, 03 Feb 2014 04:29:00 +1300

It changes things in that Pheu Thai likely has a mandate of sorts after Feb. 23rd when the elections’ first results are in. A few other things:

1) The armed forces heads all voted, which is taken as support for the democratic process, i.e. no coup.
2) Suthep tonight announced…

Rich Lock

Sun, 02 Feb 2014 23:18:45 +1300

Any thoughts on this snap election? Is it going to change anything?

Simon Grigg

Fri, 31 Jan 2014 01:16:27 +1300

I have no idea why that went up sideways. Maybe it's an iOS statement on Thailand :)

Simon Grigg

Fri, 31 Jan 2014 01:15:10 +1300

Interesting Sofie and a little one eyed I’d suggest. Here’s another eye. This was taken in Asoke about 20 minutes ago and it’s Suthep roaring to the crowd. The thing is, a month ago the crowd would’ve been large. Tonight I stood in the midst of no more than 1500…

Sofie Bribiesca

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 22:13:20 +1300

And read this about Thailand in Granny Harold today

Chris Waugh

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:12:12 +1300

And now Al Jazeera reports the Thai army will deploy 10,000 troops to ensure security for the election.

Simon Grigg

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 15:44:25 +1300

Sofie, it’s a Canon Powershot G1X – a super-snappy that I like. I’ve been a fan of the G line for a while.

Winston – I’d not really thought about that but you could almost say that :) He’s the “Man of The People” but only in his own mind…

Chris Waugh

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 13:23:56 +1300

the South China Sea of course

Of course. And the Mekong – remember that case when the crew of a Chinese boat was massacred by a notorious drug gang a couple of years back? That sparked new, closer security cooperation on the upper Mekong. And, of course, the worries downstream…

Sofie Bribiesca

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 08:50:24 +1300

Now I at least have the first inkling of a clue to what’s going on.
Nope. I’m going back for another read. So is Suthep the equivalent of Winston?
Oh and , fantastic photos. Nice lens or is that a fantastic phone Simon?

Rich Lock

Thu, 30 Jan 2014 06:27:49 +1300

Excellent post. Thanks Simon. Now I at least have the first inkling of a clue to what's going on.

Brent Jackson

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 23:48:11 +1300

Thanks a lot for your wonderful insight into what's going on. Really appreciate it.

Simon Grigg

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 22:36:51 +1300

The Chinese?! Now that does thicken the plot somewhat. C

All complicated by the South China Sea of course, but the Thai military have been quite even balancing both the US and China.

Then there are all the condos and beach houses that are Chinese owned ... it wouldn't do…

Chris Waugh

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 20:57:27 +1300

The Thai military have ties to both the US and Chinese

The Chinese?! Now that does thicken the plot somewhat. China's good at stepping into vaccuums the US and Western powers generally leave. Still, it certainly does seem there's a fair bit of ratcheting up of tension before a coup…

Simon Grigg

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 20:49:29 +1300

Thanks everyone.

Chris –

1. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say slim-ish. Last time the world turned on the Thai military and they lost contracts and contacts. They're also still reeling from the aftermath of 2010. That said, if the violence spins out of control,…

Chris Waugh

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 20:18:24 +1300

Me too! Thanks for the greater context – especially the historical aspects. I do have to wonder:

1: What are the chances of a coup?

2: Where does the royal family fit in all of this?

3: You make it seem as if Suthep Thaugsuban is losing some of his…

Geoff Lealand

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 19:41:13 +1300

Thanks, Simon. This is so enlightening, explaining a mess and a muddle in a manner I haven't encountered before.

Graham Reid

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 19:25:37 +1300

Excellent Simon, thank you so much for contextualizing this for us.
Many years ago at PA I wrote something bemoaning the lack of coverage in the NZ media about one of those earlier flashpoints you mentioned in this country with which we have a long relationship (holidays, partners, friends, even…

Julian Melville

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 15:46:00 +1300

Thanks for this Simon, I've been to Thailand but never had any sense of the politics. Fascinating.

Amanda Wreckonwith

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 13:35:42 +1300

Journalism…

Comforting to know that it still exists in our troubled world.

JacksonP

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 11:37:13 +1300

Fascinating insight into what's going on Simon, and great set of photos. :-)

Public Address

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 11:37:13 +1300

Discussion from blog post.