June 24, 2020 (Tony Cartalucci - ATN) - Today - well-funded but poorly attended "protests" marked the 88th anniversary of the Anglo-American-backed 1932 coup headed by Pridi Banomyong. Pridi's coup ended the absolute monarchy in Thailand, beginning the nation's transition to a constitutional monarchy. Pridi himself - with US and British aid - would flee Thailand years later and die in France in exile.
The protests today - led by "anti-coup" protesters - aren't in opposition to this coup but are in celebration of it - seeking to continue Pridi's foreign-backed transformation of Thailand from a sovereign nation with its own system and ways to one hammered into a shape deemed "civilized" by and of service to the West.
Nevermind that across the West today cities burn as protesters rally against what is still systemic and deeply rooted injustice, racism, and human rights violations within Western society. This point doesn't faze US and European-funded "activists" in Bangkok demanding Western-style "civilization" be implemented here in Thailand.
1932 Coup Celebrated by US-Funded Agitators
Among those leading today's protests is Anon Nampa of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).
TLHR is funded by the US State Department via the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and regularly receives political support from the US embassy in Bangkok as well as several European embassies.
TLHR was created specifically to oppose the 2014 coup which ousted billionaire fugitive Thaksin Shianwatra's sister - Yingluck Shinawatra - admittedly serving as the fugitive's nepotist-appointed proxy.
Thaksin himself was the worst human rights abuser in modern Thai history, an autocrat in every regard, and deeply corrupt. He fled Thailand to avoid multiple court cases, jail sentences, and warrants for his arrest.
It was a military-led coup in 2006 which initially ousted him. It was a coup in 2014 which uprooted his attempts to return to power. "Activists" like Anon Nampa were nowhere to be found before either coup. Their silence regarding Thaksin's real abuses while carrying on with US-funded vocal protests regarding Thaksin's opponents cuts through the superficiality of their "activism."
Other organizations are also lending support to Thaksin Shinawatra's opposition, his foreign sponsors, and the fronts they fund including TLHR. They include Prachatai, iLaw, Fortify Rights, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International - all funded by the US government and Western corporate foundations like Open Society - and all seamlessly coordinating their activities within Thailand to make space for foreign-funded subversion, division, and destabilization.
This is important to keep in mind.
Today agitators take to the streets with foreign money in their pockets in an attempt to find and exploit sociopolitical fault lines to divide and destabilize Thailand. This is not done to advance "democracy" or "human rights," but rather being done while hiding behind both.
Agitators celebrating the 1932 coup take foreign money to attack Thailand's military and monarchy because they are institutions that protect and unite Thailand - allowing Thailand to make decisions that serve its - not Washington's - best interests.
It is in Thailand's best interests to develop itself as a strong independent nation - and cultivate ties with nations around the globe including the West - but also nations like Russia and China which the West is attempting to isolate.
Thus the West needs proxies in power in Thailand that will make decisions that serve Washington's best interests - not Thailand's. This includes proxies willing to cut ties with China even at great economic cost to Thailand.
Potential client regimes run by Thaksin Shinawatra, his various family members, or political allies like Future Forward's Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit have in the past eagerly serves US interests and have voiced an eagerness to do so again.
Thanathorn - for his part - vowed to cancel the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail network already under construction and replace it with the so-far-science fictional "hyperloop" system being developed in the United States. Thanathorn has also been a harsh critic of Thailand's efforts to replace its aging US military equipment with new Chinese weapon systems.
Today's protests are clearly not about opposing autocracy, human rights violations, or supporting democracy. These protesters are sponsored by the very worst abusers of all three principles.
There is nothing progressive about today's protests. At times - there is little even superficially progressive about them - with "anti-coup" protesters literally celebrating the 1932 coup and hoping for another - and one that would leave Thailand's fate to very real human rights violators and autocracy every bit as scary in reality as protesters have claimed Thailand's own institutions are in fiction.
The protests today - led by "anti-coup" protesters - aren't in opposition to this coup but are in celebration of it - seeking to continue Pridi's foreign-backed transformation of Thailand from a sovereign nation with its own system and ways to one hammered into a shape deemed "civilized" by and of service to the West.
Nevermind that across the West today cities burn as protesters rally against what is still systemic and deeply rooted injustice, racism, and human rights violations within Western society. This point doesn't faze US and European-funded "activists" in Bangkok demanding Western-style "civilization" be implemented here in Thailand.
1932 Coup Celebrated by US-Funded Agitators
Among those leading today's protests is Anon Nampa of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).
TLHR was created specifically to oppose the 2014 coup which ousted billionaire fugitive Thaksin Shianwatra's sister - Yingluck Shinawatra - admittedly serving as the fugitive's nepotist-appointed proxy.
Thaksin himself was the worst human rights abuser in modern Thai history, an autocrat in every regard, and deeply corrupt. He fled Thailand to avoid multiple court cases, jail sentences, and warrants for his arrest.
It was a military-led coup in 2006 which initially ousted him. It was a coup in 2014 which uprooted his attempts to return to power. "Activists" like Anon Nampa were nowhere to be found before either coup. Their silence regarding Thaksin's real abuses while carrying on with US-funded vocal protests regarding Thaksin's opponents cuts through the superficiality of their "activism."
Other organizations are also lending support to Thaksin Shinawatra's opposition, his foreign sponsors, and the fronts they fund including TLHR. They include Prachatai, iLaw, Fortify Rights, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International - all funded by the US government and Western corporate foundations like Open Society - and all seamlessly coordinating their activities within Thailand to make space for foreign-funded subversion, division, and destabilization.
This is important to keep in mind.
Today agitators take to the streets with foreign money in their pockets in an attempt to find and exploit sociopolitical fault lines to divide and destabilize Thailand. This is not done to advance "democracy" or "human rights," but rather being done while hiding behind both.
Agitators celebrating the 1932 coup take foreign money to attack Thailand's military and monarchy because they are institutions that protect and unite Thailand - allowing Thailand to make decisions that serve its - not Washington's - best interests.
It is in Thailand's best interests to develop itself as a strong independent nation - and cultivate ties with nations around the globe including the West - but also nations like Russia and China which the West is attempting to isolate.
Thus the West needs proxies in power in Thailand that will make decisions that serve Washington's best interests - not Thailand's. This includes proxies willing to cut ties with China even at great economic cost to Thailand.
Potential client regimes run by Thaksin Shinawatra, his various family members, or political allies like Future Forward's Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit have in the past eagerly serves US interests and have voiced an eagerness to do so again.
Thanathorn - for his part - vowed to cancel the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail network already under construction and replace it with the so-far-science fictional "hyperloop" system being developed in the United States. Thanathorn has also been a harsh critic of Thailand's efforts to replace its aging US military equipment with new Chinese weapon systems.
Today's protests are clearly not about opposing autocracy, human rights violations, or supporting democracy. These protesters are sponsored by the very worst abusers of all three principles.
There is nothing progressive about today's protests. At times - there is little even superficially progressive about them - with "anti-coup" protesters literally celebrating the 1932 coup and hoping for another - and one that would leave Thailand's fate to very real human rights violators and autocracy every bit as scary in reality as protesters have claimed Thailand's own institutions are in fiction.
