Jakartass Home thoughts from abroad. Alien thoughts from home.

When I sought to come to south-east Asia back in 1988, I really wanted to return to Thailand, having spent two periods of three months there in the previous year. I had no thought of settling down at the time. That hadn't seemed to be an option anyway as the only encounters I'd had there were with 'lady-boys'. (In case you're wondering, I had no difficulty in resisting their advances.)

It was happenstance which brought me to Indonesia, and I'm more than happy that life has turned out as it has. My glass is perenially half full.

However, I have retained an interest in Thailand. When I was in Bangkok, I often ate in the student canteen at Thammasat University and first heard of the students killed by paramilitary forces back in 1973. (Pictures here.)

Students from various universities were demonstrating against the return to Thailand of Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachorn, a former military ruler.

After Thanom was replaced by a civilian prime minister in October 1973, an army faction headed by Major-General Pramarn Adireksarn began plotting a return to military rule. Right-wing paramilitary groups were armed and trained and a crackdown on left-wing activists was prepared. King Bhumibol was a notable supporter of the paramilitary groups, a situation that has been described as "royal vigilantism."

The Communist takeover of Indochina in 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War convinced many that Thailand could be the next communist target and that the nation's unruly left-wing students were aiding the enemy.

The day before the massacre, a photo of a mock hanging by Thammasat demonstrators was published in the Bangkok press. To many, the students in the photo appeared to be hanging the Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in effigy. (His full name is Somdet Phra Boromma-orasathirat Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayammakutratchakuman) In response, outraged paramilitary forces gathered outside the university that evening.

Lieutenant-General Chumphon Lohachala, deputy director of the national police, ordered an attack in the morning and authorized free fire on the campus.  By the official count, forty-six people died in the attack, during which protesters were shot, beaten and their bodies mutilated.

That was then, but the country has more recent problems, which you can further research for yourselves.

What has caught my interest is an article in Wednesday's Guardian .

Thailand can best be described as a failing democracy, particularly as lèsé majesté, being dreogatory about the ruler, is treated as treason, punishable by 15 years in prison or more if, like Chiranuch Premchaiporn, editor of the online news site Prachataiy, you face multiple charges under the Cyber Crimes Act.

You see, the government and populace (are expected to) revere King Bhumibol who is now 83 and in failing health. The Guardian article refers to a Wikileak which offers the general perception that, due to his serial womanising and gambling addiction, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn is unfit to assume the throne.

According to a leaked US diplomatic cable, Thai leaders harbour grave misgivings about the crown prince's fitness to become king owing to his reputation as a womaniser and links to a fugitive former prime minister (and a former owner of Manchester City football club).

I emailed some friends in Thailand, in plain text, asking for their thoughts on the article, which I understand is now blocked within the country.

This is one brief reply.

As you know I have to be a bit careful on this subject but the topic has been doing the rounds here now for quite a while. And it's not only the locals who are not convinced but many of the ex-pats too, the reason is that it is reported that this guy is not a great fan of foreigners being in his country – especially Brit's.

Sorry I can't say too much more on this J.

Are they being paranoid without due cause?

Hardly, A blog snappily called Thai Political Prisoners reports that the Ministry of Justice is inviting people to join its ‘Cyber Scout’ training programme in order to build a network of volunteers to protect the monarchy in the online world.

Another site, worth checking for its revelations of otherwise 'hidden' news about Thailand is Pratachai.com. I'll be adding this to my list of Aseanist blogs.

I'm glad that fate brought me to Indonesia, not least because getting to grips with Thai script would probably have proved impossible!

Wikileaks disclosure of cables emanating from the US embassy in Singapore show that Indonesia is emerging as a power player in this region.

Diplomats from both superpowers [China and the USA] and other nations reportedly talked of a greater role for the Indonesia to engage Myanmar’s military dictatorship. Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew told US diplomats that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono might potentially serve as an “interlocutor” to engage Myanmar.

“As a former general, [SBY] might be able to meet with Senior General Than Shwe and get him to listen,” Lee reportedly said.

Yudhoyono did exchange several letters with Than Shwe and sent a special envoy to cement ties with the junta during the period.

Although his services are sorely needed here, perhaps SBY might care to help out the generals who run Thailand through its Privy Council.which is currently lead by Prem Tinsulanonda, another of the region's retired army generals.