Prem "Duty to Country" speech

[Baton Rouge]

Is it Prem or the people who report this stuff who are living on fantasy island?
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/28/national/national_30022730.php
Prem reminds soldiers of duty to country

The armed forces have a sacred duty to protect the country and safeguard the monarchy, the Privy Council president said yesterday.

"Thailand is one harmonious nation and soldiers must ensure it remains indivisible," General Prem Tinsulanonda said, alluding to the strife-torn South.

Prem urged military leaders to lead by example and inspire bravery and loyalty from their subordinates.

He spoke on the sidelines of a merit-making ceremony to usher in the New Year at the Monks Hospital. The event was attended by senior Army officers and recipients of the Rama-thibodi Medal for bravery. "This New Year signifies a time of turbulence as the country still faces many unresolved issues."

[Scuba22]

One of my favourites is the "XYZ will damage Thailand's reputation/image" line.

Do any of these people actually know what Thailand's reputation/image actually is? My (Thai) wife is consistently aghast when we see mentions of Thailand in movies and on TV, and the association is almost uniformly with sex. Since that's not her view of Thailand at all, she can't even conceive that this is what the world thinks of Thailand, accurate or not.

Then again, there's lots to be said for living in your own little fantasy land.

Scuba22

[jpatokal]

One of my favourites is the "XYZ will damage Thailand's reputation/image" line.
I always figured this was code for "my reputation" or, rather, "my face"? Look at eg. the snippy response to the diplomats' complaint about misuse of tsunami money (http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2110):
Kulkumut Singhara na Ayutthaya, director-general of the Department of European Affairs, also expressed "serious concern" over the issue, saying it had adversely affected Thailand's public image in the international community.

"They [embassy officials] should not have relied on only rumours [about the alleged misuse of money] and reacted. They should have submitted a request to the relevant Thai agencies seeking clarification on the spending," he said.

He said the issue had undermined Thailand's good will and all efforts made in helping tsunami victims throughout the past two years. "All the efforts and everything are now completely wiped out merely by a rumour suggesting the misuse of the money," he added.
Obviously the diplomats were fully aware that "a request to the relevant Thai agencies seeking clarification on the spending" would have been buried, and throwing a bit of egg like this just might shame somebody into action. Not that there's any chance of the real culprits being caught, but making a show of a few small fry might still go down well back home, which is what the diplomats are really concerned about...

[Baton Rouge]

I don't know about you, but as a non-Thai the thing that rankles a great deal is this 'one vision' of what Thailand is all about; even when it completely flies in the face of daily reality. I tend to think of myself as an anti-monarchist who sometimes manages to find positive things to say about the royal families of several countries. But I notice that it is precisely the idea that only flag-waving monarchists are REAL citizens that actually sends many qualified Thais to work in other countries.

Do you also 'lack the spirit of Thainess' in your body too?

Prem urges top brass to let go differences and work together

Chairman of the Privy Council, Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, has urged senior police and military officers to let go their differences and work together to bring an end to the political disorder in the country.

Speaking to the top brass from various agencies who gathered at the Royal Thai Army Clubhouse to wish him a happy new year, Prem struck on a strong nationalistic note as he called on the officers to sacrifice their "flesh and blood" for the defence of the nation and not to let any part of the country be separated.

He stressed the importance of unity in policy and agenda among the agencies and added that the situation in the deep south demands it.

He urged the officials to explain to the senior officials at the function to explain to the general public that the problem in the restive south is a "dispute between Thai people like us here and people who identify themselves as Thai only in term of citizenship".

The latter, said Prem, are "trouble makers" who lacked the "spirit of Thainess in their body".

"If Thai people have these two qualities - the Thainess inside of you and a sense of justice inside you - we can overcome anything," Prem said.

"The problem at this particular juncture is rooted in the absence of these two qualities - Thainess and justice," Prem said.

"Reconciliation can only occurs only if and when we understands the true meaning of the word. Goodwill towards one another can only take place if we respect our differences," Prem said.



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/12/28/headlines/headlines_30022769.php