As we continue to explore this anti monarchy movement, it is both disturbing and curiosity building as to why some events seem to defy both logic and common sense. But as we dig deeper past face value, things once again start to make sense.
For the most part, all indications seem to point at Thaksin Shinawatra as the founder of this anti monarchy movement. His personal ambitions reached further than they should have, and his ego disallowed him to take his hand from the fire, so he needed to insulate that hand to avoid getting burned. And in classic Thaksin style, other people and their lives became those asbestos gloves.
It was clear that the attacks on General Prem had a symbolic meaning as well. They provided a stepping stone to attacks on the monarchy. However two things needed to be done. First there had to be more people supporting the Anti Prem movement, and attacks on the monarchy had to be disguised in other forms. The other forms also led to the brainwashing of Thais into turning against their King.
In the parts of the country that are pro Thaksin, the Red Shirts set up educational facilities that were billed as that. But the simple fact they were nothing more than places that distributed pro Thaksin propaganda that billed Thaksin as being more fit than the King. So the suggestion was the King’s time has past and that Thaksin was the answer Thailand needed.
Ironically this message did not take into account that when succession to the throne happens, Thaksin is not next in line. The Crown Prince is next, and even if something happened to the Crown Prince, Thaksin still would not be next. So the brainwashing had to bypass the entire Royal family leaving Thaksin as the only logical choice.
The first significant attack on the monarchy came in the form of a petition to pardon Thaksin. Several million signatures were gathered by Red Shirts and submitted. There were several things that did not fit the protocol. First and most important Thaksin was not in jail, and that is a key requirement. That clearly reflected his arrogance and also attempted to put him on par with the King. Going to jail was for ordinary people, and clearly Thaksin was sending a message of being above ordinary people putting himself on the same level as royalty.
The presentation had all the trademarks of a royal procession with the petitions being delivered in the same way royals were carried about by servants so they would not need to walk. This also symbolically placed Thaksin higher than ordinary people. This spectacle all was part of the brainwashing process that played directly to lesser educated Thais. Nobody in their right mind would even dare intimidate the King this way, yet there were millions that signed the petition.
The fact that the anti monarchy movement is focused in the parts of Thailand where Thaksin is popular, and virtually non existent in other parts of the country, clearly suggests that Thaksin is at the center of this movement.
Next Part 3 of 4
You should read the K*** Never Smiles.
The top institution is a power grab with the media and all communications being used to paint a certain picture. It’s all about control and maintaining power, that can be observed even in the disclaimer in part 1 of this post.
However power and control tend to be transitory things so who knows what will happen in the future?
Isn’t it ironic that Buddhism realizes that things of this world are fleeting yet the institution that supposedly protects Buddhism is so focused on maintaining power and control at all costs- over family, over justice, over everything?
It is really Amazing!
Regards,
Tim