Rise of the planet of the merchants

COMMENTARY

Published: 28 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

When the merchant elites buy up the provincial lords, what do the traditional elites have left in their hands? The answer requires a bit of background.

When General Prem Tinsulanonda stepped down in favour of a democratic general election in 1988, the decade that follows, the 1990s, could be dubbed "Rise of the Planet of the Apes". With the power vacuum, provincial lords, mafia godfathers and gangsters in uniform ran amok in parliament and in the capital. It was a period when governments came and went, brought down by corruption scandals. The newly rich borrowed frivolously and invested unwisely, while the banks were only too happy to join the party.

This was the time when the so-called "kingmakers" rivalled the actual leaders of the country in fame and power. Sanoh Thientong, Newin Chidchob and Suwat Liptapanlop were provincial lords who shaped the nation. The 1990s was also a time when there were very few rules in Bangkok. Law-trumping and power-flaunting individuals got away with anything you can imagine. There was no legal order, social order or any kind of order. It was a time when anything went, a time of cowboys and yahoos. When the 1997 economic crisis hit, everyone knew it was time for a change.

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Bangon
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Discussion 21 : 28 Oct 2012 at 14.1621
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Great stuff again, K Voranai, thank you for this, chilling, surgical analysis.
To be complete, your opinion was just missing on two elements: (real) THAI people (90+% of the population), and, Democracy (for the next century?). Probably because both are only of interest to these 'merchant elites' for the part they can (mis)use?
Oh, and one question, please: with the 'merchant elites', do you mean Italian immigrants, or ...?
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wakeup
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Discussion 20 : 28 Oct 2012 at 13.3120
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You're giving Thaksin way too much credit. He's directed by his Western backers - the Carlyle bunch, and the US-ASEAN Business Council (Wall Street) which regularly meets with UDD leaders. The US State Department pours tons of cash into shaping Thaksin's policies and public image. Thaksin didn't "get things done," his advisers did. The Thai merchant elite are gnats that will be swatted when AEC rolls in - and Thailand's troubles will just being.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 19 : 28 Oct 2012 at 11.3019
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For those who can see past the current squabbling elites and politicians, there is hope. These elites will disappear eventually for the simple reason that the world will be forced to create a unified global system of government without them for its very survival. The world has to work together in unity and there can be no unity or healthy growth with squabbling elites and massive corporations controlling everything everywhere. Look at the mess in Thailand, for example. While it seems impossible now, mankind will be forced by circumstances to find a new system of administration. Thaksin and his ilk will fade into ignominy. Nothing they create
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ubuntu
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Discussion 18 : 28 Oct 2012 at 11.1418
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Old lady judges watch people in pairs
Limited in sex, they dare
To push fake morals, insult and stare
While money doesn’t talk, it swears
Obscenity, who really cares
Propaganda, all is phony

While preachers preach of evil fates
Teachers teach that knowledge waits
Can lead to hundred-dollar plates
Goodness hides behind its gates
But even the president of the United States
Sometimes must have to stand naked

Although the masters make the rules
For the wise men and the fools
I got nothing, Ma, to live up to

Bob Dylan
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Ian
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Discussion 17 : 28 Oct 2012 at 10.4317
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A good article, as usual. I would like to add the following thought. Those who see the future clearly will know that troubled times lie ahead, we are looking at global shortages of fuel, food and clean water. Whoever controls these will be the future elite.
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pquinlan
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Discussion 16 : 28 Oct 2012 at 10.2816
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Laser-like analysis. Spot on.
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hillfarang
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Discussion 15 : 28 Oct 2012 at 10.1415
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Excellent history & analysis.

I hope that many 'yellows' will read & understand how anemic the Dem's were/are when in government & how the populism of TS was fueled in part by the feeling that he got things done.

Interesting to speculate on the future of Thailand... but impossible to predict.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 14 : 28 Oct 2012 at 09.5414
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"The traditional elites had high hopes that the Democrats would be able to wrest the torch from the military strongmen. They weren't cowboys and yahoos, but learned gentlemen who never could win a general election or sustain a government because they never could bring the provincial lords to heel."
The Democrats have *never* wrested any torch from the military - they've historically been handed it by the military repeatedly ever since the 1940's. And their inability to 'bring provincial lords to heel' isn't why they lose elections - reread my first sentence to know why.
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pjt
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Discussion 13 : 28 Oct 2012 at 09.3613
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Khun Voranai – individual power is always temporary. Eventually someone (perhaps another merchant elite) grows up to challenge the incumbent, because the incumbent is not the only one with a desire for power. Do not assume that all challengers (even another merchant) are bad or will behave the same as Khun Thaksin. It is perfectly possible for the challenger to think more about the benefit of the country than himself or his clan – indeed that might be the reason for a successful challenge
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Eric
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Discussion 12 : 28 Oct 2012 at 09.1812
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There may be a 4th constituent which is people power. The power play by the 3 constituents in a democracy system can be negated by a better educated, informed and growing middle class who can decide who or what is best for the country and for themselves. As long as Thailand poor are disadvantaged moving up the income level and education is not forthcoming, the poor population mass can be manipulated. Of course all this is futile should any of the group employed brute take over using the military.
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Rise of the planet of the merchants | Bangkok Post: opinion