Thailand

The world politic condemns any country that is not “democratic.” Yet, when
faced with acts that embody the true essence of democracy: a political
system in which the supreme power lies with the citizens, the world simply
cannot recognize it.

On Sept. 19th a military coup overthrew the Thai government, while the
Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra landed in New York City to give a speech at a
UN assembly. The coup was fast to act, and soon the nations capital was
filled with Tanks and military soldiers. Thailand’s issues with the Prime
Minister stemming the past two plus years have been slow to enter major
newspapers around the world, but add a few tanks and a coup and we have
headline news. At first glance by those who have simply not followed this
conflict, this would seem violent and undemocratic and simply put “scary.”
Enter US Government. The US was the first country to be “disappointed with
the Coup, who supports the corrupt Thaksin Shinawatra leader, and threatened
to review its relationship with all of Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Thaksin,
who was denied his speaking time at the UN assembly, tried to declare a
state of emergency in his own country, only to have the military cut the
phone lines 10 seconds later. Exiled by his own nation, Thaksin flew to
London where his daughter lived in his one of his mansions, and was forced
to watch his country via the western news stations and newspaper headlines.
Back in Thailand, the people rejoiced and welcomed the soldiers who wore
yellow ribbons symbolizing that the take-over was supported by the revered
King. Thai’s were found handing roses to the soldiers and posing in photo
ops as if the military were pop star celebrities.

Most would ponder at the thought of a ‘perceived’ hostile takeover with
military tanks flooding the streets being a peaceful movement, but in order
to regain control of a country dominated by a “democratic” leader who
refused to step down from power after several huge protests this past April,
it should not be so surprising. After studying and watching the Thai
society over the past few years, I am confident in knowing that these
citizens understand their rights to make decisions for their country. This
is a population that is not afraid to protest, whether it is violent or
peaceful, they will march in the streets for days on end, and they will
continue to voice their concerns until they, as the majority, have won.

The protests began in April shortly after Prime Minister Thaksin sold his
Thai telecom company, Shincorp to Singapore and decided to not tax himself,
making him an obscene amount of money. Thaksin was already the richest man
in Thailand and one of the richest men in Asia. Although Thaksin had made
several big errors including: making huge mistakes in his policies in
Thailand’s Muslim South that has resulted in a huge rise in violence and a
death toll of over 3000 people in the past 3 years, as well as hiding bird flu
epidemics to avoid trade barriers and protect Thai exports, it was not until
the middle class felt betrayed by Thaksin’s tax-free wealth that protests
really began. In April, after over a month of protests, Thaksin decided to
hold another election. He claimed that if less than 50% of the population
voted for him he would step down from power. This enraged the people of
Thailand, who believed his unfair actions were reason enough for him to step
down and be tried without an election. Thai’s filled the streets dressed in
black and yellow and refused to vote. In the end, most major parties in
Thailand as well as 40% of the population boycotted the vote. Although
Thaksin had won the election wining 51% of the votes, he chose to step down
temporality to avoid any further conflict. Months later he returned just in
time to declare another election.

The people have retained their power. The military has fulfilled their duty
to protect the people from harm (Thaksin), and the country is currently
peaceful. This is simply a ‘silk‘ revolution that clearly follows the
democratic doctrine. It is we Westerners who should be scrutinized. Could
this type of revolution happen in the US? Would our will and morale evoke us
to seize our democratic rights? If a leader was corrupt, the product of
mass death tolls, and hid the truth from its people, would the people bind
together to demand a change? Not Likely. Yet we continuously claim that
these ‘uncivilized’ people do not understand the meaning of democracy. Shame
on us.

Note:
I decided to write this article after reading a popular forum on the internet. The forum had a thread entitled “Breaking: Thailand Coup?” The comments from several posters where as follows, ” I wonder how many Muslim clerics were involved”; Not to Demean this, but aren’t Coups common in the 3rd world?”; and finally ” Muslims (most likely) have seized Thailand.” This is the type of response that fuels me. People, can we be this naive? Our media and governments and now even the Pope has out lashed on the Muslim population blaming them for everything. Soon we will be blaming the Muslims for our wives and husbands leaving us, and for our bikes being stolen. Thailand is also NOT a 3rd World country and Muslims di not take over Thailand! We should be ashamed of ourselves and of our neighbors as this is 2006 and we still have not moved past an era of extreme discrimination.

Nicole Sorochan is an aspiring Film Maker. She has an Asian Studies and Film Degree from the University of Victoria and has a strong interest in Asian Relations, Religion, and Politics. She is attempting to use Film as a form of social movement and awareness. For more information about her and her current projects please go to her website: http://www.nicolesorochan.com

Share This

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, and is approximately the size of Singapore. Phuket nestles in balmy Andaman Sea waters on Thailand’s Indian Ocean coast-line 867 kilometers south of Bangkok.

