Reuters: Thailand awash in pink in support of king

Monarch Recovers

BANGKOK - Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej has unleashed a new colour on his country -- baby pink.

Since he left hospital on Wednesday wearing a pink shirt and pink jacket, Thais have rushed out to buy clothes in the same colour.

"Pink shirt sales jumped 60% today from yesterday after people saw the King in the colour," a woman selling polo shirts emblazoned with the royal emblem at a Bangkok street market said yesterday.

Some caught on sooner than others.

An aide to Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn told The Matichon newspaper astrologers had advised that the planet Mars, represented by pink, would help strengthen the Thai monarch, who spent more than three weeks in hospital.

"Since Her Royal Highness had been aware of the suggestions at the beginning of the year, she started to wear pink every Tuesday," Katevalee Napasap said.

In Thailand, Mars rules Tuesday, which translates into Thai as day of Mars. Each day is also associated with a colour. For example, Monday, the day King Bhumibol was born, is yellow.

So Bangkok is awash with people wearing yellow on Mondays to show their support for the King, a genuinely revered figure in a country that has had 18 coups since it became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.

Now pink has become the rage in hopes that wearing it will help return the world's longest-reigning monarch, who will be 80 next month, to full health.

King Bhumibol, a semi-divine figure whose portrait is hung in every Thai home, was taken to Bangkok's Siriraj hospital on Oct. 13 for treatment for a blood clot in his brain.

More than one million people in the largely Buddhist nation signed books wishing him a speedy recovery and many prayed at statues of the King's parents.

But pink may have a sting in its tail.

One fortune teller said Thailand, which is due to hold a general election in December to return the country to civilian rule after the latest army coup last year, could become chaotic if everybody started wearing pink on the same day.

"We will be under the influence of Mars from next week to February, which will bring conflicts to the country," said Kengkaard Jongjaiprah.

"If many people wear pink, I am afraid that will strengthen Mars' influence."

The planet in Thai astrology, which is derived from the Hindu cosmology, is associated with conflict and violence. Mr. Kengkaard believes lots of people wearing pink would strengthen its characteristics.

Capitalism, totalitarianism, propaganda and cult of personality-and the foreign press looks on with admiration. Probably taking notes. This shit is frightening.

Bangkok Post: In Bizarro World Thailand, the English Dailies Give Media Advice to Military Dictatorships

COMMENTARY

CNS not internet savvy

The Bangkok Post

Saritdet Marukatat

Six months after the coup, the military top brass who brought tanks and troops onto Bangkok's streets, surprisingly don't know how to create a website. The Council for National Security's website, www.cns.go.th, offers the following message: ''Under construction. Be prepared to meet us soon.'' What's happened to the CNS website clearly exposes a weakness of the generals.

The CNS has only six months left to do the same. It does not make any sense taking so long to jot down the contents on its website. And the generals must realise that after the coup, the most important weapon isn't troops or tanks, it's information. Its www.cns.go.th should offer a channel to directly communicate with the public. The website should also have an English version, as the diplomatic corps in Bangkok are eager to know how far the CNS has fulfilled its promises to correct the problems cited as grounds for staging the coup.

Saritdet Marukatat is Deputy News Editor, Bangkok Post.


I may be wrong, but I think Thailand is the only country in the world where the so-called free media gives advice to an illegal and incompetent military junta on how to do a better job at communications. Am I the only one who gets this absurdity?

I am just a little random blogger, but I really wonder where are all the media experts and independent reporters. Why aren't they outraged by this nonsense? It is truly amazing how reporters and editors allow their blind hatred of Thaksin prevent them from actual reporting about this junta in a critical way. Instead of giving the junta media advice, the Bangkok Post and the rest of the media should be asking why this junta is calling the shots in this first place. Why isn't the international media or at least the foreign press in Bangkok going after the Thai media for their disgraceful behavior? Well, if I were to make an educated guess, I'd reckon that the foreign media in Bangkok is no less disgraceful than the Thai media.

If I was the president of the FCCC, I would be holding symposiums on this topic. Unfortunately I am not, so I have to suffer here in silent outrage in the blogosphere.

Japan Times Editorial: Thailand's Troubles Continue

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

EDITORIAL

Japan Times

Thailand's troubles continue

It was expected that any instability that followed last September's coup in Thailand would be short-lived. Supporters even hoped that the military-led government would lessen uncertainty, end corruption and soothe the tensions that fuel a Muslim insurgency in the country's southern provinces. Those hopes have gone unanswered. Instead, the government has mishandled the economy and the unrest has intensified. The situation in Thailand is only growing worse.

Continued


When the Japanese start criticizing Thailand in newspaper editorials, then you know things are bad.