August 3, 2020 (Tony Cartalucci - ATN) - It was ironic that Paritta Wangkiat of the Bangkok Post compared so-called "student protesters" to "wizards" in her article "'Wizards of democracy' wait to be heard" - wizards being fictional characters that in no way, shape, or form exist in reality.
Just like "wizards" there is nothing real about these "student" protests.
In order to depict "wizards" on stage or in movies one needs to use smoke and mirrors. The same can be said of the protests and the illusion of legitimacy many in the media are trying to create for them.
Wangkiat and others have gone through great lengths to avoid discussing who the leaders of these protests are despite them clearly leading the protests with megaphones, stages, and professionally printed banners and other props or using their vast deep-pocketed media empires to promote them.
She and others continuously claim that the protesters are simply upset about the 2014 coup, the constitution's 250 appointed senators, and the current government remaining in power - yet avoid at all costs discussing why the coup happened in the first place, why the constitution was rewritten, and who these "students" want to see take power if their demands for the current government to step down ever materialize.
They also avoid mentioning that these "students'" demands are identical to those made by Thaksin Shinawatra and his Pheu Thai Party for years and Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit's Future Forward/Move Forward Party more recently.
Since Wangkiat and many others refuse to ask questions journalists should be asking to help readers understand the truth rather than push a politically-motivated version of the truth - one should ask themselves about these three specific points the protesters are basing their demands on.
Opposing the 2014 coup?
How do protesters endlessly oppose and complain about the 2014 coup, yet never seem to mention what happened before it unfolded, who was in power, and what they were doing that triggered the coup in the first place?
Yingluck Shinawatra who sat as prime minister of the ousted government openly served as a the nepotist nominee of her brother, fugitive billionaire and Thaksin Shinawatra. The regime she posed as leading was neither democratic nor lawful.
The coup unfolded after Yingluck's regime spent from 2011-2013 destroying Thailand's rice industry and confidence in Thai exports, while leaving up to a million rice farmers unpaid with their rice rotting unsold in government warehouses. It is also after attempting to pass an amnesty bill that would grant fugitive billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra impunity for his many crimes.
Just before the coup, massive protests against Yingluck's regime were met by her supporters who used war weapons and organized terrorism to kill over 20 people in concerted, daily attacks.
Why isn't this mentioned by these "students"today? Do the "students" know about any of this? Or is their silence a form of approval of immense corruption, nepotism, and even mass murder as long as it's their side benefitting from it?
Opposing a coup but never discussing why there was a coup or even who the coup ousted is deeply dishonest. But if it were honestly discussed by these "students" it would be all too clear who their leaders are and what agenda they serve.
Rewriting the constitution?
If the protesters and their media cheerleaders discussed Thailand's current constitution - and more specifically the appointed Senate they oppose - they would have to discuss how this Senate is meant to have the final say on who becomes prime minister.
They'd also have to discuss why many think this is necessary and how fugitive billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra has so far appointed at least 2 family members to serve as prime minister in his absence - his brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat and his own sister Yingluck Shinawatra ousted by the 2014 coup these "students" oppose.
An appointed Senate will prevent another nominee of Thaksin Shinawatra from taking office. Since the protesters repeatedly claim they are not servants of Thaksin Shinawatra and his political machine - why exactly are they so upset about measures made specifically to prevent him from returning to power?
Do these "students have a better solution to this problem? Do they even admit this is a problem?
Having the current government step down?
If these "students" are demanding the current government step down - surely they have an idea of who they'd like to see take their place. But they are very careful never to mention who - knowing full well their illusion of legitimacy will evaporate instantly if they do.
It would obviously be Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party and his various nominee parties including billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit's Future Forward/Move Forward Party who make up the largest opposition bloc to the current ruling party and who many of these "students" had previously and openly supported.
Isn't it funny how in Wangkiat's op-ed in the Bangkok Post she mentions a "wizard themed" protest where "students" were to oppose "he who shall not be named" in reference to the main villain in Harry Potter - when there is a very real and sinister villain in Thai politics who these protesters and their supporters in the media have gone through painful lengths never to name but clearly support.
This was never about "students" fighting for "democracy" but clearly about the same old corrupt opposition headed by Thaksin Shinawatra simply hiding behind these protests. Any illusion indicating otherwise is only made possible by those like Wangkiat refusing to ask even the most basic questions regarding the demands of these "student" protesters.