Phuket is an island connected by bridges to southern Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast, in the Indian Ocean, lying between 7′ 45 ” and 8′ 15″ north latitude, and from 98′ 15″ to 98′ 40″ west longitude on the map. Thailand’s largest island, Phuket is surrounded by 32 smaller islands that form part of the same administration, with a total area of 570 square kilometers. Measured at its widest point, Phuket is 21.3 kilometers; at its longest, 48.7 kilometers. It is bounded thus:

About 70 percent of Phuket is mountainous; a western range runs from north to south from which smaller branches derive. The highest peak is Mai Tao Sip Song, or Twelve Canes, at 529 meters, which lies within the boundaries of Tambon Patong, Kathu District (no roads go there yet). The remaining 30 percent of the island, mainly in the center and south, is formed by low plains. Streams include the Klong Bang Yai, Klong Ta Jin, Klong Ta Rua, and Klong Bang Rohng, none of which is large.

History of Phuket

Phuket Island has a long recorded history, and remanins dating back to A.D.1025 indicate that the island’s present day name derives in meaning from the Tamil manikram, or crystal mountain. For most of history, however, it was known as Junk Ceylon, which, with variations, is the name found on old maps. The name is thought to have its roots in Ptolemy’s Geographia, written by the Alexadrian geographer in the Third Century A.D. He mentioned that in making a trip from Suwannapum to the Malay Peninsula it was necessary to pass the cape of Jang Si Lang.

Phuket was a way station on the route between India and China where seafarers stopped to shelter. The island appears to have been part of the Shivite empire (called in Thai the Tam Porn Ling) that established itself on the Malay Peninsula during the first Millenium A.D. Later, as Muang Takua-Talang, it was part of the Srivichai and Siri Tahm empires. Governed as the eleventh in a constellation of twelve cities, Phuket’s emblem, by which it was known to others in those largely pre-literate times, was the dog.

During the Sukothai Period Phuket was associated with Takua Pah in what is now Phang-nga Province, another area with vast tin reserves. The Dutch established a trading post during the Ayuthaya Period in the 16th Cent. The island’s northern and central regions then were governed by the Thais, and the southern and western parts were given over to the tin trade, a concession in the hands of foreigners.

After Ayuthaya was sacked by the Burmese in 1767 there was a short interregnum in Thailand, ended by King Taksin, who drove out the Burmese and re-unified the country. The Burmese, however, were anxious to return to the offensive. They outfitted a fleet to raid the southern provinces, and carry off the populations to slavery in Burma. This led to Phuket’s most memorable historic event. A passing sea captain, Francis Light, sent word that the Burmese were en route to attack. Forces in Phuket were assembled led by the two heroines, Kunying Jan, wife of Phuket’s recently deceased governor, and her sister Mook. After a month’s siege the Burmese were forced to depart on 13 March, 1785. Kunying Jan and her sister were credited with the successful defense.

In recognition King Rama I bestowed upon Kunying Jan the honorific Thao Thep Kasatri, a title of nobility usually reserved for royalty, by which she is known today. Her sister became Thao Sri Suntorn.

During the Nineteenth Century Chinese immigrants arrived in such numbers to work the tin mines that the ethnic character of the island’s interior became predominantly Chinese, while the coastal settlements remained populated chiefly by Muslim fishermen.

In Rama V’s reign, Phuket became the administration center of a group of tin mining provinces called Monton Phuket, and in 1933 with the change in government from absolute monarchy to a parliamentary system, the island was established as a province by itself.

Boundaries

On the North Is the Pak Prah Strait, spanned by two bridges running side-by-side, the older Sarasin Bridge, and the newer Thao Thep Krasatri Bridge.
On the South Is the Andaman Sea.
On the East Is Ao Phang-nga Bay (In the Jurisdiction mainly of Phang-nga Province).
On the West Is the Andaman Sea.

Climate

Phuket’s weather conditions are dominated by monsoon winds that blow year round. It is therefore always and humid. There are two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy season begins in May and lasts till October, during which the monsoon blows from the southwest. The dry season is from November through April, when the monsoon comes from the northeast. Highest average temperatures, at 33.4 degrees Celsius, prevail during March. Lowest averages occur in January, when nightly lows dip to 22 degrees Celsius.

Transportation

By Car

Take Route 4 from Bangkok south. Along the way pass the provinces of Nakorn Pathom, Ratchburi, Petchburi, Prajuab-Kirikan, and at Chumporn go right to Ranong, From Ranong, go south through Kraburi and Kah-Perr districts to Phang-nga Province. In Phang-nga the road passes through Kuraburi, Takua Pa, and Takua Tung districts before reaching the town of Kok Kloy, just beyond which is the Tao Thep Krasatri Bridge and Phuket. Distance is 867 kilometers.

Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses leave the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok daily. For details call the individual bus companies: Borisat Kohn Sohng Jumkat Phuket Transport Co, Ltd., in Bangkok tel. (02) 4351200, or in Phuket (076) 211480

By Air

Details about flights to and from Phuket International Airport can be obtained from Thai Airway, in Bangkok Tel. (02) 2800070,2800080, or in Phuket (076) 211195, 212499, 212946 or from travel agents around the world. There are also many regular and chartered flights from other airlines.

By Sea

The Deep Sea Port (Port of Phuket) at Phuket is visited by both cargo and cruise ship from Thailand and from abroad. Contact your travel agent for information about the may different ships that stop at Phuket.

More detail

http://www.gosouththai.com/phuket/e-index.asp

Chan Phoondee

Web Director

http://www.GoSouthThai.com

Share This