Several weeks ago the long standing head of the Army in the Kingdom of Thailand was pictured reviewing the troops for his final time in the Thai media. This heralded change of command of the army was listed as one of the outstanding reasons why the current, non elected government could not allow elections last year when the 'Red Shirt Party' (by far & away majority party in Thai Politics. [85%]) were staging demonstrations in Bangkok which were eventually terminated accompanied with much loss of life!
Just over one week ago the successor to the departed commander issued an order that the upcoming elections scheduled for this June would not tolerate any debate of any kind concerning the Monarchy in the Kingdom. This was followed by a countrywide television blackout several days later which aroused nationwide speculation of a military coup ( another? ). Having this take place right before the Red Shirt Party ( formerly Tai Rak Tai, headed by PM Thaksin Shinawatra now in exile), and the Yellow Shirts Party ( Minority {12%]), who are still allowed to demonstrate in the capital city of Bangkok, who file election fraud suits after every popular election with the results being nullified and basically the army appointing the next spokesperson or non elected PM for the Thai government to run the government. The Yellow Shirts Party, are the same party, that closed down Bangkok's International Airport several Christmas Seasons Ago leaving thousands of unsuspecting tourists an their families stranded in Thailand until the government could regain control of the Air Travel in an out of the country's largest hub. It is these 'Yellow Shirts' that wish for the prolonged skirmishes & violent military encounters at the contested Ancient Budhist Temple in the South of Thailand with the Cambodians. Of course, the former PM offering to economically assist the Cambodian government in its attempts to put together some type of modern national economic policy after so many years of horrendous troubles and suffering in their country certainly helps the present Thai government ( Regime?) to maintain an oblivious eye to the site being right next to a 'more important Budhist Temple site', and the site has already been verified by UNESCO to belong to Cambodia. So it is really no wonder that the Thai powers that be have been hesitant to a peaceful solution to the crisis! Only on 4/2811 agreeing to a temporary ceasefire at the location.
Both political parties had their political conventions for the upcoming elections last weekend. The 'in favor' Yellow Shirts in Bangkok, while the 'out of favor' Red Shirts up in the Northern Tier of the country.
This is just the briefest background information required for you to see that the current events are a foreboding of the upcoming elections being once more disallowed by really any number of trumped up charges. The painfully obvious outcome is seemingly an almost forgone conclusion and it is to their credit that the majority of Thai voters continue to not let it discourage them or their beliefs in the democratic process. How many times can you sing 'We Shall Overcome' without becoming disheartened? True, the same old result hasn't come to pass yet, and it may very well not. But that would be as if these signs were just a smoke screen, a deft fake to deceive, but they have been all too accurate in recent past to not be considered, or received, as a premonition of events to follow.
I, not being aligned with one party or another, only being a foreigner and guest in their lovely country truly wish for the majority to govern, whichever side that may be. I know of no other way for democracy to work. The entire SouthEast Asian Peninsula, Viet Nam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia certainly has no more immediate need for military arms or actions which are only leading to its failure to address its number one problem standing in its path to progress for its citizens and governments, and their economies.
All of these countries, are bent on keeping their citizens under-educated! Any aid to these types of governments should be 2:1 in favor of educational assistance over military aid. All, of these peoples, regardless of their native country are heartbreakingly looking for increased education at any level. Which they immediately immerse themselves in when given even the slightest opportunity. They apparently seem to be able to attain a level they refer to as 6th year through their nations schooling system, then the attendance levels begin their ever decreasing rates. Reaching the small total number of degree recipients when they have been lucky, or favored enough politically to be allowed to continue their educational pursuits. After any health issues, this is by far and away the biggest problem facing this region. The other significant issues in this part of the world will also only be solved through increased educational opportunities for the uneducated poor who are in the majority, alone, and being left there as some sort of political weapon to assure the maintenance of power throughout these countries.