If Wangkiat wants to use themes from Harry Potter to best describe these "student" protests - how about the cloak of invisibility she and others provide these protesters to hide behind - notions like "democracy" and "human rights" used to deflect attention away from obviously unanswered questions and the obvious agenda and interests behind these protests.
Just like "wizards" there is nothing real about these "student" protests.
In order to depict "wizards" on stage or in movies one needs to use smoke and mirrors. The same can be said of the protests and the illusion of legitimacy many in the media are trying to create for them.
Wangkiat and others have gone through great lengths to avoid discussing who the leaders of these protests are despite them clearly leading the protests with megaphones, stages, and professionally printed banners and other props or using their vast deep-pocketed media empires to promote them.
She and others continuously claim that the protesters are simply upset about the 2014 coup, the constitution's 250 appointed senators, and the current government remaining in power - yet avoid at all costs discussing why the coup happened in the first place, why the constitution was rewritten, and who these "students" want to see take power if their demands for the current government to step down ever materialize.
They also avoid mentioning that these "students'" demands are identical to those made by Thaksin Shinawatra and his Pheu Thai Party for years and Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit's Future Forward/Move Forward Party more recently.
Since Wangkiat and many others refuse to ask questions journalists should be asking to help readers understand the truth rather than push a politically-motivated version of the truth - one should ask themselves about these three specific points the protesters are basing their demands on.
Opposing the 2014 coup?
How do protesters endlessly oppose and complain about the 2014 coup, yet never seem to mention what happened before it unfolded, who was in power, and what they were doing that triggered the coup in the first place?
Yingluck Shinawatra who sat as prime minister of the ousted government openly served as a the nepotist nominee of her brother, fugitive billionaire and Thaksin Shinawatra. The regime she posed as leading was neither democratic nor lawful.
The coup unfolded after Yingluck's regime spent from 2011-2013 destroying Thailand's rice industry and confidence in Thai exports, while leaving up to a million rice farmers unpaid with their rice rotting unsold in government warehouses. It is also after attempting to pass an amnesty bill that would grant fugitive billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra impunity for his many crimes.
Just before the coup, massive protests against Yingluck's regime were met by her supporters who used war weapons and organized terrorism to kill over 20 people in concerted, daily attacks.
Why isn't this mentioned by these "students"today? Do the "students" know about any of this? Or is their silence a form of approval of immense corruption, nepotism, and even mass murder as long as it's their side benefitting from it?
Opposing a coup but never discussing why there was a coup or even who the coup ousted is deeply dishonest. But if it were honestly discussed by these "students" it would be all too clear who their leaders are and what agenda they serve.
Rewriting the constitution?
If the protesters and their media cheerleaders discussed Thailand's current constitution - and more specifically the appointed Senate they oppose - they would have to discuss how this Senate is meant to have the final say on who becomes prime minister.
An appointed Senate will prevent another nominee of Thaksin Shinawatra from taking office. Since the protesters repeatedly claim they are not servants of Thaksin Shinawatra and his political machine - why exactly are they so upset about measures made specifically to prevent him from returning to power?
Do these "students have a better solution to this problem? Do they even admit this is a problem?
Having the current government step down?
If these "students" are demanding the current government step down - surely they have an idea of who they'd like to see take their place. But they are very careful never to mention who - knowing full well their illusion of legitimacy will evaporate instantly if they do.
It would obviously be Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party and his various nominee parties including billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit's Future Forward/Move Forward Party who make up the largest opposition bloc to the current ruling party and who many of these "students" had previously and openly supported.
Isn't it funny how in Wangkiat's op-ed in the Bangkok Post she mentions a "wizard themed" protest where "students" were to oppose "he who shall not be named" in reference to the main villain in Harry Potter - when there is a very real and sinister villain in Thai politics who these protesters and their supporters in the media have gone through painful lengths never to name but clearly support.
This was never about "students" fighting for "democracy" but clearly about the same old corrupt opposition headed by Thaksin Shinawatra simply hiding behind these protests. Any illusion indicating otherwise is only made possible by those like Wangkiat refusing to ask even the most basic questions regarding the demands of these "student" protesters.
If Wangkiat wants to use themes from Harry Potter to best describe these "student" protests - how about the cloak of invisibility she and others provide these protesters to hide behind - notions like "democracy" and "human rights" used to deflect attention away from obviously unanswered questions and the obvious agenda and interests behind these protests.
