Ammart and prai, The facebook war

COMMENTARY

Published: 15/05/2011 at 02:50 AM
Newspaper section: News

If you're a Pheu Thai party candidate for parliament, you're likely to carry three mobile phones at all times.

One is for the people to reach you. After all, you must be a man (or woman) of the people, accessible at all times. One is for personal use, because everyone has got to have a personal life.

One must be an iPhone, because it is best for video conferencing. This is so that Thaksin Shinawatra can reach you at all times, to guide and inspire you in your campaign for a seat in parliament and ultimately to bring him back to rule Thailand.

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About the author

: Writer: Voranai Vanijaka; Position: Political and Social Commentator

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joejapan
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Discussion 24 : 16/05/2011 at 07:19 PM24
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When it borrows the theory of Red Shirt, Thaksin is not Ammart.He becomes Prai.
Prai is not related whether rich or not, and indicates people suppressed from Ammart.
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peter1956
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Discussion 23 : 16/05/2011 at 01:14 PM23
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Totally agree with geoffo (Disc #14). As the author pointed out, Nattawut's argument is problematic and in contradiction with the Red Shirts statements. The man was clearly overreacted and was getting too defensive. The story was just yet another revelation of the true face of a different class of Prai.
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browser
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Discussion 22 : 16/05/2011 at 07:50 AM22
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Korn made a comment that pretty much affirms the comical application of these terms that Voranai points out - in other words, using it as irony. Nutthawut's reponse is pure spin by putting words in Korn's mouth that he never used. Korn of course never said " a Prai has to be poor, has to be stupid, has to bend forward and be repeatedly trampled upon " and Nutthawut ( and his supporters )fully know that. If he did, this issue would have been explosive. As he didn't, it's just simply silly.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 21 : 16/05/2011 at 04:42 AM21
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Just so everyone knows, this is what Natthawut *actually* said on Facebook:
"In the evening I took Kam [his wife] to eat at a restaurant that she likes. Chang Noi [his son] went with us. I didn’t expect that Korn Chatikavanij would make this into an issue and say that he didn’t think someone who called himself Prai would have a way of life similar to his. Listen to us, Korn. Because this country has people who think like you, oppression persists. Why do you say a Prai has to be poor, has to be stupid, has to bend forward and be repeatedly trampled on? Why can’t Prai eat at the same restaurant as capitalists? Long live the people."
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wyattearp
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Discussion 20 : 15/05/2011 at 11:23 PM20
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Good one Voranai! The democratisation of one's internal moral code is a good place to start. Think about freedom, the law and society - "It's election season," my wife muttered this morning.
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elviajero
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Discussion 19 : 15/05/2011 at 10:17 PM19
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A very good balanced article that hits the issue firmly on the head.

geffo and englishbob...I agree with your comments. The only way the prai will improve their lives is through their own endeavor and that doesn't mean a change of government. No government has the ability to change people's lives in the way that these people want. If the prai think that TS/PTP are the answer to their problems they are mistaken. Just the same but different!

Johninbkk..... Your ability to spin and divert never fails to amuse me. If you don't already work for Robert Amsterdam I suggest you drop him a CV!
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dao
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Discussion 18 : 15/05/2011 at 10:02 PM18
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This class issue is nonsense just like the war with Cambodia .Just hot air . So what you think will happen the french revolution ? If you want to improve your life then stop waiting for the rich man Thaksin to do it for you and do it yourself .Learn a new skill .Use your brain and look around for chances to good acts and better yourself and stop wasting your life .
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englishbob
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Discussion 17 : 15/05/2011 at 06:28 PM17
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Congratulations to Voranai for another succinct article...

Boos to the BP commentators for being so typically predictable... 'Prai' and 'ammart' are ancient terms, reintroduced by the UDD to label both sides. The term 'prai' could most closely be translated as 'serf'. But using 'prai' for Nattawut, Jatuporn, Thaksin(!) is completely ridiculous.

The use of the Red Shirts by Peua Thai is cynical and exploitative. If Peua Thai do win the next election, I wonder how long it will be before the true 'prai' start to wonder why nothing has changed. Once they discover they have been misled, they will have a new target for their anger.
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loong Phet
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Discussion 16 : 15/05/2011 at 04:58 PM16
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Quote, "There will always be those with money and those without. There will always be those with more power than others. And power always shifts and changes hands".

Well, power doesn't shift hands that easily in Thailand. The prai / ammaht thing is mostly about entrenched power structures that ensure that those in control stay in control aided by the the army whenever the people (or, the electorate) make the "wrong" choices.
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Jock
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Discussion 15 : 15/05/2011 at 01:25 PM15
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A thoroughly enjoyable article in which likewise I detect an element of Voranai humour, dusted with cynicism. I believe Korn knew exactly what he was doing (after all he is probably one of the more intelligent Thai Politicians) and it was a measured strategy to elicit a somewhat over the top response from Natthawut. My theory is further supported by the remarks made by Korn's Wife. Sorry to say Korn 1, Natthawut 0. I hope there is a return match with perhaps a more measured reply from Khun Natthawut.
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