What better way for the United States Government to solve its budget difficulties than to revamp our foreign aid with an across the board slashing of worldwide military aid by 100 %. And increasing Educational Aid by 100%. The savings would be dramatic percentage wise, and our image abroad would be greatly enhanced as would our own self image at home.
Just over one week ago the successor to the departed commander issued an order that the upcoming elections scheduled for this June would not tolerate any debate of any kind concerning the Monarchy in the Kingdom. This was followed by a countrywide television blackout several days later which aroused nationwide speculation of a military coup ( another? ). Having this take place right before the Red Shirt Party ( formerly Tai Rak Tai, headed by PM Thaksin Shinawatra now in exile), and the Yellow Shirts Party ( Minority {12%]), who are still allowed to demonstrate in the capital city of Bangkok, who file election fraud suits after every popular election with the results being nullified and basically the army appointing the next spokesperson or non elected PM for the Thai government to run the government. The Yellow Shirts Party, are the same party, that closed down Bangkok's International Airport several Christmas Seasons Ago leaving thousands of unsuspecting tourists an their families stranded in Thailand until the government could regain control of the Air Travel in an out of the country's largest hub. It is these 'Yellow Shirts' that wish for the prolonged skirmishes & violent military encounters at the contested Ancient Budhist Temple in the South of Thailand with the Cambodians. Of course, the former PM offering to economically assist the Cambodian government in its attempts to put together some type of modern national economic policy after so many years of horrendous troubles and suffering in their country certainly helps the present Thai government ( Regime?) to maintain an oblivious eye to the site being right next to a 'more important Budhist Temple site', and the site has already been verified by UNESCO to belong to Cambodia. So it is really no wonder that the Thai powers that be have been hesitant to a peaceful solution to the crisis! Only on 4/2811 agreeing to a temporary ceasefire at the location.
Both political parties had their political conventions for the upcoming elections last weekend. The 'in favor' Yellow Shirts in Bangkok, while the 'out of favor' Red Shirts up in the Northern Tier of the country.
This is just the briefest background information required for you to see that the current events are a foreboding of the upcoming elections being once more disallowed by really any number of trumped up charges. The painfully obvious outcome is seemingly an almost forgone conclusion and it is to their credit that the majority of Thai voters continue to not let it discourage them or their beliefs in the democratic process. How many times can you sing 'We Shall Overcome' without becoming disheartened? True, the same old result hasn't come to pass yet, and it may very well not. But that would be as if these signs were just a smoke screen, a deft fake to deceive, but they have been all too accurate in recent past to not be considered, or received, as a premonition of events to follow.
I, not being aligned with one party or another, only being a foreigner and guest in their lovely country truly wish for the majority to govern, whichever side that may be. I know of no other way for democracy to work. The entire SouthEast Asian Peninsula, Viet Nam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia certainly has no more immediate need for military arms or actions which are only leading to its failure to address its number one problem standing in its path to progress for its citizens and governments, and their economies.
All of these countries, are bent on keeping their citizens under-educated! Any aid to these types of governments should be 2:1 in favor of educational assistance over military aid. All, of these peoples, regardless of their native country are heartbreakingly looking for increased education at any level. Which they immediately immerse themselves in when given even the slightest opportunity. They apparently seem to be able to attain a level they refer to as 6th year through their nations schooling system, then the attendance levels begin their ever decreasing rates. Reaching the small total number of degree recipients when they have been lucky, or favored enough politically to be allowed to continue their educational pursuits. After any health issues, this is by far and away the biggest problem facing this region. The other significant issues in this part of the world will also only be solved through increased educational opportunities for the uneducated poor who are in the majority, alone, and being left there as some sort of political weapon to assure the maintenance of power throughout these countries.
What better way for the United States Government to solve its budget difficulties than to revamp our foreign aid with an across the board slashing of worldwide military aid by 100 %. And increasing Educational Aid by 100%. The savings would be dramatic percentage wise, and our image abroad would be greatly enhanced as would our own self image at home.
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